The Hangover: For The Devil Rays, Ignorance Is Bliss

Devil Rays 5, Orioles 4.
Don’t the Devil Rays know they are not supposed to win games like have recently?

Don’t they know they are not supposed to come from behind to win a game? Don’t they know they are supposed to lose a game in extra-innings after teasing us by tying it in the 9th? Don’t they know the bullpen is not supposed to throw 4 scoreless innings when the game is tied or winning by 1? Don’t they know the Devil Rays are the team that gives up 11 runs in an inning? Don’t they know they aren’t supposed to beat the Orioles, a team they should beat on a consistent basis? And they should at least know they aren’t supposed to beat them two nights in a row. And don’t they know they are not supposed to win games on the road? And they sure as hell are supposed to know that they are not supposed to win 5 of 6?

Don’t look now, but the Devil Rays are only 6 games behind the O’s for 4th place in the AL East. They have made up 5 games in the last 10. And the Rays are now only 4 games behind the White Sox for the worst record in baseball. This was a team that at one point looked like they could lose 105 games. Now they would have to fall flat on their face to lose 100, needing only 10 wins in their last 29 to avoid the dubious feet.

We don’t blame you if you have already given up on the 2007 Tampa Bay Devil Rays, but for the first time all season, this team is fun to watch. This is the team we dreamed of back in March when we had delusions of grandeur.

Suddenly our Derrick Brooks jersey, shredded Bucs hat and of course our lucky Sunday-red boxers just got one more week in the closet.

DEVIL RAYS WEBTOPIA…

• Joe Maddon says that he and Steve Henderson are not the reason for the recent surge in scoring, stating that their message has been the same all along. Rather he believes that the young players are finally absorbing what has been taught. [TBO]

“It comes down to this: When the student is ready, the teacher’s going to appear,” Maddon said. “You can say this stuff for years, and you have to keep saying it until it hits. Until, boom, it finds the mark…For years, as a player, I used to think my coaches were idiots because they were so redundant. But I was the idiot, because I could not grasp what they were trying to tell me.”

• Bill Simmons attended a Red Sox-Devil Rays game at the Trop. Would “The Sports Guy” finally set the record straight and tell the world what we already know…the the Trop is not that bad and is actually a good place to watch a baseball game? Nope. No, Simmons went for the cheap laugh and played to the stereotypes. [ESPN]
• Of course, Bill Simmons then somehow defends the greatness of Red Sox fans by ridiculing all the bandwagon members of Red Sox Nation, and their ignorance for the game of baseball. [ESPN]

[Narrator] There was a time, a time before Pink Hats and green jerseys. When the World Wide Leader reigned supreme. When people believed everything they heard on ESPN.com. This was an age when only real fans were allowed to read “Page 2”. And in the blogosphere, one blogger was more man then the rest. His name was Bill Simmons. He was like a god walking amongst mere mortals. He made jokes that could make a wolverine purr and typed words so fine they made Truman Capote look like a hobo. In other words, Bill Simmons was the balls.

• Jordi at The Serious Tip takes Bill Simmons to task, and rightfully so.

Simmons resorts to taking cheap shot after cheap shot at an organization that has struggled for respect in a division steeped with tradition

• Joe Torre is afraid that Mike Mussina cannot handle the Devil Rays. Mussina will be replaced in the rotation by Ian Kennedy on Saturday against the Rays. In the past, this would be viewed as opportunity to get a veteran pitcher back on track. [River Ave. Report]

Down On The Farm: Let’s Play Nine?

Richmond 2, Durham 1. Mitch Talbot dropped to 12-9 after walking 5 in 5 innings and allowing 2 runs. Evan Longoria was 1-3 with a walk and 2 strikeouts.

Montgomery 12, Carolina 6. Reid Brignac was 2-4, driving in 3, including his 17th home run. Fernando Perez was 2-4 with 2 walks and scored 3 runs. He also stole his 28th and 29th bases.

Vero Beach 10, Jupiter 0 (game 1). Josh Butler pitched a 2-hit shutout, striking out 7 and walking just 1. He is now 4-3 in 9 Vero Beach starts and 9-4 overall. Sergio Pedroza was 2-4 and drove in 4.

Jupiter 4, Vero Beach 1 (game 2). Jackson Brennan had 2 hits in 4 at bats.

Columbus 2, Charleston 1 (game 1). Will Kline pitched 5 shutout innings, and has only allowed 2 runs in his last 14 innings, covering 3 starts. He struck out 4 and walked 2. Nevin Ashley and Ryan Royster both hit solo homers.

Columbus 2, Charleston 1 (game 2). Heath Rollins pitched a complete game, allowing only 1 unearned run. He allowed 4 hits, striking out 4 and walking none to increase his Devil Rays organizational record to 17 wins. Ryan Royster was 2-3 and hit his second home run of the double-header. He has 30 on the season to go with 98 RBI.

Hudson Valley 2, Brooklyn 1. Josh Johnson, the Rays 16th round pick this year, improved to 4-2 with 5 innings of 1-run ball. He struck out 5 and walked 1.

Johnson City 1, Princeton 0 (game 1). Kyle Ayers, a 14th round selection, allowed only 2 hits and no walks in 4 innings, but picked up his 3rd loss as the Rays only managed 5 hits.

Princeton 4, Johnson City 1 (game 2).

NOTES FROM DOWN ON THE FARM…

• Justin Ruggiano makes this week’s Baseball America “Prospect Hot Sheet”, coming in at #11. [Baseball America]
• The Herald-Sun sits down for a one-on-one with Chad Orvella. [Herald-Sun]
• The Biscuits have now won 11 in a row and their magic number is down to 2 to clinch the South division. Wade Davis will take the mound on Friday with an opportunity to clinch the division crown. [Montgomery Biscuits]

The Hangover: Break Up The Rays!

Devil Rays 15, Orioles 8.

Just the links today

DEVIL RAYS WEBTOPIA…

• The Rays elimination number in the division remains 3, and is 10 for the wild card. With 30 games remaining, the Rays need 11 wins to avoid another 100-loss season. They have a 5-game lead over the White Sox for the worst record in baseball.
  
• The Rays tied a club record with 11 runs in the 8th inning last night. [Devil Rays]
  
• Delmon Young homered for the first time since June 22. [Bradenton Herald]
• Aubrey Huff hit his 5th home run against the Devil Rays. [tampabay.com]
• The Devil Rays may have the best outfield bargain in baseball with Carl Carawford, BJ Upton and Delmon Young who combined, will make less than $7 million in 2007. [TBO]
• How many wins would James Shields have if he were pitching for a contender? Joe Maddon thinks it would be 15. We have a hunch it would be 16-17. [Devil Rays]
• With Ben Zobrist on the DL, Josh Wilson has become the everyday shortstop. [TBO]
• Elijah Dukes met with Cecil Fielder and coached first base for Fielder’s Independent League Charlotte County Redfish. [tampabay.com]
• We are not sure what bananas have to do with peanut butter and jelly or for that matter, what any of them have to do with the Devil Rays. [Phorce Impressive Media]

Down On The Farm: Three Rays Farmhands Named To Post-Season All-Star Squads

Durham 5, Norfolk 2. Jae Seo allowed 1 run in 6 innings. He struck out 3 and walked none to pick up his 8th win. Evan Longoria was 1-4 with a strikeout. Jason Pridie was 1-5 with a double and 2 RBI. He is hitting .314.

Montgomery 9, Carolina 1 (game 1). Chris Mason picked up his 15th win, striking out 9 and walking none in 5 innings. He allowed 1 run on 7 hits. Chris Nowak was 3-3 with 2 doubles. Reid Brignac was 2-4 with 2 RBI and a run scored. John Jaso was 3-4 and is now hitting .320.

Montgomery 2, Carolina 1 (game 1). Fernando Perez and Brooks Badeaux hit back-to-back home runs to lead off the game. The Biscuits managed only 4 more hits the rest of the game.

Brooklyn 3, Hudson Valley 2 (game 1). Alex Cobb gave up 3 runs in 5 innings.

