Bleacher Report - Articles by Jeremiah Wood

What's Wrong with the Tampa Bay Rays? (and How to Fix It)

Jeremiah Wood — Thu, 14 May 2009 03:19:13 -0400

It’s not quite time to hit the panic button, but a 16-19 start for the defending AL champs definitely calls for some explanation. While it is a long season, playing in baseball’s toughest division means there’s a much smaller margin of error.

As much as I hate to be critical of Joe Maddon and the Rays’ brass, it’s time to take a look at what’s gone wrong and consider some changes.

Starting Pitching
The starting rotation was supposed to be the strength of this team. While Matt Garza and James Shields have held up their end, Scott Kazmir has had control issues, and Andy Sonnanstine and Jeff Niemann have left a lot to be desired. The Rays starters have a 5.09 ERA (9th in AL) and have issued more walks than all but two other AL clubs.

The rough start has made many question the offseason trade of Edwin Jackson, who won 14 games last year and is off to a hot start for Detroit. The reason for the trade, we were told, was to make room for David Price.

That hasn’t happened, nor have we used the player we got in return (Matt Joyce). Why trade Jackson if you aren’t going to use those pieces?

Instead they’re stuck with Sonnanstine, who is a good control pitcher, but has maxed out his potential, and Niemann, who is so wild that he always seems to reach his pitch count-max by the third or fourth inning. He’s also lost velocity and is not the same pitcher he was when they drafted him fourth overall in 2004.

Solution: The fact remains that Price is a major league talent right now. His struggles at AAA are not as alarming as many in the media have suggested, as his strikeout per innings pitched ratio is still very high.

Wade Davis is also waiting in AAA, and while he’s a prospect they don’t want to rush, he is a better pitcher right now than Niemann or Sonnanstine. At some point you have to go with the guy that gives you the best chance to win.

It may not be time to make a change just yet, but don’t be surprised to see Price and Davis show up sooner rather than later.

Bullpen
If there’s one area where I think Joe Maddon just doesn’t cut it, it’s his bullpen management. It was on display for the whole world in Game Five of the ALCS, but for those of us that follow the team, it’s an every day adventure. His pitching changes often seem to be done completely at random.

It’s hard to manage when you don’t have the personnel though, and this bullpen is definitely lacking talent. Outside of J.P. Howell, I don’t have confidence in any Rays reliever. Joe Nelson has looked good at times, Dan Wheeler has been disappointing.

You then have Grant Balfour, who I’ve given the slogan “Hide the Children”, because you know it’s gonna get ugly. Brian Shouse has managed to be the “lefty specialist” who has trouble getting lefties out. The worst act of the group though is Troy Percival, who is way over the hill and can make even the biggest lead feel unsafe (see tonight’s win).

Solution: Jason Isringhausen is currently on the AAA team, a guy with closing experience. He’d be worth a look. Either way, Maddon would be best suited to use the dreaded “closer by committee” method. At this point there’s not much they can do as far as bringing in new guys.

So I’m going to go ahead and suggest something drastic that I know will never happen, but would be awesome if it did. Pedro Martinez. Yeah, I said it. Closing for the Rays. He has the mentality, the winning attitude, and has way better stuff than Percival.

It’d be crazy, and not within the Rays budget, but I really think it would bring more stability than they’ve got. Price is also a possibility here, but I doubt that will happen (only in the postseason).

Offense
You have to point out some positives here first. Crawford, Longoria and Pena are off to great starts. Longoria and Pena are actually on pace to threaten baseball’s RBI record by teammates, held by Babe Ruth and Lou Gehrig. The team ranks near the top of the AL in most offensive categories, so where can they improve?

The leadoff spot. Obviously BJ Upton has been abysmal thus far. Some of that is a result of no spring training, while some of it stems from taking a young hitter and thrusting him into an unfamiliar role, then telling him to change his approach.

While Upton does have the speed and the walks you look for in a leadoff hitter, he strikes out way too much to be most effective in that spot. Meanwhile, Maddon has been very stubborn about keeping things this way. Confidence is key for young hitters and I fear that Maddon is doing more harm than good here.

Solution: Jason Bartlett would be a perfect candidate for the leadoff spot, as he’s more of a contact hitter, still gives you some speed and is seeing the ball very well right now.

