The Hangover: Devil Rays Avoid 100…In Search Of 70

Devil Rays 9, Mariners 2.
Just the links today as we are still in Austin with Mrs. Professor.

DEVIL RAYS WEBTOPIA…

• The Devil Rays are now 63-87 with 12 games remaining. They trail the Orioles by 2 games in the AL East and the White Sox by 1.5 games for the worst record in baseball. Yesterday’s victory guarantees that the Devil Rays will not lose 100 games. This is the first season since 2000 that will not feature a 100-loss team. [Awful Announcing]
• The Devil Rays need to finish 7-5 to match the franchise record for wins, and 8-4 to break the record.
• A 10-2 finish and the Rays will avoid 90 losses.
• Andy Sonnanstine has now won 5 of his last 7 starts and should at least have the upper-hand for one of the spots in the rotation entering 2008. [USA Today]

“He’s close, he absolutely is close,” manager Joe Maddon said. “He’s really making a great impression for next season, we can say that.”

• Carlos Pena became the first member of the Tampa Bay Devil Rays to hit 40 home runs in a season and the 110th player in the history of major league baseball. [tampabay.com]
• Rocco Baldelli has rejoined the team as a cheerleader and nothing more. He and the team are still awaiting the results of some test to try and determine why Rocco has been so susceptible to leg problems. [TBO]
• We will see the regular lineup for the next 9 games, as all those games are against playoff contenders, Angels, Red Sox and Yankees. Joe Maddon may then switch things up for the Blue Jays series. [TBO]
• Well, except for maybe Carl Crawford, as he suffered a groin strain and is listed as day-to-day. [TBO]
• JP Howell and lefty relief pitcher Jeff Ridgway were promoted from Durham after the Bulls’ season was concluded on Sunday. [tampabay.com]
• The Devil Rays now have the largest improvement in team batting average from 2006 to 2007, jumping from .255 to .271. [Devil Rays]
• Delmon Young seemed a longshot earlier this season, but he is quietly posting Rookie-of-the-Year caliber numbers. [TBO]

Young entered Friday leading all big-league rookies in hits (171), doubles (34) and multi-hit games (51) while topping all AL rookies in RBIs (81) and total bases (241). Throw in a .293 batting average, 12 homers and 16 outfield assists

• HardBall thinks that Delmon Young is the Rookie of the Year. [Hard Ball]

Expect a lot of yelping if Delmon Young isn’t named the AL’s rookie of the year. He’s had the best wire-to-wire season among AL rookies but is easily overlooked.

• Statistically Speaking believes that both Carlos Pena and BJ Upton deserve votes in the MVP voting. MVP ballots include 10 names from each writer. [Statistically Speaking]
• We are happy that Marc Lancaster wrote a nice feel-good piece about Brendan Harris who has started 130 of the last 138 games, and how he is “making the most of his chances”. But if Harris starts more than 25 games in 2008 for the Devil Rays, that will not be a good sign. And to say that Harris can “field competently” is being nice. [TBO]
• Marc Lancaster believes there is too much entertainment at a typical Devil Rays game at the Trop, feeling the team is offering too many distractions. We understand the argument to an extent. While this may be a new phenomenon in major league baseball, this is not new to professional sports. Just attend any NBA basketball game and you think you accidentally walked into a circus. As for games at the Trop…I have never felt “overwhelmed” by the amount of distractions. I have always felt that there was a good amount for those that find baseball boring, and not enough to distract those of us who enjoy every single pitch. In the end the Devil Rays want every person that attends a game at the Trop to feel as though they had fun. Not just the diehard baseball fans. It is a fine-line they have to walk, but so far I feel as though they have done a decent job. [TBO]
• Here is a YouTube video tribute entitled “A Tribute to Scott Kazmir“. At first we thought “a tribute to a pitcher?” That sound boring. Every highlight will look exactly the same. Turns out the video is actually a Mets fan crying about Jim Duquette and Victor Zambrano. We laugh cuz it’s funny, we laugh because it’s true. [YouTube]

Down On The Farm: Montgomery Biscuits Give Devil Rays Organization Second Title Of 2007; Bulls Come Up Short

Montgomery 4, Huntsville 3 (Montgomery wins series 3-2). A 5th inning error by Fernando Perez led to 3 unearned runs and a 3-1 deficit entering the 9th inning of the decisive 5th game of the Southern League championship series. In the 9th inning, Chris Nowak and Gabriel Martinez reached on singles. With one out, Sergio Pedroza hit a 3-run home run to give the Biscuits the lead. In the bottom of the 9th, Tim Corcoran came on to close out the win. He allowed a single and a walk. But with 1 out, he was able to induce a double-play ground ball and the Biscuits were Southern League Champions. Chris Nowak scored Reid Brignac with a first inning single to get the Biscuits out front.

