The Rays Confidence Graph will appear every Wednesday and is a look at how much confidence Rays fans have in the Tampa Bay Rays. The graph is designed to give us a look at how our emotional bias as Rays fans fluctuates through time. The "confidence" in the team is an inexact measure of how fans feel about the team's current strength as well as how much confidence fans have in the franchise for the next 3-4 years. Notes on this weeks agida-level can be found after the graph..

Notes on the RI Confidence Graph...

• The most common response for "Confidence in 2008 Rays" was 7 (If things break right, they could be in race for playoffs) with 57.5%
  
• The most common response for "Confidence in future of franchise" was 9 with 38.1%
• Confidence in the 2008 Rays ranged from 3 (Headed for another 90-loss season) to 10 (The Rays are built/playing like a World Series contender)
• Confidence in the future ranged from 5-10.
  
• 76% of respondents feel the Rays have a shot at the playoffs in 2008
• 95.5% of respondents feel the Rays should be at least a .500 team in 2008
  

Labels: Confidence graph

A couple of days ago we wrote the Tampa Bay Rays 2008 Preview for Deadspin, which DRG affectionately chides us as "Rays Index on amphetamines". That piece was about 1,300 words.

Today we retort DRG's stance by presenting Armchair GM's Tampa Bay Rays preview written by Manny Stiles. We love Stiles. We really do. But his preview makes Homer's "The Odyssey" feel like a short-story. Part 1 comes in at 4,000 words. By comparison, the average St. Pete Times and Tampa Tribune piece on the Rays is 500-700 words. Did we mention it is "Part 1"? There are actually three parts in total. Doesn't Manny know that internet readers have ADD?

If you are really bored at work then we highly recommend going over to Armchair GM and giving it a whirl.

Part 1: Includes a recap of the 2007 season and touches on every single off-season move.

Part 2: Looks at every position and every single player invited to Spring Training, with some interesting and little-known facts about each player.

We assume Part 3 is in the works, but you never know with Lil' Manny. He might just be dangling a carrot to see how long we are willing to wait.

2008 Tampa Bay Rays UltraMega Preview by ManRays (Part 1 of 3) [Armchair GM]
2008 Tampa Bay Rays UltraMega Preview by ManRays (Part 2 of 3) [Armchair GM]

Labels: Manny Stiles has no idea what he is getting himself into, Season Preview

Tampa Bay Rays (40 days until Opening Day)

Just the links for now...as we crank Warrant on National Cherry Pie Day...

DEVIL RAYS WEBTOPIA...

• In case you missed it last night, ABC-7 is reporting that Cal Ripken Jr., is leading a group to purchase the Vero Beach Rays and move them to Charlotte County. [Rays Index]
  
• The Bradenton Herald has a list of questions concerning the 2008 Rays. [Bradenton Herald]
  
• Apparently some opponents of the Rays new stadium have been showing a rendering of the proposed ballpark with a closed roof that is yellow-orange. We assume their point is that they are trying to scare people into thinking the new stadium will be really ugly. Only one problem. The new roof will not be yellow-orange. It will be white and the Rays have released a new artist's rendering that shows the proposed ballpark with the 'roof' closed. [The Heater]
• The Rays have decided to contribute their $150 million to the funding of a new stadium in one lump sum up front as opposed to annual payments over 15 years as originally proposed. [St. Pete Times]
• They say a pitcher doesn't learn how to pitch until he suffers his first serious injury. That appears to have been the case with Jeff Niemann. [Tampa Tribune]

"When I came back from rehab, I didn't have my best breaking ball, so I had to learn how to pitch with my fastball," he said. "There are things you pick up that I would never have gotten taught if certain things hadn't happened to me. So all things considered, it kind of worked out better. I'm more of a complete pitcher because of all this stuff happening."

• David Price is quickly impressing many members of the organization, especially Jim Hickey. [Tampa Bay Rays]

"In terms of stuff, [Price is] extremely impressive," Rays pitching coach Jim Hickey said. "Very nice delivery -- under control. [He has] three pitches that, in my opinion, all have a chance to be above-average Major League pitches, [with] pretty good command of all three.

"Even if [one of his pitches] doesn't necessarily move, it carries well late through the strike zone. It gives that appearance of a little bit of a hop. I'm impressed with that. Overall, it's a very impressive package. But I don't think any of that is very much of a surprise. He is what was advertised."

• The Ledger ranks the major league rookies by who will have the biggest impact for their respective team in 2008. Evan Longoria is ranked first. [The Ledger]
• OK. we will link to this post about Barry Bonds joining the Rays. At least this one isn't serious. Unfortunately, it isn't really funny either. And it is 'McGwire', not 'McGuire'. It is bad enough that our family probably shares Fermanagh roots with the 'roider. Let's not make it any closer than it needs to be. [Barry Bonds Trial]
  

Labels: Barry Bonds, Cal Ripken, David Price, Evan Longoria, Jeff Niemann, New Stadium

In a move that surprises nobody, the Rays have begun the process to move their Florida State League franchise from Vero Beach to Charlotte County in 2009. Charlotte County is the home of a minor league park that is receiving a $27 million renovation and will be the new home for the Rays Spring Training beginning in 2009.

What is surprising is that ABC-7 is reporting that the group that has proposed to purchase the Vero Beach franchise is led by Cal Ripken Jr..

"The Ripkin Group - they have a very good reputation, obviously. Anytime you have Cal Ripkin, Jr. high up in the organization, they have a very solid reputation," said Jim Ferguson, media relations director for minor league baseball.

