In No Way Affiliated With or Authorized By the Actual Rays!!

Photo’s From FanFest

Schmitty — Mon, 20 Feb 2012 04:00:23 +0000

Clockwise from the top left: Fernando Rodney, Luke Scott, Sean Rodriguez high-fiving fans, and a panel discussion with Jeremy Hellickson, Stan Boroski, and Jim Hickey

Clockwise from the top left: Crowd at the Trop, Kyle Farnsworth, Matt Moore in the foreground and Alex Cobb in the background, and Brandon Guyer

Do you have any pictures from FanFest? Would you like to share them with the world? Send them our way so we can add them to this post.

Spring Training Is Only Hours Away!

Schmitty — Sun, 19 Feb 2012 23:42:32 +0000

The four months of purgatory, between the end of one season and the beginning of another, is over! The flowers are blooming, the weather is beautiful, and there’s an extra bounce in my step. Yes folks, the official beginning to Spring Training is only hours away. Some players, like Sam Fuld, are already in Port Charlotte. “First day in Port Charlotte. White baseballs, freshly cut grass, new glove all tough to beat!!!” said super Sammy, in a tweet.

Pitchers and catchers report bright and early tomorrow. To say that there is again (and for good reason) a buzz surrounding the Rays would be like saying Luke Scott looked like the Wolverine yesterday at FanFest. Uh, I’ll post that picture soon.

Nevertheless, It’s time to close up shop on the Hot-Stove period, and knock of the dust and cobwebs that otherwise accrued on our nimble little fingers over the course of the last four months. Ladies and gents, baseball season is upon us! And well, we couldn’t be more excited!

We’ll be posting photos from FanFest shortly. In the meantime, did you take any photos yesterday? Would you like to share them with the (ha) world? Well, send them our way!

By the way, check out the today’s edition of Times, either online or in print. Topkin and company published some amazing pieces to warm you up. We’ll post links to those pieces soon.

Get pumped, it’s time for Raysball season! As always, GO RAYS!

2/20/12 Update: Today’s the day! So, where do you see the Rays finishing this year? Also, how deep will they get in the post-season? Leave your comments below.

FlanFest!!!

Danger McKlintock — Sat, 18 Feb 2012 14:52:44 +0000

I loooooove flan, that creamy, dreamy Mexican dessert!

But let me “keep it real” for a second here. Monday marks the official beginning of Spring Training with Price, Shieldsy, and the rest of pitchers and catchers reporting for duty. Five days later the rest of the boys show up, along with new additions and we’re under way. FanFest, though, counts for me as the unofficial official start of spring training, where fans get to report for duty a couple days early.

It’s that exciting time of year again, and I’m feeling a little fire in the belly!

FanFest 2012…Let’s Meet Up!

Schmitty — Thu, 16 Feb 2012 20:00:00 +0000

T-Minus less than two days until FanFest on Saturday! For those of you still thinking about whether to go or not, allow me to answer for you. YES, YOU SHOULD GO!

I got to thinking, and I came up with an idea. I said, “Self, it’d be pretty damn sweet if we could meet up with some of the local folks that read this here blog at FanFest.” That said, would anyone be game, to have an informal meeting of the minds down at the Trop on Saturday, sometime between 10:00 AM and 5:00 PM? We Who knows, we may even have stickers to give away then (cough). Depending on what you all think, we can come up with a time and place within those hours in a bit. Please, let us know your thoughts on this idea.

Hot-Stove: Joe Maddon and the Rays Sign a Three Year Contract Extension, Updated with the 2/15/12 Press Conference

Schmitty — Wed, 15 Feb 2012 18:26:11 +0000

As per a tweet from Marc Topkin, a 3-year contract extension with Rays and skipper, Joe Maddon, is in the books. The official announcement of the deal, presumably with all of the pertinent information (terms, etc) will be made at a press conference scheduled for Wednesday, February 15, at 11:00 AM. The Rays and Joe Ma began working on a contract extension back in December, but amicably halted those talks shortly thereafter with the promise of kick-starting those talks shortly after Maddon’s return from an over-seas trip. Maddon’s current contract will be up at the end of the season.

