2012 Tampa Bay Rays

[Biggs3535]

Buster Olney tabs Rays best team in MLB to start 2012.

http://insider.espn.go.com/mlb/blog/_/name/olney_buster/id/7410087/behind-great-defense-dominant-pitching-rays-best-team-baseball-mlb

I like Buster.  He has always been a Rays supporter.


I'd love to see the team trade Davis or Niemann for a young stud 1B in Anthony Rizzo.  They also need to find a DH.  Maybe Vlad is an option, or Damon could return.

[dbucfan]

Bout damned time you got this thread going... LOL

[Biggs3535]

Bout damned time you got this thread going... LOL

Ha!  You guys posting in the 2011 thread just wasn't right...

This is the time of year I start getting amped about Spring Training.  I like getting to see the prospects play with some of the Big Boys.

[Biggs3535]

Rays are finishing up contract for Fernando Rodney.  A decent add to the bullpen.

[Detrimental]

He throws hard, should improve under the Rays with our pitching and staff.

We need to make a trade for a DH though or 1B for sure. Can't wait to see the promotion Lee will get this year.

[dbucfan]

Heard they are still looking for a couple of guys who can hit - the never ending struggle it seems - any news or even rumors yet?

[-ts]

Was really hoping for Rizzo, but that ship has sailed.

We definitely have to make a move with one of the pitchers or someone is going to the Pen.

[Biggs3535]

Was really hoping for Rizzo, but that ship has sailed.

I think Friedman just asks way too much sometimes.  I would think SD would have preferred one of the Rays starters in Niemann, Davis, or Cobb to whatever they got for Rizzo.

Scott is a solid signing.  Dude can whack when he's healthy.  I'm still hoping they can get another bat with one of those three pitchers.

[-ts]

Was really hoping for Rizzo, but that ship has sailed.

I think Friedman just asks way too much sometimes.  I would think SD would have preferred one of the Rays starters in Niemann, Davis, or Cobb to whatever they got for Rizzo.

Scott is a solid signing.  Dude can whack when he's healthy.  I'm still hoping they can get another bat with one of those three pitchers.

I agree on both accounts.

I'm curious to see what happens to the market in the next couple weeks. I'm thinking a mad rush will be about to happen.

I mean we have to move a starter, no way around it IMO. Unless they decide to send one to the pen which I don't see happening.

[Madman]

Really like the Luke Scott and Rodney signings. Just need one more bat! Imagine Prince Fielder at 1B. Just imagine.

[dbucfan]

I was hoping to see Kotchman and Damon one more time - we will see how this turns out

[Biggs3535]

Derek Lee, Carlos Pena, and Casey Kotchman are all still options @ fist base.

[-ts]

Derek Lee, Carlos Pena, and Casey Kotchman are all still options @ fist base.

Out of those left I hope we can bring back Pena.

[Samari28]

Pitching will be the strong part of this team but offensive wise this team still sucks. Brignac, Upton and Fuld are awful. Best team in MLB, hell not.even the best team in Florida.

[Biggs3535]

Derrek Lee, Carlos Pena, and Casey Kotchman are all still options @ fist base.

Out of those left I hope we can bring back Pena.

I'd be fine with either of three.  They all have excellent gloves, and they each bring something different to the plate:

2011

Kotch:  .306 avg., 10 HR, 48 RBI, .378 OPB, and 66 K's.  Runs slower than my grandmother.
Pena:  .225 avg., 28 HR, 80 RBI, .357 OBP and 161 K's.  Runs slower than my mother.
Lee:    .267 avg., 19 HR, 59 RBI, .325 OBP, and 110 K's.  Pretty fast for a big man.


Overall for the team, I agree that Carlos might be the best option for the team.  He was great in the clubhouse.  But you also to consider the lefty/righty aspect with Luke Scott (lefty) signed as the DH.  Derrek Lee is the better fit in that respect.