Brooklyn 4, Hudson Valey 0 (game 2). The ‘Gades were shutout on 1 hit.

NOTES FROM DOWN ON THE FARM…

• Columbus and Princeton were postponed. Vero Beach had the night off.
• With six games remaining, the Biscuits have won 10 in a row and now own a 4-game lead in the SL south division. [Montgomery Advertiser]
• The remaining Montgomery Biscuits regular season games will be streamed live and archived through the Biscuits website. [Montgomery Biscuits]
• James Houser, suspended by baseball for testing positive for a banned substance, was originally told he could participate in the Arizona Fall League. MLB has reversed themselves and now say that he is ineligible. [Montgomery Advertiser]
• Gabriel Martinez was named the hitter-of-the-week in the SL. [Stacy Long’s Riverwalk Talk]
• Justin Ruggiano was named by the International League to their post-season all-star team. [Durham Bulls]
• Sergio Pedroza, who was acquired along with Joel Guzman in the Julio Lugo deal, was named to the FSL post-season all-star team along with Jake McGee who is currently playing for AA Montgomery. [Vero Beach Devil Rays]

The Hangover: Has Rocco Baldelli Played His Last Game As A Devil Ray?

White Sox 5, Devil Rays 4.
Ahhh…the nostalgia. For a brief momen there it was like we were watching pre-All-Star break Edwin Jackson, all over again. We should thank Edwin for reminding us that he is still Edwin Jackson and we are still Devil Rays fans.

It should come as no surprise, but look for Akinori Iwamura to be the starting second baseman in 2008. The move for Aki, likely means that center field is going to be the permanent home for BJ Upton, with Evan Longoria manning the hot corner sooner rather than later.

“Longoria is going to be the third baseman, so you eventually have to do something, but now’s not the time, not yet,” manager Joe Maddon said. “You’re always thinking about that, but yeah, that’s an offseason discussion…He’s (Iwamura) a little more of a middle infielder on the corner right now,” Maddon said. “Just from what I’m seeing, the assumption is second base. When you make assumptions like that, that’s something you’d want to see. You look at his arm strength and that’s probably more applicable to second base, although his athleticism and range could play at shortstop.”

If Iwamura is moved to second base with either Longoria as the starting third baseman on opening day or Joel Guzman as a place-holder until Longoria is ready, that leaves only one position without a starter for 2008…Shortstop. Brendan Harris? He can hit, but his range may be too limited to be an everyday shortstop on a team that needs an upgrade in their middle infield defense. Josh Wilson? Not likely. Below average in all aspects. BJ Upton? O god no! Please don’t put us through that again. He throws from the left side of the infield like he is trying to give every fan behind the first base dugout a souvenir. Joel Guzman? Hard to say if he can be an everyday short stop. He has the arm and glove for the position, but does he have the range and can he hit major league pitching on a consistent basis?

No, the smart move is a veteran shortstop with an above average glove and a dependable bat. There is enough offense in the lineup already to carry a little dead weight at short. Omar Vizquel? He will be 41. Can he be enticed to play short for the Rays for two seasons and anchor a young team defensively? Look for the Rays to at least inquire as to how much it would cost.

On a more immediate note, the move of Iwamura to second base, will likely occur during spring training and could mean the end of Rocco Baldelli’s tenure as a Devil Ray. Five of the Rays six minor league affiliates will have completed their regular season schedules by Monday, with Hudson Valley playing until Friday. With Rocco shut down after experiencing soreness in his legs, there will be no place to conduct a rehab assignment once he is cleared. Unless Upton is moved back to the infield, with shortstop being a possibility, Baldelli is likely without a position for 2008.

The team will likely try to move Baldelli this off-season for pitching help, but if they are unable to find suitable value, he could return in 2008 as a part-time DH and fourth outfielder with the aim being to increase his trade value.

All of the sudden, Baldelli’s long term contract, once seen as a bargain, is not such a bargain after all. He will still be relatively cheap in 2008, as he is set to earn $2.25 million, but his $6 million tag in ’09 to go along with the hefty $4 million buyout could be a burden if Rocco cannot remain healthy for an entire season.

