The day began with a semi-punt with Joe Maddon in not playing Carl Crawford and announcing that Troy Percival and Dan Wheeler were likely both unavailable. It ended with a rout typical of a team looking to just get home. And you know what? I’m okay with that
When Sonny’s Bad… he’s really bad. And though he started out strong the first few innings, he ran face-first into a brick wall starting in the 3rd inning and never really recovered. A pair of home runs, nine hits, and Jonny Gomes’ Wild Adventure Ride in left field led to a 7-run outburst during Sonny’s 6-inning stint.
This is what you get with Sonny, and we’re all well aware of it. He’s going to have his days where he puts up the numbers of a slow-pitch softball pitcher. You just kind of need to cross your fingers and hope that he comes out the next time ready to deal. I have no doubt that he will be.
Hello? Bats? Anybody home? We know the Rays’ bats have struggled of late, but they REALLY struggled yesterday, mustering just 3 hits and a walk against Cy Youn… Dana Eveland. Carlos Pena’s miserable time continued with an 0-for-4 hanging on his head. In fact, the 2-through-6 spots in the order combined to go 0-for-17 on the day. Not exactly knocking the cover off of the ball, were they? In essence, yesterday was the perfect storm where no pitching met no hitting, and the only question was how many runs the A’s would score before letting up off of the gas.
Trever Miller, Mop-up Man: Another game, another full inning of work for Trever Miller. In case you were wondering, he’s actually faced more righties (32) than lefties (30) this season and 9 of his 22 appearances have been for a full inning or more. Now THAT sounds like a LOOGY to me.
It Happens: There’s not much else more to say about this one. The Rays still won the series – which, if you recall, is ALWAYS the goal heading into any of these. They’ll enjoy a nice day off today and then head home to hopefully take 2-out-of-3 or even sweep the Orioles over the weekend. As of right now, we still maintain a 2-game lead in the Wild Card race, and the 27-20 record is just percentage points behind the Angels for second-best in the American League. Just keep accentuating those positives.
May 22nd, 2008 at 8:23 am
Agreed on all fronts Scott-
Pena needs to be lowered in the lineup down to 6 or 7. He is KILLING us… I am in full belief he was a one hit wonder, and now feel he needs to earn his “spot” in the linup back. I am so dissapointed in his performance so far.
I think it’s also time to say that this team offensively, really isn’t that good. Upton’s not hitting for power, Pena only hits for power, and no doubles, every 4th day. The only one that looks capable nightly is Navarro, and mostly Crawford. Cannot continue to win this way, the law of averages will dictate that…
May 22nd, 2008 at 8:48 am
I have been very quiet about it all year, thinking that he will eventually pull out of this K-ing 1 out of every 3 AB’s thing, but he hasn’t. Pena needs to be dropped in the order, and that’s the bottom line. He is killing us in the 4-spot right now. He needs to drop down to the 7-hole until he gets comfortable again. Yes, I know he still leads the team in HR, but he is absolutely pitiful other than his bombs right now. With 57 K’s at this point in the season, it is ridiculous, and a .206 AVG isn’t helping either. There is really only one player in the league who is worse than Pena with his K’s right now, and that’s Ryan Howard. Heck, even Adam Dunn, who has been known to K a ton, is only at 38 K’s right now. That’s even less than Upton right now, who is at 44. Maybe we should try to acquire Dunn to be a RF for us everyday. While he’ll still probably end up at 150 K’s, at least everyone knows he’ll definitely hit 40+ HR, drive in 100 RBI, and walk 100 times. It’s just a thought. I’m open for any conversation that will give us a true #4 hitter in the lineup that can produce. I’m not going to lie, this is what I was concerned with for Pena signing that big deal. I really thought going year-to-year with him would be the best option. I’m not saying I am giving up on him or anything, because I’m not, but it was a concern because of his past lack of success. But as of right now, Floyd needs to be the #4 guy in the lineup, and we may need to acquire a big bat to help put us over the top for a chance this year. I don’t care if it’s Dunn, Griffey, or Nady. I just would like someone who can drive in some runs. I like Pena a lot, but if he’s not producing runs, then he needs to be dropped in the order. But with what we have right now, I think the lineup should look like this:
1. Aki 2B
2. Crawford LF
3. Upton CF
4. Floyd DH
5. Longoria 3B
6. Navarro C
7. Pena 1B
8. Hinske RF
9. Bartlett SS
Maybe we could spark the offense a little bit this way. I know Pena’s a nice guy, but that means nothing when you’re on the field. Sorry to feel that way, but that’s just the way the game works.