Ripkin has reportedly had his representatives ask permission from the Fort Myers Miracle to explore the possibility of another Florida State League team in Southwest Florida. The Miracle couldn’t comment because of tampering rules, but Ripkin's groups told us, "Things are in the works" and to "check back in about 30 days."

"There is nothing set in stone yet. But it is something we've been exploring and it would be a logical piece of the puzzle," said Vaughn.

Ferguson added, "It takes a while and it's a lot of paperwork, but generally they get approved."

The Charlotte County franchise would be the third team owned by the Ripken Baseball Group which also owns the Abderdeen IronBirds and the Augusta Green Jackets. They have a goal of owning 10 franchises by 2015.

It seems only fitting that Cal Ripken jump on the Rays bandwagon considering the Orioles will be residing in the Rays usual last place in 2008.

RAYS MAY MOVE MINOR LEAGUE TEAM TO SWFL [ABC-7]

Labels: Cal Ripken, Charlotte County, The Ripken Baseball Group, Vero Beach Devil Rays

One year ago on Rays Index, we entered Spring Training with 11 questions. The best is the question in which we wonder who will play first base for the Devil Rays. We don't even mention Carlos Pena.

Labels: The Archives

It's Tuesday so it is time to update the Tampa Bay Rays Power Rankings. These rankings are a combination of overall importance to the team and a general "who's hot and who's not", mixed with how we currently feel about and perceive each member of the team.

Labels: Rays Power Rankings

Will Leitch was kind enough and trusting enough to invite us to write the Tampa Bay Rays Preview for Deadspin.com.

The style is a little different than what you may be used to here. Whenever we do one of these projects, DRG calls it "Rays Index on amphetamines". It is a little longer, kinda silly and a bit more risque. Although we are pretty sure we only dropped the F-bomb once, which according to the Motion Picture Association of America means the post is still worthy of a PG-13 rating.

We don't see the need to ever do a Rays Preview here at RI as we assume that most of you already know the basics about the 2008 Tampa Bay Rays, but if you are interested in reading our version, head on over to Deadspin.

Baseball Season Preview: Tampa Bay Devil Rays [Deadspin]

Labels: Deadspin, Season Preview

Tampa Bay Rays (41 days until Opening Day)
Yesterday we posted a list of 10 questions we wished the media would ask the Rays. One of those questions dealt with the future of the shortstop position for the Tampa Bay Rays.

• In an ideal world, is Jason Bartlett the Rays starting shortstop in 2009?

One topic that has yet to be addresses by the team or the media is what are the team's plans beyond 2008.

Earlier this off-season, the Rays, knowing they needed an upgrade in defense, targeted Bartlett of the Minnesota Twins. What his acquisition means to the Rays in 2008 was addressed yesterday by Joe Maddon and Andrew Friedman.

Maddon suggests that Bartlett is "one of the top five" shortstops in the American League. Executive vice president Andrew Friedman says "he has a chance to be among the best in the game."

"The trickle-down effect a shortstop can have on your pitching staff is immense," Friedman said. "You're talking about more pitches for your starting pitcher, which prevents him from going deeper in the game, which taxes your bullpen more, which affects you the next night because your bullpen is tired."

The Rays control Bartlett's contractual right for the next four years, and his arbitration figures should be relatively cheap. So. Is Bartlett the long-term answer for the Tampa Bay Rays? More specifically. Will Jason Bartlett be the starting shortstop in 2009?

With the new emphasis placed on defense, especially up-the-middle, Bartlett is deemed as very important to the future success of the Rays. It is easy to imagine that he will not have to hit very much to secure his role as long as he continues to play gold glove-caliber defense. Bartlett posted a .339 OBP in 2007. If he can improve that to .360-.370, that should be enough to secure his future with the Rays.

But there is one small problem with that scenario.

Sitting down in the minors is, Reid Brignac, one of the top shortstop prospects in baseball. Presumably, he will spend the 2008 season at AAA Durham, and if he stays on schedule he should be ready to make his major league debut as early as this September, but certainly by next Spring.

If Bartlett is the future shortstop of the Rays. What do the Rays do with Brignac? Third base is spoken for by Evan Longoria. Two of the outfield spots are taken (Carl Crawford and BJ Upton) for at least the next three years. Right field is an option if his arm is strong enough. But the Rays will have Fernando Perez knocking on the door soon and Desmond Jennings right behind him. Oh. And there is that guy Rocco Baldelli.

The more likely scenario is to trade Brignac. If the team meets following the 2008 season and feels that Bartlett has done enough to be the starter in 2009, we could be faced with a scenario in which the Tampa Bay Rays trade a prospect for veteran help.

Boy. The times. They are a changin'.

Rays need Bartlett to become a nuisance [St. Pete Times]

DEVIL RAYS WEBTOPIA...

• If you have not yet answered our "Tampa Bay Rays Confidence" survey, please do so HERE. [Rays Index]
  
• Dioner Navarro reported to camp yesterday after being excused to be with his ailing mother. Navarro claims that a more strenuous off-season workout regimen has him in the best shape of his life. [Herald-Tribune]
• Bill Chastain takes a look at how Dioner Navarro has adjusted to just the latest turmoil to hit his family. [Tampa Bay Rays]
  
• Joe Maddon commented on the chances of seeing David Price pitching for the Rays in 2008. "No, it's not a stretch...If everything breaks well for him this summer, he'd be somebody we'd consider." In other words, they won't rule it out, but it is not very likely. [Tampa Tribune]
• Tyler Hissey has a solid interview with David Price, in which he discusses expectations for the upcoming season and his newfound celebrity status. [Rays Digest]
• Troy Percival wore a shirt in practice yesterday that compared the Rays top three pitchers to the Atlanta Braves talented young trio of the early 90's, Greg Maddux, Tom Glavine and John Smoltz. [Bradenton Herald]
• One More Dying Quail takes a look at PECOTA projections for the Rays from the past five years. Lou Piniella consistently out-performed the projection, while Joe Maddon's Rays have seriously under-performed. This year PECOTA is projecting 82 wins. [One More Dying Quail]
  