2B shift in the works for Iwamura [tampabay.com]

DEVIL RAYS WEBTOPIA…

• For those keeping score at home, the Devil Rays elimination number is 3 in the division and 10 in the wild card.
• We missed this in our first post this morning, but Troy Johnson of the Ledger-Enquirer had a one-on-one with David Price after a recent bullpen session with the Columbus Catfish. [Ledger-Enquirer]

“It’s just getting to know the guys and Tampa Bay’s system. They say they have the same system from rookie ball all the way up to the big leagues. That’s definitely one of their main (points of) emphasis, just to get used to their system because that’s the way I’m going to be doing it for the next six years. It’s nothing bone-crushing. It’s something you can stick to.”

• It is understatement to say that strikeouts are aplenty during Rays games. Both the hitters and the pitchers are on pace to set franchise records for strikeouts in a season, with the hitters threatening the AL record. [TBO]
• We are not surprised anytime Joe Maddon praises something that does not deserved to be praised, but to praise the “progress” of the infield defense is a bit absurd as it has been shown in several different forums that the Rays have been atrocious defensively this season. In fact The Hardball Times suggests that the Rays defense may be the worst ever. E.V.E.R. [devilrays.com]
• Is Jason Hammel the next Edwin Jackson? Or the next Seth McClung? so far, he has yet to perform up to his talent, but he is working on his mechanics to try and rediscover the success he experienced in the minors. [devilrays.com]
• Scott Kazmir se
  t a team record for reaching 10 wins in three consecutive seasons. [Herald-Tribune]
• Carlos Pena is only the 5th player in the last 25 years to hit 30 home runs after being a non-roster invitee to spring training. [tampabay.com]
• Look for the Rays to sign Carlos Pena to a multi-year deal and avoid arbitration in the off-season. [tampabay.com]

Down On The Farm: Heath Rollins Sets Organization Record For Wins

Norfolk 2, Durham 1 (game 1). JP Howell struck out 6 in 5 innings, but picked up the loss. Evan Longoria was 1-3 with a double and Jason Pridie drove in the only run.

Durham 8, Norfolk 3 (game 2). Jeff Niemann struck out 6 in 5.2 innings to win his 12th game. He allowed 3 runs (2 earned) on 5 hits and no walks. Evan Longoria was 0-2, but walked twice, scored 2 runs and drove in a run. Raul Cassanova was 3-4 with 5 RBI.

Daytona 4, Vero Beach 3. Jackson Brennan was 2-3 and hit his 9th home run.

Columbus 5, Savannah 3. After 12 starts with Princeton Jeremy Hall made his first start with Columbus and pitch 6 strong innings, giving up 1 run on 4 hits. He did walk 4 batters while striking out 4. Ryan Royster was 2-4 and is now hitting .325 with 28 home runs and 96 RBI.

Hudson Valley 9, Oneonta 6. Cody Cipriano was 3-5 with 2 doubles and an RBI.

Princeton 12, Elizabethton 2. Michael Ross was 0-3, but did walk twice and scored 3 runs. He also stole his 33rd and 34th bases of the season in 55 games.

NOTES FROM DOWN ON THE FARM…

• The Montgomery Biscuits game versus Carolina was postponed.
  
• Evan Longoria is trying not to let his new found fame get to his head. [The News & Observer]

“I’ve never been highly touted or a big prospect — until now,” said Longoria, who who went to Long Beach State and was the third overall pick in the 2006 draft. “I’ve always had to work to get where I am.

“I didn’t really have a scholarship out of high school. I had to work to get to a Division I school. Those things humbled me and make me work harder every day and try a little harder than the next guy.”

