[Note] Inbox: Do the Rays need bullpen help?
Tampa Bay beat reporter Bill Chastain fields fans' questions
I like the Rays bullpen, but they need to add a closer or add two more good
arms or both. What do you think?
-- Paul H., Jacksonville, Fla.
I think they would love to add a closer, but the question is: Who is
available and at what cost? I, too, like the Rays bullpen and feel as though
it just needs a little tweaking.
While several pieces of last year's 'pen won't be back for various reasons,
it should still have a solid core heading into Spring Training. The most likely
scenario would be for the team to add some solid veteran arms that would bolster
its depth. Historically speaking, there are a lot of busts at closer who have
signed big deals.
And there is always a chance a closer could evolve from within the
organization. I've heard Jake McGee's name mentioned more than once as a
potential end-of-the-game guy.
If Billy Wagner does decide to play in the 2010 season I think he would
be perfect to be the Rays' new closer.
Yes he did have Tommy John elbow ligament reconstruction surgery, but if
he has a healthy 2010 season he would not only help Tampa Bay contend but would
also have a good shot at breaking the saves record (reaching 400 saves)
-- since he is 15 shy.
Wagner does want to close again and I think he should be the Rays' 2010
closer. What do you think?
-- James Y., St. Pete Beach, Fla.
I began hearing speculation about Wagner even before the end of the season,
so I'm sure the Rays will at least talk to him. Once conversations begin, who
knows what can happen? If both sides believe they have a good match, Wagner
could be in a Rays uniform next year.
But there are a lot of variables, such as Wagner's health, and would he take
less money to play for the Rays as a closer than he would, say, the Yankees or
Red Sox to be a piece in their respective bullpens?
Now that management has unloaded Kazmir's contract, do you think that it
will be more involved in the free-agent market this winter and if so will it be
smarter with its money instead of last winter when it gave too much money to
Pat Burrell and didn't see a good enough return on the investment?
-- Pat W., Tulsa, Okla.
If you're the Rays, you hope any free-agent shopping this year turns out
better than last year. In their defense, they had been on a really good roll
until this past offseason. In essence, the free-agent market is a yearly
crapshoot.
General managers and scouts crunch numbers, review reports and talk to
the players they might sign to try to determine the most intelligent decisions
they can make. And I'll confess I'm guilty of believing at the time of Burrell's
signing that bringing him in was the perfect solution for the team's designated
hitter spot.
Are the Rays better off not signing Akinori Iwamura and just keeping
Ben Zobrist as an everyday player? Zorilla sure had the RBIs and all percentages
covered (slugging, on-base, etc.) and his defense was superb, no matter where
he played.
What's your take on this unfortunate situation for Aki but reality of
baseball? I know Zobrist will make the team but what about poor Aki, he's a
gamer but I just don't see a spot for him anywhere.
-- Sandy F., Riverview, Fla.
Given the financial constraints the Rays work under, I don't see them
picking up Iwamura's option for $4.25 million for the 2010 season. However,
I do know the Rays like Aki.
There is always the possibility that if they do not pick up his option that
he would test the free-agent market and eventually re-sign with the Rays at a
reduced rate.
Can you please tell me what manager Joe Maddon sees in Dioner Navarro that
the rest of us don't? His defense is poor.
His handling of pitchers is questionable and he has a .250 average, 24
home runs and 130 RBIs in three full years in the Majors. The Rays need a
solid veteran catcher to handle their young pitching staff.
-- Dave E., St. Petersburg
Agreed, Navarro did not have a stellar season this year and the team needs
improved play at catcher, which obviously is a reason the team brought in
Gregg Zaun.
Perhaps the Rays would not be as patient with Navvy if there were more
available quality catchers out there, but there simply isn't such a supply to
shop from.
Do you think Zobrist should stay in one position and play at that position
every day?
-- Yu-Hung Su, Chiayi, Taiwan
I think Zobrist will be an everyday player at second and right field in
2010.
There are a lot of possibilities that would see such a situation evolve
that would involve who they decide on to play in the outfield.
They could bring back Gabe Kapler to play against lefties or Matt Joyce
to play against righties or perhaps play every day. Also, are Sean Rodriguez
or Reid Brignac ready to play second base? One of the great advantages of
having Zobrist is the flexibility he gives the team. And he actually enjoys
moving around.
不知道有沒有板友想不想問說西瓜為啥沒有被火掉xd
--
◥███◣ ╮ ╭◢◆ ◢◆ ╮ ╭◢ ◣ theanswer3 ╮
║█▌◥█ ╰═╯ █ █ ╰═════════╯ &#*(^@(@&*( ╴B ║
║ ▄▄◤◢█◣ █ ◥█◣ ◢█◣ ◢ ◢ ◢◢◣ *#$... ... ◣ △￣◥ ║
║ ▄▄◣█◢█ █ █ █▌█ █◢█ █◤ ◥ ◤ Ｖ α ║
║█▌◢█ ◥◤◥ █ █ ◥█◤ ◥◤◥ █ theanswer3 ╰/ ║
◢███◤═══ ◆◤ ◆◤═══════════ #50════════════╯
--
※ 發信站: 批踢踢實業坊(ptt.cc)
◆ From: 61.231.48.42
Rays 近期熱門文章
PTT體育區 即時熱門文章
