Hey gang! Welcome to March! We are inching closer and closer to the start of live play for the Spring Training of the 2010 season.
Here are some of the best Tampa Bay Rays headlines from across the web today…
Bill James says Tampa Bay Rays are loaded
Bill James writes a piece each year called the “Young Talent Inventory”. Last year, the veteran sports writer listed the Rays as the third most loaded team in baseball (in regards to young talent)
Where do the Tampa Bay Rays rank this season? Check out James’ full post here.
Longoria & 2k10 hits shelves tomorrow!
This has been the talk of the Tampa Bay Rays this past week: Evan Longoria on the cover of 2k10 Sports latest edition of their baseball franchise called Baseball 2k10. Past cover athletes have included Jason Giambi, Derek Jeter (3 times) Jose Reyes and Tim Lincecum.
You can view the first commercial for the game here.
The game is available for sale tomorrow. Do you have your copy reserved yet? If not check out your local Best Buy, GameStop, Target or Wal-Mart to grab your copy.
Kalas compares concerts to Tampa Bay Rays
Todd Kalas takes a look at the acts involved in the Tampa Bay Rays concert series for 2010, and draws some interesting paralells between some of the songs peformed, and specific scenarios the Rays will face this year.
Check out this snippet:
Nelly (May 15 vs. Seattle) “Batter Up”
There are three positions where production in 2009 was disappointing and improvements are expected in 2010; center field, catcher and designated hitter. When B.J. Upton hit .300 in 2007 with 24 home runs and 82 RBI’s, many projected the former #1 pick to be a perennial All-Star. After struggling the last couple of seasons with a left shoulder injury and sub-par power production, the 25-year-old center fielder with 513 major league games under his belt is ready for a breakthrough season. The catching duo of Dioner Navarro and Kelly Shoppach will push each other after both had 2009 seasons they would like to forget offensively. The battle for playing time behind the dish will be interesting to watch not only in Port Charlotte, but throughout the regular season. Designated Hitter Pat Burrell is also out to prove that 2009 was an aberration in his career. The 33-year old worked out hard this winter and hopes to improve on his debut season in the American League.
For more from Kalas, check out the full post.
Three way battle
The Sporting News takes a quick look at the three way battle for a roster spot between Matt Joyce, Reid Brignac and Sean Rodriguez.
One of those three won’t make the opening day 25 man roster, and even then, only one of the two that makes the roster will get a spot in the starting line up.
To me, the most sense is to send Rodriguez down to Durham to start the season. Brignac has been with the franchise the longest, and deserves the first shot–if we are talking about doing what it right for a guy who has put in the work. If it plays out like I want, Brignac would be this years Ben Zobrist. Joyce would rotate with Gabe Kapler in right field, and Zobrist would be the everyday guy at second, with Brignac filling in for him and Jason Bartlett when it’s needed.
Read about what the Sporting News has to say here…
Thomas Gemkow is the editor-in-chief of TampaBayRaysFan.com. Founded in January of 2009, TampaBayRaysFan.com is a compilation of all the best of the Rays, from across the web. The website can be followed on Twitter
I hope Longo is on as many covers as Jeter! That would be HUGEEE for the Rays!
I hope he is on lots of cover AFTER the season!
Yeah–Like SI and ESPN the Mag—celebrating a World Series win.
That’s what I’m sayin’
If Rodriguez keeps hitting like he has been, Zobrist will be playing RF this season.
No doubt. WOW he is on fire–I just feel for Fernando Perez and Reid Brignac–seems like for the last three years they were “the” prospects that were the next Rays stars…now, we are talking about “S-Rod” and Matt “I hit less than .220 most of the year” Joyce…injuries are like that I guess.
I really like Perez on defense, Offense, not so much.