Richmond 6, Durham 2 (game 1; series even 2-2). After Friday night’s game was rained out, the Bulls needed just one win during the Saturday double-header to take home the Governor’s Cup. JK Ryu did what was needed, allowing only one run on two first inning doubles in 5.1 innings. Those would be the only 2 hits he would allow. Justin Ruggiano hit a solo home run in the 4th to tie the score at 1, but the Bulls bullpen and defense would implode. Three relievers and 2 errors led to 5 runs in the 7th and 8th innings and the Bulls would not rebound.

Richmond 7, Durham 2 (game 2; Richmond wins series 3-2). The Braves swept the double-header and took the IL Championship. Richmond jumped out early as they scored 4 in the first off of Mitch Talbot with back-to-back home runs, the first of which scored 3. Talbot was run from the game with just 1 out in the 3rd inning after allowing 5 runs. Justin Ruggiano hit his 4th post-season home run for the Bull’s first run.

NOTES FROM DOWN ON THE FARM…

• The Bulls were without closer Shawn Camp on Saturday as his mother passed away unexpectedly. Sometimes when we get so wrapped up in the “baseball player” we forget that these guys have regular lives outside of the ballpark. Our thoughts are with Shawn and the rest of his family as they attempt to deal with this trying time. [Herald-Sun]

The Hangover: Stop Us If You Have Heard This One Before

Mariners 8, Devil Rays 7.
The Devil Rays have now lost th…[STOP]

DEVIL RAYS WEBTOPIA…

• The Devil Rays are now 61-86 and have fallen 2 games behind the Orioles in the AL East and 1.5 games behind the White Sox for the worst record in baseball.
• With 15 games remaining, the Rays need to finish 2-13 to avoid 100 losses.
• Tampa Bay needs to go 10-5 to set the franchise record for wins in a season.
• A 12-3 finish and the Rays will avoid 90 losses for the first time ever.
• Dan Wheeler is 0-4 with a 6.63 ERA since being acquired from Houston. [USA Today]
• Rays of Light obtained a quote from a source close to Scott Kazmir that says the young hurler is ready to sign a long-term extension this off-season. We thought the team would try to secure Kid K last winter, but now it sounds like Kazmir may have been the one that was not receptive to the idea. Kazmir will be eligible for arbitration for the first time this winter, and is still three seasons from becoming free agent-eligible. The Rays will try to buy out as many of Kazmir’s free agency years as possible, but we would be surprised if the contract would be for more that four years, effectively eliminating only one of the free agency years. [Rays of Light]
• In a move that is no surprise the Rays have announced that Rocco Baldelli is being shut down for the season. As we originally suspected, the move to have Rocco travel with the team on the current road trip, appears to be more of a psychological move to have Rocco feel like he is part of the team. [Devil Rays]

Though Baldelli could not — or would not — report on what specific tests have been conducted, he noted that everything to date had come back negative and said, “I would think I’m a pretty healthy 25-year-old.”…Baldelli expects to be back in the Major Leagues next season…”Once we know exactly what we’re dealing with, we move it along,” Rays manager Joe Maddon said. “My thing is just get him back for next year. Be smart about this.”

