Interesting thread to revisit, some 10+ months later ...

Not exactly ... the Rays have a glut of outfielders and need starting pitching in the worst way. Garza immediately becomes Tampa's #3 starter and Bartlett is a big upgrade on Harris at shortstop, especially on the defensive side.

 

This is the kind of deal the Rays need to make, using their strengths to shore up some weaknesses.

 

Young is awfully young and could be a great player, but the Rays already have Crawford, Upton, Baldelli (if he ever stays healthy) and Gomes, among others, in the outfield mix

 

Hit it right on the nail.

Still don't like the new stadium. Still looks like a sail boat. Still will be unbearable in July and August.

Young is a cancer. If Joe Madden can't get along with him, nobody can. He's a symptom of a much larger problem and his exit is at least a step in the right direction. However, it is apparent that the Devil Rays ... (sorry Matt Silverman) ... I mean the Rays are not that concerned about winning as much as reducing headaches and payroll. If they did, they'd spend more time shoring up the roster and less time trying to get a new "open air" stadium that nobody will go to anyway. Thank God, I don't live in St. Pete. or Pinellas County. Those poor people are about to get fleeced. Again!

 

Are you sure?

Oh yeah. Still love getting rid of Delmon Young.

Still don't like the new stadium. Still looks like a sail boat. Still will be unbearable in July and August.

:lol: :lol: :lol:

Good for Twins, bad for the team formerly known as Devil Rays. Yound is a great talent, if anyone can tame him.

 

 

 

Great trade for the Rays.

 

 

BTW, I am glad I didn't post on this 10 months ago.

Are you sure?

I stand by that. Prior to this year, what indication did I have to tell me that they wanted to win? As UKMustangs likes to point out, it's going to take an investment beyond what they are paying out now to keep this type of team together. Are they dedicated to winning or is this just a one year wonder? Ask me after next season and I'll tell you whether I feel I was wrong or not.

 

I'm happy as all get out with what has happened, but I'm not a bandwagon fan. I'm a real Ray's fan and history has shown me not to get too excited beyond this season. Ownership has shown me reasons not to.

I stand by that. Prior to this year, what indication did I have to tell me that they wanted to win? As UKMustangs likes to point out, it's going to take an investment beyond what they are paying out now to keep this type of team together. Are they dedicated to winning or is this just a one year wonder? Ask me after next season and I'll tell you whether I feel I was wrong or not.

 

I'm happy as all get out with what has happened, but I'm not a bandwagon fan. I'm a real Ray's fan and history has shown me not to get too excited beyond this season. Ownership has shown me reasons not to.

 

I just hope they are not like the Marlins and dump all the players. They are mostly home-grown players or players acquired with their home-grown players.

The new ownership, from the beginning, showed a commitment to building the organization from the ground up ... developing their own talent, then putting a solid team together by getting the right pieces and putting them together.

 

The situation they inherited was a joke ... it took some time to undo the damage.

I just hope they are not like the Marlins and dump all the players. They are mostly home-grown players or players acquired with their home-grown players.

Unlike the 97 Marlins, of whom I think you are refering to and who Wayne Huizenga bought to get a WS Championship, most of these Rays players came up through their own farm system. I don't think they'll dump them, but I don't think they will attempt to keep them when contracts come due, either. Hope I'm wrong.

The new ownership, from the beginning, showed a commitment to building the organization from the ground up ... developing their own talent, then putting a solid team together by getting the right pieces and putting them together.

 

The situation they inherited was a joke ... it took some time to undo the damage.

Vince Namoli was a disaster as a head of the Rays organization. He could alienate fans in ways that seemed unimaginable.

 

Chuck LaMar had his problems as GM. He seemed unable to negociate with either his boss or his manager or his players. However, it was he, who built that farm system that produced most of the players you saw tonight and players that the 2 headed GM monster, of Friedman and Hunsicker, have used in trades to fill in the gaps. John Schuerholz taught Chuck well in that respect.

 

Stuart Sternberg's boys actually inherited a good foundation to do what they wanted.

 

However, one 97 win season does not make a dynasty.

Unlike the 97 Marlins, of whom I think you are refering to and who Wayne Huizenga bought to get a WS Championship, most of these Rays players came up through their own farm system. I don't think they'll dump them, but I don't think they will attempt to keep them when contracts come due, either. Hope I'm wrong.

 

 

I was not referring to the 97 team but the 2003 team that had a lot of young players through the system.