2008 Lineup?

[raysnbran]

Yesterday's St Petersburg Times projected this as our everyday starting lineup, without listing pitchers. Our staff could be completely different in '08, save Kazmir and Shields, but this looks like a solid lineup capable of competing for a wild card, again, depending on the pitching.

1B Wes Bankston
2B Jorge Cantu
SS B J Upton
3B Evan Longoria
LF Carl Crawford
CF Rocco Baldelli
RF Delmon Young
C Dioner Navarro
DH Jonny Gomes

A very solid lineup from top to bottom IMO. Variables are Upton and Young, also if Longoria will be ready by then, though he's tearing up A ball right now. Bankston is playing 3B for Durham now but is a natural first baseman. Apparently the guy playing first now for Durham, Kevin Witt, is not in their long range plans. Whaddaya think? :clapping

[Eddiey]

Yesterday's St Petersburg Times projected this as our everyday starting lineup, without listing pitchers. Our staff could be completely different in '08, save Kazmir and Shields, but this looks like a solid lineup capable of competing for a wild card, again, depending on the pitching.

1B Wes Bankston
2B Jorge Cantu
SS B J Upton
3B Evan Longoria
LF Carl Crawford
CF Rocco Baldelli
RF Delmon Young
C Dioner Navarro
DH Jonny Gomes

A very solid lineup from top to bottom IMO. Variables are Upton and Young, also if Longoria will be ready by then, though he's tearing up A ball right now. Bankston is playing 3B for Durham now but is a natural first baseman. Apparently the guy playing first now for Durham, Kevin Witt, is not in their long range plans. Whaddaya think? :clapping


I think its very possible that Upton and/or Young won't be in the Rays organization in 2008. It appears they are head cases. The Rays just may decide they don't need the aggravation and trade them. Upton cannot play a major league shortstop yet insists he won't change positions. Young has an anger management problem. If these guys don't get their act together within the next year and the Rays can get some much needed pitching in a trade, I say why not let them go.

[Yankees]

Well, Upton has been switched to 3rd (though he still has an error problem, something like 3 official ones in 10 games), and it is possible that Tampa is thinking of trading Lugo and bringing up Zobrist (from the Huff trade).
Also, Bankston has never played 3B in the ten games he has been with Durham, and isn't great at 1B (merely adequate, as Baseball America puts it right before the increased build led to loss of speed and athletisicm). With four errors in 10 games, his normal position is in the OF, but we all know Tampa has enough there. Maybe trade him for a decent starting pitcher (or prospects thereof), and find someone to fill in at 1B.
Regarding Gomes, does anyone have any idea what's wrong with him, be it a massive slump or a pitch that he can't hit? He's hitting .183 (27 for 202) since May 8th, with 7 homers.

[bluejaysfan4ever]

Pretty decent, but shouldn't Johnny Gnomes hit clean up??

[raysnbran]

Basically, he swings for the fences on every swing. Pitchers know to nibble the outside of the plate on him, bust him high, then a curve in the dirt, and Jonny takes a seat on the bench. He has a torn rotator cuff in his right shoulder which prevents him from playing the field, but he insists it does not inhibit his batting. He has watched video and can see what he is doing wrong, but he just can't correct it yet. He appears to be a Dave Kingman-type. Hits either a HR or strikes out and bats in the .220's. :grouchy

[Tylersarticles]

Yesterday's St Petersburg Times projected this as our everyday starting lineup, without listing pitchers. Our staff could be completely different in '08, save Kazmir and Shields, but this looks like a solid lineup capable of competing for a wild card, again, depending on the pitching.

1B Wes Bankston
2B Jorge Cantu
SS B J Upton
3B Evan Longoria
LF Carl Crawford
CF Rocco Baldelli
RF Delmon Young
C Dioner Navarro
DH Jonny Gomes

A very solid lineup from top to bottom IMO. Variables are Upton and Young, also if Longoria will be ready by then, though he's tearing up A ball right now. Bankston is playing 3B for Durham now but is a natural first baseman. Apparently the guy playing first now for Durham, Kevin Witt, is not in their long range plans. Whaddaya think? :clapping

I have become a pretty big Rays fan in the past few years since I started going to school in St. Pete, but I have a question regarding your post. What division are you talking about when you say that lineup can compete for the Wild Card next year? Are the Rays switching to the NL East in 2007 because with the Yankees, Blue Jays, and Red Sox it appears as if fourth place is the only legitimate spot for the next few years. You are certainly right, it is definitely going to come down to pitching. The starting pitching is going to indicate how well the Rays do next season.

Also, Jonny Gomes is the man, but he really needs to cut down on his strikeouts, you guys are exactly right with him.

[raysnbran]

My post is entitled "2008 Lineup", not next year. If we can get some reliable SPs and the core of that lineup stays intact, we can compete, but we would have to have 2 of those 3 decline slightly too. And with the AL Central getting so strong, it will be ever tougher. But without hope, what do we have besides "wait until next year?" :D