May 22nd, 2008 at 9:30 am
It does not look like Fernando Perez is ever – nor Ruggy – going to be a Rays outfielder…so waiting on Jennings is going to be a few years. Time to crank up the old trade machine, use some of the minor league talent and go get a slugging right fielder. A good hitting slugger. Now. Next up, keep an eye on Percy as we may need to bring in some bullpen help in a month…Percy is not getting any older and Moran is still about two years away. Give Percy and Wheeler some help, someone who could step into Percy’s shoes if he goes down. (Sorry to those of you who love Salas…he is not a proven stopper.) Shore up those two spots and this team can keep winning.
May 22nd, 2008 at 10:20 am
Ruggi should get his shot, he is killing AAA, Dan Johnson could also help this team score runs… It’s not like we can just DFA Pena though!! So there is no room for DJ for now, but I still think he should get a look if injuries happen. Ruggi is just getting boned. He is better than every RF we have on the roster. The fact that he was a 25th round draft pick is screwing him… I could see trying to get a slugger, who’d be available? Dunn? Dunn is a DH who masquarades as an OF, Nady is ehhhhh, not that guy….
May 22nd, 2008 at 10:43 am
No I agree Ruggiano is getting screwed. I was pissed when he got sent down like a week into camp, especially when Rocco proved to be done. Gomes sucks, Gross is a 4th proven 4th outfielder, Hinske is crashing back down to earth, and Ruggiano has not shown he can not do it and has never been given a chance.
May 22nd, 2008 at 12:34 pm
Sean that is exactly how I feel, I like the little things that Gomes (Hustle and guts, Hinske (tenacity, cluch) and Gross (defense, suprise homeruns) bring to the table some nights… But none of them haven proven to be an everyday guy. All Ruggiano has done is own AAA, he does K quite a bit (so does Pena, Upton et al so that arguement holds no water), but he has improved every season in the minors, and his defense grades out at about a B (better than Gomes and Hinske). Look I am not saying he a future cleanup hitter- but he is capable of hitting 5th or 6th and rocketing doubles and driving in runs. I don’t want to trade him or any other prospect until it is shown that he CANNOT do it. Why overpay outside the club?
May 22nd, 2008 at 3:49 pm
That what I am saying. When Ruggiano has been up I have only noticed some timely hits. I do not remember Ruggiano ever just totally sucking in the field they way all of them do (except Gross) or at the plate the way they all can. I am not trying to say we have an all star sitting in AAA but I am saying we have a solid role player not getting a chance. You can’t have 9 all stars on the field, that is why there are places in the league for Gomes and Hinske, but they have all got there shot so why not give RUggiano a shot? Maybe we have the RFer for now and can keep all the minor league pieces.
