Tampa Bay Sports Blog

The Rays have inked Gabe Kapler to a one year $1 million deal to be the fourth/fifth outfielder for 2009. They have been fairly active with minor leaguers too but I’ll leave that stuff to Rays Index. I’m as conflicted as a person be about this signing considering he’s a reserve outfielder. I like it in a sense because Kapler’s a decent outfielder and could platoon well with Gabe Gross if needed, but why do we need a platoon backup situation? I’ve never been in favor of platoons in general because I’ve always felt that if a guy can play, he can play, screw the other crap. Stats say otherwise and that’s the world we now live in so I’ll go with it. I don’t know much about Kapler other than he was once a highly touted prospect who turned into a journeyman type that was coaching before he decided to jump back into the player ranks. The problem I have with this signing is that Kapler got a mil and Rocco got less, granted there’s incentives, from the Red Sox.

Marc Topkin tried to justify by saying that the Baldelli deal “could be” worth more because of playing incentives, but how much more? Someone is either lying or just not getting it here. If you give Roc the same deal you give Kapler, he walks. If you offer Roc the same deal that Boston did, I think he stays. Putting this into perspective, how much does anybody think Rocco is actually going to play with the Sox? If he does play enough to earn the incentives in his contract wouldn’t that mean that someone got hurt and Rocco is healthy? All that being said, wouldn’t anyone rather pay a little more for a healthy Rocco than a Gabe Kapler if they are needed full time? I understand the Rays penny pinching, but this is stupid.

I can make sense of it thinking that Fernando Perez needs another year in AAA, but how did we end up with an overrated Gabe Kapler over Rocco Baldelli. This is why Boston is the most well rounded organization in baseball right now and not the Yankees, Rays, Phillies, etc. The Rays may be the best at operating as a small market, but they aren’t there just yet. It’s a tough position for the Rays to be in here and it’s hard to pick on them for the moves that they make, since they’ve been so good under tough conditions, but this move I can’t rationalize at all. Kapler over Baldelli, really?

Technorati Tags: Boston Red Sox, Fernando Perez, Gabe Kapler, New York Yankees, Philadelphia Phillies, Rocco Baldelli, Tampa Bay Rays

The Heater has put out a post that Rocco Baldelli is all but gone. Rocco has basically become an afterthought now with the signing of Pat Burrell and the limited funds left that we assume will go toward the bullpen. That’s fine. The Rays owe nothing to Rocco and Rocco owes nothing to the Rays. I do find myself lost at the destinations that are being mentioned though. Here’s the list being reported.

• Pirates/Orioles:The Rays just got themselves out of the perennial losers club and Roc got to be a part of it, why go back to one? Either of these teams would be a horrible decision for Roc unless it was a one year deal just to prove he can play again, but he has even stated that he’s unsure if he can play the field everyday. Bad Choices here.
• Yankees: Why why why?! It’s bad enough that Roc has drawn comparisons to Joe DiMaggio, why go and put that type of pressure on yourself? Injuries, the Joe D comparison and the pressure to win would make Baldelli target practice for the firing range of reporters and fans in New York. Bad!
• Reds: Can’t DH there and they’re another non contender. The Reds could get better though and Rocco could be in a platoon situation there. This is puzzling only because of Rocco’s statements about playing the field, but if the money is right I could see it.
• Phillies: There is a combination of things I see wrong with this, though it’s not as bad a choice of the previously mentioned. First, don’t you think it would bother a guy playing for the team that just beat you in the World Series? It would bother me, but maybe I’m being a little juvenile about it. The same things about pressure and playing the field come into play here also, but the city bothers me most. Why would someone as laid back as Rocco want to go to that hellhole? The team seems classy, but the fans are the worst in sports. He might as well go play soccer in Germany!
• Red Sox: This would be the toughest for all of us Rays fans to swallow. How could Rocco do this?! I realize he’s from Rhode Island and it would basically be going home, but why? The Sox are generally a classy team and the city would embrace him like a long lost son, but why?! He could DH on occasion and be a fourth outfielder, but….never mind.

The most frustrating thing to me with all this is that all signs point to Boston. He’s a homer, a great guy and a great story. It would probably be a childhood dream come true for him, but damn, why Boston? Given the rivalry that the Rays have developed with the Sox over the years, even before the Rays were good, how could he switch sides like that? It’s just sickening to me.

I’ve heard people tell me they think Rocco should give the Rays a discount and come back for a year because they were so patient with him and his condition, but I don’t agree with that. He couldn’t help what happened and neither could the Rays. Giving guys money like the Rays gave Rocco are always a risk and that’s why. It’s not like Baldelli didn’t want to play, he couldn’t. Again, no one owes anyone anything here. My problem with this whole thing, and I think I speak for most fans, is the rivalry part of it.

The bottom line is this whole thing is this, Roc will most likely be in a Red Sox uniform next year and that will suck. It is a scenario I’m not used to as a fan. It’s not like Clemens going to the Yankees or anyting. It’s a guy going back to play for his hometown team and continuing his baseball career. As easy as that is to understand, I’d like to think that we mean as much to him here as he did to us and that would prevent him from going. It’s so hard to wrap my head around because I don’t think he’ll chase the money, I think he wants to go home. I understand it all, but it’s still hard for me to get.

