SB Nation User Blog: joedobr

Our Road Uniforms

joedobr — Thu, 13 Nov 2008 03:40:10 -0000

http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/news/story?id=3698950

Its that time again. While many on the site don't understand the importance of this, and its subtlety is certainly overlooked, the fact that the Rays have a neutralized home and road uniform that they unveiled last year was UNIVERSALLY abhorred for the lack of our geographic identifier being on the road uniforms.

As many on this site knew and what took place earlier today, the Baltimore Orioles revealed their new uniform sets. Not only did they correct the road uniforms, but they also embraced the state of Maryland by adding a patch on their alternate uniforms.

While I can comprehend on the bare peripherals why the team did not want Tampa Bay being on the uniforms, as well as I understand the policies on updating their uniforms, why can't the team issue a press release stating that this will indeed be corrected instead of skirting and jumping around on this. Do they deserve benefit of the doubt? Absolutely since many consider this something of a "trivial" nature, however, I don't think this is. This was a symbolic maneuver that would for me act as a rubber stamp not just being the Rays, but being absolutely Tampa Bay's team.

I can only hope that the club corrects this for the 2010 season (as I have a "basic" understanding that is the proposed plan). Should this issue prohibit fans from enjoying the club? Eh, perhaps not, as for I have different reasons, you shouldn't be swayed one way or the other. I for one am for civic pride and beyond them being just the Rays, but being the Tampa Bay Rays.

"On to Tampa"

joedobr — Wed, 01 Oct 2008 02:14:08 -0000

The current story on ESPN, the lead, at 1010 in the evening.

Current article in the Tribune today:

http://www2.tbo.com/content/2008/sep/30/302006/st-petes-sake-where-do-you-think-rays-play/

Interesting, if the White Sox flew to "Tampa", then the Rays would automatically be up in the ALDS 2-0 because they went to the wrong city! Are the folks at ESPN geographically challenged or that naieve. After repeated national warnings and letters, the Bristol folks as well as morons like Dayn Perry don't seem to understand it. Oh, its the chic, cool thing to call them "Tampa". After seeing this and reading continued disregard for this, its why I am still somewhat livid about the uniforms!

This is a regional franchise, with a regional identity. Tampa is the anchor city of the region, no doubt. But for crying out loud, the Tampa Bay Rays play in St. Petersburg. I wonder where the ESPN or Fox Sports "mafia" thinks the games are? Are they adjacent to the Forum? Near Port Tampa, near University of Tampa, do the Rays play off of Bayshore Blvd or Dale Mabry? Tell me, where in "Tampa" do the Rays play!

I am just bonkers about this. And yes, I know for the unteempth time, the Rays do plan on bringing "Tampa Bay" back to the road uniforms, yes, I acknowledge that, but some of this crap is brought upon by stupidity! Its ridiculous!

More Bay/Ramirez and Trade Deadline

joedobr — Thu, 04 Sep 2008 22:16:01 -0000

I am going to give credit to Toby here what was said before. Now I am extremely upset about this. Below is Toby's post:

Per Peter Gammons-

I understand what Scott Boras says about Pedro Alvarez not signing an "illegal" contract, but if he takes the $6 million and MLB goes forward and enforces deadlines in the future, aren't Alvarez and the Pirates all better off than risking having to spend the winter preparing for independent ball, next June's draft and the postponement of major league service time? MLB has relaxed deadline rules for years, even on trades. Hey, the Yankees aren't thrilled that the Red Sox and Dodgers were allowed to go past the deadline on the three-way Ramirez deal.

If this is true, I will be irate. I thought from the begining there was something fishy about the 3-way trade, and how difficult it would be to complete it within 30 minutes or less(the Rays were rumored to have agreed around 3:30).

What is the point of having rules if you are allowed to bend them for the teams you want in the playoffs. There is no question in my mind MLB wanted this trade to happen. If I was a season ticket holder, and shelled out good money on MLB's product, I would consider a potential class action lawsuit. I know that sounds awful, but if you are spending a lot of money on a product, and there is a "fix" or a team getting preferential treatment, then I have a huge problem with it.

I understand the Rays are in a great position right now, but this is a major issue nonetheless.

Below is what was written yesterday and today from Jayson Stark and Ken Rosenthal:

Ready to Rumble

• Deadline, schmeadline: Now that the Pedro Alvarez controversy has raised the issue of MLB improperly extending deadlines, how come nobody has investigated what happened at the trading deadline?

There has been nonstop buzz in the industry for weeks that MLB extended the 4 p.m. ET July 31 trading deadline by as much as a half-hour to accommodate the Red Sox, Pirates and Dodgers in completing the Manny Ramirez/Jason Bay trade. Of course, Scott Boras wouldn't make an issue of that, because he needed to get his esteemed client, Manny, to a new destination.

http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/columns/story?columnist=stark_jayson&page=rumblings All go to your rooms!