• John Heyman lists the top 11 GM's in baseball. While not in the list, Andrew Friedman is named as one of the "up-and-comers". [SI]
  
• Rays Digest worries that Troy Percival may not be dependable considering his injury history. Still they feel that his presence in the locker room alone is worth having him around. [Rays Digest]
• Rarely do we go to another baseball blog and say "Damn, we wish we thought of that." That is not to say that we are so great. Rather, we think there is a lack of originality in ideas out there. Well it happened yesterday. David Chalk over at Bugs & Cranks has begun his preview of every major league team. Original? Only if you consider that the preview will take each team and compare them to the Tampa Bay Rays. More specifically, Chalk will tell us why each team "Ain't $#!T Compared To The Devil Rays". First up is the Pittsburgh Pirates. Chalk will work his way up from the worst teams to the best teams. We are really curious, how long it will take before it becomes difficult to make/believe the argument. It could take a while this year. Oh, and yes. Chalk is sticking to his guns and will keep the Devil in Tampa Bay. [Bugs & Cranks]
• Rays of Light turns the spotlight on BJ Upton. [Rays of Light]
  
• The New York Daily News previews the Tampa Bay Rays. Not sure we take anything they say seriously. Jesse Spector says Carl Crawford "might be the best leadoff hitter in baseball." Hmmm? Well. By our count, CC was the leadoff hitter in six games in 2007 and the assumption is that Akinori Iwamura will resume the role in 2008. [Daily News]
• Breaking Balls takes a look at the recent trend of locking up young players to long-term deals. While the practice may be more wide-spread, it is hardly new. The Indians rode this method to sustained success in the 90s. Interestingly they seem to think the trend suggests that these deals are more likely to be given to good defensive players and high strikeout pitchers, such as James Shields. [Breaking Balls]
• Eephus Pitch names Rays minor leaguer Brooks Badeaux their baseball player name of the week. [Eephus Pitch]
  

Labels: Andrew Friedman, BJ Upton, Brooks Badeaux, David Price, Dioner Navarro, James Shields, Jason Bartlett, Joe Maddon, Lou Piniella, Reid Brignac, Troy Percival

Journalists are afraid to ask a "yes or no" question. This is not meant as a knock on the media. They are trained to only ever ask open-ended questions (questions that require more than a one-word answer), as it is difficult to generate quotes for a story if all the questions are answered with one word.

Unfortunately open-ended questions are flawed. Today's sports personalities are conditioned to respond with evasive, cliche-filled, non-answers. The only way to pin these athletes/coaches/personnel down to a solid answer is to ask the close-ended question and demand an answer.

Here are 10 'Yes' or 'No' questions that the local media are afraid to ask but we as Rays fans want answered...

• For Andrew Friedman:

1. Considering ability and the fact that Kazmir is two years younger than James Shields, would the team be willing to give Kazmir a 7-year deal?
2. Is there any scenario that you can imagine under which the team would be willing to give one player a $100 million contract under the team's current financial situation?
3. Would the Rays be willing to trade a key player for the betterment of the future even it meant sacrificing their playoff chances in that one season?
4. In an ideal world, is Jason Bartlett the Rays starting shortstop in 2009?
5. If the Rays decide to move (pending free agents) Al Reyes and Dan Wheeler prior to the trading deadline, will young relief pitchers be the team's #1 priority in terms of asking prices?
6. Is arbitration-eligibility a factor when deciding when to call-up players like Evan Longoria and David Price?
   

• For Joe Maddon:

1. Does Shawn Riggans lack of experience worry you as a potential backup catcher?
2. Based on what you know right now, do you see Rocco Baldelli in right field on opening day?
3. Would you consider 2008 a failure if the Rays finish the season with a losing record?
4. If the Rays expect to be a legitimate playoff-contender in 2009, is it important that David Price get major league experience in 2008?

What questions do you want answered? Let us know in the comments.

Labels: 10 Questions for the Rays

Below you will see two polls that ask about your confidence in the Tampa Bay Rays. Please take a moment to answer each question. We will present these same polls every Monday and will update the results in graphical form on Wednesday, which will be displayed permanently in the sidebar. The goal of the Confidence Graph is to get a feeling of how Rays fans feel about the team and the franchise and track how that level of confidence changes through time.

Last week the Rays Confidence Graph saw little change. Raysiverse events of the past week that could impact confidence levels...

• Both Scott Kazmir and BJ Upton expressed their confidence in the 2008 Rays. Kid K even went so far as to utter the P-word...Playoffs, while Upton said "anything is possible". There appears to be a newfound level of optimism that is being spurred by the Rays off-season moves and a new level of accountability being doled out by Joe Maddon.
  
• Evan Longoria will be given a chance to earn a spot as the Rays starting third baseman in Spring Training.
• Andy Sonnanstine looks like a lock for the 4th spot in the rotation. But the final spot is up for grabs.
  
• Gary Glover is almost a lock to be on the opening day roster.
  
• Joe Maddon says that Shawn Riggans is the favorite to be the backup catcher.
  
• The team is going to take it "very slowly" with Rocco Baldelli. In years past this might be a concern, but is anybody expecting anything from Rocco in 2008? Won't any production from Baldelli be gravy for the 2008 Rays?
  
• Most jobs on the opening day roster are already spoken for.
  
• One simulation has the Rays winning 89 games.
  