May 22nd, 2008 at 5:56 pm
All I know is that there has to be some reason why Ruggiano hasn’t gotten his chance as a full-time RF for us. I personally think that the Rays want a RF who is proven as a hitter in the majors. Ruggiano’s value is pretty high while he’s in Durham, but if he comes up to the majors and struggles, his value while take a hit. I think they are planning on making a trade soon if they are still in the race a few weeks from now- maybe after the draft because of all the new prospects we’ll be acquiring. If they go after a guy like Dunn, they may have to part with a prospect like McGee, in order to make it happen. I think the more likely deal that makes a lot of sense would be to try to get a reliever and reliable bat, all at the same time. The team to match up with might be Seattle. They’re out of the playoff hunt already and have 2 pieces that would help us out a lot. The Rays might not even have to trade one of their top prospects to acquire both pieces. Those pieces are Raul Ibanez, to play RF, and Shawn Green to be another reliable reliever. My package would include Jason Hammel, Jonny Gomes, Mitch Talbot, and Brian Baker (low-level reliever). The Mariners wouldn’t be in a position to drive up the price of Ibanez because his contract runs out at the end of the year. Green is a reliever, and relievers typically don’t command a ton in a trade. I think the deal would be more than fair for both teams. Seattle would get a young, experienced pitcher in Hammel, a young, experienced hitter, a young pitcher that is nearly major league ready, and a reliever to groom in the minors. We would be getting a young, but experienced reliever, who is under team control for another couple years, and a reliable hitter that can play RF. This is definitely a deal I would pursue. Ibanez is as consistent as they come, and could hit just about anywhere in the middle of the lineup. You know what you get out of him year in and year out- a .290 AVG, 20+ HR, 30+ doubles and 100+ RBI. I think he’d be a very welcome part of this team.
May 23rd, 2008 at 11:05 am
I have read that Ibanez is an awful outfielder, I mean truly awful. I cannot imagine the Rays settling for that even if he is a reasonably consistent hitter. I cannot swear that is true, of course, but if it is, I think Ibanez is out.
The stated reason for keeping Ruggiano in AAA is for him to play regularly. Perhaps he can outplay any platoon the Rays currently have, but if not, it is probably better to let him mash at Durham rather than play just a few times a week in TB.
Also the Rays do not like to give away talent without some return. Should Ruggiano be up, someone from among Gomes, Hinske or Gross has to go. If there is no market for them, which is possible considering the fact that players like Dan Johnson have routinely passed through waivers unclaimed, I think it unlikely the Rays will simply release them. Each has value to the team, in particular Gross for his defense, and do not sell his bat short. He sees more pitches than anyone else on the team and has some pop as well.
There is no real comparison between Ruggiano’s Ks and those of Upton or Pena. Ruggiano’s are in the minors, and a player who makes such infrequent contact in the minors is bound to have serious problems hitting anything in the majors. Neither of them struck out at Justin’s rate (1/3.5 ABs) in the minors. He has improved to 1/3.76 in 79 ABs so far, but last year he was at 1/3.2 at AAA.
I think it is a good point to remember that a team need not have 9 all-stars to compete, and that is exactly why the current situation may not be so bad. True, neither Gomes, Gross or Hinske is a star right fielder, but taken together they may be productive. They complement each other very nicely, each having contributed to victories already. It’s not a question of them having got their shot; it is a question of focusing on the contributions they have made rather than on the obvious weaknesses each has.
May 23rd, 2008 at 11:54 am
Bob, you make some very good points. I have heard that Ibanez is not great in the OF, as well. But he has always swung a very consistent bat, and you can make the argument that all 3 of our current RF options have proven to be very inconsistent in their careers. I merely suggested Ibanez because I think if the Rays are in the hunt in the middle of June still, they might want to consider making a move for a run producer to try to really solidify the lineup. Hinske was great in the beginning, but has struggled at the plate lately. Gomes is awful in the field, and has never been a run producer. Gross is a great defensive replacement and a decent stick as a reserve OF. I would personally like to see the Rays acquire a right-handed stick to put in RF, but there really just aren’t too many of them. The ones that are out there are all on teams that are right in the thick of things-i.e. Jermaine Dye and Vladamir Guerrero. I agree about Ruggiano as well, although I wouldn’t mind giving him a chance. But Maddon didn’t think enough of him even to give him an opportunity to play when he was up with the team, so I have some questions about what their real plans are for the kid. I don’t know if maybe the kid doesn’t fit in with the team, or what the problem could be. For all we know, he might be one of those Delmon Young-types. I wouldn’t be too upset if we were to keep them same rotation going out there in RF, but I would prefer to have a truly solidified lineup to run out there everyday. Also, as I said before, the team needs an RBI guy in the lineup, and we have the tools necessary to acquire one. I’d personally prefer to go after Matt Holliday, but I don’t know if the Rays will want to give up as much as it would take for that trade to happen. I don’t know if I would either.