Some suggestions for each of the parties involved in the Pedro Alvarez mess:

For Alvarez's agent, Scott Boras: Stop adhering to the letter of the law and worrying about signing unenforceable contracts. Get Alvarez his life-changing $6 million, prove that you're not throwing a hissy fit over Buster Posey getting $200,000 more and pick a fight with Pirates club president Frank Coonelly on your own time.

For Coonelly: Stop playing with fire when confronted with deadlines and never, ever draft another Boras client. The two of you have proven, once and for all, that you can't play in the same sandbox.

For arbitrator Shyam Das: Uphold the Alvarez deal and the Royals' deal for Eric Hosmer, both of which were allegedly completed minutes after the Aug. 15 deadline. Neither was a major-league deal, and the players' union has no jurisdiction over minor-league contracts.

Finally, for Major League Baseball: Start enforcing — seriously enforcing — trade deadlines, signing deadlines and all other deadlines. The union has no choice but to file grievances when it believes the collective-bargaining agreement is being violated.

Now, the point. Some individuals don't seem to understand what happened here at the deadline. What happened here is a clear violation of the MLB Basic Agreement and Collective Bargaining Agreement. I don't know if everyone understands the magnitude of what has taken place here. One, it may indeed be a strong possibility that Jayson Bay MAY have been traded to the Tampa Bay Rays prior to 4 pm on the trade deadline for Reid Brignac and Jeff Niemann and/or additional considerations. As we know, two independent sources acknowledged some sort of agreement, and then "retracted" themselves. Two, the Boston Red Sox, the Los Angeles Dodgers and Pittsburgh Pirates executed a trade after the 4pm non-waiver deadline. Sure, I acknowledge there are "procedural" or "administrative" issues in a consummation of a trade, but multiple sources are indicating that this trade was improperly executed/consummated. Bay and Ramirez should have been forced to clear waivers, but apparently Jimmie Lee Solomon or Bob DuPuy would rather "help" their friend Frank Coonelly since he is Bud Selig's close friend and helped foster the amateur slotting system.

Here is the deal. Stu and Andrew can't complain about what took placed. They would be biting the hand that feeds them. However, an independent audit of what took place on the trade deadline coupled with the slotting system for amateur signees need to be looked at. More specifically, how deadlines are enforced and imposed by MLB's Operations Department. A clear breech of the CBA has taken place just to acceed to Scott Boras. Yes, he is divisive, some love him, some hate him, so be it. He is who he is. However, this situation goes beyond the Tampa Bay Rays, Jason Bay or Manny Ramirez. What about integrity and ethics? Where is Shyam Das? What incentive do the Rays have to complain when they would be blacklisted for complaining?

Thanks to Toby for the prior post, but more is coming to light. I would love an explanation, and I hope something comes forward.

620 WDAE

joedobr — Mon, 11 Aug 2008 20:24:17 -0000

Reporting that Rays are close to trading for Sheffield...Apparently he has been "won" by the Rays on a waiver claim. I would hope if, and only if they make a deal, that they at least split the remaining salary. I don't know about this. I think he would be a Type A free agent? If anyone hears more about please let us know.

Please take this with a grain of salt. We have seen this messed up before.

Toby Hall/St. Petersburg Times

joedobr — Thu, 24 Jan 2008 00:29:53 -0000

First off, I know what everyone must be thinking, Joe is off his rocker again. Not true. Please keep the following in mind:

http://www.sptimes.com/2006/12/14/Rays/Rays__Iwamura_confide.shtml

Ex-Rays catcher Toby Hall, nontendered by the Dodgers, said several teams called and he expected better options (Phillies? White Sox? Yankees?) than a minor-league contract the Rays might offer. "That was funny," Hall said. "I guess it would be a minor-league contract because they're a minor-league team."

This comment and quote came from December 14, 2006. Now it is the end of January 2008. Today, Toby Hall addressed this very comment and the firestorm that came from this comment and shed some light on how this came to be. Apparently, Marc Topkin originally went to the Rays and according to Toby Hall, asked in a joking manner was Hall worth a "minor league" contract. Topkin got whoever his "source" is got to say it in a jokingly, off the cuff manner and then relayed that comment back to Hall.

The point of this is like everything in life, you can't always believe what you read. Over this winter, I have noticed a very negative angry change in Marc Topkin for reasons I do not know. He has literally tried to impose himself, or lack of a better word, as the pen of this club. His comments about Boof Bonser and Darin Erstad were wrong and he didn't have the fortitude to back up or corroborate the information in a legitimate, professional or even ethical manner.

