Rays Renegade

Rays need a Chant Tradition

2009-11-18T21:14:03Z

Some people within the Internet ranks have stated recently that the Tampa Bay Rays fan base has a extreme case of inferiority complex compared to the fans of the New York region. I have to admit, that definitely was true back before 2006 when New York Yankee fans used to refer to Tropicana Field as "Yankee Stadium South" because of the over flow of pinstripes and "Jeter" jerseys patrolling the hallways before a Rays versus Yankees contest. But that is not been true since 2008.

During 2005, a typical Yankee versus Rays game had more opposition crowd noise to almost make it sound like a home game for the Yankees. But slowly and surely the Rays hometown crowd has begun to get behind their team and even began to turn the crowd towards wearing Rays gear, with a smattering of Red Sox jerseys for color. And that is huge loyalty adjustment for this region based on its fickle transient ways. There is such a large geographic-based cultural divide in the Tampa Bay area that most of the Northern transplants hail from somewhere within the Northeast sections of the United States.

And with that number of transplants increasing yearly, this merry band of baseball fanatics have brought with them a clash of baseball traditions and team loyalties. I have no problems with a person who was born even within an hour or so of New York City wearing Yankee stripes. I also can totally honor and respect the idea of someone from Maine following the Red Sox even if they had never even been to Boston. That regional love fest is a gimme and totally acceptable in my book. Regional pride is a good thing.

Personally, I feel that this inferiority garbage is totally in the past. I am serious. if you have attended either a Red Sox or a Yankees series at Tropicana Field since the start of the 2007 season, you will have noticed a slow reversal of the crowd noise depicting a mostly Yankee/Red Sox vibe in the stands. I am not trying to evoke that Rays fans have started to outnumber their pinstripe or brethren with with the red "B" on their caps, but they have definitely gotten into the vocal chimes and crowd actions to silence the opposition in recent years.

And you have to also throw in that winning has brought out more people to exhibit Rays pride, and even some of the rival crowd has been converted. I know personally a few fans who used to flaunt their Northern colors, but now only do it when their home team is in town. The rest of the season they fly Rays colors to support the local team. And that reaction took years, not just two winning seasons for them to show loyalties to both teams.

I am not implying that there is a Rays revival meeting going on somewhere around the Trop. during every home game, but the passion for this team can be infectious sometimes. As the Rays also establish winning traditions on the field, the crowd will also develop and transform their own sense upon the game from the stands. But until that revolution happens, the Rays front office (Fan Experience) has given the Rays fans the perfect tool to irritate and bring some rival chants to a complete halt.

Most visiting fans throw the main culprit of this Rays noise revolution onto the innocent cowbell. Yes, that shiny metal object that that can produce a sound found so revolting to rival fans they sometimes cringe when people pull them out of their bags. This small musical weapon has been their instrument of choice to helping the Rays gain back their home stadium edge.

I know most people will insist that it is the large Latin Percussion cowbell ( I used to bang one prior to 2009) wielding fans have drown out most of the opposing noise, but 8,000 little cowbells still make a heck of a racket when they are used during games. And you would be surprised how fast the Rays Team Store sells out of any type of specially insignia cowbell. This one item has been instrumental in recent years of squashing noise and chants within the walls of the Trop.

And how many times have you heard a rival fan, MLB blogger, or even a network sports announcer curse and admonish the Rays fans because of those little noisemakers. The simple cowbell has become the weapon of choice for Rays fans who do not have the time honored traditions and ceremonial cheers established for decades by our rivals. Give the Rays fans time, and you know they will develop another set of cheers, then the mighty cowbells will slowly die down as the new Rays noise makers takes control of the stadium.

Last season, the Raysvision crew and the Rays Fan Experience department made a short animated video showing the Maddon's Maniac symbol Screamer mouthing the words and rhythms to the White Stripes "Seven Nation Army". This song has been a traditional crowd favorite used all throughout the U.S. and Europe during soccer games and seems to have caught on at Rays games in 2009.

Not to say this will translate into anything like the "official" Rays chant, but it is a starting point beyond swinging metal cowbells for 9 innings. But I have to admit, hearing the Rays crowd do the "Seven Nations Army" chant does make a perfectly awesome sound when you get at least 4,000 people voicing it over and over again during the opposing pitching changes. Traditions take time to get a foundation and to get firmly implanted in our minds and routinely followed by a team's faithful fans.

I totally respect the Yankee Bleacher Creatures for their "Roll Call" chants during Yankee home games. It is a way for the fans and the players to interact without interfering directly with the game action. And that custom was developed over time. Sure one guy or a group of fans started it the first time, but with time it has grown into an honored Yankee tradition. And the Rays need to establish their own signature chant or cheer. And with time, and trail and error, the Rays fans will find that perfect vocal response during games. And with that perfection will spawn more traditions.

Over the last few years the Rays have used a number of ways for the fans to react during games, and the one that seems to have gained some ground floor sentiment is the "Feel the Heat" campaign. During Rays big plays . the Raysvision crew has popped up the short and concise chant and Rays fans have adopted and even added a twist to it. People have begun to throw up the classic surfer "Hang 10" sign and turned it horizontal to look like a ray swimming. Sure it might be a bit quirky, and some say "totally ripped off", but it is an honest start to establishing a lasting Rays tradition.

So the Rays really do not have an inferiority complex, but a lack of a solid tradition and team personality that other teams have evolved and change for more than 100 years. This is not to say that within a year or maybe two the Rays will have an overpowering chant,cheer or even a stadium crowd event that will overwhelm rival teams fans. But the machine is in motion, and with the off season comes a chance to experiment and maybe redefine Rays traditions.

When Stuart Sternberg and his crew took over the team they changes the logo, uniform colors and the general feel of the franchise from the ground up. This quick transition in November 2007 might have also stunted the growth of solid traditions for the team, but the newly established Rays franchise was evoking winning and a change of attitude from within the organization outward to the fans. It has been a success so far, and the future looks bright to see more exciting changes with the Rays fan base.

The first person who ever did "The Wave" must have had the people in the seating section next to him thinking he was an escaped mental patient, but slowly the crowd action caught on and it is now an International crowd event. When was the last time you went to any sporting event and someone did not try and start a "Wave"?

Oh, and for those people in the northeast regions of this country who hate those pesky cowbells. How soon you forget that the tradition started in the state of New York at Brooklyn Dodger baseball games by a little old lady who sat in the outfield used to ring her cowbell to show support for her team. Some traditions fall, some traditions linger. But the best traditions are the ones that get people excited and eager to participate every time someone starts them.

Could Pena be gone in 2010?

2009-11-17T16:36:32Z

Mike Carlson / AP

It is kind of weird to think of this Tampa Bay Rays squad without a few of its veteran players gone before the 2010 season. It is not like with the Free Agent market ready to heat up on Friday the Rays are looking to unload or even sign someone of extreme value to replace a current Rays player, but would you see the Tampa Bay Rays in the same powerful light if they were missing a player like Carlos Pena?

When I remember back over the last two seasons for memorable Rays moments, or game changing plays, Pena's name seems to be one of the first ones to pop into my mind every time. His style of cool,calm and collected attitude during the game has taken both himself and this team to new heights since the Rays signed him to a minor league deal several years ago. And Pena's laid-back style both at the plate and in the field has risen his game to extreme heights while he has been here.

He has been the upbeat and soft-spoken leader of this Rays clubhouse ever since he stepped into it back in 2007. Who can forget his finest moment of upbeat personality when even after he was told by Rays Manager Joe Maddon that he was being optioned to the minor leagues before the end of Spring Training in 2007, Pena remained focused and clear that he would soon see his Rays teammates. And who can ever forget when Pena disclosed his revelation of a premonition during a night time dream of him being on that charter flight with his Rays teammates to New York to start the 2007 season.

That in itself tells me that this Rays team might have been his squad all along, and we were just passengers on his ride to the top. From the beginning of his rebirth in the MLB by winning the 2007 Comeback Player of the Year award, to his first Gold Glove and Silver Slugger Award, the Rays GQ-styled first baseman has gained not only the respect of the fans, but of MLB players throughout the league. And I have a feeling his 2009 All Star selection is not the last time we will see Pena accepting an award.....not by a long shot.

So when a fellow Rays blog mentioned that maybe it was time for the Rays to consider trading Pena before his contract is up at the end of 2010, it kind of shocked me that we might be seeing the end to another era here in Tampa Bay. That after all the growth we have seen by Pena and this team, we might end up seeing him traded away late in the 2010 season, or maybe even packing up and saying goodbye at this time next season.

Bill Kostroun/ AP

And right now both those notions do not seem like a logical, rationale thing to happen, but the reality is that Pena is in the last year of his contract ( $10.125 million), and his agent is Scott Boras who is renowned to being hard pressed to seeing even a dollar squeeze past his clients. That at some point from today on we might have to consider that Pena might not start, or even finish the 2010 season wearing a Rays jersey.

It is an unfortunate fact of baseball life that players leave or get traded at points in their careers. But you got the feeling here that maybe Pena might have finally found a comfortable spot to place his glove and bat every day, and maybe selfishly I wanted him to retire a Ray. But the stark reality is that Pena has a few years left in his tank, and maybe he will not be within the Rays budget restrictions in 2011. Just like Crawford, it might be an instant reality check that the team will have to find options and create fluid change if Pena were to leave the squad.

But is this the right time to be considering such a drastic change like this? I mean the guy is about to finally get that cast and those pins pulled from his hand and begin some initial hitting drills. Can he have any real high-side trade value before he reports to Spring Training? And even if a team did consider him before the 2010 season, isn't his $ 10 million contract a monetary distraction to most teams?

But considering the offensive awards and the defensive accolades Pena has received the last few seasons, his contract might be considerably an extreme value right now in comparison with his colleagues around the Major Leagues. I would think Boras for one thinks Pena's current worth is "out of whack" when considering his talent level and potential.

Pena rebuilt his baseball career when he signed with the Rays in 2007. He came to us as a player who was released by the Yankees and Boston farm systems as a secondary player, and maybe both of those franchises at the time felt Pena might not reach his potential again. But the stark reality is the correlation of Pena and the Rays up-surge happened at the same time. Both the player and the team began to excel and blast past expectations. Ahh, what a difference a year can make in a players career.

I do not want to consider a 2010 season without Pena's solid defense at first base. No disrespect to Rays players Willy Aybar or Ben Zobrist, but it is hard to replace a diamond with cubic zurconia and feel the same sparkle off the ring. Zorilla could be a solution, and could grow into the position in 2010, but why test fate now? Why would you consider trading the top offensive weapon on your team the last few years when the corner has finally been taken by the Rays.

And hasn't Pena been a great piece of the puzzle to put in the lineup behind Evan Longoria and make teams pitch to the young star. If Pena was not in the Rays lineup, would Longoria get the same pitches if Zobrist or even Burrell followed him in the lineup? I would think Pena was the perfect piece to put in that spot because of his potential to turn on any pitch and send it deep.

Mike Carlson / AP

I really hope that at some point in the 2010 season I do not have to write a blog telling people why I am going to miss Pena. But we all know with the realities of this baseball business, anyone can be replaced in a moments notice. 2010 is not even here yet and I can feel the winds of change in the air. This coming season is an important one in the Rays development. Changes is in the air, but hopefully it will be later and not earlier in the season.

