USA Today

[Eddiey]

If what was written in the USA Today article is basically true, any hope that
Young, Upton and or Dukes will see Tampa Bay any time soon is gone. These
3 do appear to have serious character issues. Maybe the thing to do is suspend
them for the rest of year. Then possibly they might understand that they aren't
bigger then the organization and life will go on without them.

[The Commissioner]

What did they write about them? Could you add a link?

[Biggtone23]

Well while i dont agree with the way the went about it, It had to be said. Not the stuff about Durham, everything I've heard about the place is good, but the way the team is run. Seriously what are they waiting for? We have seen other teams excel by bringing up their young prospects, yet the Devil Rays continue to wait for their prospects to hit .500 in AAA before they can get called up. It is time for the Rays to make a decision on some of their players. They have to trade a couple of outfielders in the group of Crawford, Baldelli, Gomes, Hollins, Young and Dukes and acquire some real starting pitching. They also need to make a decision on Upton. Bring him up or trade him before he loses any more value with his glove and tounge. Make a decision on the outfielders, Upton and throw in a few of the guys with no real future such as Wiggington, Perez and Branyan and get some freaking pitching. Also is it safe to call Doug Waetcher a failure yet and throw him in to a trade also.

While I understand the team is trying to develop players, there is a fine line between taking your time with prospects and waiting to long. Prospects are like stocks you have to know when to buy and when to sell. The Devil Rays in the past have done a horrible job of selecting who to keep and who not to. Well actually they havent had many guys worth keeping up to this point.

In short it is a philosphical problem in the organization that I and many others thought would change with the new ownership and front office teams but have been disapointed with the things being the same old same old here in Tampa.

[raysnbran]

http://www.usatoday.com/sports/baseball/al/devilrays/2006-07-27-devil-rays-prospects-cover_x.htm

This team is diseased. The patient has been sick for 10 years, but on life support. A new doctor came in last October, promising to revive the patient, but the changes have been purely cosmetic. Free parking here, tailgating there, a fish tank in the outfield over there. Same old tired MLB rejects signed as fill ins, while the prospects, who know they are better than some of these guys, sit and stew then explode. A new mellow, California, wine sipping new age manager comes in preaching patience and fundamentals, yet here we are on the verge of August, continuing to make mental errors and boneheaded plays.

If I was GM, I would bring up Upton now and play him at 3B, bring up Young and put him in RF, and trade Dukes for a pitcher on the verge of being a starter in 2007. Tell Upton and Young to shut up, don't start any crap in the clubhouse and speak when spoken to. Prove yourself the rest of this year, and you have to July 31st, 2007 to show you belong here, or your azz will be traded for major league players too.

Durham is a hellhole of discipline. The manager himself got suspended for 10 games for bumping an ump, and the inmates are running the asylum down there. Tamargo should be fired as soon as the season ends and a disciplinarian manager installed as soon as possible. Stress to the players that their crap DOES stink and this is the Rays way going forward. No more sense of entitlement at the age of 20, all players will pay their dues in the minors until the DRO feels they are ready. :mad:

[Eddiey]

Prior to the USA Today article I was thinking the Rays might promote them after
the trade deadline. Now however, I don't think it will happen. Young has only 6 home runs in 221 at bats. Combine that with the bat throwing incident, its no wonder he is still in Durham. Upton is still making errors at 3rd base.. Dukes has played well throughout the season. I don't know if Dukes has had any past problems with attitude. If this is his first offense, he still might get the call.
I'd also give Kevin Witt a look at 1b. Heck, he can't be any worse then Travis Lee.

[raysnbran]

I don't know if Dukes has had any past problems with attitude. If this is his first offense, he still might get the call.


Dukes was kicked out of 5 high schools in Hillsborough county before he ever got into pro ball. He has suspended at least twice this season, once for fighting with a teammate, another incident with a coach. He has been thru anger management at least twice. Plus he blames all his problems on everyone else but himself. Typical person in todays society. 5 tool player lacking a brain and a zipper on his mouth. :rolleyes:

[Eddiey]

Thanks for the info re Dukes. I had no idea of his past problems.
Having given this situation more thought, I can't see the Rays calling these guys to the bigs. That would be rewarding bad behavior.

[tonypug]

We should find out in a hurry if they are going to bring Upton up. Ty Wigginton broke a finger today. Leaving Dukes, Upton and Young together isn't a smart thing either.Maybe Young is trying to force a trade with his mouth. He isn't smart enough to relize that every time he shoots off his mouth his trade value declines. I agree with the statement that Tamargo is not the right man to manage the Durham Bulls. Why wait until the end of the season, fire him now, before things get any worse.

[skeletor]

http://www.usatoday.com/sports/baseball/al/devilrays/2006-07-27-devil-rays-prospects-cover_x.htm

This team is diseased. The patient has been sick for 10 years, but on life support. A new doctor came in last October, promising to revive the patient, but the changes have been purely cosmetic. Free parking here, tailgating there, a fish tank in the outfield over there. Same old tired MLB rejects signed as fill ins, while the prospects, who know they are better than some of these guys, sit and stew then explode. A new mellow, California, wine sipping new age manager comes in preaching patience and fundamentals, yet here we are on the verge of August, continuing to make mental errors and boneheaded plays.

If I was GM, I would bring up Upton now and play him at 3B, bring up Young and put him in RF, and trade Dukes for a pitcher on the verge of being a starter in 2007. Tell Upton and Young to shut up, don't start any crap in the clubhouse and speak when spoken to. Prove yourself the rest of this year, and you have to July 31st, 2007 to show you belong here, or your azz will be traded for major league players too.

Durham is a hellhole of discipline. The manager himself got suspended for 10 games for bumping an ump, and the inmates are running the asylum down there. Tamargo should be fired as soon as the season ends and a disciplinarian manager installed as soon as possible. Stress to the players that their crap DOES stink and this is the Rays way going forward. No more sense of entitlement at the age of 20, all players will pay their dues in the minors until the DRO feels they are ready. :mad:

Have felt the same way about the way TB ran their farm system, and
ML club...sorta like the AL version of the Expos, only they don't have
the overall talent on the farm, that the late great EXPOS, had..and
instead of sweeping major changes, for the club, you have bandages
on problems..like free parking, etc....spent time in Durham, and at times,
the club was run like a zoo...it's a merry-go-round, with no end in sight,
until some sanity comes forth....
:eek: