Spring training happenings

[tonypug]

Edwin Jackson impressed with his velocity. He said the Dodgers tinkered with hus delivery last year, and now he is back to throwing the way he did when he was rated one of the Dodgers top prospects. Mark Hendrickson was the first casualty, sustaining tightness in his leg and had to cut short his throwing session on Sunday. Aubrey Huff has a new positive attitude and has asked for a chance to compete for the third base job. One sour note Delmon Young was one of five players not to report early. You would think he would have shown up early, to show his eagerness to win a job. Probably his agents idea.

[brooklynboy]

Delmon could turn out to be a problem....

:grouchy



Edwin Jackson impressed with his velocity. He said the Dodgers tinkered with hus delivery last year, and now he is back to throwing the way he did when he was rated one of the Dodgers top prospects. Mark Hendrickson was the first casualty, sustaining tightness in his leg and had to cut short his throwing session on Sunday. Aubrey Huff has a new positive attitude and has asked for a chance to compete for the third base job. One sour note Delmon Young was one of five players not to report early. You would think he would have shown up early, to show his eagerness to win a job. Probably his agents idea.

[raysnbran]

He showed up yesterday and is saying all the right things. The new management is giving him an opportunity to stay with a good spring training, but he would have to win the RF job outright to stay, or be sent to AAA to get his AB's. Huff is moving to 3B apparently, with Lee re-signed for 1B. Gomes and Gathright are the odd men out if Young wins the job.

Pitching though will decide our fate, as usual. :grouchy

[brooklynboy]

Where's newly acquired Sean in this hodge podge mix???

[raysnbran]

If Huff gets traded, he and Russ Branyon apparently would battle for the 3B job, but right now it's Huff's job to lose, so maybe Burroughs will be the LH DH with Gomes as a RH DH.

[tonypug]

If Huff shows he can handle third base, his trade value goes much higher.If Burroughs finally plays to his potential, the Rays have struck gold, if not they have another Ben Grieve. The entire camp so far has a very upbeat feeling about it, lets hope it continues. I think Edwin Jackson and the closer position are the two keys this year.

[brooklynboy]

I think SP is still the biggest problem and the key to the season.. If it
turns out semi decent, it could be a fairly good year..

[raysnbran]

I like what I am hearing from Joe Madden. When asked about getting to 70 wins this year, he basically said 70 wins is a bad season. 81 wins is mediocre. He's instilling in the players minds to think playoffs. It will be virtually impossible for the Rays to ever make the playoffs in the AL East unless the Red Sox and Yankees have a down year, but it doesn't hurt to start thinking they can win before they actually do. :clapping

Pitching will always be the key. Let's hope Kazmir doesn't come under the Opening Day Starter jinx that has plagued every other one that has started for us in our existence. If McClung and Waechter can get their mechanics straightened out by Butcher, they can be above average pitchers. Fossum and Hendrickson are OK #4 pitchers, but we need good seasons from them to be successful. Let's hope Niemann can recover fully, as well as Townsend, so that they will help us down the road.

[tonypug]

Kazmir's problem last year was that he would get two quick outs on a few pitches to start an inning, then would struggle to get the third out and throw a lot of pitches. I f he can straighten that out he can pitch deeper into games, which would be a big help.

[FedEx]

More then likely Delmon was told by his agent not to report early, but you can't fault the guy too much, he was ready last year and the cheap ignorant Devil Rays franchise kept him in AAA so his free-agency period wouldn't stop and they could milk more time out of this guy.

[tonypug]

More then likely Delmon was told by his agent not to report early, but you can't fault the guy too much, he was ready last year and the cheap ignorant Devil Rays franchise kept him in AAA so his free-agency period wouldn't stop and they could milk more time out of this guy.
This is a new year, with new management, you would think he would want to make a good first impression.

[brooklynboy]

This is a new year, with new management, you would think he would want to make a good first impression.
I think Mr Young is simply biding his time time he gets out of Dodge....That's a sorry comment for both sides....

[tonypug]

I think Mr Young is simply biding his time time he gets out of Dodge....That's a sorry comment for both sides....
Well like it or not, Young will be a Ray for a few years. If he doesn't play at his best he just hurts himself in the long run.

[tonypug]

Yesterday, Edwin Jackson had a rough outing against the Yankees un a loss. Today Mark Hendrickson had a decent five innings against the Twins.As we all know pitching is going to make or break the Rays this year.Hitting and fielding appear stronger this year, but pitching has been only fair so far this spring.

[brooklynboy]

Well, whatever it is, it's time to take a deep breath, close our eyes, and hope Lady Luck spends the summer in Tampa..

:)