But in this ever changing business of baseball these days, you never know what will happen. And with the completion of the fast and furious trade of Rays veteran starting pitcher Scott Kazmir right before the end of August 2009, we know that no one is safe, not even an offensive/defensive weapon like Pena. But hopefully we will be able to say goodbye this time. Hopefully if something was to happen and Pena was to leave the Rays before the end of 2010, we will get to see that smile and maybe even see Pena do that dance one more time.

Credible Blogging begins with Leg Work

2009-11-16T17:27:03Z

I remember back during my Mass Communication class in High School when my school newspaper advisor told us during a class lecture that at some time in our writing future, the subject of naming or not naming your "sources" for stories would turn our journalistic integrity into a slippery slope towards the negative, and the background work of our judgments to name or not name a source would play directly on our credibility as writers. Journalist have gone to prison and even been banished as if they had the Black Plague for misinformation and dishonesty in their writings.

And that simple premise of "watching your back" seems to make a lot of sense in today's fast paced, electronic world of libel and slander where even a tongue-in-cheek reference can land you deep within a mountain of litigation, and then quickly, you and your writing integrity could be sent sliding down the dark side like a mudslide even if you are totally right. Because that is essence of the culture today. Injury someone emotionally or physically and some of the first words out of the mouth of the general public is "I will sue you!".

So dotting your "i's" and crossing your "t's" takes on a bigger role in the 5-second media world we have today. This weekend I was reading a very sordid and tangled web of "sources" and "unnamed sources" in a small series of blog postings by the New York Baseball Digest blog posting by Mike Silva. And while I was reading this account out of the New York area, that class discussion over 32 years ago about sources came quickly to mind.

I was brought up on the old A P style book of journalism. Heck, back then it was the bible every Evening Independent Sports Correspondent and staffers used as a foundation for our story stylings. And it suddenly came to my mind the old teaching of where if you make a statement associated with a source without credible sources or information, your stories foundation might crumble and not withstand a storm of controversy.

One of the first thing I remember being taught was the fact that when you name sources or people with knowledge of an event, it is in your best interest to have two solid forms of evidence or information before even quoting one of them in your story. The reasoning for this method is to give your information a solid foundation so if you are questioned or receive a nice little legal writ, you have a secondary source that adds to your credibility on the subject matter.

Accuracy and credibility are the two of the founding cornerstones of retaining a loyal band of readers online. If they can get a sense of trusting your writings as the truth, then you gain readers and hopefully more web views of your postings. And maybe that is why it is so upsetting when I see a blog with half-baked writing principles and mis-guided information you know are half-truths at best.

Most of this simple misguided energy can be corrected with a simple credible source for your information. Some guy named "Joe Schmoe" who tended bar in such and such a club and overheard a conversation by player "A" and "B" about an event or something in regards to the Rays is considered "hearsay" at best unless you have a second person who heard or saw the same event.

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An great example of the right way to document and solidify your sources was with the rumor I heard from a Rays player about the Tampa Bay Rays using their old 1998-99 Devilrays multi-colored logo jerseys during the Sunday July 12th afternoon game against the Oakland Athletics. I first heard a hint of this rumor back in late May 2009 by a player after a game, and I decided to dig a bit deeper into it before bringing it out into the light. Just because I now had one source doesn't make the rumor a "truth" yet.

I first got a confirmation from a member of the Rays field staff and another player as an additional source, but decided it might not be good to use them as my source. I do not like to use players as sources of information because they could decide to "clam up" and I might not ever hear another good morsel of information to track down. So I contacted someone within the Rays front office who deals directly with marketing and promotions and asked them to simply confirm or deny the spreading rumor. As soon as he got back to me, that rumor quickly transformed into a fact, and I posted a Tweet about the upcoming event.

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And because I had more than two sources to verify the possibility of the old "Rainbow Devilrays" uniforms were going to make an appearance again in that July contest. This in-depth fact checking into the rumor gave me credibility about the event. And that is the one thing most people forget when they write online. Sure I can say almost anything about anyone on the team and maybe no one will call BS on me, but that is not the issue. Staying within the truths and admonishing the lies is the job of publications like the National Enquirer or Star Magazine, not the general blogging public.

If NYBD want to idolize those publications and style themselves in that realm of journalism, then go for it. But they have to be reminded that there are hundreds of websites like that all jockeying for the same morsels of media fodder. With every slight of hand missed fact and negative comment posted, the negative mountain is building around them. I know I would rather be the guy who will give his honest opinion and facts about an event, and I do shy from some of the "hot topic" stories around the league at time because I do not want to be 1 of the 2,000 people writing about the same thing day in, and day out.

We hear almost daily about some blogger somewhere who has given "fake" or mis-guided information and it in turn tends to affect all of our credibilities. But that doesn't mean the "mainstream media" always follows the Golden Rule either. With the advent of sites like Twitter and the other social networks, fans can get a snippet of information in the flash of a camera bulb and minutes before the "paid" media.

And that can be a slap in their faces at times. I posted a Twitpic of Pat Burrell's new 70's butch mustache during the 2009 season and also few "first" pictures of new Rays reliever, Jeff Bennett before the local media even reported it online. Here I am an unpaid and unsolicited fan got the scoop.

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NYBD made some critical errors when they did not get secondary sources checks on their quotes and information before posting it. Sometimes it is difficult to get that information, but if you can not prove it is 100
% true, then it is a rumor. Blogs take a beating every day from the Media sources throughout the country as being slanderous and libel within an inch of their collective lives. For us to gain the credibility and the trust of the readers, we sometimes have to take it a notch above and sweat a little more for our information.
Anyone can write a rumor.

Anyone can create a mis-truth and start to perpetuate a lie. But if you really want to be known for your writings, do the leg work, strain the eyes to see beyond the words and ask the simple questions. Some times, the answers you get from a source can make your day. Other times it can disappoint and frustrate you. But every once in a while you get a tasty morsel and you do the work and build it into a credible masterpiece and then you can bask in the limelight and know you did it right........the first time.

Sunday Rewind: "Rocco Baldelli Press Conference 2008"

2009-11-15T20:25:44Z

Blogger's Note:

When I first stood there in that open hallway underneath the old Progress Energy Field, I had no idea what this quickly generated Press Conference was going to bring to us. What ended up happening was seeing one of my Rays idols at his worst moment in life,not just baseball. But on this day (March 13,2008), you could see in Baldelli's eyes that he believed he had possibily played his last game EVER as a baseball player.

This is another weekly Sunday Rewind back into my blog's past to re-post some of the moments and events that shaped my memories and the Rays seasons. Every Sunday I will pick my personal favorites and bring them back for other to also either see for the first time, or revisit again. The writing style was different before the 2009 season.

Originally posted on March 13,2008.

Trivia Question:

When was the first match up between a deaf pitcher and a hitter in baseball, and who were the participants?

Answer at the bottom of the Blog.

Rocco Baldelli was once called "Joe's twin," by MLB Professional Scout Al LaMacchia. This of course, was referring to the great ex-Yankee Joe DiMaggio. Rocco had been compared to the Yankee legend ever since his prep days at Bishop Hendricken H.S. in Warwick, Rhode Island.

Baldelli began his 2007 Spring Training season on the Disabled List after pulling his hamstring. But the injury was healing slowly and while on a Minor League rehab assignment, Baldelli's injury became worse. Baldelli spent the rest of the year with the Rays inactive,but was a very important part of the team. He could be seen on the bench either taking down the pitching stats,or purposely watching the opposing pitcher for signs of him tipping off his pitches or pitch outs to first base.

Rays Manager Joe Maddon felt that Baldelli had an special energy and an always positive attitude that was beneficial to his young squad and took him on away games for the rest of the season. During this time, Rays Head Trainer Ron Porterfield and the medical staff did multiple tests on Baldelli to try and pinpoint the situation and maybe finally get some positive results to reoccurring injuries.

During Spring Training in 2008, Baldelli was an early arrival to camp in St. Petersburg. He was out on the complex fields every day trying to get his body to function correctly so he could get back on the field with his comrades. He was used sparingly this Spring until on March12, 2008, Rocco released the following statement to the press:

This off season, because of the physical problems I've been having, I started along with the team's help to search them out and go see some doctors and try to find out what's going on.

I was having a lot of problems the last couple years with my muscles and muscle strains. I think a good way to describe it is literally muscle fatigue and cramping, way before my body should be feeling these things. I would go out there and I was pretty much incapable of doing basic baseball activities as far as running and hitting and throwing.

These were things that I had done my whole life pretty easily and at some point in the last two years - we're not exactly sure why - these things started to change. It was tough for me to deal with, but with the team's help, they sent me to specialists, basically flying me around all over the country to try to figure out what was going on.

What the doctors eventually found through all of this was I have some type of metabolic and/or mitochondrial abnormalities. Basically, somewhere along the line in my body - I don't want to get too deep into the medicine because it's not really my expertise, but either my body isn't making or producing or storing ATP the right way and therefore not allowing, apparently, my muscles to work as they should and, especially, recover on a day-to-day basis. So it becomes very difficult to get on the field every day and play.

When I say fatigue, I go out there and my body is literally spent after a very short amount of time out on the field, which makes it extremely frustrating and difficult, but it's something that's kind of a reality right now and something we're dealing with the best that we can.

As far as my baseball career, I'm not here to stand in front of you telling you I'm retiring. We're still going to pursue every avenue that we can to try to figure out what is going on, have a better understanding of what is going on. But at this time, throughout all of the extensive testing that we've done, we don't have a concrete answer.

The doctors' consensus is that these are the problems that I'm experiencing and there's a lot of medical proof of these things, but they've been unable to specifically identify an exact reason or an exact problem down to a specific name. That's kind of frustrating, but that's why we're going to continue along with the team's help to find out what's going on.

I feel comfortable about this because the team has been so good to me and supported me in every possible way I could imagine. Without that, I don't know really where I'd be right now, because this is as probably as difficult and frustrating a thing as I've ever had to deal with as a person. Like I said, we're going to do everything we can to fix and hopefully solve this problem, and that's pretty much where I'm at right now.

I put his Baldelli's entire statement to the media here to reflect and hope that a possible solution or cure can be found for this promising player. I have personally chatted with Rocco on occasion, and I can tell you there is no better guy in the clubhouse than him. He knows what was expected of him on Day 1, and he will do whatever is needed to make it back onto the diamond.

The Rays' are in a bit of a pickle here tho. They were looking for Baldelli to be the possible Centerfield back-up this season to give B J Upton some needed rest during the season. Maybe the Rays will look at their Minor leaguer's,or sign a veteran like Kenny Lofton to relieve B J, and Jonny Gomes through the year.

Here is a guy who could have rewritten a few passages in the Rays record books, and now might be done with his playing career because of a metabolic nightmare churning within his body. I hope the Rays Doctors' can find a solution soon, and we can report a positive prognosis soon so we can get this great talent back on the field.

I will miss not seeing Baldelli out there on the Rays Opening Day in Baltimore on March 31,2008 ,but his health is more important than the game right now.

The following is a short synapsis of the ailment that has effected the metabolism of Baldelli. This is a non-scientific guy writing about a medical condition, and I hope I can make it so everyone can understand it with some clarity and severity to the possible effects this will have on Baldelli's body.

For your muscles, in fact, for every cell in your body -- the source of energy that keeps everything going is called ATP. Adenosine triphosphate (ATP) is the biochemical way to store and use energy.

