Monday link roundup: Plate Collision-gate Continues
By Scott Caruso | March 10th, 2008 | Posted in Links Galore
Just the links for you this morning because I’m a dummy and overslept. I’m going to blame my alarm clock. Maybe I should get one of these to fix the problem.
- Eric, you got some ’splainin’ to do. What began as my predictably pro-hustle post yesterday about how Elliot Johnson was playing the game the right way when he made a Yankees backup catcher eat his lunch in the 9th inning of Saturday’s game has erupted into a firestorm. Okay, so maybe not a firestorm, but Sports Indeed takes Rays Anatomy’s Eric to task for defending Joe Girardi and his comments that the hustle was uncalled for. Sit back, relax, and watch the gloves come off. (Sports Indeed)
- Speaking of Sports Indeed, they’re looking for a new name. May I suggest “Ghost of Brian Stokes” - who, by the way, has an ERA of 0.00 for the Mets so far this spring.
- So, remember all of those articles you read about how Edwin Jackson has been looking good this spring? Well, you should probably take those and throw those out the window, because he was bad on Sunday. Now, to be fair, the defense behind him looked like B.J. Upton trying to field a routine ground ball, but still -not a good day for Edloss. (Recap/Box)
- Since I’m a big believer in paying it forward, here’s a link to Baseball Musings since they were kind enough to link to me over the weekend. Make sure you go visit when you get a chance.
- Stop me if you’ve heard this one before. A headline from MLB.com: “Notes: No return imminent for Baldelli.” Hmmm… where have I heard that before? (MLB.com)
On Saturday, Maddon said the Rays need to know something about Baldelli’s availability later this week.
“I don’t feel any pressure,” Baldelli said. “I’ll do what I feel I can. I guess you could say it’s precautionary.”
Baldelli said he can’t categorize the problem that’s preventing him from coming back full bore after missing most of the 2007 season with hamstring problems.
“Categorize it? I haven’t been able to do it to this point,” Baldelli said. “It is difficult to categorize it.”
Baldelli said he has not talked to anybody about when he might be back on the field.
“[We’re] just kind of waiting right now,” Baldelli said.
- The Anti-Rocco continues his quick march back from his arm problems: Kid K will throw a bullpen session, and if all goes well, could make his Spring Training debut this weekend. (MLB.com)
- David Price will pitch again Tuesday, Carl Crawford is probably going to be playing less in the coming days, and first cuts are on the way. (St. Pete Times)
- I’m going to be honest, there was WAY too much here to read, so I didn’t do it. All I know is that some website called 411mania that I had never heard of before is the 16,361st on the bandwagon that thinks the Rays could compete for third place this year. Are they really a surprise team if EVERYONE - including the sports maven that is 411mania.com - predicts them to be a surprise team? (411mania.com)
- Jeff Niemann… a lefty? The Canadian Press thinks so! (Canadian Press)
- USA Today needs to fire whoever is writing their headlines. “Rays, Blue Jays have rays of hope” — seriously? Rays have rays of hope? (USA Today)
Tags: Eric SanAntonio, Link Roundup
March 10th, 2008 at 8:37 am
I have loved Rocco since he first came up, but I think this is coming to an end before we truly got to enjoy what he can do. This is a young man who, if he hadn’t had these problems, would have a few Gold Gloves, 2,500+ hits, 300+ HR in his career when it was all said and done. But, instead, he ends up being struck by the injury bug, and his career could be done. I hate saying such a thing, but it really could be true. I think the Rays will explore the trade market first, and I mentioned some names the other day. I would like to see them go after Juan Rivera of the Angels. He would fit very nicely in the 6 or 7-slot in the lineup, and would provide solid defense to go with his pop. You could pencil him in for around a .285 AVG, 20 HR, 75 RBI, and the guy just does not strike out. He doesn’t walk a ton either, but he puts the ball in play quite a bit. I believe the most he has K’ed in a season is 57. That’s something to hang your hat on. He also comes in at around $2.1 million for the season. The only problem I can find is that he is a FA after 2008, so he could just do well and hit the road. But he could also do well and stay in RF for us down the road. I just get the feeling that the Rays are going to do something other than sit on their hands with this situation. They are doing whatever they can to get that new stadium, and they know they have to win this year to get the fans’ vote. It’s simple, really. If we win 80+ games this year, the fans in St. Pete will think the Rays are serious contenders, and then they will vote YES for the stadium. If Rocco is a no-go, then I expect them to pull off a trade to fill this void. They know Gomes isn’t an everyday outfielder, and that Floyd will be much more prone to injury if playing in the field. So, they will go with a proven commodity rather than give Ruggiano a shot. I can’t say that I disagree either because I am not sold on Ruggiano as an everyday outfielder at the major league level, yet.