Opinion Polls & Market Research

Opinion Polls & Market Research

Labels: Confidence graph

Tampa Bay Rays (42 days until Opening Day)

Joe Maddon stated that Shawn Riggans is the favorite to be the backup catcher on opening day. Papa Joe then commented on what his criteria is for a backup catcher.

"The backup guy should be pretty effective defensively," Maddon said. "It's not an easy position. The guys that do it well make it look easy, but it's not easy. Part of their job really is to help the starting catcher. ... It's like a good backup quarterback in football."

This only surprises us because Maddon actually commented on the situation, but it does not surprise us that he named Riggans even though we project Josh Paul to win the job. Keep in mind that Riggans is the only candidate that is actually on the 40-man roster at this point. Paul and Mike DiFelice are in essence getting "tryouts". They are on minor league deals and have done nothing yet to earn a major league contract. If the team had absolute confidence in one or the other, they would not be on minor league deals.

The team has made it clear that they prefer a veteran backup catcher to help further the development of starter Dioner Navarro. Just don't expect Papa Joe to admit that publicly because he would have to say that he prefers a player that is not on the team over a player that is on the team.

At the end of the day, we still feel Josh Paul will be the Rays backup catcher and it is Riggans that needs to "win" the job. Paul has the edge in experience, better defensive abilities and a strong familiarity with the pitching staff and Navarro. Riggans would have to outperform Paul defensively in Spring Training to make the roster and we are not convinced he can.

Notes: Iwamura ready for second base [Tampa Bay Rays]

DEVIL RAYS WEBTOPIA...

• Marc Topkin takes a look at the Rays trio of young talented starting pitchers. Jim Hickey feels that 26 teams in the league would prefer to have Scott Kazmir, James Shields and Matt Garza as their top 3 pitchers. [St. Pete Times]

As Rays officials went back over the last several decades, they came up with only a few teams that had three starters who were so young with the chance to be so good. There were the A's of the early 2000s with Tim Hudson, Mark Mulder and Barry Zito. The Marlins of the same era with Josh Beckett, Brad Penny and Dontrelle Willis. The Braves of the early 1990s with Steve Avery, Tom Glavine and John Smoltz. And not too many others..."It's certainly a rare commodity," senior vice president Gerry Hunsicker said, "to have three young pitchers with the talent level that we're going to run out there."

• A quick video interview with David Price as well as a look at him throwing off a mound. (Link will open a video player) [Tampa Bays 10]
• Rays of Light begins a series in which they will spotlight certain Rays. First up is Akinori Iwamura. [Rays of Light]
  
• Beyond the Boxscore makes an argument for Fred McGriff to be inducted into the Hall of Fame. We think the Crime dog was a very good and very consistent player, but he was what Mike Francessa would call a "compiler". His numbers look good because he played for a long time, not because he was a great player. We witnessed most of McGriff's career and never once did we watch McGriff and think "There goes one of the greatest baseball player's ever". Sorry. Great guy, very good player, but when the voting comes, we would be surprised if he cracks 25%. [Beyond the Boxscore]
• We were in Austin this weekend. Apparently so was Matt Silverman. He was running in the Austin half-marathon. We were sitting in the front yard drinking Mimosas watching the half-marathoners and marathoners run by. [Rays Report]
• Baseball Prospectus projects the Rays to finish 82-80. The biggest change will be in the pitching. They project that the Rays will increase their scoring from 782 to 788 runs in 2008 and will decrease their runs allowed from 944 to 776. [Baseball Prospectus]
• Sean Deveney of The Sporting News feels the Rays and the Nationals have a special kinship because they have both sucked recently. The similarities are a stretch and include small fanbase (usually goes hand-in-hand with sucking), long odds to win the 2008 World Series (again, sucking), good young third basemen (1 spot out of 25 is similar), and both teams want to improve their image (as do most sucky teams). [The Sporting News]
  

Labels: Akinori Iwamura, David Price, Dioner Navarro, Fred McGriff, James Shields, Jim Hickey, Josh Paul, Matt Garza, Matt Silverman, Mike DiFelice, Scott Kazmir, Shawn Riggans

[Ed. note: This is our 1,000th post, which is about 995 more than The Prof ever envisioned. Thanks for hangin' with us all this time]


You already know what an ass Delmon Young can be and now that he is no longer a Devil Ray, we no longer have to defend his actions...

For those few of you that cannot read Korean, that is Delmon Young having a conversation with his brother Dmitri Young. Below is the translation, but we don't really need that do we? Clearly the younger Delmon just struck out and the elder Dmitri is telling his kin-folk that it was the umpire's fault and that Joe Maddon is holding back his potential. Or maybe it is this...

Dimitri (sic): “Because your face looks exactly like mine, you will be a great star!!”

Delmon: “No! My appearance is not like that!!!”

“DNA can’t be cheated!!”

“Po-jik” (Korean breaking sound)

Caption: “Purveyor of dirty personality!!”

Dirty Personality indeed...It really is a shame that Delmon was not traded to the Nationals this off-season. A team with Delmon, Dmitri and Elijah Dukes would certainly help Washington regain it's status as the crime capital of the U.S.

DNA can't be cheated!!

Delmon Young's Dirty Soul [East Windup Chronicle]
Delmon Young Does Not Have Makings Of A Winner [Rays Index]

Labels: Dmitri Young, Elijah Dukes is a mischievous little badger, Somebody pissed in Delmon Young's babyfood

Tampa Bay Devil Dogs (43 days until opening day)
DRG here again to get you through the weekend...

Joe Maddon noted that he hopes that the Rays will become a better baserunning team in 2008 with the addition of Dave Martinez as bench coach. He also stated that the biggest factor in deciding the last two spots in the rotation will be the ability to throw strikes consistently.