The entire reaction that turns ATP into energy is a bit complicated, but here is a good summary:

Chemically, ATP is an adenine nucleotide bound to three phosphates.

There is a lot of energy stored in the bond between the second and third phosphate groups that can be used to fuel chemical reactions.

When a cell needs energy, it breaks this bond to form adenosine diphosphate (ADP) and a free phosphate molecule.

In some instances, the second phosphate group can also be broken to form adenosine monophosphate (AMP).

When the cell has excess energy, it stores this energy by forming ATP from ADP and phosphate.

ATP is required for the biochemical reactions involved in any muscle contraction. As the work of the muscle increases, more and more ATP gets consumed and must be replaced in order for the muscle to keep moving.

Because ATP is so important, the body has several different systems to create ATP. These systems work together in phases. The interesting thing is that different forms of exercise use different systems, so a sprinter is getting ATP in a completely different way from a marathon runner!

Trivia Question Answer:

It happened on may 16, 1902, featuring William Ellsworth "Dummy" Hoy of the Washington Nationals in the batters box, against New York Giant pitcher Luther "Dummy" Taylor. the opponents greeted each other in sign language, then hoy knocked out a single against Taylor.

The wording in quotes above is the listing in the Baseball reference material I used for the Trivia question. I, in no manner, used the phrasing, "dummy" as a cruel reference or in a demeaning nature here concerning these fine ballplayers.

Burrell/Bradley bring back 80's Deja Vu

2009-11-14T00:05:40Z

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I am starting to understand the slick marketing mojo of the record companies back in 80's that had big time players like MTV and FM radio pounding musical nightmare tunes into our heads over and over again until we all collectively began to hum them or yearn for their stupid lyrics. And maybe their videos were childish and repetitive, but for some odd reason they became one within the bubbling melting pot between our ears.

It was this sly ploy of marketing that made songs like "Safety Dance" a hit so long time ago. And I think that now Major League Baseball teams have begun a revival by borrowing a page from this ancient formula to make all of us see the light during the 2009 "Hot Stove" season. The 80's seductive music/video mind warp is alive and well in the Winter of 2009.

And it is now using player's names instead of music to constantly blitzing their persona's over and over again to form a numbing effect on our brains so we accept their names with subtle refusal instead of stages and fits of outrage over the idea of them joining the ranks of our teams.

And this mojo from the past is beginning to work it magic on me. The Pat Burrell/Milton Bradley song and dance involving the Tampa Bay Rays and the Chicago Cubs is beginning to play upon my "Achy, Braky Heart". The wild possibility that either player could possibly be walking into the other's locker room on the first day of Spring Training( Feb 19th) as a new "breathe of fresh air" instead of a possible ticking time bomb is starting to melt my brain cells.

The media scribblings and poetic bloggers' paragraphs are beginning to show the possible merits of both players getting a chance to again be reborn upon the other roster and that they can regain some form of normalcy to their careers. It is starting to eat at the hardened enamel of my sensitive side the same way that tune by Men Without Hats burrowed into my mind and became a upbeat tune on my running Ipod.

We have all heard by now the negative muses and raves from Bradley about the (alleged)racist Cub fans near his post in rightfield along with his interpretation for his misguided "outs" toss into the stands of a game baseball. And loud is the volume of the grunts and grumbles from his Cub teammates that he is no longer a welcomed sight in their presence. Some of this might be adulterated "he said, she said" hearsay, and a perfect example of negative media fodder used to get a high dollar athlete out of a team's hairs.

And we all know that once a bridge is burned, it takes more than one person to rebuild any trust and confidence in both sides working together again. And personally, Bradley sent that bridge up ablaze with deadly flammables and is still sitting there silent.

But that type of flammable bridge occurrence has not been burned completely yet by Burrell in Tampa Bay. But his mis-timed calling out of B J Upton near the end of the 2009 season in the Rays locker room did start the seeds of some clubhouse separation and alienation. But it is not at that critical emergency stage yet, and that might be a good thing, because if the bridge is not burned, then minds can still be open to change.

And the atmosphere within the Rays organization is still conducive to change, and a possible moving of Burrell is not mitigated by urgency, but more by the insistence of upgrading personnel in his current position with a player the Rays were excited about before he originally signed with the Chicago Cubs.

But as we have seen in the Rays past,the minute a situation looks to become overly dramatic, changes come fast and furious. And as the varied opinions come forward about the lack of productivity from Burrell to possibly becoming a liability to Rays offense,the time might be perfect for a move. This is nothing personal towards the soft-spoken Burrell, but we needed a fire and energy like Bradley in 2009 instead of hearing Elvis's farts boom louder than your veteran voice.

And with all of the recent sensory pounding of both names on websites and in blogs in recent days doesn't it seem like the teams themselves are trying to convince themselves without a doubt at the same time that this is a good move? Rays Manager Joe Maddon think he can be a calming and intelligent "X" factor with the soothing rebirth of the combustive Bradley as a Ray.

Of course the Rays never outwardly discuss trades before they are completed, which in this case might be a disadvantage. But the fact that Bradley was highly regarded by the Rays last season might be a perfect appetizer for the Rays to become hungry for Bradley. We all know the two teams have loosely talked and maybe even traded a few parameters towards a deal, but as of right now...it is all just humming and waiting for the next sound byte.

The more and more the fact that this expected trade is a good thing is being drummed into my mind by words and sound bytes,the more I want to take a step back. Because one of the biggest drawbacks to that 80's marketing folly was that it created more and more baggage. Cassettes, DVD's and even records still litter my belongings from those tunes that melted within my brain. And the one thing this Rays team doesn't need is a change of players that produce an even larger set of baggage.

So I guess in the long run, if they can really convince me that Bradley is not more personally like the song "Maniac" and is more like The Little River Band's "Cool Change", then maybe there is a place for him in Tampa Bay. Heck maybe I the trade does get to the finish line I can gather a small collection of the Rays Republic and we all hit the attics for our "Miami Vice" Sonny Crockett white suits and hot pastel-colored t-shirts and meet Bradley at the Tampa International Airport hotel bar for a drink with an umbrella in it while the old guy at the piano plays the "Pina Colada" song and hope that the 80's do not come back and bite us in the booty again. (sigh)

Are the Gold Gloves tarnished?

2009-11-12T22:52:56Z

Gail Burton / AP

I do not know what to think about the recent results of the 2009 Rawlings Gold Glove awards. I guess it kind of reminds me of the days when the "cool" group in my High School used to sit on this wall outside the 100 wing of the school before and after school, and we collectively nicknamed them the "Ivy's" since ivy clings to walls. I get that same feeling now when I first saw the list of American League Gold Glove winners.

But what I saw behind the names had an old instant of nostalgia of that long ago Southern staple,the "Good Ol' Boys" network. For years when I was growing up here in Florida it was a wildly held political belief that some people got elected and also appointed to a high ranking position because of their friendships or political ties to a person instead of their qualifications and leadership abilities. And is some realms of the world this system is still alive and well today.

For some weird reason, I am beginning to get more of a feeling of true professionalism and in-depth analysis from the Fielding Bible Awards than from the more commercial and MLB-friendly Rawlings Gold Glove Awards. And that sentiment might be felt more and more around the Major League Baseball fan community as we see some of the old guard in baseball still hanging onto these Gold Glove awards even if their defensive skills have diminished a bit in the last season.

There has been a small group of up and coming MLB players who also produced some impressive defensive numbers and also feats this season who did not seem to get any acknowledgment on the 2009 list. At least with the Fielding Bible, they had a tremendous fight at the second base position between Adam Hill, Dustin Pedroia and Chase Utley before the groups tally produced a tie between Pedroia and Hill. Because of the tie, the group used its tie-breaking format of total first place votes( 10 points) to decide the eventual winner of the award. Hill had 4 first place votes to one for Pedroia.

Steve Nesius / AP

Of course my main concern with the Gold Gloves here might be for the third year in a row, the award has seemed to snub Tampa Bay Rays outfielder Carl Crawford. Maybe it was the ease at which Crawford seems to glide and catch difficult fly balls as they are going towards the wall or in the air. Maybe it is that with his abundance of speed you expect him to make a play like that and it takes on a more routine feel after seeing it day after day since 2001.

But maybe he might be a great poster boy to boost prop up right now to show that there might need to be some changes made within the Gold Glove voting system. As we all know by now, Crawford won his third Fielding Bible Award in 2009 for his play in leftfield. And right now the Fielding Bible actually has more of my respect because they do not bunch the outfield into a single category, but award the players in each of the three outfield defensive position for their efforts and abilities.

A good example of this is outfielder Franklin Gutierrez, who won his second Fielding Bible award in a row,but in a different position for 2009. That's right,he won the award in 2008 as a rightfielder, and was rewarded in 2009 as the centerfielder in the Seattle Mariner's outfield. For that reasoning alone it seems like the Fielding Bible awards excellence by position,and not by name recognition.

And I think when Rawlings officially started the Gold Glove awards back in 1957 they envisioned the competitions voting to evolve with the game and even transform to meet the ever-changing aspects of the game. But the award has now seemed to become a bit stagnant and has wielded more of a "Prom" popularity atmosphere where the popular kids are getting the Gold Glove awards, and not the deserving people also playing the game besides them.

The Gold Gloves have been viewed as the "Mount Everest" of fielding awards. That to get a spot on that exclusive roster of MLB players is a showing to the world that you have arrived, and are within the top 18 players in the Major Leagues.

Elaine Thompson / AP

But the one position on these collective teams that appear to have become muddled beyond simplicity is the outfield selection for the Gold Glove. There can be a possibility of three centerfielders winning the Gold Glove currently, and nothing can be done about it. And in 2009, two centerfielders made the list out of the possible three slots.

But a bit of controversy erupted when the AL 2009 results were announced and revealed that Baltimore centerfielder Adam Jones was the third member of the Gold Glove outfield for 2009. Now I think Jones is a great emerging star since his trade from Seattle to Baltimore a few seasons ago, but is his rise so great in 2009 that it trumped the stats and play of a player like Crawford?

And here lies the wild truth that certain players seem to be selected year after year even as their abilities start to show age and flaws in their defense. The Gold Glove award is currently voted on only by the Managers and Coaches of each individual league, and they can not vote for a member of their respective teams for the award. Maybe it is time to tweak the system a bit and make it a more universally accepted award than a glorified baseball beauty pageant.

Maybe the current system is stagnating and is quickly becoming an antiquated system to award the Major League's best in defensive excellence. Maybe we need to inject some new blood and some extended voting members into the equation like possibly enlisting the last two seasons of Gold Glove winners to dissolve the popularity chaos for the award.

Steve Nesius / AP

Since every MLB Manager and Coach can not vote for their own players, maybe the simple fact of adding a few more sets of eyes that see these players daily might throw some more excitement in the process and actually make this more of a "professionally-based" award than a popularity contest aka beauty pageant.

If the system was more like the Fielding bible Awards would Crawford had been selected as a Gold Glove recipient? You would think that would be an easy answer, but Jones won a Gold Glove while appearing in 36 less games than Crawford. .

But this is a "no-win" situation because we all know that the powers above (Commissioner Selig) will not entertain the notion to tweak the system and actually award the best players at their positions for the Gold Glove. And in a way that is okay. Most people have the same problems with the College Football ranking system and the eventual awarding of their seasonal seeding via the BCS formula.

