Comments on: 6.18 http://riveraveblues.com/2007/09/618-1124/ A New York Yankees Blog Tue, 14 Feb 2012 20:53:44 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: River Ave. Blues » Aiming for an AL East crown http://riveraveblues.com/2007/09/618-1124/#comment-47974 River Ave. Blues » Aiming for an AL East crown Mon, 28 Jan 2008 02:25:55 +0000 http://riveraveblues.com/2007/09/12/618/#comment-47974 [...] this close to the division lead since April, but it won’t be easy to catch that crown (and those games Tampa Bay blew last week loom [...] [...] this close to the division lead since April, but it won’t be easy to catch that crown (and those games Tampa Bay blew last week loom [...]

]]> By: River Ave. Blues » Red Sox fans are full of it http://riveraveblues.com/2007/09/618-1124/#comment-47961 River Ave. Blues » Red Sox fans are full of it Mon, 28 Jan 2008 02:13:46 +0000 http://riveraveblues.com/2007/09/12/618/#comment-47961 [...] you’re in first place is because the Devil Rays crapped the bed when they played you earlier this month and in August. Talk about looking a gift horse in the [...] [...] you’re in first place is because the Devil Rays crapped the bed when they played you earlier this month and in August. Talk about looking a gift horse in the [...]

]]> By: Red Sox fans are full of it | River Ave. Blues | A New York Yankees blog http://riveraveblues.com/2007/09/618-1124/#comment-24534 Red Sox fans are full of it | River Ave. Blues | A New York Yankees blog Fri, 28 Sep 2007 20:57:38 +0000 http://riveraveblues.com/2007/09/12/618/#comment-24534 [...] you’re in first place is because the Devil Rays crapped the bed when they played you earlier this month and in August. Talk about looking a gift horse in the [...] [...] you’re in first place is because the Devil Rays crapped the bed when they played you earlier this month and in August. Talk about looking a gift horse in the [...]

]]> By: Barry http://riveraveblues.com/2007/09/618-1124/#comment-22235 Barry Wed, 12 Sep 2007 19:22:14 +0000 http://riveraveblues.com/2007/09/12/618/#comment-22235 i still think with their young players they'll be contenders in a couple of years. i still think with their young players they’ll be contenders in a couple of years.

]]> By: Ben K. http://riveraveblues.com/2007/09/618-1124/#comment-22202 Ben K. Wed, 12 Sep 2007 15:14:57 +0000 http://riveraveblues.com/2007/09/12/618/#comment-22202 This. Over and over again. I've had this conversation with a friend of mine for literally three seasons. Every year, he says, "Don't underestimate the Devil Rays." Every year, they are terrible. Sure, they have some good young prospects, but that's just it. Those prospects aren't sure things, and the Devil Rays haven't shown any signs of life at all. Meanwhile, Scott Kazmir has thrown 550 career MLB innings, and he's just 23. He's totally in the red in terms of injury risk right now. And the bullpen is absolutely horrendous. A 6.18 ERA <em>on the season</em> means they're giving up 2 runs for every 3 they pitch. That's not going to win games, let alone lead to a competing team. Furthermore, their average home attendance is 16,288, and that includes the gate from games against the Yankees and the Red Sox in Tampa. They are dead last in attendance and just don't have the resources to build a viable team. Sure, they're better than directionless franchises like the Giants and Pirates, but that's not saying much. Until they show legitimate on-field improvement, I will continue to question this franchise. This. Over and over again.

I’ve had this conversation with a friend of mine for literally three seasons. Every year, he says, “Don’t underestimate the Devil Rays.” Every year, they are terrible. Sure, they have some good young prospects, but that’s just it. Those prospects aren’t sure things, and the Devil Rays haven’t shown any signs of life at all.

Meanwhile, Scott Kazmir has thrown 550 career MLB innings, and he’s just 23. He’s totally in the red in terms of injury risk right now. And the bullpen is absolutely horrendous. A 6.18 ERA on the season means they’re giving up 2 runs for every 3 they pitch. That’s not going to win games, let alone lead to a competing team.

Furthermore, their average home attendance is 16,288, and that includes the gate from games against the Yankees and the Red Sox in Tampa. They are dead last in attendance and just don’t have the resources to build a viable team.

Sure, they’re better than directionless franchises like the Giants and Pirates, but that’s not saying much. Until they show legitimate on-field improvement, I will continue to question this franchise.