Five pitchers are vying for the final two spots in the rotation. Four of those players pitched for the Rays in 2007. Let's take a look at their ability to throw strikes.

Name	Pitches	Balls in Play	Strikes	Balls	Strike%
Andy Sonnanstine	2098	397	975	726	65.4%
Edwin Jackson	2967	460	1286	1221	58.8%
Jason Hammel	1588	230	703	655	58.8%
JP Howell	947	160	401	386	59.2%

Jeff Niemann did not appear in the majors last year and we do not have his minor league pitch stats handy. Still, if Maddon bases most of his evaluation on 2007 as he has repeatedly stated, we can assume that Sonnanstine's job is safe as he is head and shoulders above the other (not surprising). And while we expected Howell to be better than Jackson and Hammel, we didn't realize it would be as close. That suggests that he tries too hard to paint the corners. In the end the numbers don't give us an indication that one player has an edge over the other two if the ability to throw strikes is the major criteria.

Rays Camp: Day 2 [Herald-Tribune]

DEVIL RAYS WEBTOPIA...

• Outs Per Swing is back with more pictures from Rays camp. [Outs Per Swing]
  
• Akinori Iwamura is not worried about his transition to second base. "Wiggy can do it, so I can do it." The kid's got a point. [Rays Report]
  
• Joe Maddon says that the only thing that will change about his managing style in 2008 is that players will be held more accountable and he will not be as patient when players fail to perform. [St. Pete Times]

"We're at the point now where we think we've moved this along a bit, so you're not going to give somebody as much rope. You still want to develop, and you still want to see people. But they may not get the same opportunities to fail as much as we've given people to fail in the past."

Mental mistakes might not be tolerated as much either, which will be a good thing.

• According to Andrew Friedman, the main reason the team may be skeptical to start Evan Longoria at the big league level in April is that he has been too good. The idea is that the team is not sure what his faults are yet and they don't know how Dirtbag will react to adversity. [Herald-Tribune]

"It's kind of a Catch-22," Rays vice-president Andrew Friedman said. "You don't want him to fail. But at the same time, if he had failed some, you would have the complete picture."

If a player fails for a period of time, management can see what adjustments need to be made.

"Most guys we have we've got a good sense," Friedman said. "When you watch guys experience some highs and lows, you have a better idea about the player. With Evan, he hasn't failed yet."

Longoria hasn't had a slump.

"That's a big part of fully understanding the player," Friedman said.

• Chris Mason, last year's AA pitcher of the year, is a non-roster invitee to Spring Training this year but he has shown up without having his hair colored. This could be a sign of trouble for the right-hander that went 15-4 with a 2.57 ERA last year under several different incarnations of hair color. On a side note, the Biscuits last year were 10-1 in games in which Mason had a no-decision. That makes for an impressive 25-5 in games he started. [Tampa Tribune]

"I thought, 'Man, I'm coming into my first big-league spring training, I'm not going to come in looking like a clown,'" Mason said. "I'll give it a couple weeks. I can't just come in here as a rookie with blue hair - that's just a big target for the guys to get on me...In the winter I kept it shaved down," he said. "I have a girlfriend I met in Montgomery, and I'm trying to keep it in shape for her."

• Joe Maddon spoke highly of Mike DiFelice after Saturday's workout, but the comments sounded more like a player that is not going to make the roster, as the compliments were more of his personality and less of his play on the field. [Tampa Bay Rays]

"DiFelice does a nice job," said the Rays manager. "He's well spoken, well thought-out, and he has a professional sternness about him."

• The Sporting News predicts the Rays will finish in third place in the AL East. Although for some reason they don't expect Carl Crawford to be able to repeat his 2007 numbers. That is curious considering CC has shown steady improvement in almost every offensive statistic each of the past 5 years. [The Sporting News]
  
• Not every business owner is against the new Rays stadium. A group of residents and business owners have created a Political Action Group to support the proposal. [St. Pete Times]
  
• Jason Hammel, Al Reyes and Troy Percival met with Bradenton little leaguers yesterday. [Bradenton Herald]
  

Labels: Akinori Iwamura, Andrew Friedman, Andy Sonnanstine, Carl Crawford, Chris Mason, Edwin Jackson, Evan Longoria, Jason Hammel, Joe Maddon, JP Howell, Mike DiFelice

Tampa Bay Devil Dogs (44 days until Opening Day)
DRG here again to get you through the weekend...

Joe Maddon regularly refers to the "right field triangle" of Cliff Floyd, Rocco Baldelli and Jonny Gomes. Maybe it should be the "right field square".

Floyd has arrived at camp and says that he feels better physically than he has in years.

"In terms of health, in terms of my feet, in terms of my knees -- everything -- I feel great," Floyd said.

He also speaks of his expectations for playing time.

"Whatever role I'm put into, I'm sure I can adapt to it, whether it's going into the outfield and playing two, three days a week and DHing two," Floyd said. "I know everybody has to play and to me, getting everybody involved keeps everyone fresh.

The coaching staff and trainers will also meet Monday to come up with a plan for how to use Baldelli n Spring Training with an eye towards gradually increasing his workload.

According to Maddon: "We're going to take it very slowly."

A "triangle"? Am I the only person that will not be surprised to see somebody else log significant playing time in right field this year? There is joust no way the Rays are getting a full season out of those three. At some point both Rocco and Floyd will be injured and AAAA-Justin Ruggiano will be manning right field.

Floyd feeling fine in twilight of career. [Rays Baseball]
Notes: Navarro excused from camp [Rays Baseball]


DEVIL RAYS WEBTOPIA...