What anyone thinks of Toby Hall is their business. I know he spent 6 years here, but was exceptionally complimentary of both the club and the players themselves. I remember the furor that came from these comments plus the club pulling away from his charity event last year, and now this story as given by Hall today on "Hot Lunch with JP" puts everything in a different perspective. I for one am tired of the arrogance of Marc Topkin. For over 20 years, I have respected the man's work, but over the past 18 months, even longer, he has grown to be very lazy and dismissive. All of the major player signings were first reported by NATIONAL writers and not LOCAL (with the exception of this site), and DRB is not intended to be a news breaking site.

I point this out as an added reason why everyone needs to be critical at times and its ok to be critical in seeking the truth. There is always 2 sides to a story, and not always everything is crystal clear. We can all disagree, and that is healthy. What happened with Toby was unfortunate, but I found it fascinating to hear the rationale behind this quote and the context and it makes more sense to me now.

Final Four

joedobr — Tue, 09 Oct 2007 04:44:58 -0000

Interesting contrast of styles in the AL and NL championship series. Congratulations to Cleveland, Boston, Arizona and Colorado for advancing. We saw what momentum and strong pitching can do in regards to thrwarting another team's offense. Its up to execution in the clutch and timeliness that will get these teams to the World Series. I know Mick will be soon spouting off on the greatness of Chief Wahoo and his Pride of the Cuyahoga. No, Mick, RJ will not dress up as Chief Wahoo!

Let's hope for some entertaining baseball as well as bug-less conditions at the very least.

Pitch count/Inning count

joedobr — Sun, 29 Jul 2007 22:03:10 -0000

Fellas,

Don't shoot the messenger, its going to be a course of discussion. Its the same old same old. I am happy the team won to break the schneid, but Maddon didn't put his club in the best position to win this game. In my opinion, you owe it to Kazmir to give him a chance to win the game rather than hold him to 6 innings and 97 pitches. It rues of an ulterior motive and anyone can say anything they want, but Kazmir was very, very upset to be taken out of that game. I won't pose that question, but I will go out on a limb and say Kazmir was not just a little upset, but VERY unhappy. The game against New York and Clemens after the break, I accept him being pulled because he was fighting hitters and getting deep into counts too much.

But this was a 0-0 game against an exceptional opponent who he was geared up to face and normally pitches well against and in my mind, had the floor and plug removed prematurely. Glover bailed the team out, but if you played Boston 10 times, you are going to lose that game 8 out of 10 times. I do not understand why Kaz was not allowed to pitch the 7th to try to get him a W and another feather in his cap. My two cents, and I could be somewhat off track.

J.C. Romero

joedobr — Sat, 09 Jun 2007 13:32:05 -0000

Boston just DFA'ed him last night. Sure, his best days were back in Minnesota just a couple of years ago, but he has some pedigree. Would you go after him?! Then again the Sox and Rays may not get along. Hope that can not preclude them from making a deal.

Thoughts anyone? I think he would be a help in the pen. An extra left handed arm and he can get outs more consistently than the 3 stooges.

Attendance Legends Field vs Trop

joedobr — Sat, 19 May 2007 20:45:20 -0000

Legends Field had an annouced attendance of 10,400 while the Trop had an announced attendance of 13,400. It didn't seem as if there were 13 there last night, seemed like there was 8 or 9.

Very telling when a Class A team across the bay can actually divide and affect the attendance for the MLB level game. Granted, its Roger Clemens, whoopie, but you know what, I take it as proof that this is a baseball market.

There are other conclusions that the basic 50/50 split from Friday night says and most of it is not necessarily positive. I hope the NDRO took note of what took place yesterday, because it is alarming on many levels. The best thing I can say is that Tampa Bay loves baseball, and I believe now if a new facility is built (I know keep dreaming), it should be on the Hillsborough side of the bay and not on the Pinellas side. Heck, I live in north Pinellas and distance is of little concern to me but I was wondering if any of you take anything else out of last night.

Enjoyed the wrestling and tonight its time to get some cowboy hats!

The 2 spot

joedobr — Tue, 17 Apr 2007 04:31:56 -0000

Fans,

This is become a spot of contention for me. I understand the theory of what you want as a prototypical 2 spot hitter in your lineup. You want contact and an ability to move runners up into scoring position if there are less than 2 out.

Bless Ben Zobrist's heart out. I love his attitude, he brings his glove to the party and does his best on the field. However what he is not is a premier, let alone prototypical top of the lineup hitter. And neither is Brendan Harris for that matter. Quite frankly, even though the thought of Zobrist hitting in front of Crawford could be sound, he is not in my mind a hitter that can be a top of the order guy.

I would hope in short order that Maddon does the right thing (in my mind) and flip Upton (or Iwamura) with Zobrist and put Upton (Iwamura) in the 2 spot and let Zobrist bat at the bottom of the order. Let the top of the order be as dynamic as can be.

Also in the 7th inning tonight, Perlozzo brought in a matchup left hander (John Parrish) to turn and flip Zobrist to the right side of the box and got the key out of the game in my mind. I know there is discussion about LOOGY's here, but the statistical analysis sure won out tonight.