]]> By: Count Zero http://riveraveblues.com/2007/09/618-1124/#comment-22198 Count Zero Wed, 12 Sep 2007 14:22:41 +0000 http://riveraveblues.com/2007/09/12/618/#comment-22198 The thing about TB is that we've been hearing the "wait until all the great young prospects develop" refrain for about four years now. Remember Aubrey Huff? The fact of the matter is that the young talent never seems to take the next step, and they remain perennial cellar dwellers in a division that has absolutely no mercy on you. Which leads one to believe that either: a) Their coaches aren't very good at developing young players or b) Their young players aren't very receptive to coaching I don't think anyone denies that they have a lot of good arms and a lot of talented position players. But the arms seem to never learn to pitch, and the position players never seem to learn to be patient. They just never seem to step up to the next level. The thing about TB is that we’ve been hearing the “wait until all the great young prospects develop” refrain for about four years now. Remember Aubrey Huff?

The fact of the matter is that the young talent never seems to take the next step, and they remain perennial cellar dwellers in a division that has absolutely no mercy on you. Which leads one to believe that either:

a) Their coaches aren’t very good at developing young players or
b) Their young players aren’t very receptive to coaching

I don’t think anyone denies that they have a lot of good arms and a lot of talented position players. But the arms seem to never learn to pitch, and the position players never seem to learn to be patient. They just never seem to step up to the next level.

]]> By: Adam A http://riveraveblues.com/2007/09/618-1124/#comment-22192 Adam A Wed, 12 Sep 2007 13:19:12 +0000 http://riveraveblues.com/2007/09/12/618/#comment-22192 You are ignoring the overwhelming possibility of Kazmir's elbow going "boom." You are ignoring the overwhelming possibility of Kazmir’s elbow going “boom.”

]]> By: Kyle http://riveraveblues.com/2007/09/618-1124/#comment-22187 Kyle Wed, 12 Sep 2007 12:14:33 +0000 http://riveraveblues.com/2007/09/12/618/#comment-22187 Within two years there starting rotation could be Kazmir, Price, Shields, McGee, and another good righty. That is three power lefties. If you think they are tough for us now, they will be even harder in '09. This team has the potential in their minors to be a 90 win team within the next 3 years. I agree with Jimmy Norden, they are a lot more exciting then a bunch of teams in baseball. They are also in a lot better position to succeed then teams like the White Sox, Giants, and Pirates who dont have much young talent at all Within two years there starting rotation could be Kazmir, Price, Shields, McGee, and another good righty. That is three power lefties. If you think they are tough for us now, they will be even harder in ’09.

This team has the potential in their minors to be a 90 win team within the next 3 years.

I agree with Jimmy Norden, they are a lot more exciting then a bunch of teams in baseball. They are also in a lot better position to succeed then teams like the White Sox, Giants, and Pirates who dont have much young talent at all

]]> By: mg http://riveraveblues.com/2007/09/618-1124/#comment-22185 mg Wed, 12 Sep 2007 12:02:51 +0000 http://riveraveblues.com/2007/09/12/618/#comment-22185 Give them a few years. I think with the addition of another young ace quality pitcher to Shields and Kazmir and a couple years of experience and the team in Tampa Bay will be a force in the AL East for a couple years. Give them a few years. I think with the addition of another young ace quality pitcher to Shields and Kazmir and a couple years of experience and the team in Tampa Bay will be a force in the AL East for a couple years.

]]> By: Lil Jimmy Norden http://riveraveblues.com/2007/09/618-1124/#comment-22149 Lil Jimmy Norden Wed, 12 Sep 2007 06:13:08 +0000 http://riveraveblues.com/2007/09/12/618/#comment-22149 Its no surprise that TB stinks, and probably will stink for the foreseeable future. But they have alot of interesting young talent on the way. I also like watching them play even when they fall apart. They're a scrappy bunch, and they always seem to give us a hard time throughout the year. I find TB to be far more interesting than a team like SF, Washington or Pittsburgh, who seem incapable of developing quality youngsters and just hoard washed up vets and bargain basement guys. Its no surprise that TB stinks, and probably will stink for the foreseeable future. But they have alot of interesting young talent on the way.

I also like watching them play even when they fall apart. They’re a scrappy bunch, and they always seem to give us a hard time throughout the year.

I find TB to be far more interesting than a team like SF, Washington or Pittsburgh, who seem incapable of developing quality youngsters and just hoard washed up vets and bargain basement guys.

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