As for Upton he needs to be moved down in the order, where he has been successful throughout his career. Somewhere between in the No. 5-7 range would be good for now. Similar to the way they used Crawford when he came back from injury in the postseason.

He has the potential to hit in the three-spot, where he was most effective last year, but needs some time to figure things out. For those who suggest moving him him to AAA to figure things out, I am going to go ahead and thwart that idea based on the fact that his defense in center is too valuable to the big league club.

Perhaps if Fernando Perez wasn't injured, but with anyone else you lose a lot of ground out there.

Right Field. Once again the RF position has been a hole in the offense. Ben Zobrist has played well when given the opportunity, just like last season when he hit a homerun every 16 at bats. Maddon is a big fan of the Gabe ‘I look athletic but I can’t play athletic’ Kapler/Gross platoon.

Solution: Give Zobrist most of the playing time, which Maddon has begun to do anyway. The Rays also have Matt Joyce hitting well at AAA. A Zobrist/Joyce platoon would be a major upgrade over the All-Gabe team. I’m willing to keep one Gabe if we must, but one of them needs to go.

The last general problem with the offense does not have a ready solution, but it is interesting to note. While the Rays are hitting .271 as a team (5th in AL), their batting average slips to .242 from the 7th inning on (12th in AL). Pat "I seem to have lost my bat" Burrell and Dioner Navarro in particular have been “rally killers”, and the Rays will have to start getting more late/clutch hits to get things turned around.

Other factors

Tough Schedule

They’ve played 13 home games, compared to 22 games on the road so that will work in their favor later on. They’ve also had 15 games against Boston and New York, which can take a lot out of you. What’s interesting though is that they are 9-6 against the Yankees and Red Sox, 7-13 against the rest of the league.

What happened to the homefield advantage?

After dominating the competition at the Trop last year, the Rays are 6-7 at home. Their 5.23 home ERA ranks as the second worst in baseball (better than only the Yankees, who spent billions to build a park where their pitchers have a 6.59 ERA).

Solution: Rays fans: Get to a game! The Rays had the best home record last season and were almost unbeatable playing in front of 25,000+. Slow start or not, this is one of most exciting teams to watch in baseball and the Tampa Bay region really needs to take it up a notch in support of this team.

They’re currently in the middle of the pack in attendance (numbers that are inflated because of the games with Boston and New York). Games with 13,000 fans aren’t going to cut it anymore. I live in San Diego, a similarly sized market, with a team that is embarrassing to watch, and even we manage to pull more than 25,000 a night.

Overall, the Rays are still a top-tier major league baseball club. They are a better team than their record indicates and have suffered from some tough breaks, inconsistent play and a tough schedule. I’d expect them to get things turned around very soon, beginning with this upcoming eight-game homestand.

San Diego Padres' Top 10 Prospects of 2009

Jeremiah Wood — Tue, 24 Feb 2009 00:09:03 -0500

With the 2009 season right around the corner (and not much for Padres fans to be looking forward to), there seems no better time to look to the future and break down what’s ahead.

These rankings are inclusive of the entire Padres minor league system and are my personal opinions taken from a combination of scouting reports, statistics and first-hand observations.

For each player I’ve written a scouting report summary and a short projection on where they’ll be this season.

The ages listed are baseball age (age on July 1 of the coming season) and just to recap for you the Padres’ minor league affiliates are Portland (AAA), San Antonio (AA), Lake Elsinore (A+), Fort Wayne (A), Eugene (A-) and Arizona (R). I would love to hear your feedback.

1. Kellen Kulbacki – OF

Age: 23

Acquired: 2007 draft, supplemental round (40th overall, James Madison)

Kulbacki tops this list for one reason: his bat. He had a slow start to his pro career in ‘07 adjusting to the wooden bat, but once he figured it out there has been no looking back.

Last season at Lake Elsinore, he terrorized Cal League pitching, hitting .332/.428/.589 with 20 homers in just over 300 at bats, before injuries cut his season short. There was a stretch this last summer where it just seemed unfair for opposing pitchers. He hit .405 in the month of July and .379 in the second half of the season.