• The players opened camp with a new-found optimism that may have been spurred in part by Joe Maddon's opening speech. Both Scott Kazmir and BJ Upton expressed that making the playoffs is not out of the realm of possibilities for this ballclub and Troy Percival said that the chance for success was a major reason he signed with the Rays and turned down the Yankees, comparing this situation to the one in Detroit a few years ago. [St. Pete Times]

"What's possible? Play in October, that's possible," ace Scott Kazmir said. "That is possible. That's what I got out of Joe Maddon talking to us, and talking to all of my teammates, it's not something that's impossible. We have what it takes to win here."

• Dioner Navarro has been excused from camp to be with his ailing mother in Venezuela after she suffered a brain aneurysm. She is in stable condition but remains in the intensive care unit. [St. Pete Times]
• Andrew Friedman says that we have seen this team play well, but the players need to believe in themselves in order to play well consistently over long stretches. [St. Pete Times]
  

"One of the biggest challenges coming in two years ago was changing the mind-set of the organization, changing the mentality, and the most important part of that was getting the players to start believing, and I think we've taken quantum leaps in that regard," Friedman said.

"But it's carrying it over, it's going out and executing and playing consistently over an extended period of time. We've seen flashes of it, but it's playing to a consistently high level over a period of time. And that comes with believing, with changing that mind-set so that when you go out on the field each and every night that you expect to win. Starting to believe that and getting it to the point where 25 guys are playing together toward a common goal is something I hope to see really start to take form this year."

• Rays Digest takes a look at David Price and has some quotes from his first day in Rays camp. [Rays Digest]

"I haven't played baseball in seven months," said David Price. "There is definitely excitement, nervousness, there's everything. I am looking forward to having a good time. It was fun (the first workout) and relaxed. You get your work in and get out of here. You wake up early get out early and get in a day of baseball."

• Grant Balfour could be an odd-man out in the fight for jobs in the bullpen, but he welcomes the challenge. [Rays Baseball]
• John Heyman of SI says the Rays had the 7th best off-season giving them a grade of B+. [SI]

They got rid of the Devil in their name, and also traded Elijah Dukes, which may be no coincidence. Dealing Delmon Young was a risk, but they're making a statement about the type of roster they want. And they're locking up their valuable youngsters, though attempts to extend Scott Kazmir have failed so far.

• Ken Rosenthal calls the "Rising Rays" one of the 10 things to watch in Spring Training. [Fox Sports]

One American League GM says he views the Rays as an 80-win team; not bad for a franchise that, in its first 10 seasons, topped out at 70...Third baseman Evan Longoria could be this year's Ryan Braun, and the Rays' rotation might rank among the league's best by the end of the decade...Questions remain about whether Al Reyes, Dan Wheeler and Troy Percival will provide quality late-inning relief, but some of the team's young rotation candidates could prove valuable in the bullpen. The pitching also will benefit from improved defense: With Jason Bartlett at shortstop, the Rays' defense should be average or above-average at every position when Rocco Baldelli is in right field.

• Using a new defensive statistic called SAFE which calculates the numbers of runs a player prevents or allows, a group of statisticians ranked current and former players. Both Carl Crawford and Jason Bartlett ranked among the best at their respective positions, while Fred McGriff was considered the worst first baseman. We assume they were just looking at McGriff's final season, it is unclear. [Associated Press]
• Outs Per Swing actually Live Blogged the Rays' first practice. Would that be a 'Plog'? [Outs Per Swing]
• Following a Plog is like watching paint dry, but the pictures are worth the effort, if just to get the first glance at the Boys in Blue. [Outs Per Swing]
• One website thinks people should start jumping on the Rays bandwagon. Unfortunately, I don't think naming your son Aubrey will endear you to most Rays fans, as a one Mr. Huff is no longer in our good graces. [Bert Flex]
  

Labels: Andrew Friedman, BJ Upton, Carl Crawford, Cliff Floyd, David Price, Dioner Navarro, Fred McGriff, Grant Balfour, Jason Bartlett, Joe Maddon, Jonny Gomes, Rocco Baldelli, Scott Kazmir, Troy Percival

Tampa Bay Rays (45 days until Opening Day)
Lots 'o Links today, so let's get to 'em...

DEVIL RAYS WEBTOPIA...

• The Tampa Tribune does not see many positions open for the Rays heading into Spring Training. By their count, there are two spots in the rotation, two in the bullpen, one at catcher and 1-2 at third base/utility infielder. We still find it perplexing that some see Shawn Riggans "as the presumptive favorite" to win the backup catchers job. Joe Maddon spoke several times this off-season about having a veteran presence at that position to assist in the maturation of Dioner Navarro, and we don't think Riggans' seven years in the minor leagues is what they meant by "experienced". [Tampa Tribune]
• Jayson Stark says the "Rise of the Rays" is one of the top ten stories of Spring Training. He also refers to the Rays as one of the three most-improved teams in the AL. [ESPN]

Is The Team Formerly Known as the Devil Rays ready to slap around the Yankees or Red Sox (or even the underrated Blue Jays)? Nah. Not yet. But the Rays have added Matt Garza to the rotation and depth to the bullpen. Third base stud Evan Longoria might be the most buzzed-about phenom in baseball. And three of the best pitching prospects on earth (David Price, Jake McGee, Wade Davis) are just over the horizon. Here's how promising this team is: One AL executive actually predicts the Rays won't even pick in the first 10 picks of the draft. Pass the smelling salts!

• The Bradenton Herald calls the 2008 Rays the "most talented roster in its history" and notes what a difference a year makes. [Bradenton Herald]

At this time last February, Joe Maddon was looking for a first baseman. And a second baseman. And a shortstop.

