Late yesterday news broke that the Houston Astros have asked for, and received, permission to interview Andrew Friedman for their newly-vacant General Manager position. This caused some understandable consternation in The Ray Area.  After all, we have come to believe that Andrew Friedman’s brain is the factor separating our Rays from the days of Ryan  [ Read More ]

As Jonathan pointed out last night, Andrew Friedman and Co. have launched the first volley of Roster Roulette 2012 by trading John Jaso to Seattle for RHP Josh Lueke and a PTBNL. This move is classic Friedman.  Somehow, he sold a part that was destined the 2012 Rays garage sale this spring.  Not only that,  [ Read More ]

Last winter, when the prospect of expanded playoffs first arose, I wrote: Baseball’s postseason exclusivity is one of the few advantages baseball has on other major professional sports.  The NBA and NHL have expanded their playoff structure so far that the interminable regular season seems almost pointless.  (a baseball executive friend of mine once said  [ Read More ]

A random thought popped into my head yesterday when Jeremy Hellickson was named BBWA’s Rookie of the Year.  Why does baseball drag this out through poorly attended press conferences?  Why don’t they rent out the Kodak Theater and have an Oscar-style awards show?  For now, we’ll name the award after Commissioner Bud Selig. (You know  [ Read More ]

Fall is officially over and the long, hard, baseball winter is upon us.  (I can’t say that weather winter is upon us because, if you live in The Ray Area, you know that we have a month or two before it actually gets cold). Commenter Jonathan helped me finally close the book on 2011 by  [ Read More ]