• Carl Crawford began serving his 2-game suspension. We never heard exactly what CC was suspended for, but we imagine that the official report in the commissioner’s office states that “Carl Crawford has been suspended for two (2) games for behaving like a 4-year old whose parents would not buy him a toy at the mall.” [tampabay.com]
• Tom Singer breaks down the AL candidates for Comeback Player of the Year. [MLB]
• It’s been a while, but we have a new idiot on the “move the Rays” bandwagon. [MLB Rumors]

Down On The Farm: Columbus Catfish Take SALY Title

Durham 3, Richmond 2 (Durham leads series 2-1). After six innings, the Bulls were hitless against Francisley Bueno, with only one batter reaching base, on a Justin Ruggiano 4th inning walk. Luckily for Durham, Bueno had reached his pitch limit. The Braves switched pitchers for the 7th inning. 3 hits and a hit batter later, the Bulls had a 3-2 lead they would never relinquish. Catcher Michel Hernandez who is replacing the recently promoted Raul Casanova, came through for the second straight game. This time it was a 2-run single that gave the Bulls the lead. Jae Seo pitched the first 7 innings, striking out 6 and walking none as he allowed 2 runs on 6 hits. Shawn Camp allowed a hit and 2 walks, but managed to record the final 5 outs for the save.

Montgomery 2, Huntsville 1 (Series tied 1-1). Montgomery got on the board in the SL championship series behind the pitching of Jake McGee. McGee struck out 6 and walked none in 6 innings. He allowed 1 run on 6 hits. Chris Nowak homered in the 4th to give the Biscuits 1-0 lead and John Jasohomered in the 6th to break a 1-1 tie. Huntsville got a runner to second with one out in the eighth, but Nick DeBarr and Tim Corcoran were able to work out of the inning.

Columbus 6, West Virginia 0 (Columbus wins series 3-0). The Columbus Catfish are the champions of the South Atlantic League. Jeremy Hellickson pitched the first 3 innings, allowing only one walk and no hits. He did not return after a rain delay. Four relievers combined for 6 innings of 4-hit, 2-walk, shutout ball. Matt Fields, Cesar Suarez and Ryan Royster all homered for the Catfish.

NOTES FROM DOWN ON THE FARM…

• John Manuel of Baseball America takes a look at Jeff Niemann and his 2007 campaign and his most recent dominating performance in the IL playoffs. Manuel projects Niemann as a middle-of-the-rotation starter for the Rays “who can dominate when it all comes together, as it did Wednesday.” [Baseball America]

The Hangover: Big Papi Is Our Daddy

Red Sox 5, Devil Rays 4.
Was anybody surprised that Big Papi hit that home run?

Just the links today as we are on our way to Austin City Limits.

DEVIL RAYS WEBTOPIA…

• With BJ Upton’s shift to center field, the Rays may now be sporting both the strongest right field arm and the strongest arm in center field. [Devil Rays]

Maddon can rest easy knowing that his center fielder owns only one of a pair of outfield cannons. Right fielder Delmon Young entered Wednesday’s action ranked third in the Majors with 16 outfield assists behind Atlanta’s Jeff Francoeur and Minnesota’s Michael Cuddyer. Upton, who has found new life after an uncomfortable tour through three infield positions, can stay right where he is.

• Carter Gaddis calls this stretch of games “The most challenging road trip of the season”. He apparently has already forgotten the trip in which the Rays played a make-up game in Chicago on a Monday and were forced to play three games in three different cities in three days. [TBO]

Down On The Farm: Jeff Niemann Impresses With Andrew Friedman Looking On

Durham 5, Richmond 1 (Series tied 1-1). Jeff Niemann tossed a career-high 8 innings, striking out 9 and walking none in what may have been his best performance since he was drafted in 2004. He allowed 6 hits and 1 run. Niemann got stronger as the game progressed. Five of the six hits he allowed came in the first 4 innings, including a third inning solo home run. He faced only one over the minimum in his final five innings of work. Shawn Camp struck out 2 during a perfect 9th inning. Evan Longoria got the scoring started for the Bulls with a 2-out RBI single in the first. He came through again in the sixth with an RBI double that broke a 1-1 tie. With two recent call-ups by the Devil Rays, the Bulls had two new members in their lineup and each contributed. Michel Hernandez drove in 2 with a single in the sixth and Brooks Badeaux drove home Hernandez with a double in the eighth for the final run.

Huntsville 8, Montgomery 4 (Huntsville leads 1-0). Despite being staked to first inning 3-0 lead, Wade Davis couldn’t hold it as he had trouble finding the strike zone as he walked 4 and allowed 7 hits that led to 4 runs (3 earned) before being pulled with 1 out in the 5th. Chris Nowak hit a 3-run home run in the first. Gabby Martinez added a solo home run to account for all the Biscuits runs.

NOTES FROM DOWN ON THE FARM…

• Jeff Niemann rose to the occasion at just the right time. Not only did he get the Bulls back into the IL Championship series, but he did it in front of Andrew Friedman who was in attendance. Friedman may be contemplating a September call-up for Niemann. [Herald-Sun]

The Hangover: Dioner Navarro Should Stop Swinging From Both Sides

Red Sox 16, Devil Rays 10.
Thank you Red Sox.

Thank you for reminding us that the team we root for is still the Tampa Bay Devil Rays. They aren’t the Twins, or the A’s or the Indians. They are indeed the Devil Rays. Thank you for erasing that warm and fuzzy feeling we have had for the last couple of weeks. It was starting to go to our heads. Thank you for scoring 16 runs and reminding us that our starting pitchers are not the mid 70s Orioles and that our bullpen is not the mid 90s Yankees. Thank you for reminding us that the Devil Rays do not go into a place like Fenway and sweep the best team in baseball (a thought that may or may not have crossed our minds when the score was 8-1). Thank you for reminding us that we root for a team that has now blown a lead of 5 or more runs 186* times this season. Thank you for reminding us that even if the Devil Rays can score 7 runs in 3 innings off of Tim Wakefield, the baseball gods (for some unknown reason) will not allow Wakefield to lose to the Tampa Bay Devil Rays. Thank you for reminding us why sometimes we read a story on the Rays and we think the team changed their name to the Lowly Devil Rays.

Thank you Red Sox. Thank you for pissing in our wheaties.

*we don’t have the stomach to look up the actual number

Switch-hitting is naturally a very difficult thing to do anytime, but it is especially difficult for a catcher. We have said it before, that catchers are notoriously slow developers with the bat. This is rarely unexpected. As catchers, they are asked to concentrate on the defensive aspects of their position much more in the early stages of their careers. While other fielders get to spend a large amount of time in the cage, catchers need to work on blocking pitches, footwork on throws to second, sitting in on pitchers meetings, catch pitchers during their bullpen sessions, have their heads rubbed for luck, etc.

So the amount of time spent on the offensive aspect of their game is already reduced. Now take that and cut it in half for a switch-hitter as they need to do everything twice, once from each side of the plate.

For the second straight night, Dioner Navarro was forced to bat right-handed against a right-handed pitcher because of a sore wrist. How did he do? He collected a career-high 4 hits. Now granted, two of those hits came off of Tim Wakefield and one of the other two was an infield single, but at some point it would not surprise us if the coaching staff looks to make Navi a full-time right-handed batter. While his average is similar from both sides of the plate (.220 vs. .221), his OPS is considerably higher from the right side (.703 vs. .599) hitting a home run once every 17.2 at bats as a right hander and once ever 83.3 at bats as a lefty. This is even more pronounced when one considers that most switch-hitters are better left-handed hitters because that is what they do more often.

A switch-hitter can get away with having a “weaker” side if he is still producing overall. While we still believe that Navi is going to be a very good major league hitter he may be hindering himself, and the team, by continuing to bat from both sides of the plate.

DEVIL RAYS WEBTOPIA…

• The timing of this headline was unfortunate. [Devil Rays]
• The Tampa Tribune is a little late with a story about how the Rays are going to limit their starting pitchers down the stretch, considering the topic was covered everywhere else about 3 weeks ago. And the timing is especially puzzling considering they decided to run the story the day after Scott Kazmir threw a season-high 118 pitches. [TBO]
• Did you know Delmon Young was ejected Monday night? Neither did we. Apparently Young tossed his helmet back on the field from the dugout after being doubled off of first base in the 9th inning. We understand that sometimes an umpire makes a bad call and emotions get the best of you. But if you are going to act like a child at least do it when the umpire actually makes a bad call. Replays showed that Delmon was out. [tampabay.com]
• There has been a lot of chatter about Bill Madden’s comments, comparing Carlos Pena’s breakout season to that of Brady Anderson of the Oriole’s and his suspected ties to steroids. To this point we have left it untouched and for a good reason. IT IS THE NEW YORK DAILY NEWS. It is a friggin’ tabloid. The only reason it has a circulation is because a) it costs 50 cents while the New York Times is a dollar, b) They write sensational shit like this to try and get us riled up, c) it has lots of pictures, d) lots of New Yorkas like to read garbage. [Rays Talk]
• We felt there were a lot of different directions we could have gone with yesterdays “Hangover” title, but Sports of Boston trumped us. [Sports of Boston]
• John McDonald of the Blue Jays, a free agent-to be, signed an extension with the Blue Jays. So for those of you who desired a shortstop for 2008 with a good glove and the 32nd worst OPS (.604) among major league short stops (minimum 200 plate appearances) will have to look elsewhere. [MLB Trade Rumors]
• For the second time this week, the Rays called up a player from the Durham Bulls who just began the IL Championship series. This time it was Raul Casanova. To make room on the 40-man roster, the Rays DFA’d Tim Corcoran. Corcoran, who was in the middle of the championship series with Montgomery, said that he will re-sign with the Ra
  ys to finish the series if he clears waivers. [TBO]
• There are some new Boyz in the Rayz Blogosphere. The ninja mask is a nice touch, but we hate websites with auto-loading music (so if you click on the link, you’ve been warned). We also wonder about their choice for a blog name, DRayzBoyz. Next season the Devil Rays will drop the “devil”. Will they need to change the title of their site in 2008? Will DRaysBay? [DRayzBoyz]

