MLBTR is holding live chats specific to each of the 30 teams as the offseason nears. In conjunction with the recent Offseason Outlook for the Rays, Darragh McDonald held a Rays-themed chat. Click here to read the transcript.
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That was a good read. You’re a funny fella Darragh
I decided to read the transcript based on this comment alone, and it was worth it. “this guy’s face is too weird to play shortstop” is the gem.
Why would they non-tender Andrew Kittredge? in ’21 he had. 1.88 ERA in 70+ IP, with a WHIP < 1 and 9.7 K/9. And last year, while not as good, he only pitched 20 innings with some success, so is it due to injury issues mainly?
Why won’t this let me delete my post, since I just realized he had TJ last year? I honestly did not remember that, and now my comment is there for all to see.
Straight up tar and feathering Coop haha
I should be for posting that!! haha
I’d still keep him, but that’s me.
Did the guy suggesting an Ozuna + prospect trade for Brandon Lowe in the chat get an autoban from the site?
“Did the guy suggesting an Ozuna trade … get an autoban from the site?”
No, but he gets one from the German version so he can drive a Mercedes at any speed he wants.
LOL
The difficulty in projecting what the Rays will do starts with the fact that short of catching and pitching you can throw out the depth chart. And even then one can’t figure out how they’ll use a pitcher they have under contract.
Because they change the lineup and defense each game (and during the game) to maximize their position players productivity, opposing teams thinking about doing trades with them make the mistake of projecting those players to do better if given more playing time. In the same way, when the Rays get a player that has been used in traditional ways they’ll skinny down his playing time to where he’ll be the most productive.
The Rays should change their nickname to ‘The Tampa Bay Dogs’. With people / players they only care about the past as a sort of familiarity. If they have none, they’ll be happy to build some. They don’t care about the future at all. They’re only interested in THE NOW – i.e. what can I get out of you today……particularly in the next hour or three.
That’s why they trade veterans for prospects regularly? Is there a team that sets a lineup without the aim of “winning now”? Sure, some guys get ab’s for experience, but I think you are unfairly singling out the Rays. I realize a lot of folks on here bash the Rays for their methods–I don’t understand it, but discussion boards rarely trot out rational thought, and I know I have scratched my head at some of your posts. But you are a bit off here. Some fair points-the Rays do maximize value from players within the game–but should that be derided, or lauded?
Sideline Redwine;
I’ve read many of your posts so I can totally understand your scratching your head at many of my posts.
I like the Rays, they’re one of the core 7 or so teams I follow in MLB.
Sorry, but next to no teams go out there every game with the idea of “winning now”. Did Cleveland do that this year, or did they give playing time to youngsters to see if they’d grow, and how they could use them individually during the stretch run and playoffs? It’s why they peak each year in September under Francona.
A part of managing a game is bringing along players and determining what they can and cannot do, then having them make adjustments to stretch their games. Sometimes the adjustments take, sometimes the player hits a wall.
I watch at least parts of hundreds of games each year. There is no team in MLB that moves around their players like the Rays do. While few teams have set lineups – the Rays can have a player bat 3rd one game, 7th the next, and leading off the game after that. They obviously use analytics to find the best matchups on O and D. If ones looks at their everchanging rosters they’re scratching their heads wondering how the Rays contend each year and get in the playoffs more often than not. But the Rays do just that.
I find what they do unique and funny. I also find it ingenious.