I've been reminded by several folks that my blog posts have been lagging. Quite frankly, I could have posted multiple posts per day over the past few months with everything happening in this country and around the world over the past few weeks, but I've been busy doing other things. Not to mention that I've sustained an injury to my elbow and it hurts to type. But, I will muddle through.
Rays fans, we find ourselves on May 30th, 51 games into the season at 23-27, 5.5 games out of first. In any of the previous years, Rays fans would feel decent about where they were situated in the standings, but last year raised the bar beyond belief. The Rays rebounded last night against Minnesota at the Trop and put to rest a 5 game losing streak which, quite frankly was embarrassing. The Rays had a complete meltdown in Cleveland, losing the first game of the series 11-10, after having a 10-2 lead early and a 10-5 lead going into the 9th inning at Progressive Field. ( I almost called and canceled my auto insurance policy with Progressive after the four game beatdown)
The Good-
Lets look at some of the good things which have happened so far this season. Joe Maddon has found his long lost brother. (see above) Merlot Maddon only has to deal with pitching staffs and lineup rosters. Drew Carey has to endure an hour each day of overweight 70+ year old women whose breasts are below their waistline, resembling grapefruits stuffed in tubesocks mauling him as they climb on the the stage after winning a years supply of vitamin water and a vacuum cleaner.
Seriously, The Rays are leading Major League Baseball(MLB) in runs scored so far this season. Carlos Pena is leading the American League (AL) in home runs and Evan Longoria is leading MLB in Runs Batted In (RBI). Matt Garza and James Sheilds have shown in the past outings, that they are ready to become the meat of this pitching rotation. Jason Bartlett, though on the Disabled List (DL) for an undisclosed period of time, was batting .373, second in the AL, and his bat and supurb defense will be missed with his stint on the DL. Ben Zobrist has come on here as of late and has been deadly with runners in scoring position. And that's about where we have to close the door on all the good news.
The Bad-
I was not a fan of the offseason signing of ex-Phillies, Pat Burrell. Pat has only played in 30 games this season so far and after 108 plate appearances, he has 1 home run to show for his efforts. He's been on the DL with no return date to the lineup in sight. So far in my opinion, the money spent on his contract should have been allocated to middle and late relief pitching.
There really isn't much more marginal bad news, so we'll skip right to the ugly.
The Ugly-
Troy (walking wounded) Percival. This guy needed an EMS unit to follow him from game to game LAST year. So, after he recorded 6 saves this year as the designated closer, he went on the DL and rumors are he's simply going to retire. Troy. Why didn't you retire after last year? Why put the Rays in a situation where you say you could come back and then get shelled each outing 40 games into the season? Money? Jeff Garcia is gone from the Bay area, take a hint.
Grant (Lights Out Last Year) Balfor. WOW! Talk about what a difference a year makes, he ended last year with an Earned Run Average (ERA) of under three and early in May it was over 7.00. Maybe Grant should take a 21 day stint on the DL, head back to Australia and do a walkabout with Crocodile Dundee and toss some boomerangs around. He's currently got an ERA at 5.75 with 13 Earned Runs and 14 walks in 20 innings pitched. His Walks and hits per innings pitched (WHIP) is 1.67. Unacceptable.
Scott Kazmir. The two time All-Star left hander has been nothing more than a batting practice coach lobbing softballs in his last three starts. I thought Scott might become the next Tom Glavine, but there is something seriously wrong with his mechanics and I wonder if he can regain his form. And if he can, will it matter this season?
Andy Sonnanstine. 7.66 ERA, 7 home runs in 49 innings pitched. We kept him and traded Edwin Jackson? Are you kidding me? In 2007, local sports talk radio in Tampa was really rough on Edwin. The clowns in the morning on 620WDAE coined the nickname, Ed two win Jackson. Well, the Tigers are in first place, he's solidified his place as the number 2 starter and has an ERA lower than any starter on the Rays at 2.50. Ron and Ian mocked you Edwin but I miss you.
BJ (The Next Andrew Jones) Upton. I was critical of BJ last season, especially down the stretch. I was a fan of the Atlanta Braves for decades and BJ's lackadaisical approach to the game resembles that of Andrew Jones. Two players which have read too many of their press releases about how great they will become. Andrew was a great defensive center fielder, but never really delivered with the bat. Sound familiar? Why BJ is hitting leadoff is beyond me. .199-2-9? 50 games into the season and he's below the Mendoza line?
Where is Matt Joyce? The Rays traded Edwin Jackson to the Detriot Tiger for RF Matt Joyce and send him to the minors. For the AAA Durham Bulls right now, Joyce is .315-5-27. You add up what Gabe (Welcome Back) Kapler .186-0-5 and Gabe Gross .256-3-14 have done combined, it doesn't add up. Why did we trade a starting pitcher for a outfield prospect to have him at the AAA level now while the right field position suffers?
Can Help Be On The Way?
We are creeping each day closer to the All-Star break and some possible callups in my mind if things don't turn around soon are:
Wade Davis. 5-2 3.40 The concern with Davis is, he's given up nearly as many walks as he has strikeouts. 25/32.
Winston Abreu. Closer for AAA Durham. 2-0 1.71 7 saves. Only surrendered one home run, 8 walks versus 38 strikeouts and a very impressive WHIP of 0.72
Calvin Medlock. This is my darkhorse for a callup for middle relief. 20 saves between A and AA ball in the organization. 3.04ERA but 3 walks versus 33 strikeouts at the AA level. 0.86 WHIP.
I think Rays fans will get a look at Abreu or Medlock by the All-Star break, and if they fall 10 games back before then, we might see them sooner.