Some will knock him for his defense, which is average, but he should be fine as a corner outfielder with an above average throwing arm.

2009: He’ll start the season in San Antonio and bat in the middle of the order for the Missions. I’d expect him to keep hitting and possibly earn a call-up to Portland.

2. Kyle Blanks – 1B

Age: 22

Acquired: 2004 draft, 42nd round (Moriarty (NM) HS)

Blanks was very impressive as a 21-year-old in AA, hitting .325 with 20 homers and 107 RBI with San Antonio. He’s not your typical, one-dimensional, power-hitting first baseman. He knows he can’t hit the ball out of the park every time and is a selective, good all-around hitter that chooses his pitch to drive.

Blanks is a huge man, and there will always be people that knock him due to his 6’6” 270 lb build. However defensively he’s been solid at first base and should be fine as long as he watches his weight to some extent. His future with the Padres is obviously blocked by Adrian Gonzalez.

Some have suggested a move to a corner outfield spot, although with a guy his size that could be an adventure.

2009: Blanks will spend the year at AAA Portland, which should be a good test for the youngster. There’s no need to rush his development, but if he replicates the numbers he had at the lower levels the Padres will have some decisions to make. He’d likely be called up if anything happened to Gonzalez.

3. Mat Latos – SP

Age: 21

Acquired: 2006 draft, 11th round (Coconut Creek (Fla.) HS)

Latos is the prototypical power-pitcher in the system and although he hasn’t pitched much due to injuries, he maintains the potential to be a top of the rotation starter someday. His fastball reaches the mid 90s and he has good control, especially for someone his age.

Last year he began the season with Fort Wayne, before getting hurt and finishing the season in the two lowest levels. His final line was an encouraging 2.57 ERA with 69 strikeouts over 56 innings.

2009: With no lingering effects from the injuries, it will be interesting to see how Latos performs in a full season against quality competition. He’s expected to begin the year in Lake Elsinore and should be well worth the trip up I-15.

4. Cedric Hunter – CF

Age: 21

Acquired: 2006 draft, 3rd round (93rd overall, King (Ga.) HS)

Hunter enters his third full season of pro ball and the young center fielder is coming off his best season to date. He played a full season at Lake Elsinore, batting .318 with 11 home runs, 33 doubles, 84 RBI, and 12 stolen bases. He also hit .406 with runners in scoring position and struck out just 47 times.

He’s a very good contact hitter and actually led all minor leaguers in hits with 186. He’s one of those guys pitchers hate to face because of his ability to foul off pitches until he puts one in play.

I would like to see a few more steals out of him, as his speed is above average but not quite what you’d want from a center fielder. He gets a good jump on the ball defensively though.

2009: Hunter continues to be right on schedule and his next challenge is AA San Antonio, where he’ll likely bat leadoff.

5. Jaff Decker – OF

Age: 19

Acquired: 2008 draft, supplemental round (42nd overall, Sunrise Mountain (AZ) HS)

It really is Jaff, not Jeff, and the Padres were thrilled when the highly touted left-handed high-school prospect fell to them in last year’s draft.

Decker is another player known first and foremost for his bat, and did not appear to have any problem adjusting to pro-ball, as he won the Arizona Rookie League MVP after hitting .352 with an incredible .523 OBP.

Decker is not known for his athleticism, but did steal nine bases in 10 tries. He projects as a corner outfielder. He also touched 93 mph on the mound in high school, but the Padres are set on developing him as a hitter.

2009: Decker has all the tools to get to the big leagues, starting with his bat and strike-zone judgment. Look for him to start his first full professional season in A-ball with Fort Wayne and be one of the Midwest League’s better hitters.

6. Matt Antonelli – 2B

Age: 24

Acquired: 2006 draft, First round (17th overall, Wake Forest)

Antonelli saw his stock fall dramatically after a lackluster 2008. Following his 2007 season, many had him rated as the top prospect in the entire organization and he was expected to compete for the second base job in San Diego.

The former first-round pick ran into a road block in AAA though, seeing his batting average fall below the Mendoza line for much of the season. He ended up with a .215 average, seven home runs and six steals, a far cry from what he’d done at previous levels.

He did hit .290 in the season’s final month, before being called up to the Padres where he hit .193 in 57 at bats.

