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| Posted: Sun Mar 09, 2008 12:27 am Post subject: Rays Team Report |
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Rays Team Report
Yahoo! Sports
Mar 8, 3:39 am EST
Inside Pitch
Having made big changes to their organization throughout the winter—name, colors, uniforms, roster, outlook—the Rays will focus during the spring on getting better at the little things.
Manager Joe Maddon has identified several areas of interest—baserunning, situational hitting, strike-throwing and overall defense.
For example, the team has spent considerable time talking about secondary leads and the responsibilities of the trail runner. And when new shortstop Jason Bartlett went first-to-third in the fourth inning of the team’s first exhibition game, Maddon made a big point of mentioning the value of what he did and what he did to be able to do it.
“He did it because of his lead off first base. He was way off the bag, he was in tune with the runner on second base, he goes to third base. I really liked that,” Maddon said. “I want that to typify what we’re doing this year.”
Maddon actually has bigger plans.
“That’s one of our priorities, to be considered the best baserunning team in either league,” Maddon said. “And I really want us to get to that point.”
There will be other such areas of focus, too, such as the almost daily work they do on bunt defense, along with cutoffs and relays.
“The work’s been really good and we’ve been paying attention to detail as a group, and that’s what I’m really focusing on right now,” Maddon said. “We’re going to be hypercritical with our guys in regard to different things that happen in a game, both positive and negative. That’s a big part of the next couple weeks.”
Notes, Quotes
• RHP Troy Percival, the Rays’ new closer, pitched a perfect inning Thursday in his spring debut. He struck out one of the three Philadelphia batters he faced.
• OF Rocco Baldelli’s return to the outfield remains uncertain, as the Rays are taking things very slowly in hopes of getting him to Opening Day healthy. Baldelli missed all but 35 games last season due to hamstring injuries, and has played just twice thus far this spring, taking two at-bats twice as the DH. The Rays had talked about playing him next in the outfield, but manager Joe Maddon said they have decided to hold off for now. “We would like to do it, but it just does not seem that it’s appropriate right now,” Maddon said. “With what (trainer Ron Porterfield) is telling me and just watching the whole thing develop, I just think it’s right to keep him at DH for right now.”
• RHP Andy Sonnanstine is being treated for an ear infection he got from listening to his iPod, the St. Petersburg Times reported. Sonnanstine said he fell asleep on the bus ride back from Sarasota on Friday with his in-ear headphones in, and that blocked some pores that led to the infection. He is not expected to miss any time.
• LHP Scott Kazmir continues to make progress in his recovery from a left elbow strain. Kazmir advanced to “phase three” of the program Wednesday when he played catch for the first time since the Feb. 26 injury, making about 25 throws from a distance of 60 feet. If all goes well, he will advance next to long toss and could throw a bullpen session as soon as March 10 or 11. Kazmir remains hopeful of making the Opening Day start; the Rays haven’t it out but say they will be cautious with their prized left-hander.
—RHP Jason Hammel made an improved showing Wednesday in his bid to win a spot in the rotation, allowing four hits—but no walks—in three innings against the Astros. He still needs to improve his fastball command. He walked two in his one-inning debut Friday. Hammel is competing primarily with RHPs Edwin Jackson and Andy Sonnanstine for two open spots, though RHP Jeff Niemann and LHP J.P. Howell also have shots.
• INF Ben Zobrist made his first professional appearance at first base on Wednesday as the Rays seek to turn him into a super utility man. In the first six days of exhibitions, Zobrist has played four positions—first, second, third and shortstop—and he is scheduled to make his outfield debut Thursday. The Rays expect him to be well-versed in seven positions.
By The Numbers: 3—Consecutive wins by the Rays to start the exhibition season, matching the 2000 franchise record.
Quote To Note: “You can call him Evan Almighty.”—SS Jason Bartlett on 3B prospect Evan Longoria.
Roster Report
Rays officials said they were committed to making their team better and followed it up with a significant payroll increase, from $24 million on Opening Day last season to more than $40 million, and a series of acquisitions to address their biggest needs, adding a proven closer (Troy Percival), left-handed hitter (Cliff Floyd), No. 3 starter (Matt Garza) and starting shortstop (Jason Bartlett). But they still have a number of question marks and at best are probably a .500 team.
Arrivals: RHP Troy Percival (free agent from Cardinals), RHP Matt Garza (trade with Twins), SS Jason Bartlett (trade with Twins), OF Cliff Floyd (free agent from Cubs), LHP Trever Miller (free agent from Astros), LHP Kurt Birkins (waiver claim from Orioles), INF Willy Aybar (trade from Braves), INF/OF Eric Hinske (minor league free agent from Red Sox), RHP Scott Munter (minor league free agent from Giants), C Mike DiFelice (minor league free agent from Mets), LHP Brian Anderson (minor league free agent from Royals), INF Andy Cannizaro (minor league free agent from Yankees).