For me it’s like this. I was a Marine. Marines are a department of the Navy. Anyone who’s been in the military knows there is a huge rivalry between branches and we all talk shit about each other. That being said, there is no Marine Corps football team. There’s an Army, Navy and an Air Force, but no Marine Corps. Being a department of the Navy, we root for Navy when these teams play each other, but I would never want to be in the Navy. Get it? I respect everyone, but I’m a Marine and I take pride in that and could never don another’s uniform. The problem with me relating it this way is because there isn’t big money involved. Every jarhead I know would tell you the same thing I just did, but if someone offered me a couple mil to put on the ice cream whites, well.

Capping this drawn out thing off, I wish Rocco well where ever he goes, I just hope it’s not Boston.

Technorati Tags: Air Force, Army, Baltimore Orioles, Boston Red Sox, Cincinatti Reds, Joe DiMaggio, Navy, New York Yankees, Pat Burrell, Philadelphia Phillies, Pittsburg Pirates, Rocco Baldelli, Roger Clemens, Tampa Bay Rays, United States Marine Corps

According to Ken Rosenthal, via MLB Trade Rumors, the Rays are close to signing former Phillie outfielder Pat Burrell to a two year $16 million deal. This move makes way too much sense for all parties involved to not happen. Burrell is the right handed bat that the Rays are looking for to slot at DH on a regular basis and he comes fairly cheap. The contract that’s speculated on above is a perfect fit for the Rays and their budget. I really like this move for a few reasons.

Burrell can still hit and we won’t have to watch him stumble around in the outfield too often. He comes with no baggage and seems like he would fit right in to the clubhouse the Rays currently have.This move also allows the Rays to hopefully leave Fernando Perez in AAA Durham for at least another year of seasoning.

It also would allow the Rays to put the Abreu/Giambi fiasco to bed and focus on upgrading the bullpen. I was no fan of Abreu or Giambi so it makes me pretty happy there. With Burrell coming fairly cheap as well this may put Brandon Lyon and/or Joe Beimel into the picture as I’ve so desired. It would be a lovely thing to see if the Rays jumped on one of those guys.

This move doesn’t necessarily kill the idea of Rocco returning either, even though it most likely did. If Roc wants to come back for another year as a fourth outfielder it could easily make Ben Zobrist or Gabe Gross expendable and that would be no real tragedy either.

Even without all my speculation on what this could all lead to, this is about the most sensible and logical move the Rays could’ve made at this point. All in all, a good day for the Rays.

Technorati Tags: Ben Zobrist, Bobby Abreu, Brandon Lyon, Fernando Perez, Gabe Gross, Jason Giambi, Joe Beimel, Pat Burrell, Philadelphia Phillies, Rocco Baldelli, Tampa Bay Rays

Technorati Tags: Akinori Iwamura, Andrew Friedman, Andy Sonnanstine, Ben Zobrist, BJ Upton, Boston Red Sox, Brandon Lyon, Brian Fuentes, Carl Crawford, Carlos Guillen, Carlos Pena, Chad Bradford, Dan Wheeler, David Price, Dioner Navarro, Edwin Jackson, Elijah Dukes, Evan Longoria, Francisco Rodriguez, Gabe Gross, Gary Sheffield, Grant Balfour, J.P. Howell, James Shields, Jason Bartlett, Jason Hammel, Jeff Niemann, Joe Beimel, Joe Maddon, Jonny Gomes, Los Angeles Dodgers, Magglio Ordonez, Matt Garza, Miguel Cabrera, Mitch Talbot, Pat Burrell, Philadelphia Phillies, Reid Brignac, Rocco Baldelli, Scott Kazmir, Shawn Riggans, Tampa Bay Rays, Trever Miller, Willy Aybar

   I realize what an awful time this is for my first post back but I had to write something. I want to say a couple quick things about the Rays in the series and the playoffs in general. They showed tremendous heart and fortitude throughout and played way above their heads. I have been in awe of this team all year and I’m more proud of them than I ever thought I would be at this moment. Whether they get back to the series or not, they have made me proud of their accomplishments this year and that’s something I’ll always remember this as a dream season. Now, to preface my second point I’m gonna sound like a homer whiner but, this looked like an impossible series for the Rays to win. They had to beat the Phillies and the UMPIRES! The shoebox strike zone that Kaz and Garza had to pitch to wasn’t questionable, it was disgustingly biased. Screw the missed calls on the bases and the other crap, no one could’ve pitched well enough to win with that strike zone and they still kept the games close. That was amazing to me! Now I would like to congratulate the Phillie TEAM and PLAYERS. Hats off to the TEAM that won, they deserve it, they earned it and I’m happy for THEM. I would now like to say, FUCK THE PHILLIE FANS! You are the worst people to walk the earth. I apologize to anyone with class who reads this site for the language that I have used to speak to the idiot fans from Filthadelphia, but it’s the only thing these jackasses understand. It’s one thing to root for your team and to give another team’s fans a hard time, hell I could understand a fight or two. But to call players wives whores and to throw things at children, you are pussy ass bitches! Fuck all you useless bags of shit, I will not cry if you burn yourselves up in the riot you’re about to have. Congrats on a great season Rays! I’ll be back on track tomorrow for some more rhetoric, but for now it’s time to get drunk and wallow in pity!

Technorati Tags: Matt Garza, Philadelphia Phillies, Scott Brannelly, Scott Kazmir, Tampa Bay Rays