9Vote!
DRaysBay (Free subscription) | 10/05/2009
View full size photo uploaded October 3, 2009 The onus of being the top draft pick is never desirable. The money and fame might be, but the rest of it? No way. The expectations are usually unrealistic yet their absence speaks just as loudly. Try being chosen over a local player at a position of immediate need and things become a bit harsher. This is the Tim Beckham experience. The weight of the world...
8Vote!
Minor League Ball (Free subscription) | 09/09/2009
by Steve Nesius - AP Tampa Bay Rays starter Jeff Niemann (AP Photo/Steve Nesius) View full size photo uploaded September 4, 2009 Tampa Bay Rays Top 20 PRE-SEASON Prospects in Review This list was originally published November 10, 2008 . This is a review of the PRE-SEASON list for 2009, not a revision of that list. This is a REVIEW of the old list. I'm not doing new grades or lists until I start working...
6Vote!
Rays Index (Free subscription) | 08/26/2009
Durham 9, Syracuse 6. Jeremy Hellickson does it again. This time he retired 18 of the first 19 batters he faced before giving up a 3-run run home run in the 7th for his only runs allowed. He gave up just 3 hits and 1 walk while striking out 10. In 7 starts (42.1 innings) [...]
5Vote!
The Sports Economist (Free subscription) | 08/18/2009
The sad-sack Washington Nationals came to terms with #1 draft pick Stephen Strasburg one minute before their exclusive negotiation period ran out last night. His contract -- $15.6 million over four years -- exceeded the previous record ($10.5 million given to Mark Prior by the Cubs in 2001) by a wide margin, and was much larger than the $5.6 million deal Tampa Bay reached with 2007 #1 pick David Price...
2Vote!
DRaysBay (Free subscription) | 07/31/2009
More photos » by Tony Gutierrez - AP The Rays reportedly have interest in Seattle hurler Mark Lowe; who's average fastball velocity is 96 miles per hour this season. Browse more photos » First person to suggest dealing Tim Beckham and/or Desmond Jennings in an unreasonable deal gets sent to the box.
1Vote!
The Rays Party (Free subscription) | 07/24/2009
Looking over some minor league stats, I was surprised to see that the #1 pick in the 2008 Draft had 32 errors in 78 games at shortstop. Then remembering that minor league fielding stats are small and sometimes unreliable, many young fielders struggle with errors their first few years in the minors. This is apparent more in infielders drafted and signed right after high school, not have yet honed their...
5Vote!
Around the Majors (Free subscription) | 07/21/2009
Join us tonight for another episode of Minor League Notebook Weekly. FirstInning.com recently released its Mid-Season Top 100 prospect list . A team of staff writers from the site all submitted their own ballots, with a lot of diverse opinions going into the final list. On the show tonight, Doug Gray and Brian Snethen will offer their take on the Top 25, revealing where they placed certain prospects....
2Vote!
RaysProspects (Free subscription) | 07/16/2009
FirstInning.com has released their Midseason Top 100 Prospects list. Here are the six Rays players that made the cut:12. Desmond Jennings OF 17. Tim Beckham SS 26. Wade Davis P 48. Jeremy Hellickson P 61. Matt Moore P 70. Reid Brignac SS You can always quibble with certain placements, but overall I think it's a very good list. Just as an FYI, here is how they picked it: This list was compiled by
7Vote!
DRaysBay (Free subscription) | 07/15/2009
(Idea via ReasonableDoubt) Warning, technical jargon ahead. Minor league options are one of the more tedious aspects of baseball vernacular. Essentially, teams have a limit on the amount of times a player can be sent to the minors without his permission. For the average player, this is three options - not years, but options. Some players, like Scott Kazmir , agree to contract extensions that essentially...
1Vote!
