Astros 3, RAYS 2: Bats go quiet as the Rays hit the road
By Scott Caruso | June 22nd, 2008 | Posted in Game Recap
The Rays’ bats went ice-cold over the weekend, and today’s 3-2 loss to the Astros was simply the Zenith of that frigid play. The team somehow managed to turn 6 hits and 6 walks into just 2 runs scored, and the Astros used a timely bomb by the Carlos Lee to take this series and snap the Rays’ 9-series winning streak at home.
Kid KO’d: Scott Kazmir was pretty good again today, but his stuff definitely began to show signs of wear as this game went on. To hang a 2-2 slider like he did to Lee is an absolute killer, and – as we all know – it was the difference in the game. Still, it’s hard to be to hard on Kaz because he wasn’t awful and he’s been so darn good lately. He’s still putting up All-Star-esque numbers.
Pen Pals: I love me some Grant Balfour. Not to toot my own horn (because I would NEVER do something like that), but I was one of the people who was saying way back in Spring Training that he should be on this team. He’s doing nothing but look like a stellar big league reliever at this point. And Dan Wheeler escaped some trouble with a little help from Trever Miller.
“B” Team: Let’s be honest; this definitely wasn’t the “A” lineup out there for the Rays today. Willy Aybar batting third? That tells you all you need to know. Aybar’s been a decent backup player, but he’s by no means a #3 quality hitter. The team will have a much different dynamic to it once Carlos Pena is back.
Wrong Move: The Rays optioned Justin Ruggiano back to Durham after the game today, and I feel like this is absolutely the wrong move right now. Though I agree that Ben Zobrist needs to come back, as is widely expected to be the corresponding move, but the way Ruggiano has played – especially in comparison to Jonny Gomes – should afford him the right to stay on the roster as a reserve outfielder. He’s clearly a superior defender to Gomes (and can play center field), plus he’s hitting better than the Wookie. I know it doesn’t cost the team anything to simply option Ruggiano, whereas DFAing Gomes would, in effect, be putting him out there for anyone to simply take, but this season is virtually half-over now and the Rays are in the thick of the pennant race. The roster moves that are made should be those that give the manager the team that gives him the best chance of winning. Right now, Justin Ruggiano gives this team a better chance to win than Jonny Gomes does. It’s a shame that the Rays brass doesn’t also see it that way.
Wheels: Did you know that Jason Bartlett’s got 16 stolen bases? He’s doing his best to keep pace with B.J. Upton and Carl Crawford atop the team lead. Not bad for a guy who never gets on base.
Standings Check: AL East: 1 1/2 behind the Red Sox; Wild Card: 3 up on Oakland
Tags: Astros
June 22nd, 2008 at 10:49 pm
Sadly, I agree on Gomes. Love the guy, but he could never field and now he’s not hitting either.
June 23rd, 2008 at 6:06 am
Yea but, you need Benny to play short for Bartlett when he has the baby and I would rather have Longo on 3rd and Benny on short. Moving Longo around is not so good for a rookie who is trying to get his head into hitting. Let him feel comfortable ware he is so his mind is on hitting instead of a different position in if early days as a pro. Pena is coming back and need a spot also and at this time Gomes has some trade value as a throw in for a trade after the break. I wouldn’t just kick him to the curb for anyone to pick up. Justin Ruggiano will be back soon and I think he will be the starting RF by August if we don’t make an OF trade.
June 23rd, 2008 at 8:43 am
Do you ever get the feeling there’s something we don’t know about Ruggiano? He does well when called upon, yet he doesn’t get the shot many people think he deserves. What does he have to do to prove his worth??
June 23rd, 2008 at 9:08 am
I have always wondered why Ruggiano has never been given the opportunity to become a regular. The only thing I can think of is that they feel he is more valuable to them in Durham as a trade chip. Let’s face it, if he were to play regularly and struggle in Tampa, his value goes down the toilet. They obviously don’t want to take that chance right now. Although, I think he’s worth at least the opportunity. I do think they are planning on trading him in one of 2 deals that could occur-one for a pitcher, and one for a RF.
June 23rd, 2008 at 9:24 am
Speaking of trades, apparently we are in on the C.C. Sabathia talks. I mentioned it last night in a comment, but really was just throwing it out there for discussion. If that is true, I am all for it. Even if we don’t sign him to a long-term deal, we could take advantage of 2 more draft picks. But to get him in a Rays uniform, the Indians are going to want at least one stud prospect, which we have plenty of, and 2 more players. My guess is that this could be a package of McGee, Hammel, and Ruggiano.
I will throw out another 2 guys worthy of going after as well. Tim Hudson or Jake Peavy would be huge acquisitions. Peavy would definitely be able to be had by us. We have exactly what San Diego wants-a young shortstop ready for the majors soon. A package of Brignac, Talbot, Gomes, and a low-level pitching prospect could do the trick for Peavy.
Hudson would be great to pick up, but tough to pry away from Atlanta. I think it depends on if the Braves ever decide they are out of the hunt. I personally think they are because of all their injuries, but they haven’t said so yet. To get Hudson, we’d have to part with Jackson, McGee, and maybe somebody like Rhyne Hughes. They could use a young 1B of the future, and Hughes has done some nice things in Montgomery.
