I was recently reading the latest copy of ESPN Magazine. I saw an interesting tidbit about the Rays and Albert Pujols. Apparently, the Rays were the first team to find Pujols, while he was playing in junior college. They gave him a tryout, and whoever the scout was for the Rays, walked away unimpressed. You know the rest of the story, the Cardinals find him and he becomes one of the best players in the history of baseball.

Now, that makes me wonder, if the Rays would have drafted him, would he have been the same player? Would he have helped us win more under Pinella and Mcrae? It would have been interesting to see. The Rays most likely would not have been able to keep him as long as the Cardinals have, especially since he would’ve most likely needed a contract under Namoli or in the first couple years of Sternberg, when we weren’t giving out big contracts. Let’s just say he would still be with the team had the Rays drafted him. Can you picture the lineup the Rays would have? It would look something like this:

1. Bartlett
2. Crawford
3. Pujols
4. Longoria
5. Zobrist
6. Burrell
7. Upton
8. Rodriguez/Brignac
9. Navarro/Shoppach

That is a pretty good lineup I’d say. Where is the time machine so we can go back and draft Albert Pujols?

 

Saturday night was the draft for the first annual Rise of the Rays Fantasy Baseball league.  As luck would have it, I ended up with Albert Pujols.  Somewhere, someone figured that if there had been a league last year, I would have finished in last, so I was given the first pick.

As far as Rays players, I ended up with three.  I took BJ Upton at the end of the fourth round.  That complimented my earlier pick of brother Justin Upton.  How can I go wrong after reuniting the Upton brothers? 

Then, I took Jason Bartlett at the end of round 10 as my starting shortstop and Rafael Soriano as my second closer at the beginning of round 15.  To be honest, I’d say both stayed on the board a little longer than I would have thought.

Predictably, Evan Longoria went 7th in the first round.  Carl Crawford went 4th in the second.  This, in a ten-team league.  Really no surprises there.

In the end, I figure my fantasy success in this league hinges on the brothers Upton.  Albert Pujols with the first overall pick is a no-brainer.  Justin Upton with pick #20 and BJ at #40 could either make me brilliant or in line for next year’s top pick.  I’ve been a big BJ critic, but I really think he’s in line for a huge season.  BJ, you can’t let down the Toytown Trop.

This year will mark the first annual Rise of the Rays Fantasy baseball league. Here is your invitation to join our baseball league. We will be hosting our league with Yahoo! Fantasy and you must have a Yahoo! account to join. It will be a 12 team head to head league, but that number can go up as needed.

We hope this league will be both fun and competitive, and the only way for either of those to happen is if you are active in the league, so we ask that you please check your team if you do join.

If you are interested, please email me at devonrogers@tampabay.rr.com or leave a comment with your email address and I will email you with the information you will need to sign up for our league. Thanks, and we hope to have a great year in the first annual Rise of the Rays fantasy baseball league.

“Grey” at razzball.com critiques the ESPN mock fantasy baseball draft results in a post from yesterday.  In his words, “here’s some head scratchers from ESPN’s 2010 fantasy baseball mock draft:”

Carl Crawford – 7th overall. Ha!  Seriously, I don’t even know what to say about this.  Michael Bourn is that different at around pick 100?

Did I just read that right?  Did CC just get compared to Michael Bourn?  If we only look at stolen bases, they’re close.  But, for those of you who actually play fantasy baseball, leagues usually include other stat categories.  Bourn’s career high RBI total is 35.  Thirty-five.  He’s a career .262 hitter with a best of .285.  Again, I ask, did he just compare the two? 

***

Over at advancedfantasybaseball.com, blogger Jon Williams posted the players he will not own in 2010.  BJ Upton made his list. 

I should begin by admitting that I have owned this Upton on various teams since he was drafted. I believe in his tools. He could be a great player. But I no longer believe he will be. It is not just that I’ve been let down by him in the past…but not only have signs of growth been few and far between but the Rays are now willing to trade him. They offered him to Toronto for Roy Halladay. The Rays also have Desmond Jennings who has all the tools of Upton plus strike zone judgment. Upton would not be the first tool-laden superstud athlete to fail to become a productive regular player in MLB. I think B.J. Upton is much closer to that fate than to becoming a superstar.

Seems harsh.  Many who read my posts know I’m hard on BJ.  But, this post has a rather outsider/uninformed smell to it.  I’m not sure that Desmond Jennings is being groomed as BJ’s replacement.  Right now, I think most of us see him as Carl Crawford’s replacement as it looks more and more like Carl will disappear via free agency or a trade prior to the end of the 2010 season. 

