Shameful Organization
June 29th, 2016
Can’t develop a stick.
What a woeful decade.
Last night Joe chatted via Twitter with his good friend, “The Big Dog,” Steve Duemig of WDAE-AM 620. Joe asked him if Dirtbag Longoria was the lone (good) hitter the Rays drafted, developed and produced in the post-Chuck LaMar era. Duemig couldn’t think of anyone else.
LaMar, the original general manager of the franchise, was ousted by Stu Sternberg in October 2005. Dirtbag was drafted the following spring, third overall. Since, the Rays organization has been a virtual wasteland of bats. What a disgrace!
Now someone on Twitter offered up John Jaso. Meh! Only once has the guy hit over .280 and never had more than 50 RBIs in a season, and let’s just say it’s a safe bet that Clayton Kershaw, Madison Bumgarner, Jake Arrieta or Adam Wainwright have never woken up in a cold sweat worried about Jaso, currently with the Pirates. Same person on Twitter also offered up Stephen Vogt. Ppfftt. A middling hitter who but once had more than 35 RBIs in a season.
It’s pretty sad that in over a decade, an organization has failed to develop one bat that a guy could ever call a multiple All-Star without getting run out of the bar with laughter. Not one! Now going on 11 years, and this club can’t produce a dependable bat, a guy you can build a lineup around. That is just miserable!
Then again, Joe is talking about the same outfit that saw fit to pass on Buster Posey. Safe to assume the Rays’ scouting department and farm system honchos not only cannot develop hitters, they can’t recognize hitting potential.
June 29th, 2016 at 1:21 pm
Hit show or sh*t show???
June 29th, 2016 at 2:47 pm
My sentiments exactly ! It’s what I have been referring to all year.
June 29th, 2016 at 7:21 pm
I went back to the 4 years(2008 – 2011) where I disclosed the Ray # 1 draft picks which were all busts or released (In an earlier post). Now I looked at all the picks the Rays made for those 4 years. It’s sad. These are the players of age where they should be helping out the big club. They are:
2009 – Andrew Bellatti (17th round) Gone
2010 – C. J Riefenhauser (20th round) Gone
Kevin Kiermeier (31st round) Whoo Whoo !
2011 – Mikie Matook (1st round)
Blake Snell (1st round replacement pick)
Taylor Motter (17th round)
2012 – Richie Schaffer (1st round) Minors
Everyone else was a bust or still in the minors. That’s it folks !
June 29th, 2016 at 7:29 pm
Sorry – I forgot the 2008 draft picks. It’s even worse. The only one on the team from the 50 picks the Rays had that year was Tim Beckham. I didn’t recognize any of the other 49 players selected. Hell, a monkey could throw darts at a board with names on it and do better. If you are wondering what happened to your Rays, this was the reason.
Looks like Andrew Friedman isn’t so golden anymore.
June 30th, 2016 at 1:22 pm
Yeah but Stamkos is staying with the Bolts. Welcome to the dog Rays days of summer. The Rays will become more of an afterthought as the Bucs season approaches. Everybody loves a winner or at least the preseason anticipation of one.
July 1st, 2016 at 12:06 am
Hey Buccfan37 – Did you get lost (ooze) here on the way to Buccaneers Nirvana ? Last time I looked, the Buc’s matched the miserable record of finishing in last place. 3 for 3. Smells like oily discharge to me.
July 1st, 2016 at 2:18 pm
Darth: the one thing that really sickens me about that ****ing 2008 draft of Timmy Beckham is of who was taken shortly after Timmy: Eric hosner by KC witth the 3rd pick by KC and FSU’s Buster Posey by the Giants with the 5th. Imagine if they actually decided to spend money in 2008 and draft Posey! It sickens me!
July 1st, 2016 at 9:31 pm
Let’s remember, the ownerships goal is to make money, the fans’ interest is a winner. Guess whose priorities wins out? Get used to more of this until Sternberg milks this franchise dry then sells. The new stadium talks are simply window dressing. Will never happen
July 2nd, 2016 at 3:18 pm
I agree RichRay but I also think that Stu S also knows that he can not become another Hugh “the screw” Culverhouse so he will continue to try and at least keep the team around 0.500. He would have this year if not for injuries and with a better manager than Kevin cash the rays would still be close to 0.500 as the manager has cost the team at least 8 games via his poor managerial decisions while i doubt if his expertise has won the Rays a single game. Poor manager = Poor team…. Fire the guy and things could improve…