June 23rd, 2008 at 10:07 am
Suppose you are the Dodgers and Rays this past spring. The Dodgers want Kazmir and offer you Hu, Houlton, Delwyn Young and a C level prospect. As the Rays, do you take it?
Remember, this is before the year started. Hu is universally considered a brilliant defensive shortstop who hit .318/.337/505 in AAA and .329/.380/.508 in AA last year with a total of 40 doubles and 14 home runs. He even had a .517 slugging % in his short stint in LA.
Young, meanwhile, hit .337/.384/.571 with 54 doubles and 17 home runs in AAA and then in a brief time in LA hit .382/.417/.647 there. And Houlton managed a 3.65 ERA at Las Vegas.
So you are offered a brilliant defensive shortstop with a .500+ slugging and some major league experience already as well as a doubles machine outfielder also with a bit of major league time plus a pitcher who did decently in a hitter’s league plus another prospect. If you are still not satisfied (perhaps you would be, but I would not even consider it) then why do you think the Padres would give up a Cy Young winner for an untested shortstop, poor fielding, stirkeout prone, platoon outfielder and grade B pitching prospect plus a C prospect?
June 23rd, 2008 at 10:48 am
Good point bobr. Has to be a diamond chip in there to make it worth their time, unless they are just looking to dump payroll. It would take a pitcher more than just Talbot.
June 23rd, 2008 at 10:56 am
Bob, Brignac is regarded as the best all-around SS prospect in all of baseball. While he’s unproven, the Padres are looking for someone they can rely on when Greene goes away. While Brignac is our 4th best prospect, he would probably be #1 in most organizations. The Padres need a power right-handed bat, I chose Gomes. He’s from California, and fills a need for them. Talbot would be a solid #4 or 5 for their rotation in their pitcher-friendly ballpark. Throw in somebody like Heath Rollins, and the deal could be made. Let’s not forget that we ended up trading Russel Branyan to the Padres and he couldn’t field either, and struck out even more than Gomes. The Padres could be a sucker for Gomes in this deal. Besides, it’s just an idea. It could always use some tweaking, and if necessary, we could give up more for the guy.
June 23rd, 2008 at 11:47 am
Brignac is highly regarded in some circles and is having a decent enough year, but one that leaves a lot of questions. Gomes is a bench player and Talbot may or may not be a successful starter in the majors. I really like him, but he has been very erratic in AAA and some are already considering him a middle reliever in the majors.
Remember, we are discussing a Cy Young winner, a strikeout king and a 27 year old in his early prime who is signed through 2012 with a club option for 2013. As for Branyan, yes we did trade him, as I recall for Evan Meek and Dale Thayer, hardly comparable.
I imagine the proposal you suggest might net the Rays Randy Wolf, although I would not be too optimistic about that. Frankly, I doubt they want Gomes whose power would likely be dissipated in SD and who could not patrol that outfield (and who have no DH).
I suppose it could be tweaked, but I doubt there is any way to get Peavy from SD without raping the farm system and adding a major leaguer as well. My guess is you start with Brignac, Davis and Jennings and then start tweaking.
June 23rd, 2008 at 12:23 pm
You could be right. But you never know what certain GM’s think. And while you don’t think Branyan and Gomes are comparable, I think they are. Both are really only hitters, and I think Gomes even has more value in the field than Branyan does. I can’t believe it myself, but it could be true. And I don’t buy Gomes’ power being dissipated in San Diego, because when Gomes does hit his HR’s, they are usually well past any outfield distance marker. To be honest with you though, I don’t know if anybody would even want Gomes. I don’t think he has much value except for his determination and locker room demeanor. I love his hustle, but I would not be disappointed if we released him. He would have to be a throw-in for any deal to be made.
I would like to see us go after either Hudson or Sabathia. Hudson is my slight preference, only because he has success in the postseason. And if you’re going to try to bring someone in mid-season, it should be to try and win the whole gosh darn thing. Also, with Hudson, you at least get him for this year and next. Then, it makes giving up the prospects a little bit easier. We would definitely get 2 draft picks for him the next year, as well, if we weren’t able to reach a deal for him.
June 23rd, 2008 at 1:37 pm
If Gomes is not traded then I see him dropped by the end of the year. We cannot sustain the no field/mucho strike-outs for long. Ruggy is a much better 4th than Gomer. Given the Gross/Hinske/Ruggy combo, it leaves Gomer as the odd man out.
Throw in one of the stud pitching prospects and SD might go for it. Finally, remember Brignac is still a baby – agewise.
June 23rd, 2008 at 2:48 pm
The reason I can think of why Gomes wasn’t sent down is the setup for the long term.
This team and it’s owners always look for long term. If a move doesn’t make sense both for this season, and the next 2, then they will rethink what they are doing.
Thats great and everything, but sometimes you have to put some chips into the pot and hope for a big payoff.
I’d love to see a move before the trade deadline. A move giving away Glover or Gomes (even though I’d hate to see him go) could easily get someone decent to sew up a run for the postseason.
June 23rd, 2008 at 3:41 pm
I’d have to disagree; I don’t think you’d get anything decent back for Glover or Gomes.