To his credit, he still managed a lot of walks. Overall, Antonelli is still a five-tool prospect and tremendous athlete with good plate discipline.

2009: Antonelli will begin the season in Portland and if he performs will earn a call-up to San Diego. The Padres still consider him the second baseman of the future, but he’ll have to hit better in ‘09 and prove that last year was a fluke.

7. Drew Cumberland – SS

Age: 20

Acquired: 2007 draft, supplemental round (46th overall, Pace (Fla.) HS)

Having just turned 20, Cumberland still has a long way to go in his development, but his speed and ability to hit for average make him an intriguing prospect. Last season he started slow at Fort Wayne, then began to hit very well before suffering an injury that sidelined him for the remainder of the season.

His final numbers included a .286 batting average and 16 steals in 56 games. He did have his share of struggles on defense, but he is a great athlete and very quick, giving him the potential to play multiple positions (second base and outfield).

The Padres' plan to keep him at shortstop for the time being.

2009: The Padres could start him in Fort Wayne, as they may want him to get more at-bats at that level than he did last season. It’s more likely though that he’ll begin the year with Lake Elsinore and should be an exciting player to watch for the Storm.

8. Allan Dykstra – 1B

Age: 22

Acquired: 2008 draft, First round (23rd overall, Wake Forest)

We have yet to see much of this guy because he signed so late after the draft. What we do know is that he is a 6’5”, left-handed, ripped guy with potential for massive, Petco-proof, power. He also displayed good plate discipline in college, leaving as the all-time walks leader for Wake Forest.

2009: I’m not entirely sure where the Padres are going to start Dykstra. He had a few at-bats with Lake Elsinore last season and could start there, but it wouldn’t be too much of a stretch to see him in San Antonio.

9. Yefri Carvajal – OF

Age: 20

Acquired: Signed in 2006 (Dominican Republic)

Carvajal is definitely an intriguing prospect, as one of the first of many Latin American players we will see in the coming years. The Dominican outfielder turned 20 last month, and is still very raw in terms of his development.

At this point, he’s a good contact hitter with a great outfield arm. Many scouts believe, because of his bat speed and physical makeup, that he has great power potential down the road.

Last season he hit .268 with just four homers in 456 at-bats at Fort Wayne, while showing impatience at the plate, striking out 100 times compared to 25 walks. But you have to consider his age for the level he was playing at, as well as his having to deal with the adjustment to life in the States.

Overall he has great upside.

2009: This will be an important year in Carvajal’s development. Last year’s draft added a lot of outfield depth to the Padres’ system. So the team will have the option of giving Carvajal another year to develop at Fort Wayne, but there’s a good chance they move him up to Lake Elsinore.

10. Mitch Canham – C

Age: 24

Acquired: 2007 draft, supplemental round (57th overall, Oregon State)

This last spot came down to Canham and starting pitcher Wade Leblanc. Ultimately I couldn’t get the image of Leblanc getting shelled during his brief stint in the majors out of my head (although there’s still hope for him to turn it around with that nasty changeup).

Canham is a guy I’ve been big on for a while and not just for his on-field performance. He was a leader on the national championship Oregon State teams and has the knowledge of the game you want from a catcher. He’s also fought through adversity, including the death of his younger brother.

In his first full season of pro ball, Canham hit .285/.382/.434 in 417 at-bats at Lake Elsinore with eight home runs, 81 RBI and 13 steals. Defensively he has a long way to go as a catcher, which may keep him in the minors for a while.

Here’s a very well-done feature from ESPN on Canham’s life you should check out.

2009: He’ll be the starting catcher in San Antonio and coaches will be specifically working with him on his defense. He must stay at catcher or his stock as a prospect will plummet.

Others considered: Wade Leblanc (SP), Will Inman (SP), Chad Huffman (OF), James Darnell (3B), Eric Sogard (2B), Will Venable (OF), Luis Durango (OF), Sawyer Carroll (OF), Blake Tekotte (OF), Dan Robertson (OF), Jeremy Hefner (SP), Logan Forsythe (3B), Cole Figueroa (SS), Jackson Quezada (RP).