Honestly, did any of you really think that JoeMa wouldn’t sign an extension? Maddon has made no bones to having an affinity for this area. Too, Andrew Friedman made it mentioned on more than one occasion, that he felt confident an agreement would be reached, and mentioned in a radio interview last week that, “My expectation is to work with Joe for a long time.”

February 15th Update: Merlot Joe will, reportedly, make about $6 MM total over the course of three years. “I believe I have the best spot in all of Major League Baseball,” Maddon said during the press conference. ”This is the most interesting place to be involved, I know the grass isn’t any greener, the turf isn’t any greener.” I think it’s safe to say that Maddon is an asset to our community, both sports and otherwise. ”I want to do this for a long time,” Maddon said. Though he was a touch vague about whether that long time would be spent in this area, one would assume that he is content here, and hasn’t any aspirations of being anywhere else. The Rays also announced they will make a $100,000 donation to Maddon’s charities. I say here here to that! Click the link to hear the press conference in its entirety, via 620 WDAE Joe Maddon Press Conference 2-15.

One of Our New Sticker Mock-Ups

Schmitty — Mon, 13 Feb 2012 15:08:49 +0000

Like we’d mentioned before, we’re trying to make more people aware of this-here blog. One way we’re trying to do that, is by making stickers. Below is one of the designs that we’ve come up with. It’s, potentially, going to be an 8″ x 3″ sticker that, ideally, would look wonderful on your bumper, guitar case, baby stroller, corner stop-sign, etc. It could also be used to cover that horrendous Red Sox or Yankees sticker on the bumper of the car down the road. So, what do you think?

2012 Rays ZiPS and PECOTA Projections Posted

Schmitty — Thu, 09 Feb 2012 23:08:52 +0000

The folks over at the Baseball Think Factory have released their 2012 ZiPS Projections (computer-based projections of performance) for the Rays. They predict that Evan Longoria will be the overwhelming offensive producer, followed by Ben Zobrist and BJ Upton. Interestingly enough, they also predict that Bossman Jr. will have another 150+ strikeout season. You can check out the projected numbers above and more here: 2012 ZiPS Projections

2/9/12 Update: Back on January 18th, I originally posted a piece on the Rays ZiPS projections. Now with less than 15 days to go until spring training, I figured that it couldn’t hurt to update that piece with more projections. This time around, I’ve included the PECOTA projections from Baseball Prospectus. Unfortunately, without a subscription to the prospectus, I wasn’t privy to much information. Luckily the folks at DRaysBay created a couple of easy to read tables of those offensive and pitching projections, which I’ve included today.

In the end, I feel like the PECOTA projections are a bit closer to the mark than some of the other projections and power rankings that I’ve seen. Note, I don’t think that Joyce or Pena will have a .25 and .22 BA this season. I’d imagine that the fine folks that made the chart may have left a digit or two off. I’ll keep adding to this piece as I cull up more projections. I’ve got to do something to bide my time between now and spring training.

Rays 2012 offensive projections courtesy of Baseball Prospectus and DRaysBay

Rays 2012 pitching projections courtesy of Baseball Prospectus and DRaysBay

My WARp

Schmitty — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 13:22:23 +0000

Folks, I was wondering if there is anyone out there that could combine the classic Raymond Pettibon/Black Flag “My War” shirt design, WARp (wins against replacement), and a prominent Ray, like BenZo, Sean Rodriguez, or James Shields? The design would have to be baseball oriented of course. Maybe it could have a bat and and ball or something like that, with the words My WAR underneath. Who’s an artist???

