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Sunday, Mar.03/2013

The Rays led the Major Leagues last year in ERA (3.19) and were 3rd in team SO. They also converted 50 of 58 Saves. Even more impressive was that they were 45-31 with a 2.60 ERA after the ALL-Star Break. They traded veterans Wade Davis and James Shields away for top level prospects. Will they be able to duplicate their 2012 numbers with their young talented pitchers improving the club internally?

Chuck Booth (Lead Baseball Analyst/Website Owner): Follow @chuckbooth3024

The Rays are a team built on their strong pitching and timely hits.  The majority of their hurlers are homegrown.  The unfortunate part about all of this is that the Rays have a Stadium problem.  Tropicana Field just doesn’t bring in enough revenue in order to pay their pitchers once they become eligible to be Free Agents.  Let’s face it, when you can’t bank on a pitcher being healthy for the duration of his contract, the management will be hard pressed to sign a pitcher to a long – term, 9 figure contract.

The Tampa fans had better enjoy seeing David Price for the next 3 years – because he is on a path to the kind of dollars that will see him leave town.  The Rays have made their investment in their franchise player already in Evan Longoria.  So here continues the continual revolving door.  The good news is that the organization has stockpiled the kind of talented Minor League System that should be able to brunt the force of such a catastrophic loss forthcoming with the reigning AL CY Young winner.

Price might just be the premier Left Handed Pitcher in the MLB right now.  After him in the Starting Rotation is Jeremy Hellickson,  Matt Moore, Alex Cobb and Jeff Niemann.  The team alsoadded Roberto Hernandez (Don’t call me Fausto,) for added insurance.  There are 2 highly touted prospects with both Chris Archer and Mike Montgomery possibly seeing some time up with the big club.  They also could see Jake Odorizzi challenge for a spot in the rotation.

David Price Highlights in 2012:

David Price is not only establishing himself as the best ALL-Time Pitcher for the Rays, he might be the premier Left Handed Pitcher in the AL right now.  He is 51-24 in his last 3 seasons (including 3 straight ALL-Star Appearances, an AL Cy Young in 2012 after finishing the runner-up in 2010.  Price led the AL with Wins (20), ERA (2.56) and Win PCTG (.800) in 2012.  He has pitched 644 IP in  the last 3 years – while fanning 621 Batters.  In a tough AL East, with many hitter – friendly parks, this Rays ace is dominating.  Price was the 1st overall pick of the 2007 Amateur Draft.

Starting  Rotation:

David Price SP:  Career Record 2008-2012  61-31 (.663)  3.16 ERA:  Price is putting together a resume that is grounds for the Franchise retiring his number one day.  He is a 3 time ALL-Star, won the 2012 AL Cy Young Award and narrowly missed a 2nd when he finished 2nd in the 2010 Season.  He led the AL with Wins (20) and Win Pctg (.800) in 2012.  In 2011, he led the AL with 34 starts. 

The mans year records have gone, 10-7, 19-6, 12-13 and 20-5 this past year.  Price fanned over 200 hitters in both of the last 2 years.  The big Leff-Handed Starter also has thrown 3 straight years of 200+ IP.  Soon he will qualify for ALL-Time Win Pctg.  Only Roy Halladay at .666, would be higher than him right now. 

Price is 2nd ALL-Time in  Franchise Wins and ERA, while he is 3rd in Innings Pitched and Strikeouts.  Assuredly, he will own more of these records if he pitchers with the club though the 2015 season. After that, he is a Free Agent.

Jeremy Hellickson SP:  Has a career Record of 27-21 so far with a 3.06 ERA.    Based on his Innings Pitched of 402.1, he is the club leader in ALL-Time Best ERA.  Hellickson was also the Rookie Of The Year in the American League for 2011, by going 13-10 with a 2.95 ERA.  He took home a Gold Glove for his 2012 season.  The Right Handed Pitcher has a Career WHIP of 1.193.  The sky is the limit for this guy going forward.

Matt Moore SP:  Moore had a 3.01 ERA after heading into the ALL – Star Break with a 4.42 clip.  He fanned 175 batters in just 177.1 IP.  Moore will be the #3 Starter.

Alex Cobb SP:    Cobb went 11-9 and a 4.03 ERA with TB in 23 starts.  His strong rookie campaign may help the management trade a veteran starter (or even him) for another bat.   Cobb will be the #4 starter.

Jeff Niemann SP:  Niemann burst onto the scene in 2009, where he went 13-6 and posted a 3.94 ERA.  He finished 4th in AL Rookie Of The Year Voting.  Niemann followed that up with 11-7 and 12-8 in 2010 and 2011 respectively.  Seasons in which the club made the playoffs.  Niemann battled injuries in 2012, but is looking for a full recovery in 2013.  He will certainly climb up the Franchise List on just about everything.  His .606 Winning Percentage is 2nd to only David Price for the Teams best mark.  Coming off his injury in 2012, he is expected to compete for the 5th Starter spot.  He is also a heavy candidate to be traded considering his Arbitration Eligible after this year and makes $3 MIL this year.

