SB Nation User Blog: Dbullsfan

BA top 20 prospects (SI.com cover story)

Dbullsfan — Wed, 23 Dec 2009 22:10:26 -0000

BA top 20 prospects (SI.com cover story)

SI.com is running a cover story on BA top 20 prospects for 2010 and 2 Rays are on it. Deezy comes in at #4 and Hellickson at #15

4. Desmond Jennings, OF, Rays

Why he's here: Once he stayed healthy for a full season, Jennings showed true five-tool talent. He has size, speed, strength, explosiveness and skills.

What he'll be: Jennings has many similarities to current Rays center fielder B.J. Upton, but his hitting track record is more consistent.

When he arrives: The Rays have an outfield spot open presently for 2010, and Jennings should be a big league-ready, inexpensive solution.

15. Jeremy Hellickson, RHP, Rays

Why he's here: A 6-foot righty from Iowa, Hellickson has surprising stuff and feel for pitching. His changeup has been his best pitch, but his fastball command took a huge step forward in 2009, allowing him to be the ace for Durham's Triple-A championship team.

What he'll be: Yet another homegrown Rays pitcher for a franchise that couldn't develop any pitching in its first six or seven years. Hellickson's curve gives him a third quality pitch, and he gives the rotation another different look to play off Jeff Niemann's size, David Price's electric arm, James Shields' premium changeup and Matt Garza's power.

When he arrives: Wade Davis beat him to the majors, so Hellickson may have to bide his time back at Durham in 2010. His time may have to come after a trade.

Beating that Damn Bush, another Hellickson Post

Dbullsfan — Fri, 21 Aug 2009 03:25:06 -0000

Tonight's loss was frustrating but not all was to be frowned upon tonight. Hellickson had another masterful performance in AAA (I know I know its just the minors). The thing that jumped out to me the most about tonight's performance was 10K in 5 innings compared to just 2 walks and 3 hits. Essentially his KIP was 2x as high as his whip. That got me wondering how his numbers in that regard stack up to others (Not sure if there is a stat out there or not for KIP/WHIP ratio's but I'm sure there is I'm just not aware of it. There are many ways to look at a pitcher and how he stacks up against others and this is just one way and maybe it is me cherry picking but it shows Hellickson compares quite favorably to other top pitching prospects and also shows just how nasty Tommy Hanson was in AAA this year.

I'm just going to take current level (or AAA if they are now in the majors) numbers from him and others all stats from this season only (Granite it is a small sample size but maybe it can be expanded later if wanted)

Hellickson

35 1/3 innings 21 hits 12 walks 39 K

Whip of .935

KIP of 1.105

Total +.17 (+ meaning more K)

here are his AA numbers to add a little more to the sample size

56 2/3 IP 41 H 14 BB 62 K

Whip .972

KIP 1.095

Total +.123

#41 Wade Davis

145.2 IP 128 H 59 BB 129 K

Whip of 1.284

KIP .886

Total = -.398

#1 David Price AAA

34 1/3 IP 28 H 18 BB 35 K

Whip 1.341

KIP 1.020

Total -.321

#4 Madison Bumgarner SF AA

92 IP 72 H 28 BB 66 K

WHIP 1.087

KIP .717

Total -.370

#10 Tommy Hanson AAA

66 1/3 IP 40 H 17 BB 90 K

Whip .860

Kip 1.357

Total + .497 (DAMN)

#22 Brian Matusz AA

46 1/3 IP 31 H 11 BB 46 K

Whip .907

Kip .994

Total +.087

#9 Neftali Perez AAA

77 1/3 IP 69 H 30 BB 75 K

Whip 1.281

Kip .970

Total -.311

#25 Jarrod Parker AA

78 1/3 IP 82 H 34 BB 74 K

Whip 1.481

Kip.945

Total -.536

I didn't use Cahill or Anderson because they have been in the majors all season but that was all the P in the top 25 plus Davis and Hellickson and Hellickson would rank #2 only behind the outstanding numbers of Hanson. So yea maybe saying he was only slightly behind Hanson was a bit off because Hanson is so damn good was a stretch, saying that Hellickson should be considered one of the top pitching prospects in baseball going into 2010 shouldn't be.

Those are just some of the BA (I used Callis' list for Ranking I listed) top pitching prospects coming into the season

Jason Bartlett and Ben Zobrist MVP Candidates

Dbullsfan — Wed, 12 Aug 2009 06:33:40 -0000

Somebody mentioned this in a game thread a couple nights ago and I'm finally getting around to looking up some of the comparisons to why Bartlett and Zobrist should be considered MVP canidates this season. For two reasons you won't see WAR, BABIP, and any of the such in this post. First we all know that MVP is voted on mainly based on face value stats Avg, OBP, OPS, HR and two I don't know enough about all of the more technical stats so I'll leave the comparisons with those to someone who knows more about what they are talking about.

