Rays of Light

Not a bad deal if you consider that this is a guy who could hit between 20 and 30 home runs this season depending on the amount of playing time he gets. Yeah, we all hate that he swings like he’s trying to put one through the roof of the Trop, but that’s who Jonny is. He’s not going to change; at least we know what we’re getting with him. He’ll play hard, he’ll hustle, he’ll make some bonehead plays in right, but he’s a lot better than some of the alternatives.

Could you imagine giving $3 million dollars to a decent middle reliever who was coming off a bad season just a few years ago? It’s crazy how the middle relief market has changed; these guys are now CASHING in even though performance is so inconsistent from year to year.

Tampa Bay has had talks with the Atlanta Braves about a trade involving 24-year-old infielder Willy Aybar, a switch-hitter with a checkered past. Aybar’s off-the-field issues, most notably a stint in a substance-abuse rehabilitation program that wiped out most of his 2007 season, could be an impediment.

Well, that’s an interesting one, isn’t it? He definitely fits the mold of what the Rays are looking for, and - if true - perhaps puts to bed the assertion that many of us had that the Rays were writing off players with personal issues. Aybar’s a decent player but he’s not great. To make a deal for him, the Rays would need to pull off a steal, in my opinion. I wouldn’t part with anyone of great value to get him.

I thought this was an interesting quote in the article:

He has had a strong season in his home country, hitting .339 and posting a .415 on-base percentage in 15 games during Licey’s run to first place in the league’s January semifinal series.

Look, I don’t care how their schedule works - 15 games is NOT a season. He had a STRONG two weeks; he didn’t have a STRONG season. That’s like saying that the World Series or All-Star Game MVP awards are reasons to induct someone to the Hall of Fame.

Iwamura routinely made acrobatic plays that defied logic throughout the 123 games he played in during the 2007 season. However, his bat and speed make him better suited to be a middle infielder than a third baseman, where the preference is for power. Iwamura hit .285 with just seven home runs and 34 RBIs in 2007 — far more impressive numbers for a second baseman than a third baseman.

Bartlett did commit 26 errors last season, the most of any shortstop in the Major Leagues. But he has a strong arm and good range, which are attributes not seen in a box score. Some of Bartlett’s struggles in 2007 can be attributed to neck and shoulder injuries that plagued him throughout the season. Regardless, the Rays are sold on the player who will take over at shortstop this season.

I’ve gotta admit, I was actually excited to watch these two guys play together from reading this article. It’ll be nice to actually have some guys who can pick it up the middle instead of watching - (shudder) - Brendan Harris and Ty Wigginton play keep-away.

The Rays have already conducted research showing approximately 12,000 parking spaces within a 10-15 minute walk of the new ballpark site. Other transportation assets of the downtown waterfront location include the approximate 5,000 parking spaces at the redevelopment of Tropicana Field and the significant capacity remaining on I-175 and I-375.

Over the next several months, RK&K will work with the City of St. Petersburg, its residents and the Rays to analyze the relationship between existing parking locations and ballpark entry and exit routes, forecast downtown traffic volumes during event conditions, and engage the community to determine specific areas of concern. RK&K will recommend methods to ensure that adequate parking will be available for both the ballpark and its downtown environs. RR&K will also help create an effective traffic management plan to minimize congestion and provide ease of entry and exit to the ballpark.

I’m very interested in finding out what these people determine, because just throwing out that 12,000 parking spot number is INCREDIBLY misleading. Is NO ONE else going to be down by the waterfront on game day? And traffic in that area could potentially be a nightmare. Though the amount of parking is a little low near the Trop right now, getting in and out on game day is MUCH easier than it is at other stadiums and arenas I’ve been to.

(The mayor) said she did accept a jersey from the Tampa Bay Rays a few months ago as part of a team promotion touting the baseball club’s new name and logo. She says that is different from a fire inspector accepting a hockey ticket because she turns the gift over to the city rather than keeping or using it.

“If anyone gives me anything like that, it’s ceremonial in nature,” Iorio said. “It goes to archives. I accept them on behalf of the city. Nothing is for my personal benefit.”

What a waste of $200 to just take a jersey and put it into archives. Why not frame it and display it somewhere in city hall? Or donate it to charity or something? Silly politicians.

Alright, that’s it. I’ve gotta go to work. I suggest you do the same.

Tags: a Rays jersey is just sitting in archives, Akinori Iwamura, Dan Wheeler, Does anyone actually use these things?, Jason Bartlett, Jonny Gomes, new stadium, Willy Aybar
Posted in Links Galore | 2 Comments »

The preferred profile for the wanted “super-utility” player is a left-handed hitter who can play first and third and fill in at the corner outfield spots, and likely would be acquired via trade.