DRaysBay (Free subscription) | 07/03/2009
That play on teams with 20+ games played to date. Player Level Pos Age K% BB% ISO LgAge LgK% LgBB% LgISO Matt Joyce AAA RF 24 24 12.6 0.227 27 20.5 8.3 0.132 Reid Brignac AAA SS 23 11.8 8.3 0.157 27 20.5 8.3 0.132 John Jaso AAA C 25 13 13.5 0.133 27 20.5 8.3 0.132 Desmond Jennings AA CF 22 11.6 9.9 0.165 25 20.5 9.6 0.125 Kyeong Kang A RF 21 23 8.1 0.177 22 23.2 7.8 0.114 Timothy Beckham A SS 19 22.1...
5Vote!
The Crawfish Boxes (Free subscription) | 06/17/2009
The Chronicle's Jose de Jesus Ortiz had Bobby Heck available for a chat earlier today on the Chron website . Here are some highlights in easy-to-read form. On 2nd Rounder Tanner Bushue Bobby Heck: I think we view our second-rounder Tanner Bushue along th[e same] lines [as Jordan Lyles, Ross Seaton and Brad Dydalewicz]. He's an athletic kid with a natural athletic and simple delivery and good arm action....
7Vote!
DRaysBay (Free subscription) | 06/10/2009
More photos » by Reinhold Matay - AP Former second round pick, Reid Brignac. Browse more photos » Which starts in 30 minutes,here's a link to MLB.com's draft tracker. In case you missed yesterday's coverage: In the first round, the Rays took Gator commit CF/2B LeVon Washington . Andrew Friedman commented that the Rays intend to use Washington in center. Meanwhile, Washington seems eager...
1Vote!
It is about the money, stupid (Free subscription) | 06/09/2009
If you like lists, the draft and nostalgia... here ya go: the #1 pick in every MLB draft since 1984... 1984: Shawn Abner, New York Mets 1985: B.J. Surhoff, Milwaukee Brewers 1986: Jeff King, Pittsburgh Pirates 1987: Ken Griffey Jr., Seattle Mariners 1988: Andy Benes, San Diego Padres 1989: Ben McDonald, Baltimore Orioles 1990: Chipper Jones, Atlanta Braves 1991: Brien Taylor, New York Yankees 1992:...
Explore : Adrian Gonzalez,
Adrian Gonzalez,
Alex Rodriguez,
Arizona Diamondbacks,
Atlanta Braves,
Baltimore Orioles,
Bryan Bullington,
Chipper Jones,
Cycling,
Darin Erstad,
David Price,
Delmon Young,
Detroit Tigers,
Florida Marlins,
Houston Astros,
Jeff King,
Joe Mauer,
Josh Hamilton,
Justin Upton,
Kansas City Royals,
Ken Griffey,
Kris Benson,
Luke Hochevar,
Matt Anderson,
Matt Bush,
Matt Bush,
Milwaukee Brewers,
Minnesota Twins,
MLB,
New York Mets,
New York Yankees,
Pat Burrell,
Paul Wilson,
Philadelphia Phillies,
Phil Nevin,
Pittsburgh Pirates,
Politics,
San Diego Padres,
Seattle Mariners,
Sports,
Tampa Bay Devil Rays
7Vote!
DRaysBay (Free subscription) | 06/09/2009
AAA Durham Bulls Wade Davis had another good outing, allowing zero runs going six innings while striking out seven as the Bulls defeated Pawtucket 3-2 on Monday. Davis improved to 6-3 on the season, and Dale Thayer pitched two innings in relief for his eighth save. Durham got two hits apiece from Ray Sadler and Rashad Eldridge , and Justin Ruggiano was ejected for arguing balls and strikes. Carlos...
Explore : Birmingham Barons,
Bowling Green Hot Rods,
Carlos Hernandez,
Carlos Hernandez,
Cesar Suarez,
Charlotte Stone Crabs,
Cycling,
Dale Thayer,
Durham Bulls,
Justin Ruggiano,
Minor League Baseball,
Montgomery Biscuits,
Pat Burrell,
Rashad Eldridge,
Ray Sadler,
Sports,
Wade Davis
Videos