2009

Jason Bartlett

.336 BA

.391 OBP

.541 SLG

.932 OPS

11 HR

55 RBI

Ben Zobrist

.292 BA

.409 OBP

.550 SLG

.959 OPS

19 HR

60 RBI

Justin Morneau

.302 BA

.385 OBP

.570 SLG

.955 OPS

28 HR

91 RBI

Joe Mauer

.365 BA

.434 OBP

.611 SLG

1.045 OPS

20 HR

66RBI

Miguel Cabrera

.329 BA

.397 BA

.552 SLG

.924 OPS

23 HR

67 RBI

Mark Teixera

.286 BA

.382 OBP

.560 SLG

.942 OPS

29 HR

83 RBI

Kevin Youkilis

.311 BA

.423 OBP

.564 SLG

.987 OPS

20 HR

66 RBI

Like with many MVP races it will come down to who ends up making the playoff's. It is supposed to be most valuable not best player. This could determine the actual winner as right now I would have Joe Mauer and Miguel Cabrera 1-2 on my list because Mauer has been hands down the best player, however Miguel Cabrera has had to carry the Detroit offense along with Inge all season and in the 2nd half pretty much has kept them in first by himself because Inge has fallen apart. That being said I think both Zobrist and Bartlett are in the middle of the hunt for MVP. If either guy can help carry the Rays into the playoff's we could have our first AL MVP from the organization.

Tom Boleska Lynchburg

Dbullsfan — Wed, 12 Aug 2009 03:45:13 -0000

Hey guys back again I posted last year asking about Tom and I was wondering what the chances are he gets a promotion to AA before the end of the season. He has battled injuries once again this year but has given up just 1 ER in 21 1/3 innings. with opponents hitting just .224 against him and 2 bb. I watched him pitch in college and he has good stuff, hopefully he can stay healthy long enough to work his way through the system and who knows maybe become a long relief guy at some point. Just wondering if anyone had seen him or anything. Thanks.

Elias Rankins (predicts Type A/B FA)

Dbullsfan — Mon, 13 Jul 2009 03:56:59 -0000

Elias Rankins (predicts Type A/B FA)

okay I saw this and it hits you right away when you look at it by listing catchers first. Navarro ranked 6th in AL catchers but predicted as a type A FA (kinda shocking right, but I don't know too much about it).

Other type A guys
Carlos Pena
Evan Longoria
Jason Bartlett
Shields
Howell
Wheeler
Balfour

B Guys
Joe Nelson
Brian Shouse
Randy Choate
Kazmir
Garza
Crawford
Burrell

question about options

Dbullsfan — Sun, 05 Jul 2009 09:06:24 -0000

Alright I was playing a Baseball Mogul computer game last night and I got to thinking about player options. The way I understand the rule is that as long as a player as options left he can be sent down to the minors without having to clear waivers and that a player can only use up 1 option per year and in that year can be sent up or down an unlimited amount of time. Now I may be wrong on that and if I am correct me but if that is the case, what is keeping a team like the Rays from say using a guy like Price who still has options and "send him down" after every start and "call him up" before his scheduled start and using a guy like Dale Thayer or Andy Sonnanstine who are in the same position out of the bullpen the 4 games between starts. Basically keep 26 guys around and make a roster move every 5 games.

Cubs acquire Jeff Baker DFA Ryan Freel

Dbullsfan — Thu, 02 Jul 2009 22:29:05 -0000

Cubs acquire Jeff Baker DFA Ryan Freel

anyone else catch this nugget. I know he is struggling but he has to be better than Joe Dillon and if we can get him for something cheap I say go for it. Always room for more grit.

Reid Brignac

Dbullsfan — Sun, 14 Jun 2009 06:37:44 -0000

I want to start this by saying I don't completely understand all the stats that show up on this blog to post them only enough to know good/bad so if those stats go against the basic "tv" stats as I call them please share them. but

anyone else think we are going to have a log jam up the middle when Barty gets back. Brignac is quietly 8-17 over a 5 game hitting streak with 3 doubles. Not sure if it is confidence, new swing, or just getting used to big league pitching but he seems to be coming around. My fear is that Maddon is too much in love with the Gabe platoon and will send RB back to Durham. What are the chances that we see a platoon with Brignac/Zobrist at 2B/RF against RHP and Zobrist/Kapler against lefties. Brignac is 12-37 against LHP with 5 XBH, combine that with his above average defense and I think he gives us a better chance to win than a combination of Zobrist/Gross against Righties. The problem with this is that Gabe Gross would not get hardly any playing time anymore. Would it be best to trade him or to keep him on the bench. I think that if we can use Gross as a chip to possibly pick up a bullpen arm than do so but if not keep him around.

Julio Signed Orvella Released

Dbullsfan — Tue, 09 Jun 2009 20:12:48 -0000

MLB TAMPA BAY RAYS: Agreed to terms with pitcher Jorge Julio and assigned him to Durham (Int.); released pitcher Chad Orvella.

Anyone besides me find this a little odd. I know Orvella has had some injury issues but he still has pretty good stuff and Jorge Julio is awful. I hope this isn't a precursor to Julio being added to our bullpen. I have a bad feeling this is just another guy that will get a chance before Winston Abreu.

If anyone is bored (Pics from the Farm)

Dbullsfan — Sat, 06 Jun 2009 06:39:27 -0000

If anyone is bored (Pics from the Farm)

I've got some updated pictures from a couple games now that i've actually been able to go to a couple in Durham. If anyone is bored and has nothing else to do other than take a look at some of our friends from Durham check it out.