It's that time of the year again when the
bat meets the ball and we all hunger for the sound of
"Play Ball". It's also time to evaluate the Rays' off-season
moves.
This was supposed to be a winter of "something
different". The truth is, it was just more of the same
old thing we have been seeing since the failed "Hit Show"
winter. The payroll was supposed to get larger but, in
fact, it has shrunk. The bullpen was supposed to be improved
but, in fact, it's worse. I'm beginning to doubt this
new ownership commitment to winning.
Every team has a natural ten to fifteen
percent increases in payroll from one year to the next
when they stand pat and make no moves at all. Some player's
contracts are automatically increased and some players
go to arbitration and get major percentage increases in
their salary. Only the rookies with less then three years
in the big leagues can be held to a ten percent salary
increase. When you come out in the press and say the payroll
will increase ten percent a year you are actually saying
there is no real financial commitment to winning. A $50-million
payroll in 2010 won't buy you any better players then
a $35-million payroll does in 2006. Sorry to say, it sounds
like we are being duped again. In fact, Andrew will have
to dump a large salary every year in order to keep the
payroll at a ten percent increase. Say good-bye to Danys
Baez.
The second promise was an improved bullpen.
I fail to see any improvement from the additions and subtractions
this winter. In fact they traded away the only good bullpen
pitcher they had in Baez. But they saved a lot of money
by letting Trevor Miller and Joe Borowski go and trading
Baez. They replaced what would have been around $9-million
with about $3-million they will pay their replacements.
This has the potential of making the weakest area of the
team even worse. We all know a chain is only as strong
as it's weakest link.
Then there's the rest of the story. Baldelli
was to come back from his injuries and fill last years
CF hole. Truth is, he will not be ready to play in the
OF till later in the season and may never play CF again.
Crawford's wrist injury from the end of last season was
supposed to be healed with rest this winter. Truth is,
he isn't any better for the rest and may need serious
medical attention. That's two thirds of the best part
of the team looking real iffy. Lugo was supposed to be
traded for pitching and Upton brought up to start his
major league SS career, but Lugo is still here covering
for Upton while he tries to learn to play a major league
shortstop at AAA. So the new additions that will have
to make the infield better this season are all other team's
castoffs, just like in past years. The new backup catcher
hasn't even been offered a raise in arbitration. That
tells you how much that area will improve.
Oh, let's not forget the starting pitching,
although I bet you wish you could forget the same old
mediocre performances. The only hope is a new pitching
coach who never coached in the big leagues before this
season. Makes you want to jump up and click your heels.
This is really a shame as the Rays were
close to being a good baseball team in '06. All that was
needed was a much better bullpen obtained through free
agent signings, some key promotions and a few decent winter
trades. Its no wonder Lou deserted the ship.
Despite the horrible winter of disappointments,
I’m ready for the sound of "Play Ball" this spring. Then,
with a little luck, I can hibernate through the season
awakening to a new "Hot Stove " winter.