Maybe Rawlings needs to look at the Fielding Bible a bit closer for possible inspiration and the essence of wanting to change the rules. Because in the Fielding Bible system, the award is voted on by people outside the influence of Major League Baseball. Think about it, a total of 10 baseball eggheads/analysts make their random scaling from 1-10 for every spot on the field. And the outfield is broken up into their three positions and awarded accordingly.

Such baseball gurus like Baseball Info Solutions John Dewan, ESPN Baseball expert Peter Gammons, Joe Posnanski of Sports Illustrated and the Kansas City Star
and of course the Stat brain child, Bill James use the same 10-point system instituted by Major League Baseball to eventually pick the Major League Baseball MVP award to tally their personal votes for the Fielding Bible Award. And maybe that is a direction that the Gold Gloves should embrace as a model for change.

By adding outside influences and maybe even the past two seasons award winners into the mix, it could become more universally accepted for its fair and concise measuring of players abilities and achievements. Right now the Gold Gloves is a popularity system that is rewarding name worthy recipients than qualified winners.

Tom Gannam / AP

And a perfect example of this might be the Fielding Bible voting for Crawford's position in the 2009 awards. With 10 voters able to cast up to 10 points for each candidate, a perfect score would be 100 points. So according to the voters Crawford was the best leftfielder in the game of baseball in 2009. And he was not perfect, but his score of 99 points was the largest tally ever since the 98 total points given to Adam Everett in 2006.

So neither awards system is perfect. And there will always be some teams fans voice crying in the night about their guy being worthy. But right now the Gold Glove is not a fair competition, and maybe change will come in the future. And by the way, only 2009 Gold Glove winner Ichiro Suzuki was selected to also receive a Fielding Bible Award this season. Shows that maybe the system needs a push in the right direction. And maybe the best don't always get the gold.

To Protect and To Serve

2009-11-11T20:34:54Z

When I was a child I saw those words in the title of this entry on a Los Angeles police car in the television show "Adam-12". But it took many years for me to personally learn those words and know the courage and the bravery needed to ascend to that plateau of honor and serving.

On this day I want to honor those who have given of themselves for the freedoms that we all sometimes take for granted. I also want to honor and thank those who have paid the ultimate sacrifice so I can enjoy the life I have in this country. On this Veteran's Day I want to honor those who have also played this beautiful game of baseball and also interrupted their careers to answer the call from their nation to serve with honor.

Instead of talking about baseball today, I want to salute two former baseball players who answered the call of duty to serve in our military ,and also unselfishly sacrificed pieces of their professional careers for our freedoms today. I want to honor them for their commitment to this great country and hope that we all remember them today for their courage and heroic deeds.

It is said that over 4,500 players swapped their daily baseball uniforms for the assorted colors of the United States Military in World War II. Not all of these brave men were in the Major Leagues at the time, but the entire minor league system in this country saw men volunteer and enter the draft during the war. It has been estimated that at least 125 members of baseball minor leagues gave the ultimate sacrifice during this war.

We all know some of the hallowed names associated with the game of baseball and the military like Ted Williams, Hank Greenberg,Joe DiMaggio and Manager Danny Ozark. Yes, even Managers, coaches and Umpires joined the ranks of the military branches to fight during the conflict. But today I am going to feature only two of the many who left their cleats and gloves in their lockers and exchanged them for weapons of war.

Today I have chosen Navy Chief Specialist Bob Feller and Army First Lieutenant Warren Spahn as my blog subjects. Both of these men have been personal baseball heroes of mine while growing up and I felt it was only right on this day of remembering the sacrifices and losses of so many brave souls to include these two greats who gave up time during their brilliant baseball careers to fight along side people like my father's three brothers.

There currently are over 33 inducted members of the Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown, New York who served during World War II. Memorable players like Yogi Berra, Joe DiMaggio, Luke Appling, Larry Doby, Bobby Doerr, Monte Irvin, Ralph Kiner, Johnny Mize, Pee Wee Reese, Phil Rizzuto, Robin Roberts, Enos Slaughter, Duke Snider,and Ted Williams. Many of the top tier players of that era of the game served during World War II.

BaseballAlmanac.com

Navy Chief Specialist Bob Feller

On December 8,1941, the day after the Japanese unprovoked attack on Navy vessels anchored in Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, Cleveland Indian great Bob Feller enlisted in the United States Navy. He was sworn in by former Heavyweight boxing champion, Gene Tunney, at the Chicago courthouse. He was first assigned to the Norfolk Naval Training Station in Virginia, as part of Tunney's physical fitness program, and pitched for the baseball team. But Feller was not happy. "I wanted to get out of the Tunney program and in to combat," he told author William B Mead. "So I went to the gunnery school there. And I went on the USS Alabama that fall."

Feller then spent the next 26 months as a Chief Petty Officer assigned to an anti-aircraft gun crew on the USS Alabama (BB-60), a South Dakota-class battleship. "We spent the first six or eight months in the North Atlantic. I was playing softball in Iceland in the spring. We came back in the later part of the summer, and went right through the Panama Canal and over to the South Pacific. We hung around the Fiji islands for a while, and then when we got the fleet assembled, and enough men and equipment to start a successful attack, we hit Kwajalein and the Gilberts and the Marshalls and then across to Truk."

The USS Alabama returned to the United States in the spring of 1945, and Feller was assigned to the Great Lakes Naval Training Center in upper Illinois, where he coached the baseball team and pitched to a 13-2 won-loss record with 130 strike outs in 95 innings. He returned to Major League Baseball in August 1945, and in his Indians debut at home in Cleveland, he beat the Tigers, 4-2, in front 46,477 adoring fans.

In January 1946, Feller set up a three-week school in Tampa, Florida, to develop the baseball skills of returning veterans - both aspiring ballplayers and those with some organized baseball experience. Men paid for their own transportation to the school as well as room and board, but the instruction by fellow major leaguers was free for the returning veterans. It was seen as a time to reflect on both the future and the past and gave the players a sense of "normal life" again.

Feller spoke about his military service some years later in a segemtn on of ESPN's Major League Baseball Magazine. Feller said "I'm very proud of my war record, just like my baseball record. I would never have been able to face anybody and talk about my baseball record if I hadn't spent time in the service." Then again in 2005, he got a chance to chat with people online during a visit to the Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown, New York.

One of the many questions he was asked that day online was whether he had any regrets about serving in the war? "No, I don't," he replied. "During a war like World War II, when we had all those men lose their lives, sports was very insignificant. I have no regrets. The only win I wanted was to win World War II. This country is what it is today because of our victory in that war.

Baseballdigest.com

Army First Lieutenant Warren Spahn

Former pitcher Warren Spahn entered the military service on December 3, 1942 when he reported to Army Camp Chaffee, Arkansas and pitched for the 1850th Service Unit baseball team. He was then sent to Europe in December 1944 with the 1159th Engineer Combat Group's 276th Engineer Combat Battalion. " Let me tell you, that was a tough bunch of guys. We had people that were let out of prison to go into the service. So those were the people I went overseas with," he told the Hearst Press in 1945, "And they were tough and rough and I had to fit that mold."

Spahn soon found himself in the middle of one of the most intense conflicts of the European Theatre, the Battle of the Bulge. "We were surrounded in the Hertgen Forest and had to fight our ways out of there. Our feet were frozen when we went to sleep, and they were frozen when we woke up. We didn't have a bath or shower, or even a change of clothes for weeks."

In March 1945, the 276th were responsible for maintaining the traffic flow across the Ludendorff Bridge at Remagen, the only remaining bridge to span the Rhine. The bridge was under almost constant attack from the Germans who were desperate to stop the flow of Allied forces into Germany. At the same time they were to build a 140-foot Double Bailey bridge nearby.

On March 16, Spahn was wounded in the foot by bullet shrapnel while working on the Ludendorff. The following day he had just left the Ludendorff when the entire structure collapsed into the river with the loss of more than 30 US Army Corp of Engineer soldiers. The entire 276th unit received the Distinguished Unit Emblem and for their efforts to keep the bridge operating, while under constant enemy fire, Staff Sergeant Spahn received a Bronze Star, Purple Heart and a battlefield commission as a second-lieutenant.

After Germany's surrender in May 1945, First Lieutenant Spahn pitched for the 115th Engineers Group at their base at the University of Heidelberg in Germany. In a four game stretch, he allowed only one run and nine hits while striking out 73 batters. "Before the war I didn't have anything that slightly resembled self-confidence," Spahn told the Associated Press in August 1946. "Then I was tight as a drum and worrying about every pitch. But now I just throw them up without the slightest mental pressure."

Looking back on my military experience years later Spahn said, "After what I went though overseas, I never thought of anything I was told to do in baseball as hard work. you get over feeling like that when you spend days on end sleeping in frozen tank tracks in enemy threatened areas. The Army taught me something about
challenges and about what's important and what isn't. Everything I tackle in baseball and in life I take as a challenge rather than work."

It would take almost two decades for Spahn to again dorn a military outfit. But this time it was for a much different reason entirely. He had been asked to be a guest star on the Vic Morrow military show "Combat" as an extra in a scene. So Spahn again put on a military uniform, but this time it was as a German soldier in the television show scene.

I am honored to bring the tale of these two great baseball players and ex-soldiers to you today on Veteran's Day. I am also an ex-Army Reservist who stepped on the soil in Kuwait on February 23,1990 as a freshly minted Master Sergeant. Until that day I could not fathom the emotions that would come to a head in such a short period of time. But the pride and courage both my unit and the other invading troops showed within that first hour will always make me stand proud.

So on this Veteran's Day in 2009, I personally salute every person who has served, their families and loved ones for their bravery and courage to defend our rights with honor. And for so many of the players of this game I love so much to also answer that call only makes this salute more personal to me. Until I served I really did not get the feelings and the emotions of my father.

Until I served I might have taken these freedoms a bit lightly. But now, after seeing the sacrfices of others, and knowing the true spectacle of battle and its after effects, I stand tall and proud and pray for everyone currently stationed or fighting to perserve those rights for us today. I am no longer eligible to serve, but if they changed those rules, I would be there in a moment once again.........and that is what I am proudest about today.

Tampa Mayor's "bet" is a no-win Situation

2009-11-09T19:52:37Z

Michael Spooneybarger/ TBO.com

Oh what a difference a year can make. Less than a year ago we saw the Tampa Bay region go ballistic and creatively "on fire" with the possibilities of the Tampa Bay Rays. But just as quick, even the local poltical movers and shakers have forgotten the Rays like an old coat. And one local town Mayor even forgot where she lived for a moment and made an ill fated bet with another regional Mayor over the 2009 World Series.

I have been holding onto my rambling thoughts about this past local event for quite some time. I really wanted the World Series to be over,and hoped that the St. Petersburg City elections might make me somehow forget all about this event. But it did not, and even now I am steaming under the collar that two local Mayors decided to place and wager bets on the outcome of the World Series.

I am sorry Tampa Mayor Pam Iorio, but I am targeting you here. I understand your affection and pride in the pure fact that the New York Yankees principal owner has a home in your city. And I also understand your pride that several members of the Yankees also call Tampa their Winter residences. And I am well aware of expenses from the city coffers to make the lush and green surrounding of George Steinbrenner Field a true masterpiece. But don't you think making a simple wager with the Mayor of Clearwater, who is a publicity mongler over the World Series might just anger local Tampa Bay Rays fans?

How soon some people forget the turmoil this could cause because the Yankee fanbase that come into this region for their yearly series with the Rays already hold their numerous championships in their 100+ seasons as a team over our heads every chance they get. Now they can throw the pure fact that a local elected official doesn't even have faith in the team. Do you think after your wager this is going to get any better since the Yankees did indeed came home with the title?

Are you or your staff currently in the planning stages of a small parade here in the Spring to also honor them and further anger Rays fans? It might seem like a small almost invisible notion to your collective spin doctors and politcal advisers, but it is one Rays fans will not forget for a long, long time. And we know you have bigger fish to fry that just being the political guru of the second biggest Hispanic community in Florida.

I understand that both Clearwater and Tampa are the Spring Training homes of both the Yankees and the Philadelphia Phillies. But they also are the seasonal homes to teams in the Florida State League teams of which your hometown Tampa Yankees played the Charlotte Stone Crabs for the league title earlier this season, and you did not make any wagers on that title series. Now I could see a small celebration for them, and maybe even the same wager, but then they are not the media darlings outside of their own region like the Phillies and Yankees right now.

And that is where my biggest gripe come to a frothy head. You have a local team going for a possible championship, and even if it is only a Class-A franchise of the big club, you did not even acknowledge them during their triumphant playoff run and championship victory. That is the team you should have put your wagers on, the one that deserves the press and the acknowledement from the city of Tampa, and the ones their local fans come to see play during their short season.

But to me,a Rays Season Ticketholder,that whole "wager" episode was a slap in my face. And maybe you are glad I am not a resident of Tampa, so I do not have a single voting option. But the political machine in this region has been preaching regional love and togetherness surrounding the Rays for years.

But there have been obstacles in the way. Some say a small group of Tampa-based fans have a "bridge phobia" and that it is a fan base pocket in this area that is missing like a Bermuda Triangle in the middle of this Tampa Bay region. And they have missed out on a lot of great Rays baseball. Sure there are tons of Tampa-based Fans who brave the elements and the traffic to attend games, but to have one of their elected officials show more concern for a huge rival opponent of the Rays is a big slap in the face of the Rays Republic.

Tampagov.net

Sure your seemingly innocent wager of proposing that if the Yankees were to lose this years World Series, You and your entire Tampa leadership team would attend a game at BrightHouse Field in the Spring of 2010 wearing Phillies gear and bring a pleathora of Cuban sandwiches and deviled crabs to the game for Clearwater Mayor Frank Hibbard and his staff to devour was a great gesture. And one that would have been met with no reprecussions at all if it was located far away from this Tampa Bay Rays fan umbrella. But it was done right within the heart of the franchises fanbase, and that is a shame.

But you could have made the same local bet with the Port Charlotte or Punta Gorda Mayors over the FSL Championship and not caused even a ripple in the bay over the wager. Such a wager would have then been about civic pride and support for the Tampa Yankee squad as they played the Charlotte Stone Crabs.

You were right out on the field there front and center with St. Petersburg's Mayoir Rick Baker on Opening Day in 2009 saluting and praising the Rays. I know the Rays season did not turn out quite the way the fans and the community wished it had, but you did turn your back on this local MLB team for a moment, and with their biggest threat and divisional foe.

This episode or misstep might not even cause any damper on your political aspirations to run for a future Senate slot, or even a higher post. Sure there are a lot of transplanted New Yorkers' in this region who now have your name in their brains, and that might be a great political move for the future. But the native Floridians like myself like to usually live in the"Moment", and in this case, you might have actually lost the bet. Sure the Yankees won the World Series,and Hibbard and his Clearwater crew will have to don pinstripes and serve you and your staff grouper sandwiches and conch fritters this spring, but did it come with a small price?

I actually think you have a great abundance of "moxy" in you Madam Mayor, and I admire that trait in a politician. But what I can not honor and sit silently by is to see an elected officials proclaim a bet for a team that plays in the same division as her "so-called Favorite" Tampa Bay Rays. We all know politics can make for strange bedfellows, and I am not implying anything here, just stating fact. But in this bet you lost Madam Mayor.

And I truly loved your witty quote in the St. Petersburg Times on October 27,2009 when asked about the wager: " I never pass up a good winnable bet." You did not have to pay up on your end of the bet because the New Yorkers pulled it out, but you lost something I value more than a few sandwiches and shellfish appetizers. The thing you might have lost from some of your local fans, like me is respect. And that you can not get back with a zingy Mango salsa or a spicy Floridian seafood sauce.

Enjoy the seafood Madam Mayor.

Sunday Rewind" "Garza just misses Immortality"

2009-11-08T23:55:49Z

Sunday Review:

As you might remember, during the off season I am going back over the 650 blog posts since 2007 and trying to find postings that I think were special over the years. Since the Rays news does get a little short this time of year, it was a way for me to still post daily and also give some of the newer bloggers a chance to see how my style has changed over the years.

I picked this blog from my archive for today because it not only shows the writing style I was using in 2008, but it is a special moment in Rays history. With B J Upton finally getting the first cycle in Rays history on October 3,2008, I wanted to focus today on one of the past pitching performances by one of the Rays emerging starters.

In this series ending game against the Florida Marlins, Rays starter Matt Garza basically served up only one mistake all day long, and the Marlins shortstop Hanley Ramirez deposited it into the leftfield stands for the only hit,and run of the game for his team. It was one of the most dominating efforts by a member of the Rays starting rotation in 2008.
The blog was originally posted on June 26,2008.

Rays 6, Marlins 1

It was reported yesterday by the Montgomery Advertiser that Tampa Bay Rays pitching prospect Jake McGee will undergo season ending elbow surgery next week. The Biscuit starter was originally put on the Disabled List a few days ago, but an MRI revealed a torn elbow tendon and a Tommy John's surgery looks to be in McGee's not to distant future.

This could have been a huge blow to the Montgomery Biscuits chances for a third straight SAL title, but the Rays quickly promoted David Price and Jeremy Hellickson several days earlier from Class-A Vero Beach and both pitchers' should fit into the Biscuits rotation. McGee will fly to St. Petersburg to meet with Rays orthopedic doctor, Koko Eaton, and was also scheduled to see Dr. James Andrews after the weekend to get a second confirmation on the diagnosis. If McGee requires Tommy John's surgery, McGee will be lost for up to a year and a half from the Rays Farm system.

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Trivia Fact of the Night:

In 1953, respected and innovative National League umpire Bill Klem was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame.

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AP Photo

Rays starter Matt Garza (6-4) will remember this game against the Florida Marlins for a very long time. Not because he got his 6th victory of the season,and the first complete game of his career,but for one floating slider that could have brought him a special place in Rays history.

There is still no doubt that the sweep in the Inter-League series by the Rays over the Marlins in Miami made for a fantastic airline flight to Pittsburgh, but what might have been will be in Garza's head for a few days.



On the first pitch from Garza that Marlin's shortstop Hanley Ramirez saw in the bottom of the 7th inning,Ramirez drilled the hanging pitch into the seats just above the huge scoreboard in the leftfield bleachers. It was the only pitch that Garza would want to take back all day long. And the errant pitch not only cost Graza his chance at a shutout, but a spot in Rays history and immortality by throwing a no-hitter.



According to the Elias Baseball Bureau, It was the first complete-game no-hitter or one-hitter with a double-digit strikeout total in the majors this season. There was only one such pitching performance in each of the last three seasons: By Chris Carpenter in 2005, John Lackey in 2006 and Justin Verlander in 2007.

A P Photo

The Rays are now a franchise high 15 games over .500, and have posted 4 more wins than any other season before the All-Star break. They are also 7 ahead of their pervious best record after 77 games.

The Rays have been above .500 for 57 straight days this season and 61 total days for the 2008 season,both marks are Rays club records. Prior to the 2008 season, the Rays had been above the .500 mark for only 72 days combined in the teams short history.



Rays rookie Evan Longoria has been given many nicknames in the last few months,"Evan Almighty", "The Natural", and "Longo". The last one nickname seems to be a wild reference to an Alex Karas character in "Blazin' Saddles," and Evan might just be molding himself to represent a fine reputation to continue hearing the new nickname.

Longoria is one of the main weapons and reasons this years Rays team has been on a winning roll the past two months. Since coming up from the Triple-A Durham Bulls, the Rays have been pretty hard to beat most nights, which has been a rareity in Tampa Bay Rays history.

Yesterday's game totals just added to the ever increasing legend that is "Longo:"

Longoria had three hits on Thursday night (two doubles and a home run) in the Rays' win, after notching three hits (a single, double and homer) in Tampa Bay's 15-3 win over the Marlins on Wednesday night.

Longoria is the fourth player in Rays franchise history to have consecutive games with at least three hits and one home run. The other Tampa Bay players to do that were Aubrey Huff (2004), Jorge Cantu (2005) and B.J. Upton (2007).

The Rays now have a 9-5 record in Inter-League play this season, the team's highest win total since 2006 when they posted 11 wins in the Inter-League series. With a sweep in Pittsburgh they could establish another Rays club record for total victories during Inter-league play.

Along with Longoria and Garza's efforts, the bat of back-up catcher Shawn Riggans showed some real promise in the game for the Rays. Riggans, who has seen very limited action this year with the emergence of Dioner Navarro.

Riggans responded today by going 1-3 with 3 RBI's for the Rays. Riggans got his first RBI on the day after a sacrifice fly in the second inning to score Upton from third base, he then hit a RBI-double to deep centerfield in the 5th inning to score both Upton and Longoria.

Riggans also called a great game behind the plate for the Rays. Garza only ran into trouble a few times the entire game and Riggans worked a magical game calling the pitches. Garza walked one lone Marlin, Jeremy Hermida in the 4th inning.

Rays shortstop Ben Zobrist hit his second homer in two days in the 8th inning to complete the scoring for the Rays. Zobrist is now hitting .292 since coming up for the Rays from Triple-A Durham.

With the expected return of both Jason Bartlett and Carlos Pena on Friday in Pittsburgh,the Rays will have to make some roster moves before the Friday night game.

I am perdicting we will see Troy Percival go on the Disabled List for another 15 days stint, and this time it will not be his decision. If this does not happen,another Rays reliever will have to be sent down, or possibly put on waivers.

Based on his recent numbers and the extra dose of experiece this year, Rays utilityman Ben Zobrist might be the odd man out unless a trade can be reached for another infielder on the team. I know that Zobrist needs consistency in his routine,and it is a shame he might have to be the fall guy this time.

Zobrist has only been off the Disabled List for 7 games now,both in Durham and Tampa Bay. And Zobrist might need some more seasoning to get in great game shape for this team.

Tonight the Rays start a 3-game Inter-League series in Pittsburgh. At this time,I want to tell you about a wild and unique thing they do in the Steel City before every Pirates game. They close the Roberto Clemente bridge to automobile traffic and let the Pirates patrons walk the bridge to the stadium.

It is one of the truly "must do" once experiences in baseball at least once in your life. You get to travel the roads on foot to the ballpark before and after the game.....without dodging any automobile or motorized traffic.

The Rays are visitng PNC park for only the second time in their brief history, starting off when they lost 2 out of 3 in June 2005. They are currently 2-4 All-Time against the Pirates during the regular season.

The Pirates will be bringing up rookie Jimmy Barthmaier from Triple-A for his MLB debut against the Rays. Barthmaier

, a 13th-round Draft pick in 2003, will be making his first Pirates appearance when he takes the mound for Friday's start.