And to note that the Rays were willing to trade him for Roy Halladay is a stretch to consider that a negative.  I don’t think the Rays were ever seriously considering trading for Halladay.  But, to get arguably the best starting pitcher in baseball takes giving up talent.  The fact that BJ was included in the rumors makes him a pretty decent talent.

I say, if he’s there and the pick makes sense, take him.  BJ’s going to have a good year this year.

***

Finally, the rotoprofessor has some pretty good things to say about Desmond Jennings.  But, then again, if you’re following the fantasy gurus, who doesn’t?  This post has him in the Rays outfield (right field) by the all-star break.

With the type of upside he has, he could be a fantasy gem by 2011.  For 2010, he may not be the best propsect in the game, but with his speed, he’s clearly a Top Five at worst.

Carl Crawford owns Mark Buehrle.  Well, maybe not “owns”, but he does quite well.  CC is 10 for 21 against Buehrle including a couple of doubles and four RBI.  Carl’s been in a slump, so perhaps tonight is the night he can break out of it.

BJ Upton (5 for 13) and Carlos Pena (11 for 35) also have done well against the White Sox left-hander. 

On the other hand, Pat Burrell (0 for 6), Evan Longoria (0 for 6) and Dioner Navarro (0 for 2) have had little success against Buehrle in the regular season.  However, Navarro was 2 for 4 with a couple of RBI in last season’s ALDS and and Longoria and a single in four AB’s.

Believe it or not, Adam Eaton appears to be a Rays killer.  The Rays who have had the most success against Eaton are no longer Rays or are in the minors.  Adam Kennedy, Fred McGriff and even Hee Seop Choi would be good plays today. 

Remarkably, the list of Carl Crawford, Pat Burrell, Jason Bartlett, Gabe Kapler, Willy Aybar and Ben Zobrist are a collective 0 for 24 lifetime against Eaton. 

Last year, Eaton was particularly bad against left-handed bats (.318 BA, 1.80 WHIP), and not much better against right-handed bats (.300 BA, 1.46 WHIP).  So, take Carlos Pena as your Ray to Play.  He’s never faced Eaton, meaning there’s no messy history to get in the way.

Gabe Kapler fairs the best agains this ex-Ray.  He’s 6 for 18 in his career against Lurch with a couple of doubles.   Carlos Pena is 3 for 8 with an HR.

Avoid Aki (1 for 6) and Pat Burrell (1 for 5) although I have a sneaky suspicion that it’s time for Burrell’s first HR as a Ray.

Aki!  Aki!  Aki!  Perhaps it’s the familiarity with his country-mate.  But, Aki has had pretty good luck against Daisuke.  He is 9 for 24 in his career with a HR.  So, if you have Aki as your backup 2B, he might be a sneaky play in this one.

On the other  hand, if you have two catchers and play Navi regularly, now might be the time to give him a “rest”.  3 for 18 is as good as it gets for Navi against Daisuke.   Jason Bartlett is 1 for 11, so he’s another one to avoid.  But, this early in the season, I’m guessing he was avoided all together in most drafts.

Last night’s Ray to Play, Carlos Pena, hit a key 2-run HR in the 5th inning to put the Rays up 5-1.

While no Rays player has had a particularly good time with Jon Lester, look for Carlos Pena to rebound from his awful opening day and have a good game. Carlos is 5 for 16 against Lester with a couple of homers. After that, I’m looking at Benzo to spark the Rays offense. A mighty 1 for 1 against Lester, Ben Zobrist should get a start in the outfield.

On the other hand, this might be a game to avoid Carl Crawford. CC is just 3 for 14 against Lester with 4 K’s.

Looking back at Opening Day, the Ray to Play, Evan Longoria, had two RBI’s in the eighth to draw the Rays within striking distance. Then, the anemic parade of offense came up to the plate in the ninth against Jon Papelbon to start the season out on a losing note.

In the season opener, take Evan Longoria against Josh Beckett.  In his short career, Evan is 4 for 12 with 1 HR against Beckett.  And, we can’t forget his ALCS Game 2 against Beckett where he went 3 for 3 with a HR and 2 doubles.  Others to consider are Jason Bartlett (.333 with a couple of doubles) and Aki (7 for 22 and a HR). 

Avoid Pat Burrell in his debut with the Rays.  He is an unimpressive 6 for 35 with 10 strikeouts against Josh Beckett.