The Padres also have two highly regarded international prospects, shortstop Jonathan Galvez and pitcher Adys Portillo, who have yet to play stateside but could shoot up this list in a hurry once they do.

There is also a group of pitchers that may have made this list if they were not currently injured or recovering from injuries that may affect them long-term. (Nick Schmidt, Cesar Carrillo, Steve Garrison).

Why the Casual Fan Should Embrace the Rays

Jeremiah Wood — Fri, 20 Feb 2009 18:13:06 -0500

Times have changed, and it’s time to embrace the Rays.

With the ’09 season just around the corner, I thought I’d reflect one last time on what made being a Rays fan in 2008 so much fun and why the rest of baseball should embrace this franchise in the years ahead.

The Rays have provided us with hope for the sport, and a sexy alternative to the big money teams. If you haven’t yet, here are some fabulous reasons to embrace the Rays.

Youth, Speed and Defense

The Rays are one of the youngest teams in baseball, making them an exciting team to watch, with a group of players that the younger generation can relate to. Last year’s Rays team featured 10 players age 25 or younger, and 19 players under 30. With rising stars such as B.J. Upton, 24, David Price, 23, and Evan Longoria, 23, the Rays are here to stay.

As a result of this youth the team features fantastic speed and defense, a perfect turnaround for a sport coming out of the steroid era. While AL East competitors fielded a bunch of aging, un-athletic former stars, the Rays brought an excitement that had been missing from the game. My personal favorite was the occasional “track star” outfield of Carl Crawford, B.J. Upton and Fernando Perez.

The “sexy alternative” to the Yankees-Red Sox rivalry

To fully appreciate what the Rays did last season you have to think back and remember where they were at this time last year. We’re talking about a franchise that had never had a winning season in its 10-year existence and even the thought of a .500 season in ‘08 was, for the most part, laughed at.

Then the Rays went out and did the unthinkable, first literally fighting with both the Yankees and Red Sox, before beating them on the field.

I’ve come to really despise the Yankees and to a lesser extent the Red Sox because of their negative influence on the game. The Rays provide a way to easily educate and offend these annoying fans. I’ve found that nothing makes a Boston fan more upset than telling them the truth of how they’ve turned into the new Yankees.

Meanwhile, nothing makes a Yankee fan more upset than informing them that it is now a battle between the Red Sox and Rays, and that their team is no longer a factor. I’ve found a quick way to deal with these annoying fans is by simply saying “Times have changed...The Rays.” They’ll understand.

Looking good

When I say the Rays are the sexy alternative. I really do mean “sexy”. If you are a Rays fan, you will be given every opportunity to look great. The Rays changed their uniforms prior to last season, and the new look has the power to turn even the most run-down fan into new levels of attractiveness.

Baseball the way it was meant to be

Instead of going out and buying a team like their rivals, the Rays are a homegrown, low budget team that has gotten good by building from within. They give hope to all who truly love the game, as they combat the big money teams that would seek to turn the sport into nothing more than a big business venture.

You have to respect a team that has worked hard and made good decisions, instead of just throwing money around to fix problems. The Rays did it with scouting and development, which is a lot more fun for the fan to observe than our big-money AL East rivals. The farm system is arguably the best in the game, thanks to an exceptional front office and scouting network.

Last year they competed with the big money teams and came out on top. The Yankees had an MLB-high payroll of 209 million dollars, the Red Sox 133 million. The first-place Rays? 43 million, second only to the Florida Marlins for the lowest payroll. And while the media pumps guys like Jeter and Pedroia, the casual fan does not hear anything about guys like B.J. Upton, James Shields and other young stars.

Last season the Rays represented something so much bigger than baseball. While most teams just represent a city or a group of people, the Rays represent fighting off oppression and tyranny. They represent the lower classes struggle against the elites. Rarely can a team transcend the sport in this way. So if you haven’t already, I’d suggest asking yourself if the Rays are for you. For the Rays fans out there, stay strong, because the haters are all over the place in 09.

“Mine in 09” –The Rays

Why I Hate the New York Yankees

Jeremiah Wood — Thu, 19 Feb 2009 03:59:00 -0500

If there is one thing I absolutely hate in this world, it is the New York Yankees. I'll get right to it, I hate this team with a burning passion and here is why.

