http://riseoftherays.com A Tampa Bay Rays Blog Sat, 20 Mar 2010 22:02:19 +0000 http://backend.userland.com/rss092 en   [picappgallerysingle id="4224264"]With JP Howell shelved for at least a month, the Rays are going to have to take a look at their bullpen options from the left side.  Randy Choate was already pretty much a lock to make the roster.  But, it would seem that they will need a second option ... http://riseoftherays.com/2010/03/left-handed-options-what-about-joe-beimel/   [picappgallerysingle id="2982701"]  FoxSports' Ken Rosenthal and Jon Paul Morosi posted in their "Buzz" last night that the battle for the fifth starting slot in the Rays rotation may come down to a trade.  There will probably be plenty of trade rumors surrounding Rays right-hander Andy Sonnanstine over the final few weeks of ... http://riseoftherays.com/2010/03/the-line-forms-for-andy/ 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 ... http://riseoftherays.com/2010/03/what-if-albert-pujols/   [picappgallerysingle id="2041097"]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 ... http://riseoftherays.com/2010/03/rise-of-the-rays-fantasy-baseball/   [picappgallerysingle id="4698897"]Remember a month or so ago when the Rays were courting Russell Branyan to bring him back to Tampa Bay, but ended up settling for Hank Blalock?  Well, things aren't going so well for Branyan in Cleveland.  He has been rehabbing a herniated disc in his back, and has ... http://riseoftherays.com/2010/03/the-sunday-papers-branyan/   [picappgallerysingle id="2223805"]  James Shields may have a choice to make.  Does he open the 2010 season on the mound?  Or, does he join his wife in the delivery room? "I told my wife, 'I don't think I'm missing opening day so I might have to meet you in there afterwards.   I kind ... http://riseoftherays.com/2010/03/opening-day-starter-or-father-of-the-year/ The 27-year-old Cuban baseball player that the Rays signed today comes in with a pretty decent resume.  He's a career .320 hitter while playing eight seasons in the Cuban National Series, including .381 last season.  It's said that he projects at about 15-20 home runs, so average power.  And, defensively, he's ... http://riseoftherays.com/2010/03/leslie-anderson-good-stats-but/     [picappgallerysingle id="2140096"]With the signing of Hank Blalock, I can't help but think that Willy Aybar could be traded?  Does he have value? Last season, Willy Aybar proved that he's, at best, a corner infielder and designated hitter.  He couldn't play second base to save his life.  To me, Willy Aybar equals Hank Blalock.  ... http://riseoftherays.com/2010/03/is-willy-safe/   [picappgallerysingle id="6376606"]One of a pitcher's worst fears is something flying at them from home plate.  Today, David Price couldn't quite dodge the shattered bat of new Red Sox third baseman Adrian Beltre.  The bat caught Price on the right hand, leaving a cut that apparently will not require stitches.  While I'm ... http://riseoftherays.com/2010/03/those-darn-red-sox-price-jennings-hurt/   [picappgallerysingle id="4674176"]As quoted by Hal Bodley on mlb.com: "We try to get our own seeds, throw them in the dirt, watch them rise up and become something good. I like that." Followed up by this to Marc Topkin of the St. Petersburg Times: "I should have been an agronomy major at some point." In ... http://riseoftherays.com/2010/03/maddon-ism-of-the-day-mr-green-thumb/