• Kevin Gengler takes a close look at the Durham Bulls and their push for the playoffs. [Tampa Bay’s Tomorrow]
• He does the same with the Montgomery Biscuits. [Tampa Bay’s Tomorrow]
• On Sunday, Jake McGee moved to 3-1 in four AA starts throwing 7 shutout innings, striking out 9 and walking none. [MiLB]
• On Friday, Heath Rollins became the first minor leaguer to record 16 wins. In doing so, we believe he also set a Devil Rays organizational record. [MiLB]

Why The Devil Rays Columnists Suck: Marc Lancaster

In case you missed the 9th inning of last night’s game…and we can’t understand why you wouldn’t be tuned in to the 9th inning of a late August 12-2 loss to Oakland…there were some minor fireworks. It happens. Last night, Juan Salas came in to pitch the 9th and immediately hit the first batter in middle of the back with his first pitch. In the bottom half of the inning, A’s reliever, Santiago Casilla’s first pitch was behind Brendan Harrris. Casilla was immediately ejected.

The reason we bring this to your attention is the exaggerated reporting by Devil Rays writers for the Tampa Bay Tribune and The St. Pete Times.

[From Marc Lancaster of the Tribune] Casilla’s first pitch bored straight toward Brendan Harris’ head, and he ducked out of the way just in time for it to whiz behind his neck.

[From Marc Topkin of the Times] A’s reliever Santiago Casilla was ejected for throwing at Brendan Harris’ head.

Wow! Sounds like Brendan Harris narrowly escaped danger right? Well, here is a screen capture from the pitch that supposedly almost killed Harris.

We are going to give Marc Topkin a pass because Casilla may have actually been aiming at Harris’ head, even though there was a better chance of him hitting somebody in the third base dugout. But did Marc Lancaster even watch the game that he wrote about?

Of beanballs and meetings [TBO]
A loss to hang their heads over [tampabay.com]

The Hangover: Rocco Baldelli Is Allergic To Baseball

Oakland 12, Devil Rays 2.
Boy, that escalated quickly… I mean, that really got out of hand fast. At least nobody was killed by a trident.

DEVIL RAYS WEBTOPIA…

• The Rays offense has been anemic of late hitting just .198 and averaging 2.4 runs per game over the last 13. They are 4-9 in that stretch. [TBO]
• After two games as the Vero Beach DH, Rocco Baldelli was scheduled to play three innings in center field last night. Color us surprised, but Baldelli was held out of the lineup with “sore legs”. [tampabay.com]
• Was Scott Kazmir for Victor Zambrano the worst trade in recent memory? Here is your chance to vote. [Armchair GM]
• Casey Fossum and the Fossum Flop have signed a minor league deal with the San Diego Padres and they will report to AAA Portland. [The Oregonian]

Down On The Farm: Evan Longoria Goes Yard

Richmond 9, Durham 8. Evan Longoria hit his 4th home for the Bulls, going 1-5 but the night was ruined when Chad Orvella blew a 2-run lead in the 9th by allowing a 1-out solo home run and a go-ahead 2-run shot with 2 outs. Elliot Johnson hit his 11th home run. Jae Seo gave up 12 hits and 6 runs in 6 innings.

Montgomery 6, Birmingham 1. The Biscuits scored all 6 runs in the first 3 innings and Mike Prochaska cruised to a complete game win, allowing only 4 hits and no walks,while striking out 5. Reid Brignac was 2-3 with 2 walks, 2 RBI and his 27th double. John Jaso was 2-5 with his 12th home run and 3 RBI. He is hitting .320.

St. Lucie 10, Vero Beach 3. Greg Dupas making his second start in the place of suspended James Houser was roughed up for 9 runs in just 4 innings. Sergio Pedroza was 2-4 and drove in 2 of the 3 runs.

Charleston 8, Columbus 7 (11 innings). Neal Frontz gave up a game-tying 3-run home run in the bottom of the 9th and the Catfish would eventually lose in 11. Will Kline allowed only 1 run in 5 innings, striking out 3 and walking none.Cesar Suarez was 3-5 with 2 doubles and 2 RBI. He has 39 doubles and is hitting .302.

Hudson Valley 11, Tri-City 2. Alex Cobb went 5, giving up 2 runs and striking out 6.

Bluefield 4, Princeton 3.