"And a bullpen," Maddon said. "I had no idea who would be in the bullpen."

The Tampa Bay Rays manager openly dreamed of the day when the team would begin camp with just a few needs. That's a sign of progress, Maddon would say. A sign a developing team is ready to make the leap toward one that is ready to compete.

• The Tampa Bay Rays charitable foundation has formed three new grant programs to assist Tampa Bay area children. As a team policy, all players that sign multi-year contracts donate a portion of their contracts to the Rays Baseball Foundation. This season, over $1 million will be contributed by the players. [Bradenton Herald]
• This is really old news that is just now becoming official: The Rays will play the Blue Jays at Disney's Wide World of Sports complex for three games, April 22-24. [Rays Report]
• In the latest in the series "A Tale of Two Eric's" Rays Anatomy takes on BJ Upton, and what we can expect from the young center fielder in 2008. [Rays Anatomy]
  
• Rays Digest is not happy with the amount of coverage given to the Rays in the St. Pete Times on the first day of Spring Training. [Rays Digest]
• ArmchairGM names the best starting pitcher on each team and calls Scott Kazmir "the clear #1". They even take a small shot at the Mets. See, we are not the only ones that gain pleasure at the expense of the Mets. [ArmchairGM]
• AOL Fanhouse believes Troy Percival could be the key to the Rays success in 2008. [AOL Fanhouse]
  

Labels: BJ Upton, Dioner Navarro, Joe Maddon, Scott Kazmir, Shawn Riggans, Troy Percival

Tampa Bay Rays (46 days until Opening Day)
Today is the first official day of Spring Training as pitchers and catchers are required to report. However, according to Marc Lancaster, this is a mere formality as players have been reporting to the Naimoli Complex, three days a week for weeks now.

Every Monday, Wednesday and Friday, beginning last fall, Rays players have convened for workouts. According to Scott Kazmir, a dozen or so players have been present regularly throughout the winter. In recent weeks, that number has swelled considerably.

James Shields participated in his first full workout at the complex last Wednesday and was stunned by what he saw.

"I swear to God there were 40 guys," said Shields. "It was amazing. I normally come back a week before spring and I see maybe 10, 12 guys. But it was a full squad out there. It was crazy."

Of the 35 pitchers and catchers required to report today, 34 will be on time, as only Juan Salas, who is having visa problems will be late.

Lancaster speculates that the level of participation could be a sign of maturity and anticipation.

The level of participation could be interpreted as a sign of maturity among a still-young group, but anticipation of the upcoming season has been a driving force as well. Especially for those who have suffered through one losing campaign after another, there is a sense that this could be the breakthrough season everyone has awaited.

Kinda makes us want to grab a mitt and some spikes and see if James Shields wants to warm up.

Rays Ready For Reporting Day [Tampa Tribune]

DEVIL RAYS WEBTOPIA...

• Evan Longoria welcomes the challenge of winning the third base job in Spring Training. [The Heater]

"That's basically what I came into spring hoping would happen,'' Longoria said. "If they would have made the decision early, obviously if I was in the big leagues that would be good, but I feel like now it just puts a little more added pressure on me, which I like. It's going to make me work harder.''

• Anaheim Angels All the Way ran a full season simulation using the CHONE projections. The Rays finished the "regular season" at 89-73, just 3 games behind the Yankees and the Red Sox in the AL East. Don't put too much weight on this projection as it was only run once. Every March Replacement Level Yankees runs a series of simulations. One of the projections used is CHONE. The difference is they will run the projections 1,000 times. Last year, after 1,000 projections the Rays averaged 71.3 wins per simulation. However, at least once the Rays won 93 games. They won the division two times and were the AL Wild Card winner three times. When running simulations like these, anomalies happen. Let's wait until RLY gets a chance to run the 1,000 simulations and then we will have a better idea what to expect from the 2008 Rays. [Angels All the Way via DRays Bay]
• RaysBB has finished their round-table rundown of the Rays top prospects. 13 people participated and we were the only one that did not have Evan Longoria in the top spot. To us it is really 1a and 1b and since we have little experience actually seeing any of these guys play we consider "value to the organization" as the top criteria and to us winning is always about pitching and the pitcher gets the slight edge. [RaysBB]
  
• Bill Chastain wraps up his "Around the Horn" series by taking a look at the Rays DHs and Bench. [RaysBaseball.com]
• Refrigerator Logic lists the reasons fans should pay attention to the Rays in 2008. [Refrigerator Logic]
• Outs Per Swing questions why Rob Neyer leaves Scott Kazmir off his list of top young pitchers even though Kid K meets the criteria set forth by Neyer. [Outs Per Swing]
• Baseball Analysts concludes their break-down of the best young players by age. The latest lists look at 20 and 21 year old. Desmond Jennings(#7) and Jake McGee (#9) both make the list of top 21-year olds. [Baseball Analysts]
  

Labels: Desmond Jennings, Evan Longoria, Jake McGee, James Shields, Juan Salas, Scott Kazmir

The Rays Confidence Graph will appear every Wednesday and is a look at how much confidence Rays fans have in the Tampa Bay Rays. The graph is designed to give us a look at how our emotional bias as Rays fans fluctuates through time. The "confidence" in the team is an inexact measure of how we feel about the team's current strength as well as how much confidence we have in the franchise for the next 3-4 years. You can think of a "confidence" rating of 10 as an indication that we believe the team is "playoff-caliber". Notes on this weeks agida-level can be found after the graph..

Notes on the RI Confidence Graph...