March 10th, 2008 at 9:00 am
Eric at Rays Index is a Yankees fan from the Bronx…I knew this was going to happen. It is one thing to write a biased opinion in favor of the team you are covering, it is quite another to write a biased opinion against the team you are covering without letting it be known why your opinion is biased.
March 10th, 2008 at 9:00 am
Eric at Rays Anatomy is a Yankees fan from the Bronx…I knew this was going to happen. It is one thing to write a biased opinion in favor of the team you are covering, it is quite another to write a biased opinion against the team you are covering without letting it be known why your opinion is biased.
March 10th, 2008 at 9:01 am
sorry for the double-comment (now triple comment) slight typo in the first one.
March 10th, 2008 at 9:01 am
Cork’s point was so good, he had to make it twice. ;)
March 10th, 2008 at 12:22 pm
It’s ok. I knew if I made my opinion known I’d get lumped into a “Yankees fan” making a comment. I simply posted my opinion on the issue. I think I’ve done a good job representing the Rays fairly and unbiasedly since I undertook this endeavor.
If a blog feels the need to “air me out” for my thoughts than so be it. It’s funny that attacking me instead of speaking about the issue makes a Tampa Bay blogger any better or less biased.
It is as if my speaking my mind isn’t ok, but to be bashed by people who aren’t even capable of discussing the play itself is fine. No biggie. I’ll keep writing.
Remember, I’m the guy who chose BJ Upton over Robinson Cano, and worked hard to secure interviews from David Price and John Manuel, to discuss the Rays. Not the Yankees. It’s amazing how quick you get painted after trying hard to be fair and subjective.
March 10th, 2008 at 12:46 pm
From what I understand about this entire ordeal is that the Rays had 2 games in which a catcher was bowled over by a Rays player. The first was Crawford’s incident, which from what I have heard, there was a bat in the way and nothing Crawford really could have done, and it really wasn’t a big deal. This time it was a Yankees catcher getting run over by Elliot Johnson. This time it happened in a bang-bang play, again, this is what I have heard, and it’s getting blown out of proportion. I’m not saying Johnson was right or wrong, but I am saying that this getting made into a big deal when it’s really a non-issue. If their catcher hadn’t got hurt, this wouldn’t even be a story. There’s always going to be 2 sides to this topic on what is right or wrong with bowling over a catcher in the Spring. Some people will say they should do it because they are trying to make an impression, and some will say it’s just ST, and everyone should be courteous enough to not play 100% at all times. You can make a case for both, really. The bottom line is that the Yankees catching propect got hurt and will miss a couple of months, so this became a story. If the Astros’ catcher got hurt, we probably aren’t even talking about this. The Yankees are big-time in the media, and that’s why this is still being carried on. I have no problem with Eric expressing his opinion on this. If he feels Johnson shouldn’t have bowled him over, then I’m good with that. I, personally, like seeing guys go all out at all times, and have no problem with seeing such a play during Spring Training.
March 10th, 2008 at 1:22 pm
Guys,
I’ve just wrote a response to this whole mess over at my site. I try to explain what I was thinking and my reasons for making the comment. Thanks and I hope you enjoy taking a look at it.
March 10th, 2008 at 1:27 pm
You are correct Eric and a good bloger and I like your comments but I did not agree with you. That does not make you a Skank. Hang in there.
March 10th, 2008 at 2:35 pm
God forbid he have a varying opinion on a non-black and white issue.
March 10th, 2008 at 3:01 pm
Cork, I think you accidentally slipped and revealed who the anonymous writer(s) at Rays Index really are. It’s Eric from Rays Anatomy isn’t it? =) You know it is, don’t lie!!!! Ok, i’ll shut up now.
March 10th, 2008 at 3:18 pm
Here is what I left over on Rays Anatomy, putting the feud aside:
“I’m on the fence on this one, but the bottom line was that by blocking the plate Francisco Cervelli gave Johnson two choices: slide in and have no chance of being safe or run him over and increase your chances scoring the run. He took the option with the best odds. I can also appreciate the “it’s only spring training” approach to the play, but how can you tell a guy that’s trying to impress his organization as best he can to turn it down a few notches?
Look at the choice that Shawn Riggans made just a few minutes prior to the Johnson/Cervelli collision. Riggans chose to leave the plate open on a play that was nowhere near as close as the collision play and Rays fans everywhere were blasting him for not blocking the plate and allowing the run to score.”
Basically you can go back to the game thread over on draysbay and read where everyone was getting after Riggans.
As for Cork, he runs a well put together and informative site but nobody should be shocked (if not offended) by his comments. He does this sort of thing frequently whether it’s a blogger, commenter, or journalist. All of the old school Rays bloggers and posters have become accustomed to his “Why (Insert Name/Job Title Here) is an Idiot” rants and take them with a grain of salt. Just slide your eyes down to the meaningful content of raysindex and go about your day.