Diekman hasn't been that bad - he struggles with command more than I like, but I'm not really put out with him. Boxberger is a different story. There's no question his change up is pretty great. However, his inability to command his fastball anymore and the fact that it's nothing special - very hittable - makes him pretty useless in high leverage situations, IMO. I have no idea why he's being used in high leverage situations at all. Unless he wasn't available, Kennedy would have been far more ideal as the 8th inning option last night. Ned just isn't good at managing a bullpen that's minus an HDH-like make-up. [Reply]
FYI, Ned said he isn’t inclined to pinch-run Gore for Owings, especially last night with the Colome/Castillo combo, which is difficult to run against. And yes, he does not like playing for the tie on the road as well.
Originally Posted by ChiTown:
There is no way an Organization is serious about winning games when you keep rolling out a guy like Boxberger. I fully realize we don't have a lot of options, but that's the GM's job to figure out before the season. He's done a completely craptastic job with the Pen.
What makes you think they’re serious about winning games this year?
They’re trying to hit on some reclamation projects like Boxberger and flip them for another Elvis Luciano or Jorge Lopez. [Reply]
Nicky Lopez started slow but came on last week. He hit 2 HR last night, also. There’s benefit to him getting ABs at AAA. He still is developing who he is as a hitter. With the MLB ball, he might jump up to enough pop to be a fair approximation of Whit Merrifield.
The college pitchers at Wilmington and Lexington are off to a strong start overall.
Kris Bubic has a 12-K game already on the resume this spring, and Jonathan Haake has been missing bats at a good rate and dominating.
Bubic’s upside is probably limited to 5th starter unless his velocity ticks up. Haake could be a 3/4. He had good stuff in college (Kentucky) but could never stay healthy. [Reply]
There’s simply no excuse for that. The Rays are NEVER this shitty. Nobody cares we aren’t competing for a few years. But the 100 loss hot f***ing garbage is totally unacceptable. DM needs to put out some 72-90 teams, but not 62-100. That’s incompetence. He’s getting close to the point he needs to be kicked into a figurehead role.
*note: DM first 6 seasons he went exactly 72-90 on avg, starting from scratch. [Reply]
There’s simply no excuse for that. The Rays are NEVER this shitty. Nobody cares we aren’t competing for a few years. But the 100 loss hot f***ing garbage is totally unacceptable. DM needs to put out some 72-90 teams, but not 62-100. That’s incompetence. He’s getting close to the point he needs to be kicked into a figurehead role.
*note: DM first 6 seasons he went exactly 72-90 on avg, starting from scratch.
the dude depleted his entire farm system by winning a world series what do you expect to happen after it? [Reply]