Comments on: A’s 8, RAYS 1: Nothing pretty about this one http://viewfromthebleachers.com/raysoflight/2008/07/23/as-8-rays-1-nothing-pretty-about-this-one/ Tampa Bay Rays Blog and News - Rays of Light Thu, 31 Dec 2009 13:33:20 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.6 hourly 1 By: A.J. http://viewfromthebleachers.com/raysoflight/2008/07/23/as-8-rays-1-nothing-pretty-about-this-one/comment-page-1/#comment-8198 A.J. Wed, 23 Jul 2008 17:34:59 +0000 http://viewfromthebleachers.com/raysoflight/2008/07/23/as-8-rays-1-nothing-pretty-about-this-one/#comment-8198 The only problem I would foresee with Wiggy being back is that he doesn't play the OF well at all. He's a fine infielder, but not good in the OF. A guy like Casey Blake makes a ton of sense for us in a trade. Essentially, he's the right-handed version of Eric Hinske. And as you said, the Astros are still trying to win their division, for some odd reason. I, too, was a little disappointed about the Rauch trade. I thought we could have offered the Nats some pitching, which is really what they need more than anything. However, I think the organization is comfortable with what they've seen out of Balfour while Percy's been out. So, maybe he is our closer of the future, and the Rays will be looking in a different direction. By the way, Scott, no offense to your opinion, but Gomes is done here. I really don't care about what he's done in this series because he always plays well against Oakland. Their his hometown team, and he's always made it a point to do his best against them. Maybe not by hitting HRs, but he does do well against them. He can't be trusted in the OF, and his swing is terribly inconsistent. As has been said many, many times before, nobody doubts his hustle and character, but performance is where it counts the most, and he hasn't stepped up. Also, Floyd has not been dead weight by any means. He has come up with some big hits for this team, and his veteran leadership has been noted by teammates. This is his 1st time giving the DH-role a try, and I think he's done well in his limited time with us. He's going to hit about 11-14 HR this year, which is great since he'll only end up around 250 AB's. Maddon has done a nice job keeping him rested this year. I really think Maddon has done it on purpose because he knows that Floyd could really help out in August and September with his veteran leadership, and power bat to go with it. It's more important to have Floyd be fresh and healthy later in the season than it is in the beginnning of it. Finally, Aybar is hitting about .280 against LHP this year, which is better than most of the guys we have on this team right now. That's the only reason he's been in the lineup. He's doing a fine job. We don't have much dead weight on this team at all. We have 3 guys that I feel we need to replace: Zobrist, Gomes, and Hammel. The only problem I would foresee with Wiggy being back is that he doesn’t play the OF well at all. He’s a fine infielder, but not good in the OF. A guy like Casey Blake makes a ton of sense for us in a trade. Essentially, he’s the right-handed version of Eric Hinske. And as you said, the Astros are still trying to win their division, for some odd reason.
I, too, was a little disappointed about the Rauch trade. I thought we could have offered the Nats some pitching, which is really what they need more than anything. However, I think the organization is comfortable with what they’ve seen out of Balfour while Percy’s been out. So, maybe he is our closer of the future, and the Rays will be looking in a different direction.
By the way, Scott, no offense to your opinion, but Gomes is done here. I really don’t care about what he’s done in this series because he always plays well against Oakland. Their his hometown team, and he’s always made it a point to do his best against them. Maybe not by hitting HRs, but he does do well against them. He can’t be trusted in the OF, and his swing is terribly inconsistent. As has been said many, many times before, nobody doubts his hustle and character, but performance is where it counts the most, and he hasn’t stepped up.
Also, Floyd has not been dead weight by any means. He has come up with some big hits for this team, and his veteran leadership has been noted by teammates. This is his 1st time giving the DH-role a try, and I think he’s done well in his limited time with us. He’s going to hit about 11-14 HR this year, which is great since he’ll only end up around 250 AB’s. Maddon has done a nice job keeping him rested this year. I really think Maddon has done it on purpose because he knows that Floyd could really help out in August and September with his veteran leadership, and power bat to go with it. It’s more important to have Floyd be fresh and healthy later in the season than it is in the beginnning of it.
Finally, Aybar is hitting about .280 against LHP this year, which is better than most of the guys we have on this team right now. That’s the only reason he’s been in the lineup. He’s doing a fine job. We don’t have much dead weight on this team at all. We have 3 guys that I feel we need to replace: Zobrist, Gomes, and Hammel.