Though I’m not sure why they’d want a LEFTY to play first since that’s what Carlos Pena is and the addition of this player would likely mean the end of Joel Guzman’s chances of making the roster, that player they are talking about sounds an awful lot like Frank Catalanotto. Problem is, he makes $3.5 million and plays for another team (Texas), so the Rays would have to swing some kind of trade. I don’t see that happening.

“From the original thoughts that all of us had, we’re a good bit above that number and it’s just the way things worked out,” Friedman said. “It’s the opportunistic approach that we had this offseason.”

I don’t think it’s ever been a question of getting to $40 million and stopping there. I think the team was truly taking the approach that it would spend whatever it needed to spend so long as it remained within the plan - the plan of course being to continue to develop the majority of its talent from within. The money spent on Troy Percival, for instance, was the right move to make and the organization should be commended for being willing to shell out a little more cash than it said it was going to.

t would seem an unusual way to do things, but Friedman said the Rays might decide before 3B prospect Evan Longoria gets to spring training whether or not he’s on the team.

The thinking is that the Rays already know enough about him, that talent evaluations during the spring are often skewed by circumstance and level of competition, and that deciding beforehand would reduce scrutiny (and pressure) on his day-to-day play.

But doing so would seem to make sense only if they decide Longoria, 22, isn’t going to make the team. That way, it eliminates the question from being a daily issue, as well as a potential controversy if Longoria were to put up huge spring numbers.

I have to disagree with Topkin on the point that it only makes sense if he isn’t going to make the team. “It eliminates the question from being a daily issue”? Uhhh, this isn’t the New York media, pal. I suspect that you, Marc Lancaster, and Bill Chastain aren’t going to exactly crush the guy’s spirits with your reporting over the course of Spring Training. You might just be overstating your job a little, don’t you think?

Baldelli said he has been working out and running three days a week with no problems from his previously troubling hamstrings and plans to “turn it up a notch” after returning to Florida at the end of the month. “If I can hit and kind of take it easy running, I think everything will fall right into place after that,” he said.

That’s right. Rocco’s getting ready to “turn it up a notch.” Look out, AL East.

In all seriousness, the return of a healthy Baldelli would be a boon to this team because it simply adds an All-Star-caliber player to an already strong team. Considering how little he was around last season, it’s almost like another big free agent signing.

And for those who keep asking, the Trop can’t be “converted” to an outdoor stadium by removing the roof and some walls because it was built with no drainage or weatherproofing (and would be very costly to do).

WHO ASKED THIS QUESTION?! No, seriously. I want to know. Was it one of you guys?

The Rays say the successful redevelopment of Tropicana Field and its parking lots could generate $5-million a year in new property tax revenues for state and Pinellas schools. If the redevelopment includes retail, millions more dollars could flow into the city and county coffers each year through sales tax payments.

That money, which would not help build a new stadium for the Rays, could be used to build new schools or new parks or pay teachers or police officers more, the Rays say.

Watching this whole thing play out is like watching a politician who is 5 to 10 points down in the polls try to make up ground heading into a primary.

The blend of talent and experience has the manager talking about a .500 season as “a reasonable goal,” but it won’t deter him from taking a back-to-basics approach to spring training. In fact, the potential to crack the 70-win barrier for the first time in Rays history might only serve to reinforce Maddon’s determination to avoid giving away so many winnable games by committing fundamental mistakes.

“I’m going to apply a lot of pressure to the coaches and myself this spring training to make sure we get these fundamentals down appropriately,” Maddon said. “We’ve talked about them for two years; I believe this group is ready to put them into play. I believe this group is ready to take what we’re talking about and execute them. I believe this group will accept constructive criticism well and be accountable for their actions.

As soon as you shoot for mediocrity, you set yourself up for failure. Way to go, Joe. This team - like every team’s goal - should be to win as many games as possible and ultimately reach the playoffs. But, nah, let’s shoot for a third-place finish and the chance to watch Joe Buck annoy the fans of two other teams instead of ours in the playoffs.

Tags: Evan Longoria, Frank Catalanotto, Joe Maddon, Marc Topkin, new stadium, payroll, Rocco Baldelli, Tropicana Field
Posted in Links Galore | 9 Comments »

…whatever the reasons, Rays fans — both of them! — finally have cause for optimism.

Is it really necessary to put down the fanbase that you are trying to attract with your article? It’s one thing for a columnist or a writer who regularly writes about a team to take a little jab at his breatheren - we’re all in it together and doing it in good fun - but this guy thought it would be funny to put down the fans of the Rays just to make a point. Dayn is probably a fine writer; he wouldn’t be writing for FOX Sports if he wasn’t, but I’m just not a fan of this one.

Tags: Akinori Iwamura, Bill Chastain, Blue Jays, David Bloom Award, Dayn Perry, Evan Longoia, Fans, Jorge Velandia, LOOGY, mailbag, new stadium, Pirates, Shawn Camp, Tropicana Field
Posted in Links Galore | 1 Comment »