The right-hander has combined to go 4-5 this season with a 4.04 ERA in 10 Double-A and five Triple-A starts. In his most recent start, Barthmaier threw six innings, allowing only one run on four hits and striking out eight in the game. Barthmaier has shown better control with both his fastball and breaking ball since being promoted to Triple-A in late May, allowing just six walks in 31 2/3 innings.

Look closely at the picture above of Barthmaier. Is it just me, or are there not color to his pupils in the picture. Might be a Vulcan robot plant to supress the Rays victory celebrations.  Just Kidding,he might just have some wild contact lens for game days. Can we get the entire pitching staff a set of those Joe? No really can you? It could be a nice distracting measure to see only the "whites" of your eyes all night long on the mound.

3 Options Decisions loom for the Rays

2009-11-07T20:17:27Z

Bill Koustroun / AP

Within the next few days the Tampa Bay Rays will have to make some critical decisions on three members of the team. They will have to either consider accepting or declining club options on three members of the 2009 roster. Carl Crawford ($ 10 million), Gregg Zaun ($ 2 million) and Brian Shouse ($ 1.9 million +incentives) all are currently being looked at forward and back, and inside-out for pluses and minuses by the Rays. And more than likely, only Crawford could end up the only club option is picked up by the Rays.

Crawford's $ 10 million option is pretty comparable on the open market with outfielder who are within their prime and he is considered a value at that price right now. And the announcement during the last few weeks of the season that Crawford would be willing to talk about even lowering that price tag and extending his contract again must have had the team giddy with glee.

But it is the other two club options that might be more of a time consuming decision by the team. Because if the Rays accept either option, it might send into effect a landslide of changes for the Rays roster even before Spring Training.

And of the two club options, it seems to me that Zaun has done a great job with the Rays starting rotation and getting acclimated to the Rays system in his short time with the squad. I consider him an upgrade in the catching department both behind the plate and in the batters box for the Rays. And if the team does pick up his option, it will possibly be a signal to current starter Dioner Navarro that he might have a rough road going through arbitration this year and might even be considered a possible Rays non tendered candidate?

Zaun's .259 batting average is 40 points higher than Navarro's season ending .218. But an interesting point might be that Navarro had his highest batting average( .231) on April 13th, while Zaun has hit .289 since joining the Rays and .308 against right hander since the trade. And if you look at their defense, Zaun wins that battle hands down. Zaun is a jack-in-the-box behind the plate attacking every ball in the dirt and trying to smother or keep them in front of him. He might have only thrown out 11 of 51 base runners this season (21.6 %), but it is only slightly below Navarro's (23.8 %) mark for the season.

Chris O'Meara / AP

So this decision might be more if the Rays want to have an aging catcher (38 years old) behind the plate and might make a decision on the Navarro era with the Rays. And considering Navarro is up again for arbitration this season, could his salary which has been estimated at around $ 2.5 million be an upgrade over Zaun's abilities. And considering that Navarro's agent made it a habit to pester the Rays front office with phone calls and emails showing his clients stats, maybe the Rays will turn their back on Navarro and look elsewhere for catching help.

I see the Rays picking up Zaun's $2 million option because it might be time to make a change for the Rays. Catching was not a huge disadvantage for the team in 2009, but a upgrade and a change in personnel might be needed right now. And Zaun is a veteran presence the Rays need to support and work with this young pitching staff and fine tune them a bit more in 2010.

And the other option to be considered by the Rays might have actually been decided before the season was even concluded by the way Brian Shouse portrayed it me when I gave him congrats for reaching his incentive numbers. Shouse gave me the off-the-cuff indication that he felt he might not be with the team, but held out enthusiasm and hope for a different scenario.

Considering the team lost Bullpen members Chad Bradford, Troy Percival and Russ Springer who close to go to the free agent market, the Rays Bullpen will again be a work in progress going into Spring Training. And considering that Shouse did prove to be an effective left-handed specialist for the Rays, this decision might come down to his option amount and if the team think that leftie reliever Randy Choate can perform in this role in 2010.

Choate is arbitration eligible, and might command only about $ 1.2 million in arbitration. And if the Rays do indeed decide to keep Shouse, Choate might be considered trade bait or even non-tendered. And here lies the difficult decision for the Rays. Shouse will be 42 near the end (Sept 27) of the 2010 season, and is already the oldest pitcher to grace a Rays roster. Does giving him a possible $1.9 million plus his incentive be considered a sound investment for the Rays?

Steve Nesius / AP

Combine that with Shouse holding lefties to a .224 average and holding his opponents scoreless in 21 of his last 24 appearances, Shouse still has the ability to do the job. But the emergence of Choate late in the season while Shouse was on the disabled list with a left elbow strain, it might bring the decision simply down to who the Rays think can do the job in 2010. I have feeling the Rays might dwell a bit on the fact he will be 42 before the end of 2010, and will decline the club option for Shouse.

And the buy-out options for both players is not a huge amount, and might also play into the Rays decisions. They currently have until November 11th to make public their decision on Shouse. And if he is not retained by the Rays, he will be given a $ 200,000 buyout. But the decision on Zaun needs to be made on Monday, November 9th, which is 5 days after the end of the World Series. If the Rays do not intend to keep Zaun on their roster, it will cost them $ 500,00 or 25 percent of the salary he would have commanded in 2010.

And you have to take the delay on the announcement of the club option on Carl Crawford as a positive sign that things are being discussed behind-the-scenes, and that a decision will be announced soon on the Rays plans for Crawford in 2010. The decisions made over the next few days by the Rays will not totally sculpt their roster for 2010, but it could indicate the direction and the possible intentions of the team in the free agent and trade markets over the Winter months.

You would love for the team to take all three players back into the fold and retain the chemistry that existed at the end of 2009. But the financial realities of the Rays payroll make this kind of a fairy tale and not a reality. Hopefully the Rays front office is working long and hard on their decisions concerning all three players, and that whatever looms in the future for any of them, that the decision will be for the good of the team and be received with the zeal that the team is again striving to be a player in not only the American League East, but in the chase to the 2010 World Series.

Good Riddance Troy Percival

2009-11-06T14:47:21Z

Chris O'Meara / AP

Well you knew in the bottom of your stomach that the baseball world had not seen the last of the bottom feeder known as Troy Percival. You knew that for all the garbage Rays fans had endured over the last two seasons from Percival he would again rise from the ashes after he got his millions from the Rays. People like Percival always seem to find another angle or level to stay in the game.

Is there really another team out there that desperate for a closer (besides the Rays) to consider a relief pitcher who pitched a total of 67 innings in two seasons for his last team? And on Thursday, when Percival could "officially" declared himself a free agent, Percival wasted no time informing MLB of his intentions this off season. So why am I so upset about a guy who is no longer our problem. Who will now be someone else's problem and have no financial or physical worth to this team.

Honestly, I do not want to see another set of baseball fans go through the same garbage we have the last two seasons. The buck has to stop here with Percival. At first I thought this MLB announcement was a misprint. Does Percival really feel he can rip off another team for a few million dollars without anyone calling BS after the way he showed his "professionalism" with the Rays. Percival threw only 67 total innings as a member of the Rays, and might be remembered more for what he did not do, than what was accomplished on the field.

Sure he took a few more strides up the All-Time Save list ladder while with the team, but he sacrificed team unity in the Bullpen and abandoned his team when they needed a veteran presence. He was weirdly admired by Rays Manager Joe Maddon for his past fire and brimstone, but that fire and that zeal were just embers when he played here in Tampa Bay, unless you called into question his abilities, then you got a fireworks display from Percival.

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And while injured, Percival's "Greta Garbo" routine of wanting to be alone and rehab away from the team medical staff actually surfaced before he even donned a Rays uniform. Just ask the Detroit Tiger medical staff and fans who saw a total of 26 games and 25 innings from Percival before he went down for the count during the World Series season. He went on the DL that season and still collected his playoff share before finally leaving the team. Hmm, he did the same thing here in 2008, and stayed on the Rays roster the entire 2009 season hoping for a last payday if the Rays got to the playoffs.

And lets not forget his short stint as a member of the St. Louis Cardinals Bullpen when most thought he might be making a return to greatness, but instead threw only 40 innings in 34 games with zero saves. I guess considering that we got at least 32 saves out of his old body before the clunker again hits the skids should be viewed as a positive. But it is what he did on the mound and in plain sight of all of us that still makes me never trust someone like Percival. His "me first" mentality gnawed at me and fueled my personal dislike for the guy.

Maybe the first strike on his character came when I saw him out on the beaches at an Italian restaurant with someone extremely younger than his wife having some dinner. The way he acted in public did not show the social decorum usually associated with a professional athlete. It was not as if someone went up to him in the middle of his antipasto and asked for an autograph. He was rude to his own dinner guests. But maybe that is his personality. Maybe he is a rough and gruff guy by nature.

And his second strike while with the Rays was his outburst after a Sunday afternoon game in which a home fan innocently kept Evan Longoria from catching a foul ball near the Visitor's dugout and impeded the play by getting his hand on the ball and not letting Longoria make an easy out for the home team. After the final out of the game, Percival was seen barking out blue streak of words to the guy and his young son. That kind of actions might only be considered professional in the WWE.

SPTimes.com

And his third strike in my book has to be his boorish behavior of getting vocal and confrontational with the usually cool Maddon on the mound. Earlier this season in Baltimore, the most recent "Percy" moment was there for everyone to see as you yelling directly at Maddon in plain view of the television cameras. That to me is a total lack of respect for his Manager, and a move you would expect in the dugout,not on the mound in front of a stadium of people.

I am not discounting his injuries while he was here with the Rays, because he did have back and knee situations even during his first season with the team, but they seemed to disappear right after the season when he came to St. Petersburg to be examined by the Rays medical staff and collect his playoff money. He got a share of the pie because of his veteran status, but after the final home game in 2008 he was no where in sight during the Rays playoff run.

In 2008, Percival made three trips to the disabled list and managed to get 28 saves for the Rays before finally shutting it down for the season. He appeared in 46 games for the Rays and battled a hamstring strain twice before some loose cartilage in his right knee put him out for the rest of the year. And about that time he began his disappearing act to California to see his own doctors and chiropractors besides the Rays medical staff.

And the 2009 season started with a bit of optimism since he got some work done on his knee during the off season and he told the media he felt better physically then he had for a long time. And that was a good indicator of things could be on the upswing for the Rays. But on May 22, Percival threw his last pitch as a member of the Rays. That night he was put on the disabled list for a bout of shoulder tendinitis and was not seen on the bench again for the Rays.

Chris O'Meara/ AP

What he has done as a member of the Rays might get him promoted to the top of my Rays former players garbage list with Gerald Williams and Vinny Castilla. Yeah, to me Percival was up there in that realm of grumpy, old players who own self worth was way above their team's own well being and chemistry. You would think a guy with all that post season experience and positive roles with championship teams would want to boost his teammates, but Percival was no where to be found during those moments.

Percival might have done great things to the community in Southern California that we do not know about, and he might be a local hero to fans and people in that community. But to us here in Tampa Bay we are hopefully saying goodbye to the likes of you Troy Percival for the last time. Please do not let the door hit you on the way out, and yes, I am bitter and disappointed in you as a player and as a man.