Random Bits O’ News When Times Are Fairly Quiet; A Garfoose Themed Update

Schmitty — Wed, 01 Feb 2012 16:32:09 +0000

Things have been fairly quiet in our little corner of the world since the news that the Rays signed Jeff Keppinger broke last week. Haven’t been paying attention? This will hopefully catch you up to speed on things.

On Monday, one of the lousiest Rays of all time, Pat Burrell, FINALLY, decided to call it a day. In my meager opinion, his decision comes two and a half years (and $10 MM) too late.

Also, Thursday marked the day that Jeff Niemann began his arbitration hearing. We’re still awaiting the ruling on the case, however many have speculated that things don’t look good for Niemann. In January, Andrew Friedman had this to say about the pending hearing “Going to a hearing is definitely a sub-optimal outcome for both sides.” Friendman’s comments came after Niemann and the Rays could not come to a consensus on how much to the tall RHP would earn in 2012. There was a $500K chasm between the two parties, with Niemann seeking $3.2 MM, and the Rays willing to pay $2.75 MM going into the hearing. With a myriad of reasons why the Rays would err on the side of the lower amount, Freidman and Co. enter this round of arbitration hearings 5-0 from previous hearings. Then again, the Rays do have cash considerations coming their way from the Russ Canzler deal (see below), so who knows? Maybe the Tampa Bay is looking to meet Niemann half way. I’m waiting with baited breath for the outcome of this three hour meeting of the minds!

February 3 Update: This just in, as speculated by a number of sources, and predicted by others, Jeff Niemann lost his arbitration case. Niemann will earn $2.75 MM in 2012, which is still, about, a 300% increase in pay over last years $900 K and change salary. Tampa Bay is now 6-0 in arbitration cases, with five of those victories coming in the Freidman era.

In other news, Justin Ruggiano, who was designated for assignment last week, decided to decline that assignment and become a free agent on Monday. Ruggiano appeared in 46 games last year, and posted a .248/.273/.400 line in 111 plate appearances.

Finally, infielder Russ Canzler, who was also designated for assignment last week, was picked up by the Indians earlier today for cash considerations. How much the Rays made on the trade is unknown, as of now. Interestingly enough, there is the possibility that this could effect the Indians interest level in former Ray, free agent Casey Kotchman.

February 1 Update:

Whoops, I almost forgot. Former Ray (well…more like former Durham Bull) and author, Dirk Hayhurst, announced via Twitter and his blog, that he’ll forgo the grind of making his way back to the big-leagues and pitch in Italy, in 2012. Hayhurst spent time in the Rays organization last season, but was released in August. Hayhurst earned notoriety for his 2011 book, The Bullpen Gospels, which will soon be followed by Out of My League. “The Garfoose” had this to say about the opportunity to play in Italy:

…But you only live once. I could go back and try my hand at filling out someone’s Triple-A roster on the hope that if enough guys above me get hurt I could sneak back onto a big league roster. Yet, after spending as much time in this game as I have, I can honestly tell you that the chances of me making it back to the top are relatively low, while the chances that I grow resentful to the grind as it eats yet another year of my life are relatively high…

Best of luck to you, Dirk!

Pingin’ A Fellow Rays Blog: Remembering our Roots: Looking at Pro Baseball in Tampa Prior to the Rays

Schmitty — Tue, 31 Jan 2012 02:31:02 +0000

So our comrades over at Rays Colored Glasses have posted two excellent pieces (linked below) entitled Remembering our Roots: Looking at Pro Baseball in Tampa Prior to the Rays. It goes without saying that baseball has an extremely rich history in our area, stretching all the way back into the late 1800′s. A lot of people outside of the immediate Tampa Bay area, and Florida in general, would have you believe that our area is a poor environment for baseball. And unfortunately for them, what those folks don’t know certainly hurts their credibility! We here at Raysbaseball.co highly recommend that you mosey on over to the Rays Colored Glasses site, and check out those pieces along with the other quality pieces that they crank out on a consistent basis.

Part I

Part II