This is infuriating. I haven’t posted much for several reasons. Primarily, the drought has been prompted by the deafening silence coming out of Tropicana Field. For a while, I was contemplating whether Bill Foster had shut off the electricity to the club’s office in a weird attempt at getting them to cave on the Stadium standoff.
Then, at long last, Fernando Rodney tells Marc Topkin (via Google Traslate) that he has signed with the Rays. [Side Note. How cool is it to live in a world where some guy says something over his shoulder to some other guy, in a totally different language, in some far-flung winter ball outlet and the story makes my morning paper on Davis Island? I know it's cheesy, but that is just cool.]
I have to be honest. The addition of Fernando Rodney didn’t exactly set my pants on fire or send me tearing out of the house to occupy a spot on the parade route (OPR?). But at least it’s something. Right?
You have to give the Rays credit. Outside of San Diego, no one seems to be doing much of anything which tells me that the Rays’ patience at this point is wise. I know patience is the right move. But I also know that it is making me crazy. So, here’s hoping they figure out this 1B/DH thing soon. Otherwise, I am going to start writing Red Rum all over my office walls.
1B Carlos Pena/Kotchman platuae
DH Damon/other 1B platuae
Give me my credit in $100 bill increments.
I like the Pena/Kotchman platoon idea Merrill, but I don’t think we can afford both of them. I like Damon for his club leadership and clutch hitting, but as a day to day DH option I still wish we had a true power hitter, granted they are hard to come by. To me Pena gives us gold glove defense and a legitimate deep threat to protect Longoria in the line up. Let’s not forget that we also need to address catching, I like Molina as a veteran presence, but we need something better for most days. Trading a starter for a top catching prospect and a few other goodies would seem like a smart move right about now. As for the original post Mark, I know I am going nuts too. But then I look at the free agent scene and notice that for the most part the waters are stagnant. Prince Fielder remains unsigned and a lot of teams haven’t made too much noise yet, I think Andy is using this to his advantage to pick up some bargain deals down the line as we get closer and closer to spring.
No worry Mark Damon is still available and so is kotchman if we take these guys back we at least stay equally where we were. now if we let them go then weve taken a step back the way the market is I doubt we get better so trying to keep the 91 win team intact is what we have to do
I’m also way more worried about the catching situation than the 1B/DH thing right now.
Is it pretty safe to assume Zobrist and Joyce are in the every day lineup now? And that either Sean Rod OR Brignac are playing, but probably not both?
I think Zobrist and Joyce have to be in the everyday lineup, I would be willing to bet Sean is locked in at this point as well. Brignac has to be on his last rope though, especially with a top SS prospect coming down the pipeline.
I assume you mean Lee and not Beckham…
Lee is definitely closer to starting then Beckham, but I haven’t given up on him. Beckham started showing some promise leading up to the futures game, though it’s unlikely he’ll ever make Andy feel better about passing on Posey for him. Can you imagine this team with Posey?!
To directly answer you though, Lee is the immediate replacement for Brignac I was speaking of. While I haven’t given up on Beckham, Lee is more polished at this point, though if brignac performs like he did last season either would be an upgrade. There’s also Zobrist. I believe Mark wrote awhile back about making Zobrist the SS on a full time basis.
Totally agree on your opinions at SS, except the idea of Zobrist being there. Maybe I’m spoiled, but I can’t imagine a team where we don’t have the best utility player in baseball wandering around the defensive lineup every other day.
Niemann for Yonder Alsono snodus good to me! How about including Grandal the catcher too? However you would have to add more than Niemann Still think Sheilds FOR Alonso, Grandel and Frazier would be a good move!
Someone else suggested this move in November or December. And it’s clear the Reds were willing to deal. But I think we missed our window.
Sharon September 5, 2010 If you live where I do being a rscait is the safe way to live. The blacks in Akron, OH USA are constantly ganging up and hurting unsuspecting people. We have 28% black and they DO do all the crimes against white peeps. Getting tired of wondering where this will go. Civil war in America?