SB Nation User Blog: nyyfaninlaaland

Perhaps a positive spin on the tough run the Rays have been on lately

nyyfaninlaaland — Wed, 16 Sep 2009 05:54:27 -0000

As of Sept. 15 standings Tampa is tied with Minnesota for the 15th and 16th best records in MLB, with the Chisox 1 GB in 17th.

Nothing to brag about, and the Rays aren't usually big FA market players, but should TB finish 16th or 17th, signing a Type A FA offered arbitration by their prior club would mean the loss of their round 2 pick rather than their round 1. Plus the Round 1 and Round 2 picks coming from not signing them this year could perhaps make that a more realistic and cost effective move then anticipated.

Meager possible compensation for a disappointing season for sure - but nothing wrong with looking for a small silver lining in the cloud. Can't say I can ID a possible or likely target at this point, but let your minds wander.

BA analyzes middle position prospects

nyyfaninlaaland — Mon, 09 Mar 2009 06:32:55 -0000

or to retitle it - Is Reid Brignac overrated?

There's an interesting article in BA analyzing the 2008 offensive stats of the 46 position prospects who had at least 300 full season minors ball AB's at 3 position groups - corners (LF, RF, 1B, 3B), middle (SS, 2B, CF), and C's. Good look at the details, though it's important to remember it's just the 1 season, and doesn't include defense.

Link: www.baseballamerica.com/today/prospects/rankings/top-100-prospects/2009/267725.html

Anyway there were 16 middle guys - 2 2B's, 4 SS's, 10 CF's. Perhaps we should expect more O from the CF's, but the key stats covered were contact rate, BB/K rate, speed score (the article explains that one), ISO power, as well as the more conventional slash numbers, and their ages as of April 1.

Briggy had the lowest speed score, BA, and OBP. He was 2nd to last - and pretty distant from the 3rd worst - in BB/K, and 3rd worst in contact rate. He was midpack in SLG, and 6th in ISO power.

And for those contending he's young, he was older than all players but Jason Donald in this group. Now he was the only IF playing at AAA but, excepting Donald, the other 2 at AA were a year or more younger, and the 2 at A+ were 2 years younger, so he's in the age mainstream here.

He seems to be struggling with the bat in ST this year - have his AB's been mostly against majors pitchers or AAA and below guys? That his only hit is a HR seems in keeping with the numbers above. His K rate is better than in his very limited majors time last year. How is he looking at bat?

It seems like an important year for him - he's been slipping offensively, and I know he was hurt last season. I've heard all here say his D is improving - certainly his fldpct. is - but the 2 younger SS listed, Andrus and Escobar, get raves about their D. Donald not so much.

What do you guys think? His offensive numbers really lagged in this group, particularly the contact / OBP oriented ones. Is he starting to project as Juan Uribe - decent fielder, all or nothing hitter?

Will Bradford be gone

nyyfaninlaaland — Fri, 06 Feb 2009 18:40:36 -0000

before we know who the Rays traded for him as a PTBNL?

Maybe I missed it somewhere along the line - and I've asked it before, I know - but he was acquired on Aug. 7, so Sat. is 6 months since the trade. To my understanding that's the timeframe in which our mystery guy must be announced.

Did I miss it? Or has Baltimore just agreed to give him away? Was there just cash involved? Does anybody know? Does anybody care?

And do you expect him to move on, now that there's a bit of a reliever glut. Percy, Wheeler, Balfour, Bradford, Howell, Nelson, and out of options guys Hammel, Niemann (could be starting in short run), Cormier, plus the acquisition of Shouse. Seems some bodies have to move.

But I remain curious about the price on the original acquisition. Always thought it would be a 40 man guy or '08 draftee, hence the delay. Perhaps Eliot Johnson is looking at a new lease on life, with the plethora of minors IF's signed of late?

It all makes so much sense! Except perhaps for Baltimore. Adding in Hammel might fit better for both sides, ignoring the O's roster pitching glut.

Sickels 2004 top 50 Pitching prospects

nyyfaninlaaland — Fri, 16 Jan 2009 21:13:57 -0000

Sickels 2004 top 50 Pitching prospects

Love these looks back!

E-Jax #3!

You may think more or less of Sickels, but looking 4 years ago at what were the top pitching prospects according to him (and his variance with BA, BP, isn't that large) is a learning experience on what to count on from prospects.

The hitters list that precedes it suggests the much greater likelihood of success for regarded hitters vs pitchers. No news there, but pitcher attrition is almost frightening.

Didn't want to bring this up while your heads were in Boston

nyyfaninlaaland — Thu, 11 Sep 2008 23:26:28 -0000

But we've got a championship tussle continuing in your second home in Durham tonight.