I really was excited when you first signed, but that quickly turned to disappointment as I got to see how you acted and reacted with fans and people during your time here. When you first got here I thought we had the first real closer personality here since Danys Baez and Roberto Hernandez, who are still the top 2 closers in Tampa Bay Rays history (thank goodness).

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But the thing that further put you in my personal doghouse was the fact that you did not have a personal integrity to be here when the Rays Foundation gave away your 1970 Chevy Chevelle in a raffle during the 2009 season. You were not here to drive the car onto the field or even present the keys to the winner.

It would have been a truly classy move to be here and present the keys to a car you rebuilt for the Rays Foundation, then donated it to the charity. But as we have learned in the last two season here in Tampa Bay, the words "classy" and "Percival" have never seemed to go together.

Club Option Clock Keeps Ticking Away

2009-11-05T23:06:39Z

Jed Jacobsohn/ Getty Images

A funny thing happened behind the scenes around the MLB about the time New York Yankees closer Mariano Rivera visualized Phillies hitter Shane Victorino swing and sent an easy ground ball towards Robinson Cano at second base last night. We on the surface saw the play send the Yankee Stadium crowd into hysteria while celebrating their 27th World Series title.

And that sparked a sea of celebrations all over the country and on that same field, but it also silently ushered in a 14-day time period that will have Major League Baseball free agents and some players sitting on the "club option" fence wondering if their teams really do want them.

I kind of see this next two weeks like those wild and crazy hallway chatter that we all had back in High School. You know the ones I am talking about here. You will hear a lot of chatter some thrown out as ramblings, and "he said/she said" sound bytes, but it might simply be camouflage to the real intentions. And even the words "trust me" have to be taken with a grain of salt, even from your BFF.

It is a time where team actions will mean more than words, and someone in that hallway always seems to end up with a broken heart or crushed ego. And this is that short slice of time where not everyone will get what they want,or even what they deserve before the time clock clicks to zero.

Some players will be booted to the curb outside their stadiums and offered small buyouts as consolation prizes. And some might get lucky enough to be asked to sign a contract to make them a financial fit for another team to acquire them and relieve their old team of any financial burdens. It is that weird slice of time where the season's accolades and rewards all might dissolve instantly away and you get power plays via the fiscal market.

And you can be sure there will be more than a few MLB players' agents wandering the hotel halls in Chicago wanting a few moments to get some good vibes or even comfort for their clients before this 2 week team bloodletting is over. You will see more than a few agents firmly attached to their cells or to a team reps arm to confirm or even deny even the dumbest rumors and facts hitting the hallways.

Canadian Press

And in these clandestine chats some words will not be what the agents and their clients want to hear at all. Take today's announcement that the New York Mets are parting ways with once highly loved closer/set-up guy J J Putz by declining his 2010 season. The Mets were infatuated with Putz when they acquired him originally as an insurance policy if K-Rod faltered, but now they would rather release him and give him a $1 million "walk away" parting gift prize instead and let him hit the open market.

But even within the first few hours of this timed free-for-all, there has been a winner in the guessing game. And you have to think that this move has been going on behind the scene, but a conclusion to the World Series can bring about a "official" announcement. Angels rightfielder Bobby Abreu, who originally signed a low ball figure of $ 5 million to play in 2009, got a multi-year contract today of at least $ 19 million guaranteed over the next two seasons.

Not only has Abreu done everything the Angels asked of him, and more, but he did it at below market value to show his interest in remaining with the team. Some thought it was ill-advised when he first signed in the Spring of 2009, but now it has blossomed into a nice 2-year $9 million dollar per season contract (2010-2011) with a club option at the same amount could vest based on plate appearances for 2012. And even if he is not retained past 2011, he can get a $1 million consolation prize out of the deal.

And in the next few days there will be many more players like former Arizona pitcher Daniel Cabrera who will option for free agency instead of a minor league assignment. During this short time some teams will tease players with minor league assignments to test their willingness to stay in the team's good graces than to take the option of free agency.

And you know there are more than a handful of players whispering the words trying to get them out through the hallways and byways of the Internet that some guys thought to be safe with their teams might be fighting for their careers with their clubs to vest their options before all is said and done in 14 days.

Guys like ex- Diamondback Chad Tracy and ex-Dodger pitcher Jon Garland have already seen their options turned down and are heading to the free agent market again. But both of these announcements might not be as surprising considering Tracy's $ 7 million and Garland's $ 10 million option amounts. Finances play a huge role in these decisions, and have to be done without emotional attachments to the players.

Eric Mangin / Getty Images

There is even a sense of uneasiness in the celebrating clubhouse of newly crowned World Champion New York Yankees that some roster mates who celebrated into the late morning today might have celebrated their last night as a Yankee. You have to consider that starting pitcher Chien-Ming Wang will not be pitching for the Yankees come Spring Training in 2010. That the team might use his latest injuries as an indicator that he might be a durable option come 2010 and search for alternatives. But there are others even within their opponents locker room who might also feel some intense heat before all is said and done over the next 14 days.

You have to consider that the Phillies brain trust has already been throwing ideas and possible solutions via a "Plan B" for the increasing run mudslide that closer Brad Lidge produced during the 2009 regular season and also in the playoffs. There will be a nice wealth of closers in the free agent market, and Lidge might be spending his last days in red pinstripes. But the Philadelphia team also has a huge decision to make about their third base options in the next few days.

Current third baseman Pedro Felix has a $5 million option on the table with a $500 thousand buyout that the team has to be considered before they even swirl the free agent waters. Could he be on the way out with someone like ex-Mariner Andre Beltre wading his toes in the free agent marketplace. Some say a Beltre hook-up with Philly would be a match made in heaven, but we have heard that all too often in the past to believe in the fairytale. And you can be sure the Phillies might wait until the last moment to announce anything concerning Felix.

Talialeone@Flickr.com

As every MLB team has a chance to tease and please their current players with club options and possible extended deals over the next few weeks,their are more than a few who could be pushed out by dollar signs and not true talent evaluations. I actually think that the trade announcement of multi-dimensional player Mark Teahen going to the Chicago White Sox from the Kansas City Royals is a perfect indicator of teams loving their player, until a deal comes around they can not pass over.

It should be interesting over the next 14 days with more than a few surprises, and hopefully more anti climatic moments for some teams and their players. But you can be sure that there will be more than few declined options or even last moment trades that will bring out a shock and awe to all of us. there is always one guy thought to be on solid ground that all of a sudden is either sent packing or sent to a rival without hesitation.

but that is the nature of the game time of the season. It is not like they do not want to keep these players on their team, or do not covet them as contributors, but the end result might be that the team really was not just that into the player and saw a way out of the relationship.

Yep, just like High School, the deal might be conveyed from friend of a friend, or a causal phone call from their agent, but in the end, it will not be personal, it will be business. And that is a sucky part of the whole process. Sometimes talent and ability is weighed down by dollar signs and the end is in plain view for a player this time of year. Banner years and fan love are not played into the equations this time of year, the reality of the game owns this time of the year.

Adiosu Aki, Settai Chavez

2009-11-04T16:08:25Z

SPTimes.com

You just knew that the Rays had put the discussion and the issue of whether to retain Akinora Iwamura or test the trade waters for him a high priority this World Series week. Mostly because they had to make a decision immediately after the series on if they were going to pay him a $550,000 contract buyout, or accept the 1-year $4.85 million dollar contract for the 2010 season.

And we all knew that the Rays could always trade Iwamura, but everyone in the league knew they would have to make a decision on him, and might try and low sell the Rays on a prospect to get some veteran leadership on their team. And in the end, Iwamura went to a team that did not even appear on anyone's radar as a potential trade partner.

Before last night, who besides the Rays Vice President of Baseball Operations Andrew Friedman would have believed that the Pittsburgh Pirates had anything more than a passing interest on the infielder. It seemed some what out of character that a team that has been sold on youth and keeping a lower payroll would bring on a player that instantly became their highest paid player in one firm stroke.

But it is not as if Iwamura was a salary dump, or even a bad contract move. His one year deal actually might make a bit of sense for the Pirates considering he has shown he is a team first player who can also play both third base and second base with exceptional defensive skills. But it might be his effectiveness at the plate that intrigued the Pirates the most.

They had been seeking a lead-off bat that could produce both with infield hits and on the base paths. Iwamura fits that bill and more. In his three season with the Rays he was used as a lead-off man and also a lower in the line-up hitter and excelled in both spots with timely hits and aggressive actions on the bases.

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Also a glowing positive is the fact that in his first two season in the Major League, Iwamura had only hit into 4 double plays in 1,216 at bats for the Tampa Bay Rays in 2007-2007. He is a career .281 hitter who is known to go on hitting streaks and has a medium dose of power in his bat. But what might be exciting to fans and players alike is his imitation alligator skin glove that he had made when he signed with the Rays back in 2007.

Iwamura is quiet on the field, but was a constant clubhouse figure during the celebration and during fan signings during his season with the Rays. Some people think that the Rays might have gotten the short end of the deal with only acquiring reliever Jesse Chavez in the deal. But all indication are from the Rays scouting department that Chavez is a young pitcher who can bring the ball to the plate and should be firmly in the mix to make the team in the 2010 Spring Training.

Chavez almost set the Pirate rookie record for innings pitched in 2009, but he fell 12 inning short of the record set by teammate Matt Capps in 2006. Chavez did finished the year with a total of 67.1 innings and led all National League pitchers in innings pitched last season. And his record in 2009 might be a bit misleading at 1-4 with a 4.01 ERA.

But he did lead the Pirates Bullpen in total appearances last season (73). And he picked up his first Major League win in a walk-off victory over the St. Louis Cardinals on September 6,2009. And what might have appealed to the Rays is the fact he was scored upon once in his last nine appearances, and posted a 3.19 ERA early in the season before the All Star break.

So the Rays are getting a guy who has one season of Major League experience, and is under team control until 2014. Which in the long run is the Rays formula to success recently. The addition of Chavez fills a hole the Rays will have in their Bullpen coming into Spring Training, and also gives them a viable option that could make the team out of Spring Training at a reasonable salary for the team.

And after the Pirates traded John Garbow to the Chicago Cubs, the team depended on Chavez more and more during the season to get critical outs in the game. But one disadvantage Chavez has coming to the Rays might be that the Pirates did not play the match-up game the way the Rays have done for most of 2009. Instead Pirates Manager John Russell would put Chavez in the game no matter if right or left-handers were coming to the plate.

Russell personally felt that the match-up system would tax his Bullpen and his philosophy was not to play into situational pitching, but to make his guys get batters out on both sides of the plate nightly. And Chavez held both sides of the plate under .300, with a .228 average against lefties. But there might be a few things that ring alarm bells in the Rays head also about the powerful rightie.

During 2009, opponents hit Chavez to a 9.0 ERA on turf, which he will play over 81 game on both at the Trop. and on the road for the Rays. And he has a better ERA away from home than on the road, which is not usually the case in a young pitcher. Chavez has a 3.45 ERA away from PNC Park, while he held a 4.50 ERA at home. But he is a young pitcher, and future adjustments and a comfort level both with the Rays and on the Field Turf might change those stats fast for Chavez.

I honestly think this trade is more of a "win-win" for both teams. Some have brought up the issue of the Rays having a limited sense of leverage in this deal, but in reality the Pirates gave up a guy with loads of potential and a gift of giving up the long ball in return for a veteran they control and could use as a nice trade tool at the Trading Deadline in 2010.