Down On The Farm: Jon Weber Is The Bill Russell Of Minor League Baseball

Richmond 4, Durham 2 (Richmond leads series 1-0). JP Howell was a little lucky the first six innings, allowing two hits in an inning three times. Yet he managed to work his way out of each of those jams and entered the 7th inning, having not allowed a run and the score tied 0-0. However, the wheels came off in the 7th. After getting the first batter out on strikes, the next four batters all reached base with three of them scoring. Howell was done after 6.2 innings. A Chris Richard single in the 8th cut the lead to 4-1, but Jeff Ridgway was touched for a solo home run in the 9th. The Bulls tried to rally in the bottom of the 9th, when a 2-out single by Jason Pridie drove home a run and put the tying run on first base, but Justin Ruggiano went down on strikes to end the game.

Columbus 5, West Virginia 2 (Columbus leads series 2-0). Maiko Loyola was demoted to short-season Hudson Valley earlier this year, but he is back with Columbus now and making the most of his opportunity. He homered twice in the final week of the regular season and last night he led of the game with his second post-season home run. He is hitting .444 in the playoffs. Cesar Suarez and Matt Fields had two hits apiece. Will Kline, the Rays second round pick this year, made the start and went the first three innings on a strict pitch count. He allowed 1 run on 3 hits and two walks while striking out 4. He then gave way to Jeremy Hall who was making just his second appearance for Columbus since being promoted from Princeton. He pitched the next 4.1 innings, allowing 1 run on 3 hits and a walk to pick up the win.

NOTES FROM DOWN ON THE FARM…

• Jon Weber, a career minor leaguer, and mid-season pickup by the Durham Bulls, is in search of his seventh straight championship. S.E.V.E.N. Holy Shnikes! Weber, an outfielder, has never played in the major leagues, but if the Bulls win the International League Championship, we just might start a campaign to have Weber be a backup outfielder for the Rays next season. [The News & Observer]

The Hangover: Scott Kazmir Makes Mets Fans Cry

Devil Rays 1, Red Sox 0.
Reports that Scott Kazmir’s had relinquished the title of Rays’ Ace were apparently premature.

If you missed last night’s Devil Rays game, you missed one of the best games of the season and more importantly you missed a defining moment in the young career of the Rays young hurler, Scott Kazmir.

Last night, Kazmir had 96 pitches after 6 innings, yet Maddon let Kid K go out to the mound to start the 7th inning, protecting a 1-0 lead. We were surprised by the move considering Maddon had kept a tight leash on Kazmir recently. In five of his previous 10 starts, Joe Maddon pulled Scott Kazmir before he even reached 100 pitches, throwing more than 110 only once. Also, Kaz needed 21 pitches to get through the 6th inning including 9 before he finally got Mike Lowell on strikes to end the frame.

With the elevated pitch count and the close lead against a good ballclub, we assumed that Kazmir would be pulled as soon as he allowed a baserunner. Bobby Kielty led off the 7th with a hard line drive to left field. The ball was hit so hard, that Kielty was held to a single despite hitting the ball off the monster. Still, Maddon let Kazmir stay in the game.