NOTES FROM DOWN ON THE FARM…

• Even though the Dodgers have moved, the home of the Vero Beach Devil Rays will forever be known as “Dodgertown”. The Devil Rays’ single-A affiliate will not have to worry about that long as they only signed a 2-year deal and plan to move after the 2008 season. [TCPalm]

The Folks At DRays Bay Think Devil Rays Fans Are Morons [UPDATE]

When the news broke that Curt Schilling would be willing to play for the Tampa Bay Devil Rays in 2008, RJ Anderson of DRays Bay, wrote a one-line post.

I am Nostradamus!

We are not sure if he predicted that Schilling would be OK with playing with the Rays or maybe he predicted Hitler would invade Poland. Either way, Mr. Anderson was not content with his new lofty status of being able to predict that Schilling would make another outlandish statement.

Mr. Anderson followed that up with a second post yesterday titled “Tampa Fans Are Morons: 256th Edition“. We could not find the previous 255 editions, but apparently Mr. Anderson, on 256 different occasions has come up with reasons why you (and we) are “morons”.

So what was the 256th reason? Apparently if you, like us, doubt that Curt Schilling is going to pitch for the Rays in 2008, you are a moron. Or maybe you just think it is a bad idea to give a 41-year old pitcher that is 7-5 this season, a $10+ million contract for one season. Be careful. That makes you a moron.

Checking out Topkin’s Schilling piece and I decided to check out the comments; expecting some slobbering Red Sox goobers saying how the Rays can’t afford him and so on. Instead I’ve come to reassure that a percent of Tampa fans are bloody morons:

That’s right folks. A Devil Rays FanSite thinks that Devil Rays fans are morons. A blog written by Devil Rays fans, just insulted Devil Rays fans.

But he doesn’t stop there. Not satisfied with just insulting Devil Rays fans, Mr. Anderson goes on to insult every person that lives in the Tampa-St. Pete area.

Is it the water or something? If you live here for a certain time your brain turns to mush?

No he didn’t! Oh yes. Yes he did. Apparently Mr. Anderson is now saying that living in the Tampa area turns your brain “to mush”. Nothing like alienating your demographic.

Then again Mr. Anderson is the same gentleman that told us last year that Rocco Baldelli is not injury-prone.

And we are the morons?

[UPDATE]
RJ Anderson has responded to this post HERE.

Let me address a few of his comments/concerns…

we also know he knew that we were joking about the whole “seeing the future” joke, but this did not stop Mr. Gaines.

This is his first comment and I honestly have no idea what he is talking about. Anybody?

it makes you a moron when you say something like “NOOOOOO!” then turn around and bitch about the DRO not spending money,

The guy that said “NOOOOOOO!” did not bitch about the DRO not spending money as far as I can tell. If he did, show me. and even then, would it be so strange to think think that money needs to be spent AND have an opinion on where it should and should not be spent?

“That’s why you gotta love this site, it honestly has a nice collection of some of the most intelligent Rays fans around, even in disagreement it’s never stupid reasoning or lacking presentation.”

I did not touch this statement in my original post even though this is one of the most offensive. Mr. Anderson is implying that only readers of DRays Bay are intelligent. Everybody else must therefore be a moron.

Oh nice one Corky, bringing up a year and two injuries ago, that’s the way to prove a point, nicely done. Also as I’ve stated in the past guys like “Jason from Tampa” who called in and said trade Price; those are bloody morons, I will not apologize for that take. I have nothing against Gaines, but I couldn’t help but laugh when I saw Joe Aiello in the comments add this:

Like I mentioned last year. There were 64 injuries before that. And yes, saying “trade Price” is moronic, but that was not one of your examples. And if somebody did say that, it does not imply that “Tampa Fans Are Morons” as Mr. Anderson so elequently stated.

Schilling Wants To Be A Devil Ray? [DRays Bay]
Tampa Fans Are Morons: 256th Edition [DRays Bay]
Some Schilling Love [tampabay.com]
The Hangover: Curt Schilling Just Want You To Talk About Him [Rays Index]
Why The Hate For Rocco? [DRaysBay]