Tampa Bay Rays, Pat Burrell agree to two-year contract - ESPN

A potential big bat heading to Tampa Bay.

6 months ago Randy Booth Comment 17 comments 0 recs |

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i don’t care what anyone says…we need to go out and get a big time bat.

by matzushocka45 on Jan 5, 2009 5:42 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

Who's left?

Clutch: A measurement of how much better or worse a player does in high leverage situations than he would have done in a context neutral environment. http://www.fangraphs.com/blogs/index.php/glossary/

by bs.uf15bosox9bears23 on Jan 5, 2009 7:23 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Adam Dunn, Bobby Abreu, Jason Giambi, Rocco Baldelli, Ken Griffey Jr, Garrett Anderson

by RayOfLight on Jan 5, 2009 8:23 PM EST up reply actions 1 recs

The only “big time bat” in that list is Dunn. Baldelli? Anderson? Griffey?

OverTheMonster.com

by Randy Booth on Jan 5, 2009 9:35 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Nowhere to put Dunn defensively, and he's not worth benching Papi.

Abreu would hurt the defense in the OF, Giambi sucks, Junior is getting too old to play OF, as is Anderson.

Baldelli would be signed to a big, incentive laden contract. More games played in = more money.

by bs.uf15bosox9bears23 on Jan 6, 2009 5:45 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

I make them slight favourites for the AL East now

and, by extension, for the WS.

We do need to add someone significant, otherwise we’re treading water as both the Rays and Yankees move forward. It would take a creative trade, as Dunn is a poor fit.

"no1 has time to read your long comments, are you writing a book?"

by britsoxfan on Jan 6, 2009 4:55 AM EST reply actions 0 recs

Catcher? I think that’s the only hole there…

OverTheMonster.com

by Randy Booth on Jan 6, 2009 5:23 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Oh, don't get me wrong, I'm not wringing my hands. But standing pat is rarely the best policy.

The AL East should be a fantastic battle this coming season, and the Red Sox will have their work cut out.

I am concerned about Lowell, a little concerned about Papi and ‘meh’ about the bench. So a decent starting catcher or a complement to Bard would be a good start. I am feeling good about the starting pitching, though, and the bullpen has terrific potential.

"no1 has time to read your long comments, are you writing a book?"

by britsoxfan on Jan 6, 2009 5:34 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

But don't make moves for the sake of making moves.

If you can never stay the same, always getting better or worse, whose to say that allowing our younger players another season to mature isn’t getting better?

by bs.uf15bosox9bears23 on Jan 6, 2009 5:47 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Obtaining a bench (it's rancid at the moment),

options for the corner infield (if Lowell is injured or a long-term concern) and a catcher aren’t moves for the sake of making moves.

I agree that often the solutions come from within, but I don’t believe the bench options, the catcher or the corner infielder for 09 can come from within.

"no1 has time to read your long comments, are you writing a book?"

by britsoxfan on Jan 6, 2009 5:57 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

I mean other than those moves.

Like signing CC or a big bat.

by bs.uf15bosox9bears23 on Jan 6, 2009 6:34 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Lars Anderson

Anderson will be ready to come up and play 1B if Lowell goes down (and Youk would go to 3B). We do need a C, though! I’d give up 1/2 the farm system for Wieters!

by rmarx01 on Jan 6, 2009 8:39 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

I doubt Lars is going to be ready before September at the earliest.

If Lowell goes down, as things stand, it’ll be Bailey/Carter to stand in. I’m a big fan of Carter’s hitting, but the FO apparently disagrees – they had ample opportunity last season to give him at-bats, but he only got a handful.

"no1 has time to read your long comments, are you writing a book?"

by britsoxfan on Jan 7, 2009 4:21 AM EST up reply actions 1 recs

+1. Lars will not be playing before July — and that’s a REAL stretch.

OverTheMonster.com

by Randy Booth on Jan 7, 2009 11:43 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Most reports say 2010.

I think ’11 is more likely.

"You know you're having a bad day when the fifth inning rolls around and they drag the warning track." - Mike Flanagan, Baltimore Orioles pitcher, 1992.

by SoxDevil on Jan 7, 2009 12:31 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Yes, but I’m factoring in Theo’s love of bringing up prospects early. Look at all the pitching prospects recently — they all made a start or two going straight from AA.

OverTheMonster.com

by Randy Booth on Jan 7, 2009 12:53 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs