B-R-A-Z-E-L-T-O-N

[go_usfbulls]

So Smazza, what does that make the Giants?  DRays took 2 of 3 from them.  In fact, I believe they were about .500 against the league excluding the 38 games they had against the Yanks and Red Sox.  You would be correct they are not in there league but it is tough when they spend 100 million less.  Correct baseball with some sort of cap and I will stress I also believe there should be a minimum so that the payroll is higher here in Tampa.

[Bullshiznitz]

Havent they come in last every year but 1 and that year they came in 2nd to last? They had one of the lowest opening day crowds in the last 50 years of MLB. They do have some good young talent but so do most teams only the other teams have their's in Triple A and I am guessing that is where the refernce is from. They are a laughingstock all over the country.

No actually most teams dont have the good young talent the DRays have. Crawford, Huff, Kazmir, Brazelton all belong in the majors...not AAA. If you cant see that then you know nothing about baseball. Almost every GM in baseball would be salivating at the mouth to snag any of those players in a trade. That doesnt even include the injured Baldelli nor the talent the DRays do have in the minors in Upton, DYoung, Niemann, and Orvella (all ranked in the top 50 prospects in the minors-I believe only the A's had more players ranked in the top 50).  Yeah, the DRays HAVE sucked, but those times are changing and changing quickly.  Once Namoli is out and Upton, Young, and Niemann are up (should be no later than 2007 for all this to happen), then watch out.  If the Twins and A's can battle the big dogs with midrange salaries but good young talent, then so can the RAYS

[Velcro]

Not gonna happen... why... because the rays won't pay the free agent salaries... all their good young players will jump ship for bigger contracts... making the rays go find some more great talent...which they will find, and the cycle continues... the Rays are basically a farm team for the big market teams.

[Bullshiznitz]

Nope, hait to burst your Red Sox bubble, but it will happen. The Rays are working hard to nail down long term contracts for some of there young players (Huff signed through 2006, Crawford signed through 2010 already...Baldelli, Brazelton, Kazmir and Upton are all in talks too).  Plus, as most people seem to forget, the DRays did have a team salary of $55 million for two years back during the disasterous "Hit show" years, so they have shown they are willing to spend the money. Plus as many have said already the signing of Crawford was more the doing of the soon to be new owner. He will be more committed to winning than Namoli ever was. $55-60 million with these young players will be more than enough to make the Sox or Yanks go home crying one year very soon.

[Velcro]

Ahh... how great it is to be blinded by your love of your team... it is admirable

[KnightsRule]

No actually most teams dont have the good young talent the DRays have. Crawford, Huff, Kazmir, Brazelton all belong in the majors...not AAA. If you cant see that then you know nothing about baseball. Almost every GM in baseball would be salivating at the mouth to snag any of those players in a trade. That doesnt even include the injured Baldelli nor the talent the DRays do have in the minors in Upton, DYoung, Niemann, and Orvella (all ranked in the top 50 prospects in the minors-I believe only the A's had more players ranked in the top 50).  Yeah, the DRays HAVE sucked, but those times are changing and changing quickly.  Once Namoli is out and Upton, Young, and Niemann are up (should be no later than 2007 for all this to happen), then watch out.  If the Twins and A's can battle the big dogs with midrange salaries but good young talent, then so can the RAYS

I agree with you that the Rays have more higher ranking young talent then almost everyone. Also dont forget that many times that talent does not shine at the major league level or takes a lot longer to get there. Bobby Seay and Matt White were highley regarded talent and neither has done crap. Oakland has been spending about the amount of money that Rays fans can hope for and they still lose high quality players year after year and also remember that they have not won a playoff series with all those great players. The Rays will not be able to afford all of those players and you cant believe that the Rays have not shopped Huff.

[TripleB]

Not gonna happen... why... because the rays won't pay the free agent salaries... all their good young players will jump ship for bigger contracts... making the rays go find some more great talent...which they will find, and the cycle continues... the Rays are basically a farm team for the big market teams.

Thank you, velcrodamus ...

[go_usfbulls]

The Rays will not be able to afford all of those players and you cant believe that the Rays have not shopped Huff.

And there lies the problem with baseball.  The have money and the have not money.  Baseball needs to be fixed.  It is a shame that teams like the Yankees and Red Sox can just continue to buy there way into the playoffs with the hope of a WS ring.  Give me the GM roll of either team and I'll get them there.

[KnightsRule]

And there lies the problem with baseball.  The have money and the have not money.  Baseball needs to be fixed.  It is a shame that teams like the Yankees and Red Sox can just continue to buy there way into the playoffs with the hope of a WS ring.  Give me the GM roll of either team and I'll get them there.

Get an owner willing to spend. The Red Sox have the smallest stadium in MLB and dont have sky boxes and special front row seating with catered meals. Spend the money and put a winner on the field and people will come watch and the revenues will be there. The Bucs were the laughing stock of NFL and then they start to win and people came.  It does suck that there is so many fairweather fans around here as opposed to a city like Boston that gets support even when its teams suck. The Lightning were not even selling out some playoff games last year.

[Velcro]

Thank you, velcrodamus ...

You are absolutely welcome ... although it doesn't take a psychic to state the obvious