]]> By: BillG http://viewfromthebleachers.com/raysoflight/2008/07/23/as-8-rays-1-nothing-pretty-about-this-one/comment-page-1/#comment-8197 BillG Wed, 23 Jul 2008 15:36:25 +0000 http://viewfromthebleachers.com/raysoflight/2008/07/23/as-8-rays-1-nothing-pretty-about-this-one/#comment-8197 I was really disappointed to see Rauch traded for a hot AAA 2baser. He would have done well in a Rays uniform as we go down the stretch. I sense that we will not bring in a closer so not to upset Percy. Question is...is Percy really capable of pitching like the old Percy for the rest of the season (and possibly post-season?)? I agree that there is dead weight to be cut. This is not the best 25 man roster we could have. At least cut someone and bring up Ruggy...he is much better than Gomes any day. Having a roster with Gomes, and Floyd, and Aybar, and Zobrist, and Gross is not a division leading roster. Need some fixes. I wonder what is going on in the RO discussions concerning RF? Are they looking to just survive for the rest of the season because they have a plan for the 2008-2009 off-season? Someone targetted? Just curious.... I was really disappointed to see Rauch traded for a hot AAA 2baser. He would have done well in a Rays uniform as we go down the stretch. I sense that we will not bring in a closer so not to upset Percy. Question is…is Percy really capable of pitching like the old Percy for the rest of the season (and possibly post-season?)?

I agree that there is dead weight to be cut. This is not the best 25 man roster we could have. At least cut someone and bring up Ruggy…he is much better than Gomes any day. Having a roster with Gomes, and Floyd, and Aybar, and Zobrist, and Gross is not a division leading roster. Need some fixes.

I wonder what is going on in the RO discussions concerning RF? Are they looking to just survive for the rest of the season because they have a plan for the 2008-2009 off-season? Someone targetted? Just curious….

]]> By: Joel http://viewfromthebleachers.com/raysoflight/2008/07/23/as-8-rays-1-nothing-pretty-about-this-one/comment-page-1/#comment-8196 Joel Wed, 23 Jul 2008 14:40:46 +0000 http://viewfromthebleachers.com/raysoflight/2008/07/23/as-8-rays-1-nothing-pretty-about-this-one/#comment-8196 The Boston, Yankees and even the Jays won last night. It's getting mighty close here in the AL East. The Boston, Yankees and even the Jays won last night. It’s getting mighty close here in the AL East.

]]> By: Scott Caruso http://viewfromthebleachers.com/raysoflight/2008/07/23/as-8-rays-1-nothing-pretty-about-this-one/comment-page-1/#comment-8195 Scott Caruso Wed, 23 Jul 2008 13:44:59 +0000 http://viewfromthebleachers.com/raysoflight/2008/07/23/as-8-rays-1-nothing-pretty-about-this-one/#comment-8195 To be fair to Gomes, he has been on base something like 3 out of 5 or 6 times up this series against the lefties, so maybe he's starting to remember his stroke against southpaws. To be fair to Gomes, he has been on base something like 3 out of 5 or 6 times up this series against the lefties, so maybe he’s starting to remember his stroke against southpaws.

]]> By: Hazleton Jason http://viewfromthebleachers.com/raysoflight/2008/07/23/as-8-rays-1-nothing-pretty-about-this-one/comment-page-1/#comment-8194 Hazleton Jason Wed, 23 Jul 2008 13:42:44 +0000 http://viewfromthebleachers.com/raysoflight/2008/07/23/as-8-rays-1-nothing-pretty-about-this-one/#comment-8194 I actually like the Wigginton idea, should take too much I wouldn't suspect, however, for some dumb reason, the 'stros are still buying (see Randy Wolf), so I don't suppose they'd want to part with Ty just yet... I'm rather sick of the dead weight on this team- We are in a pennant race and should hve the best 25 man roster that can be placed on the field, and I just don't see it. Floyd, Miller, Reyes, Aybar, and Gomes are the "dead weight" I speak of There is no reason and hell that Aybar should be a DH on any night... He is a nice bench player- but Floyd has been mariginal since May, and Gomes- well I duunno what to do with him... I just don't see how Ruggiano and Dan Johnson, and Juan Salas for that matter can just languish in AAA with solid numbers... At some point you have to cut the fat and go... I actually like the Wigginton idea, should take too much I wouldn’t suspect, however, for some dumb reason, the ’stros are still buying (see Randy Wolf), so I don’t suppose they’d want to part with Ty just yet…

I’m rather sick of the dead weight on this team- We are in a pennant race and should hve the best 25 man roster that can be placed on the field, and I just don’t see it.

Floyd, Miller, Reyes, Aybar, and Gomes are the “dead weight” I speak of There is no reason and hell that Aybar should be a DH on any night… He is a nice bench player- but Floyd has been mariginal since May, and Gomes- well I duunno what to do with him… I just don’t see how Ruggiano and Dan Johnson, and Juan Salas for that matter can just languish in AAA with solid numbers…

At some point you have to cut the fat and go…

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