Roberto Hernandez SP:  (AKA Fausto Carmona) signed a 1 Yr Deal with Tampa.  He was 19-8, with a 3.06 ERA in the 2007 ALCS run for the Indians.  You take out that year – and they guy has been abysmal!  How bad you ask? …. 34-61 and an ERA over 5 the rest of his career…Yikes..  Although he is a good insurance option for the franchise this year.  You can never have enough Starting  Pitchers,  (especially with Niemann coming off of an injury plagued 2012.)  He may be used in the Bullpen as the long reliever to start the year.

Chris Archer SP: Archer received 4 starts for the club and went 1-3 with a 4.60 ERA.  Depending if the team trades a veteran or not, he may make the club out of spring training. It probably wouldn’t be until that time.. or injury occurs.  He has a 3.75 ERA in his Minor League Career and has nearly fanned a batter per inning.

Jake Odorizzi  SP  (480 K)  Odorizzi came over with Myers in the Royals trade.  Odorizzi will surely be called up in May.  He was 11-3 with a 2.93 ERA during his 19 games for Omaha (AAA team for the KC Royals.)

Mike Montgomery SP:  He came over with Wil Myers in the big player deal.  From 2008 – 2010, the guys was nails in the Minor Leagues.  Then he made the jump to AAA.  He was absolutely blown up in the PCL – with about a mid 5 ERA over the last 2 years.  Even a demotion to the Texas League didn’t help.  He needs more time in the Minors – and a trip to Durham is imminent to start the year. 

Bullpen:

Rodney had 48 Saves and a 0.60 ERA in 2012, to place 5th in AL Cy Young Voting and was an ALL-Star. He is signed for one more year in 2013 at just 2.5 Million. He was named AL Comeback Player of The Year in 2012. Another Great Pick up for the Rays Brass.

Fernando Rodney RP:  Rodney had one of the best relieving years in MLB History.  He Appeared in 73 Games for the year.  He fanned 76 batters in 74.2 IP.  His great 2012 campaign so him finish 13 in AL MVP Voting.  His WHIP for the year was 0.77 as he allowed only 43 Hits and 15 Walks in his work.  He also only yielded 5 Earned Runs for the whole season.  Outstanding pickup as a Free Agent by Andrew Friedman.  He has one more year left to add to his Rays totals.  He sits in 3rd Place already on the ALL-Time Club Saves List.

Joel Peralta RP:  Peralta had yielded an under 1.00 WHIP for 3 years straight (0.796 in ’10, 0.916 in ’11 and 0.985).  He has appeared in 147 games for the Rays in the last 2 years.  He only walks 2.4/Per 9 IP while he SO 8.0/Per 9 IP.  Peralta has been injured with a stiff neck at Spring Training but is due back for Opening Day.

Kyle Farnsworth RP:    Farnsworth gives them a steady veteran – who has appeared in 97 Games in the last 2 years – while sporting a 2.76 ERA for the franchise.  He is also insurance in case injury prone ‘Closer’ Rodney should go down.  Farnsworth towed the hill for 25 Saves during the 2011 campaign.

Jake McGee RP: This Relief Pitcher has gone 10-5 with a 2.74 ERA in 88 IP with the club so far and will be a mainstay for years to come in the bullpen.  He was extremely effective in 2012.  He was 5-2, with a 1.95 ERA and 73 SO in just 55.1 IP.  McGee only allowed 33 Hits and 11 Walks in his IP last year.

Cesar Ramos RP:    The man featured a 2.10 ERA in 3o Innings Pitched for the Rays in 2o12.  The guy had a 3.77 ERA in split time between the rotation and the bullpen for the Durham Bulls as well.  He should make the team.

Brandon Gomes RP: Gomes had a great 2011 year with a 2.92 ERA in 40 Games.  In 2012, the guy struggled to start the year and was sent to the Minors before being called up in Sept. His Spring Training will go a long way to see whether or not he makes it to the big club.

Josh Lueke RP:  He was ineffective and sent to the Minors (Durham) – were he sported a 5.59 ERA for the year.  He may get a chance to make the club in 2013 but don’t bet on it.   The club hopes he can find his way back to the 2011 form he had with the Tacoma Rainiers (AAA farm club of the Mariners), he featured a 2.76 ERA in 42.1 IP that season.

Alex Torres RP:  (480 K) After a small stint in 2011 with the Rays, this guy held a 7.30 ERA for the Durham Bulls.  The club will likely leave him in the Minors for some more seasoning in 2013.

Dane De La Rosa RP: De La Rosa was a Sept Call-up and carried an 12.6 ERA in 5 games and 5 Innings.  He may have a chance to make the club in April.

Kyle Farnsworth saved his career in 2011 – by having a great year with the Rays. He had a 2.18 ERA and 25 Saves in 57.2 IP. He signed a 1 YR Deal worth 1.25 Million. He will also serve as a mentor to the young relievers.

*** The views and opinions expressed in this report are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of the MLB Reports or their partners***

***Chuck Booth- Lead Baseball Analyst/Website Owner and author of the Fastest 30 Ballgames:   To learn more about my  “The Fastest 30 Ballgames Book” and how to purchase it, click here . You can also follow my Guinness Book of World Record Successful Bid to see all 30 MLB Park in 23 Days- click here.  I am happy to be part of such an awesome Magazine-Style Baseball Website and am looking forward to talking to all of the fans of the MLB.  You can reach me on Twitter here Follow @mlbreports

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