• We are in full status quo mode as the Spring Training roster is set
• Fans do not seem fazed by the new contract signed by Johan Santana and how that may affect the Rays ability to sign Scott Kazmir to a longterm contract.
  

Labels: Confidence graph

Tampa Bay Rays (1 day until pitchers and catchers report)

It is what he wanted.

It is what we wanted.

It is not necessarily what the front office wanted.

But now it looks like Evan Longoria will get the opportunity to prove in Spring Training that he belongs in the majors.

And a chance is all the Dirtbag needs. It won't take much to convince Joe Maddon. And we have a feeling that if Papa Joe can be convinced, it won't take much to convince Andrew Friedman.

Longoria will not have to hit .400 in Spring Training and he will not have to hit 10 home runs. In fact, we have a feeling that as long as he does not fall flat on his face, he will be named the Rays opening day starter at third base. As much as Papa Joe likes to crunch numbers on his computer, he still loves himself a good ole fashioned baseball player. Evan Longoria is a baseball player. And Maddon will envision that rubbing off on the other players

Maddon is destined to fall in love with the 22 year old. He will see enough in his swing and his glove to know that he is not going to be over-matched at the major league level.

Longoria may struggle at first. But he is too good a hitter to fail. And Papa Joe will see that.

Longoria will get chance to earn spot [Rays Report]

DEVIL RAYS WEBTOPIA...

• ESPN.com takes a closer look at the "revitalized" Carl Crawford. C.C. speaks about having more energy after learning that he was allergic to dairy and wheat products and the subsequent change in his diet. He has also upped his workout regimen and has dropped his body fat from 12% to 8% since December. He also doesn't hold back in his portrayal of just how miserable 2007 was for the Rays. [ESPN]

"It's just going to be about playing baseball again, that's what I'm really excited about this season," Crawford said at his offseason home. "With all the B.S. that was going on last year, I think we lost focus on the task at hand." Crawford refers to the ongoing soap opera that featured Elijah Dukes and Delmon Young. Both of the enormously talented players couldn't stay out of trouble; Dukes with his off-field issues, and Young with his me-first attitude that resulted in him at first walking out on manager Joe Maddon on the second-to-last day of the 2007 regular season. Crawford calls last season a year "he never wants to remember," and the distractions, at times, were almost unbearable..."That move, for Garza, spoke volumes," Crawford said. "For the first time I felt like this organization was serious about winning. That's the reason why I think everybody is excited because everybody sees that."

• Joe Maddon confirmed something that we had expected, that is five of the seven bullpen spots are already spoken for, all but guaranteeing that Gary Glover will be on the opening day roster. That leaves one spot that will go to a "loser" in the battle for the starting rotation and the final spot will be between Juan Salas, Scott Dohmann and Grant Balfour. [The Heater]
  
• Shawn Riggans enters Spring Training healthy and understands this may be his last shot at winning a job with the Rays now that John Jaso has been added to the 40-man roster. Marc Topkin refers to Riggans as the "apparent leading candidate for the backup catcher's job." This might be a stretch after the recent additions of one veteran catcher in Mike DiFelice and the return of Josh Paul who is familiar with the Rays pitching staff. It is our feeling that if the season started today Paul's experience and familiarity with the pitching staff will be a better partner to the young Dioner Navarro. [St. Pete Times]
• Marc Topkin reviews all the changes the Rays have made this off-season. [St. Pete Times]
  
• The Columbus Catfish have been sold and plan to relocate to Bolling Green, Kentucky for the 2009 season. [Ledger-Enquirer]
  
• Baseball Analysts continues their breakdown of the best baseball players by age. In the age 23 group, BJ Upton comes in at #6, while both Evan Longoria and David Price come in at #5 and #12 respectively. [Baseball Analysts]
  
• The Ledger ranks the DHs. The Rays' three-headed monster of Rocco Baldelli, Cliff Floyd and Jonny Gomes is ranked 7th. [The Ledger]
• My Baseball Bias previews the Rays' Spring Training. [My Baseball Bias]
  
• Devil Rays Locker gives the Rays front office a B+ for this off-season's moves. [Devil Rays Locker]
  

Labels: BJ Upton, Carl Crawford, Cliff Floyd, David Price, Delmon Young, Elijah Dukes, Evan Longoria, Gary Glover, Jonny Gomes, Josh Paul, Mike DiFelice, Rocco Baldelli, Shawn Riggans

Spring Training begins this week, so it is time to start taking a closer look at the 2008 Tampa Bay Rays. What better way to do that than a good ole fashioned Power Ranking. Everybody loves Power Rankings. These rankings are a combination of overall importance to the team and a general "who's hot and who's not". The Tampa Bay Rays Power Rankings will appear every Tuesday.

Labels: Rays Power Rankings

The 2008 40-man roster and payroll projection is based only players currently within the organization and will be updated when trades are consummated and free agents are signed.

Last week we took at the latest 25-man roster projection, and with pitchers and catchers set to report this week let's update our 40-man roster and payroll projections.

Notes on the projections can be found after the roster...


A few notes on the 40-man roster and payroll projections...

• All of the Rays arbitration-eligible players have signed contracts and avoided arbitration.
  
• This roster and payroll projection is based on our 25-man roster projection in which Evan Longoria is in the minors, Josh Paul is the backup catcher and Scott Dohmann beats out Juan Salas for the final bullpen spot.
  
• Only five players on the 2007 opening day roster had a salary of at least $1 million (Carl Crawford, Casey Fossum, Akinori Iwamura, Jae Seo and Ty Wigginton). Only Fossum ($2.2 million) and Crawford ($4.0 million) made more than $2 million. This year, 12 players will make more than $1.0 million and nine of those will make more than $2.0 million.

Labels: 40-man Roster