Kazmir then made Kevin Youkilis look bad striking him out on three straight pitches. Jason Varitek followed with an 8-pitch at bat that resulted in a walk, including 3-2 pitch that was a foot outside.

At this point it appeared as though Kaz was starting to labor. He had thrown 111 pitches and Joe Maddon came out to the mound. Usually a visit by the manager means the pitcher is done, but Maddon once again let Kid K stay in the game. With the tying run on second and the go-ahead run on first, Kazmir responded by getting Jacoby Ellsbury out on strikes, for his 10th K of the game. Finally, Kazmir got Alex Cora out on a ground ball to third base to get out of the inning.

118 pitches. After Maddon visited the mound, Kaz threw 7 more pitches. All 7 were fastballs. pitch 117 hit 96 mph.

Yes it was Ellsbury and Cora and not Manny and Big Papi, but Kazmir took the ball with the game on the line and rose to the occasion. And with those 7 pitches we saw Kid K grow up right before our eyes.

That 7th inning was as big an inning we have ever seen by a Devil Rays pitcher. It was as excited as we have been during a game all season long. Waking up neighbors. Kissing Dogs. Shots of tequilla, and calling every Red Sox fan we know. We even called a couple of Mets fans, because with that final groundball to third base, the fateful sound of thousands of Mets fans screaming Dan Duquette’s name in pain, could be heard all the way from Queens.

DEVIL RAYS WEBTOPIA…

• The Devil Rays are now only 1 game behind the Orioles for 4th place in the AL East. They now have the same record as the Chicago White Sox and the Florida Marlins. Even more amazing is that the Rays are now within 4.5 games or fewer of NINE different teams. At one point this season it appeared as though the Rays were well on their way to the #1 pick in the draft again next season. Now they have an outside chance to fall all the way to #10.
• The Rays are 61-83 with 18 games remaining.
• They need to finish 2-16 to avoid 100 losses
• 10-8 would give the Rays the most wins in franchise history
• 12-6 and the Rays would avoid 90 losses.
• Yesterday we learned that an equipment bag was included on the Rays charter for Rocco Baldell, although he was not with the team. Today we learn that Rocco could rejoin the team tonight…or tomorrow…or Friday in Seattle…or Saturday…or possibly Sunday. Well, that clears things up. And if he returns, chances are he will not be in the lineup. According to Joe Maddon, Rocco is rejoining the team in his new capacity as a member of the training staff. Well if there was any player that knows his way around the trainer’s room, it’s Rocco. [TBO]

Manager Joe Maddon said Baldelli, who has been out since May 16 with a bad left hamstring, is expected to join the team either the next two days in Boston or in Seattle over the weekend…”I just would like to have him here, even if it’s just taping ankles,” Maddon said. “I just want him here to be part of the group.”

• If the Devil Rays started playing better, would anyone notice? YES! Nothing get past John Donovan of SI.com who moved the Rays up from #30 to #27 in this weeks power rankings, ahead of the White Sox, the Marlins and Orioles. [SI]

An extension for skipper Joe Maddon, 12 wins in their past 16 games, five straight series wins … “Right now, it looks like it’s the start of something,” Carl Crawford told the St. Pete Times.

• Dioner Navarro was limited to batting right-handed last night due to a sore wrist. [TBO]

Down On The Farm: Columbus Takes Opening Game of SALY Finals

Columbus 5, West Virginia 2 (Columbus leads 1-0). Heath Rollins pitched the Catfish to a game 1 victory in the championship series of the South Atlantic League. In 6 innings, he struck out 4 and gave up 2 runs (1 earned) on 6 hits and 2 walks. The win was Rollins’ second of the post-season to go with 17 regular season wins. Neal Frontz struck out all three batters he faced in the 9th for the save. Jahn Matulia got the scoring started with a 2-run double in the 3rd that gave the Catfish a 2-1 lead. Cesar Suarez had a home run and Quinn Stewart was 3-4 and scored 2 runs.

NOTES FROM DOWN ON THE FARM…

• D-Rays affiliates are now 9-1 in the playoffs.
• Montgomery will face the Huntsville Stars in the championship series for the second straight year. [Stacy Long’s Riverwalk Talk]
• MiLB has a preview of the IL championship series. [MiLB]