I know you've all got your eyes on the big prize - but for now your guys are enjoying the splendors of the Big Apple on a day off. And what an offday day to spend there - Sept. 11. Something none of us will ever forget.

But since there's no MLB for either of us, we turn our eyes to the battle for the International League championship. Tonight's matchup - big Jeff Niemann vs. the highest paid player in AAA, Kei Igawa. The Bulls are on their last legs after dropping 2 exciting games in beautiful Scranton PA.

Should the Bulls improbably survive - I'm expecting your overrated starter to go down in flames after an Igawa kamikaze attack - the Yanks will counter top prospect Wade Davis (not so overrated) with their young but this year disappointing stud Phil Hughes. A game 5 could get ugly. The Rays will throw Mr. TBD vs the hero of all good Rays fans everywhere - Victor Zambrano. Yes, that Victor Zambrano. The gift that keeps on giving!

Good stuff in Durham. Plus Shelly Duncan and Jonny Gomes on the same field! How can you not watch that!

Times have changed in Tampa

nyyfaninlaaland — Tue, 01 Jul 2008 19:42:20 -0000

Amazing!

Jake McGee is scheduled for Tommy John surgery and nary a word. Folks are actually talking about today's games. Last year at this time this would have been a news flash of the highest order. I'm expecting it will be shortly knowing RJ, but in one sense it's a very positve sign of the times for you all that this isn't topic #1. Nice when it isn't just about prospects and the future isn't it.

How about a closest to the win "contest"?

nyyfaninlaaland — Mon, 31 Mar 2008 16:19:58 -0000

Okay, I guess we can play this for pride and prescience.

Nothing ventured, nothing gained. Yeah, in the immortal words of Carl in Caddyshack, "There won't be any money in it, but on your deathbed you'll have true contentment", or something like that.

Guesses for wins in '08 for the Rays of Tampa? With the ad cash rolling in perhaps the management can toss up a little something for closest - you won't get anything from me. Or we can just play for what matters most after all - pride.

I'll get this party started with a low ball shot to get everybody riled up and participating. Hey, it's still a best ever!

75 wins.

Update on Tampa's favorite Yankee

nyyfaninlaaland — Fri, 28 Mar 2008 07:23:14 -0000

Had to share this - hope you can find a way to appreciate it. From yankees.com

Duncan earns Dawson Award
Selected as top Yankees rookie in Spring Training

Link to whole story below - including short comment on The Slide - but the finish was the best:

"In conjunction with the award, Duncan received an engraved Burberry watch from William Barthman Jewelers.

"I always need a new watch," Duncan said. "It's funny. You can joke around and say, 'Some people say Spring Training doesn't mean anything.' Well, now it means a watch to me." "

People in NY just love this guy - he's like our Scooby-Doo... or maybe Shaggy. Goofy, but loveable. Or Matthew Lillard (again, Shaggy?) in that movie about the Cape Cod League with Freddie Prinze Jr. ... and Jessica Biel! Summer Catch - thanks Google.

http://newyork.yankees.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20080327&content_id=2462020&vkey=spt2008 news&fext=.jsp&c_id=nyy

3500 Pitches a Warning Sign

nyyfaninlaaland — Mon, 24 Mar 2008 23:21:07 -0000

Don't know if any here saw this but an interesting article on total pitch count (perhaps a truer measure of arm stress) vs. IP impact on performance / health of starters. The link:

http://kobayashibaseball.blogspot.com/2008/02/3500-club.html

Maybe an explanation for Kaz's issues - he was 1 of 8 to exceed this mark in '07.

The author talks of how often this holds from '05 on. I looked back to '00 and it's still a strong correlation - a surprisingly few exceptions of course, and some pitchers have recovered their performance after getting back under the level. Seems to me this makes more intuitive sense than just going by IP counts.

Pillsbury or Ball Four?

nyyfaninlaaland — Mon, 24 Mar 2008 22:17:23 -0000

Since it appears to be among the last issues left, what's the opinion consensus here - Dohmann or Balfour? Balfour's got the ST performance edge, Dohmann the edge from '07 and the out of options thing playing for him.

The reserve IF seems Johnson. Have to make a roster move to elevate Cannizaro, and it seems Zobrist's job again once he's healthy. Hinske seems a certain add, Backup C is DeFelice's to lose, no? Will require another roster move to keep both - who goes? Perhaps a Dohmann waiver? Orvella or Birkins to the 60 day? I'd have just waived Orvella - since he's hurt he'd likely clear, but that could be against the rules. And where in the world is Juan Salas?