Pretty amazing run for the Kid.  Looks like 8-3, 2.39 ERA, 1.14 WHIP, .213 BAA, 11.83K/9, and 4:1 K/BB ratio.  Our rotation should improve next year with Niemann, add 2 of Davis, McGee or Price in 2009, and be dominant in 2010.

Hopefully we have Crawford, Upton, Young, Longoria, Briggy, Aki, Pena, and Dioner to go along with the arms, and by then Young & Upton have learned some plate discipline.  I see 75-80 wins next year, 80-85 in 2009, and 92+ in 2010.

Okay, 7 straight K's and a new Rays record.  Pretty impressive with his "lack of stuff."  The great thing is the guy throws strikes, which is going to translate into better defense behind him.  Nothing more painful than playing behind a pitcher who doesn't throw strikes.  His demeanor is impressive as well.

Hopefully, Howell is watching closely, and goes back to throwing strikes his next time out.  Regardless of how bad our pen is, gotta blame Howell for blowing that game Friday.  He just couldn't loceate...

Is the great catching experiment over?  I've noticed that Pedroza has been DHing an awful lot as of late; he seemed to not hit when he was catching.
Last night, he broke loose with 3 HRs, and his OPS is now back up to .952
Anyone have an update as to whether we've seen the last of him as a catcher?  If so, it's time to move him up and see what he can do in AA...

How many times does he have to watch the Camp/Stokes contingent blow his games?  This is disgusting!!
How can Maddon allow these guys to let him (and the team and the fans)down time after time after time?
Coming into this game, Stokes' opponents were batting .356 against him, and had homered 5 times in 19 innings.
Camps opponents were batting .407 AND he'd allowed 6 walks in 14 innings.  
They suck.  Please stop this madness!

For goodness sake...

This kid has had all of the minor league seasoning he needs... He's tossed 360 inning the past two years.  He's dominating at every level he's visited.  57Ks, 9BBs in 52 innings at Durham, opponents hitting well under .200 after today.  
There is nothing fluky about his numbers to date.  He is 24 years old, not 20...

Please, please, get him up here NOW!!

Anyone know much about Lewis Rollins?  Seems to be a bit under the radar, dominating in Columbus and looking like he should be over in Vero.  Very solid year in short season last year, too.
Any update on Townsend?  Been shut down for a while now...
The staff in Columbus looks very, very good... Fantastic to see all of this pitching depth!!  Leads me to think Price is not necessarily the way to go in the draft...

So, the Rockies just added Rodrigo Lopez, and hes expected to become one of the 5 members of their rotation.  The Rockies had earlier added Buchholz and Hirsch from the Astros; neither of these two has a spot in the rotation as a consequence of the aforementioned Lopez trade.
Does anyone else think Baldelli to the Rockies for Hirsch and Buchholz becomes a strong possibility?

Hi all... I'm surprised no one has made mention of this in-depth write-up on Elijah Dukes over on the Hardball Times.  Chris Costancio is very high on Elijah's future, and he does a great job of illustrating Dukes' smooth, continuous improvement in plate discipline and power, even as he moves up the ladder.  Makes you believe Baldelli is truly expendable.

Why wouldn't a pitching staff consisting entirely of relievers be effective?  Is that crazy?  Why is the traditional model of 4-5 starting pitchers necessary?  
While we're at it, why can't pitchers twirl 300 innings anymore?  Look at Nolan Ryan... power pitcher for 25+ years... Now, no one can last for 220+ innings consistently.  How can this be, given the "advances" in conditioning?

A nice write-up on our most productive minor leagues pitcher.  Intersting to see the changeup become a key weapon for our minor league arms...

I'm also amazed by Sonny durability; I was not aware until reading this article.  I hope he'll be swallowing up lots of innings in 2008 up here in Tampa.

http://www.baseballamerica.com/today/prospects/news/262268.html