Departures: RHP Brian Stokes (traded to Mets), OF Delmon Young (traded to Twins), INF Brendan Harris (traded to Twins), OF Elijah Dukes (traded to Nationals), INF Josh Wilson (claimed off waivers by Pirates), RHP Shawn Camp (free agent, signed minor league deal with Blue Jays), LHP Jeff Ridgway (traded to Braves), INF Greg Norton (free agent, signed minor league deal with Mariners), C Raul Casanova (free agent, signed minor league deal with Mets), LHP Jon Switzer (free agent, signed minor league deal with Red Sox).
Spring Focus: The two most watched people in spring training will be OF Rocco Baldelli and 3B Evan Longoria—Baldelli is trying to come back from lingering hamstring injuries that limited him to 35 games last season and could be an impact player if healthy; Longoria is an elite prospect hoping for the chance to make the Opening Day roster.
Projected Rotation:
1. LHP Scott Kazmir
2. RHP James Shields
3. RHP Matt Garza
4. RHP Andy Sonnanstine
5. RHP Edwin Jackson
The addition of Garza gives the Rays three potential frontline starters all under 27 and all under team control for at least three seasons, a trio many teams would envy.
The question is how big the dropoff will be to the last two spots, whether it’s the incumbents listed above or challengers RHP Jason Hammel, LHP J.P Howell and RHP Jeff Niemann. Of those three, Niemann has the most upside but might be the least ready,
Projected Bullpen:
RHP Troy Percival (closer)
RHP Al Reyes
RHP Dan Wheeler
RHP Gary Glover
LHP Trever Miller
RHP Grant Balfour
RHP Jason Hammel
The Rays consider the signing of Percival to pay off in two ways—giving them a proven veteran to handle the closer’s role, and allowing all their returning relievers to slide into a lesser role.
Realistically, Percival, Reyes, Wheeler, Glover and Miller are on the team, leaving only two spots to be decided among more than a half-dozen candidates, with RHP Scott Dohmann and RHP Juan Salas probably next in line after Balfour and Hammel. If the Rays opt for another lefty, Kurt Birkins or converted starter J.P. Howell could have a chance.
Projected Lineup:
1. 2B Akinori Iwamura
2. LF Carl Crawford
3. 1B Carlos Pena
4. CF B.J. Upton
5. DH Rocco Baldelli
6. RF Jonny Gomes or Cliff Floyd
7. 3B Willy Aybar
8. C Dioner Navarro
9. SS Jason Bartlett
Manager Joe Maddon settled on the unorthodox structure midway though last season, with the three left-handers at the top, but stuck with it and saw the payoff when Upton put up big numbers and Pena had a remarkable, record-setting season.
Maddon plans to keep the top four the same and seems settled on Navarro and Bartlett at the bottom. That leaves three middle spots undetermined. A lot depends on whether Baldelli is healthy enough to play regularly and whether rookie Evan Longoria makes the Opening Day roster, sending Aybar to the bench. Another issue to watch is how Iwamura handles the move from second base to third.
Projected Reserves:
C Shawn Riggans
OF Jonny Gomes or Cliff Floyd
INF Ben Zobrist
INF/OF Joel Guzman
The health of Rocco Baldelli will have a big impact on the makeup of the bench; the Rays might have to consider carrying a sixth outfielder if he is limited to DH duties. Similarly, if rookie 3B Evan Longoria makes the team, the Rays could carry Aybar as a super utility type and carry an extra bat, such as Eric Hinske, who will be in camp on a minor league deal.
The backup catcher’s job is somewhat wide open, with Riggans the slight frontrunner over two veterans in camp on minor league deals, Mike DiFelice, who was an original Ray, and Josh Paul, a Joe Maddon favorite who had the job the last two seasons when healthy.
Top Rookies: 3B Evan Longoria is going to be an impact player in the major leagues—the only question seems to be whether he will be on the Opening Day roster or have to spend a few months in the minors even though he has been successful (223 hits, including 44 homers, in 198 minor league games with a .934 OPS). RHP Jeff Niemann was once considered for future greatness, but a series of injuries and slow progress through the minors (17-13, 3.58, 249 K in 239 IP in three seasons) has dimmed his star—though he could still be a contributing member of the rotation.
Medical Watch:
LHP Scott Kazmir (strained left elbow) was hurt while warming up for the Rays’ intrasquad game on Feb. 26. He is expected to sit out two weeks and says he still expects to pitch the season opener, but team officials indicated that is too ambitious.
OF/DH Rocco Baldelli (hamstrings) is taking it slowly in exhibition games with the hope of getting to Opening Day injury-free.
C Hector Gimenez (shoulder surgery in March 2007) is being watched closely during the first few weeks of spring training.
LHP Brian Anderson (Tommy John surgery in July 2006) is on a restricted schedule early in spring training but showing impressive signs of progress.
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