But in the end, I will miss seeing Iwamura manning the second base hole during Rays games, but the reality has shown again for the Rays. Even in the time since we have let our payroll go a big north the reality was still there that members of this team would out-grown the Rays financial breaking points.

First Scott Kazmir was jettisoned before the end of 2009 to free up capital to try and keep Carl Crawford in the fold. Then both Crawford and Iwamura both went to the team and let them know that financial options could be discussed with each of them. But in the end, it is a business, and with the financial background of the Rays front office, we will see more and more of these emotion less transactions in the coming years. Even if it is business and not personal, seeing Iwamura go now is sad, but a product of the system that the Rays employ to keep their team fiscally fit and ready for 2010.

Elise Almendola /AP

私達は2010年のAkiのピッツバーグの繁栄そして健康を望む。
そして私達はあなたの微笑を逃す!

( We wish you prosperity and health in Pittsburgh in 2010. We will miss your smile!)

St. Pete Election could decide Rays Future

2009-11-03T13:32:24Z

SPTimes.com

On this National election Day, there are citizens all around the country voting to retain or replace local politicians in their city governments. Some are voting for Council members, minor and major elected city officials and maybe even for the high office of Mayor. But in St. Petersburg, Florida, the vote for your mayor candidate might send a clear and concise message to the Tampa Bay Rays on what the teams future might be in the city or somewhere else.

Both of the cities Mayor candidates have been loud and proud in their support or bashing of the Rays proposal to construct a new retractable roof stadium within the city limits. And it is a decision that has alienated some community leaders from their citizens,or even renewed a hope of a change in government. The voting decision today by the city populus might be a clear indicator of if the Rays dream of a new stadium is going to be a folly or a future shing star in the Tampa Bay area.

Also at stake is the timing of any future plans at all. Consider if the city does join forces with the Rays and campaign for a new stadium as soon as 2012. If the city and the team tries to fund it and build it too quickly, without total support, you will see the city sacrifice city taxes and proposed revenues by looking at it in tunnel vision. But there is a far worst scenario that might come from waiting too long to make a initial decison on the project and watch the moving vans stroll up to the Trop and wave goodbye to baseball in Tampa Bay for good.

The A Better Community (ABC) group, which has been commissioned to research all the nooks and crannies of the Tampa Bay area for the right location and situation for the proposed stadium has not even made a final conclusion in the stadium process. And that might be a intelligent political move for them to wait and see what kind of political obstacles might fall in their way before revealing their final reccomendations to the public.

But you can bet the group is closely watching the St. Pete election with a keen eye on what might happen or needs to happen in the next few years concerning the stadium issue. And the candidate have laid it all out in black and white to the public on this issue, and there has been no pandering to either side. But their firm words are just that right now until they are elected to the office and will have to comment again on the issue.

Jame Borchuck/ SPTimes

You have one candidate Kathleen Ford, who has been a huge voice that the Rays are committed by contract to staying at Tropicana Field until 2027, and is not about to give them any freedom or deviations from their present deal in the near future. Ford has campaigned hard on the issues of the city's economy and putting more police officiers on the street and decreasing taxes than thinking about baseball right now. And that might be the platform that makes her viable to the citizens of the city.

But Ford also knows that the city of St. Petersburg has a trump card in this stadium deal, and she is holding it close to her vest right now. If the Rays cry poverty, then the city could instruct the team to open their teams financial books, and MLB and baseball in general has been hesistant in the past to let outsiders see such things as revenue sharing and other inner workings of their system.

And Ford might use the possibility of financial damages as her remedy to the situation. The current contract between the Rays and the city stipulates that all bond monies (currently about $ 80 million) must be paid off. And in this point alone,Ford might have the power of the judicial system in her court. So, could Ford become a major stadium hinderence to the Rays if she is elected or just a road block?

Then you have the other candidate, Bill Foster who has flip floped at least once on the issue, but that concerned the building of the stadium on the St. Petersburg waterfront, and not the proposed sites on the outer stretches of the city's limits. Foster realistically sees both sides of the equation now,and has vowed to work with the Rays organization to get the right decision for both the citizens of his town and the Rays in this issue.

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Foster is the candidate who truly envisions the concrete hitting the soil as early as 2016 when the financing of the current bonds surrounding the Tropicana Field lease are set to expire. And he is also throwing the idea out of maybe even expanding the concept to include a convention center on the property picked to make it more attractive to city residents and voters if a referendum is needed to get the funding. But does he have the charm and finesse needed to get them reinstituted and the Rays on the way to fulfilling the dream?

And both candidates have been adamant about a court battle if the Rays try and take the team away before 2027, but we all know that professional teams can win court battles and even iron clad lawsuits by twisting the system with monetary solutions,or by just winning outright in their case. And that is one of the strong armed tactics we could expect if Ford is elected to the office. Foster might use it as a directional tool, but not as a strong point to twist the issue ot negotiations with the Rays.

Depending on where your personal logic lies, the Rays will be making decisions behind their closed doors that are not privy to the Florida Sunshine Laws to either boost or defend their current plans to acquire the head nod of city officials about a stadium. And the Rays are not going to immediately head for the hills and be on speed dial with Portland,San Antonio, Las Vegas or even Charlotte if the wrong person is elected, or shows a strong will even to speak about the issue. But you know they have a back-up plan. This is a business, not just a baseball sports franchise, and a wise man always has a secondary solution up their sleeves.

But this is going to be a critical decision by the citizens of St. Petersburg on how their baseball future will be visualized. The region has emerged as a Major League city, if the city government balks at the building or any considerations of a stadium, the city could lose. And if that happens,will the citizens of St. Petersburg, Florida want to again become a Minor League city?

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Could the decision making by the next St. Pete mayor, either Foster or Ford be the deciding factor in if the Rays are doing a ribbon cutting or preparing for a court battle in the future? After they are elected we might get a good indicator of their thoughts when the ABC releases their recommendations on the stadium parameters such as location and structure. The first order uttered on this issue by the new Mayor might send the clear message to baseball lovers in the community.

So the issue of baseball might be considered front and center in this election, but it has a huge dose of hard core realization attached to both Mayor candidates. One has been vocal about playing hardball and tying the team up to their total commitments. The other has been wise enough to consider alternatives and will keep an open mind into the baseball situation until all the cards are presented to him and the St. Petersburg City Council.

When the Waterfront proposed stadium plans were pulled back off the table by the Rays earlier this year it was seen as a victory by some small political groups (POWW) around the community. They saw the pulling of the proposed plans as a major coup at the time. But who is to say that it was not STRIKE ONE by the St. Petersburg politicans, and the Rays will ultimately be the ones who determine when the community strikes out,or hits one out of the park and into the bay.

Rays #1 Moment of 2009: " To the Roof People!"

2009-10-31T17:21:02Z

How can you describe it to someone who has never seen it before. It is a awesome moment that steals your breathe away and makes your own heart skip a beat or two. It is the time you can visually imagine seeing the sweat, blood and hard work it took to gain those banners flash instantly before your eyes. It is a time to will never,ever forget for your entire life.

And for me, it is a Tampa Bay Rays moment 12 years in the making. A dozen years of watching teams glide up and down in the standings, mostly in the bottom rungs, but finally thrusting towards the zenith of the division.
Rays Radio Host Rich Hererra was so right when he told all of us during the 2008 season that "It was going to be a Magical Summer."

This had to be my "Number #1 Rays Moment of 2009". Not only will this event be played out for years in stories and tales, but because all the rest of the Rays future seasons will be judged from now on against these two banners being raised to the rafters of Tropicana Field. Sure the on-the-field actions that produced these banners might have happened in the 2008 season.

But the realization is visualized here on the Rays Opening Day, April 13th against the multi-ringed New York Yankees. For on that day, the realization of what truly happened during the playoffs is alive and growing within the stadium. the banners seem to have a pulse of their own and an honorable place amongst the rafters now for every fan, team and home viewer to see forever.

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And now it seems kind of symbolic passing of the trophy that the Yankees got to witness this spectacular event. From the first moment both banner materialized from the dugouts and the Rays as one seem to glide those banners across the turf on their shoulders and walked high and proud with them both into position right below the leftfield seats.

How a small band of local Armed Forces paratroopers stationed at nearby McDill Air Force Base, which houses the U S armed forces Central Command post, helped hoist the banners into their lofty posts in the rafters of the stadium. With the cheers and the applause almost deafening, it was a moment that brought chills, thrills and a few drops of wetness to the Rays uniform I was wearing that great night.

Because not only did the players do amazing things on the field in their run towards the World Series, but the fans came out in droves and supported this team by filling every nook and cranny of the Trop. when we needed them most. And even if this day was set forward to celebrate with pomp and circumstances set before us, the event will live on forever, not only with the ticket stubs and the programs, but in the hearts and minds of the Rays Republic. It was the first day the home fans got a chance to relish the team trying to regain their spot again in 2009, at the top, and as winners.

Some people might remember, I almost ruined this special night's banner positioning when during a taping of the "Maddon's Maniacs" during the "Ground Rules" video I snapped a few photos of the banners already in place. I posted it on Twitter and Facebook and then got a nice subtle note to 'please take them down", not from the team or a Rays rep., but from a friend within the organization.

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I did not know that that was the final positioning spot picked for the ceremony, or even that those two banners were going to be the actual two used for the event. I was ashamed for a moment that I might have abused a bit of courtesy shown to me by the Rays.

But I also knew I got to see an early glimpse at a historic event that I will cherish forever. But on April 13th, you saw the pride and the emotions flowing from every member of the Rays roster and staff out on the turf before the raising of the two banners. Everyone within the Rays game day staff from the clubhouse guys to the medical staff was out there celebrating the moment with the team.

But some people were missing. Jonny Gomes, Eric Hinske and Cliff Floyd did not get to be present with their former Rays team mates as they were with their current clubs somewhere else amongst the MLB schedule. But you know they were there in spirit, and in the minds of the guys on the field that played along side of them during the playoff run. For even if certain people stood out amongst all the moments of the playoff run, the team was the centerpiece of this championship, and it might be the best team the Rays ever put on the field.

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It was a emotional night that you knew even the most stubborn and nasty visiting fans would rejoice and understand the commitment and the sacrifice this team went through for those two titles. No matter if they were wearing Yankee jerseys and shirts, the visiting crowd clapped and celebrated along with us. And in an ironic twist, at the end of the 2009 season, it is that night's visiting team that night will hold their own duo banner ceremonies in 2010 now.

So here is a small salute hoping that the New York Yankee fans can relish in the same emotions and pride when their banners are also shown for the first time in 2010. The World Series has not concluded yet, and maybe there will be a nice third banner to be raised before it is all said and done in 2009.

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It is a ceremony you will not ever forget if you get the chance to attend one in your lifetime. It really does break down into your heart and tears any hardness or scars away for that moment. It is a time to remember and rejoice the true spirit of why they play the game, and we watch as fans. It is a time to remember why you follow the team, and that both your commitments have resulted in rewards way beyond your wildest dreams.

It was a truly "Magical Season", and one that I will probably bore people with in the next 20 years. But you always remember your first one with more vigor and vitality. Because your first quest, your first venture into the playoffs is magical enough, but it symbolized so many "firsts" in 2008 for the Rays that it would make you head spin. But the end result was celebrated on April 13th, and hopefully you were either there or watching at home. It is the first of many, and certainly not the last moment to celebrate as Rays fans.