Big spenders. The Yankees are a big money team. Their 2008 payroll of more than 209 million was by far the most in baseball. For years now, they’ve had this “outspend everyone” philosophy. Regardless of the cost, they will get their man.

This offseason, despite the economic recession the Yankees managed to spend half a billion dollars and three players.

Fortunately, GM Brian Cashman is one of the dumbest minds in baseball and Steinbrenner is even dumber for having failed to realize this and putting the blame on Joe Torre and anyone else he can find.

The Steinbrenner Family. This season George Steinbrenner finally passed on the ownership to his son Hank. While I was under the impression you couldn’t get any worse than George, this spoiled businessman appears to be the biggest douchebag of all time.

Let’s check out this quote from Hank in an interview this April: “Go anywhere in America and you won’t see Red Sox hats and jackets, you’ll see Yankee hats and jackets. This is a Yankee country. We’re going to put the Yankees back on top and restore the universe to order.”

Restore the universe to order. Right. I’m glad the Yankees found a leader that so embodies the need they feel to be on top in all aspects of baseball. It’s not enough that they have fans in New York. Their goal is to ruin everyone else’s fun in the process. I’m not about that, which leads to my next point.

Yankee Fans. With every other team, even Dodger fans, there is a chance that the person might be legit. If there’s one thing I’ve learned in life, it’s that you can always count on a Yankee fan to be “that guy.”

Their fans carry themselves with a sense of entitlement, give off a vibe that they’re far better than you and are usually just greedy people who are only lookin’ out for number one.

The New York Media. It isn’t as bad as it was five to 10 years ago, but the media in New York has a tendency to produce incredibly overrated players. The Yankees play in a world where mediocre players become superstars (see Scott Brosius), and stars are turned into instant “hall of famers” (see Derek Jeter).

And I still can’t figure out how Jeter won a gold glove when anyone who watches baseball knows he is consistently one of the worst defensive shortstops in the league and is always near the bottom in range factor (stats that judge fielding). It’s the media at work.

Jason Giambi. Yes he manages to get his own category simply because of how pathetic he is. I still remember a few years ago seeing him do deodorant commercials where he had a line that said “It never hurts to have a little extra muscle.” All the while, unbeknownst to the American public, he was shooting himself up with steroids.

Newsflash Jason: Sometimes it does hurt to have that extra muscle and your post-steroid self hasn’t come close to what you were. I won’t even get started on Roger Clemens, but I’m fairly certain a good majority of their World Series teams from the late 90s were juiced.

1998 World Series Game One. This one is more personal, having grown in San Diego. Let me set the stage for you. Padres-Yankees in the World Series. Big market vs. small market. Good vs. evil. San Diego has jumped out to take the lead on the record-setting Yanks in Game One.

Bases loaded. Mark Langston facing Tino Martinez with two outs. 2-2 pitch. Langston throws a perfect strike which is called a ball. The next pitch Martinez sends into the seats, and the stage is set for a Yankee sweep.

Call me crazy, but I’ll argue that that call changed the series. You have a young team playing in the World Series for the first time, taking the lead in the hostile environment of Yankee stadium, and then that happens. If that ump makes the right call, maybe we have the momentum we need to take that series.

Jeffrey Maier. I’ll never forget this moment in baseball history. In the 1996 AL playoffs, Yankee fan Maier reaches down to catch a ball on the warning track that was headed for Baltimore Oriole Tony Tarasco’s glove. The umps rule it a home run and the Yankees take Game One and go on to take the series. Ridiculous.

The Yankees just represent so much more than a baseball team to me. They represent everything that is wrong with America. They represent this “win-at-all-costs” attitude, and if they fall short they’re pissed off and looking for people to blame.

In another move that mirrored his douchebag fans, Steinbrenner made excuses for his team coming up short, saying that they had suffered more injuries than any team in the HISTORY of baseball.

Newsflash Hank: Baseball has been around a long time and that was an incredibly uneducated statement by you.

On top of that, the Rays and Red Sox experienced nearly identical struggles in the amount of time players spent on the DL. However, their teams featured a couple things it would do you good to look up: how about "depth" and "farm system"? The inability to define these terms will hopefully cause the Yankees to fail for years to come.