Comments on: Tampa Rejects Results Based Analysis

By: claskowski

claskowski — Mon, 07 Jul 2008 16:24:38 +0000

i hope the GM search committee reads the Washington Post. this made me really sad when i opened the paper on sunday morning:

http://media.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/sports/mlb/longterm/2008/preview/pdf/mlb_sunday_070608.pdf

By: drewalexander

drewalexander — Mon, 07 Jul 2008 01:56:46 +0000

At the risk of sounding like a complete idiot, would anyone care to share what the article means by “Results Based Analysis?” I’m positive that ten seconds after posting this I’ll find a convenient link explaining everything about the methodology of this site, including that term. But hey, I learned what VORP was last year, don’t believe what they say about old dogs.

By: James T

James T — Sun, 06 Jul 2008 23:24:18 +0000

A couple of comments about the Rays from a Red Sox fan who, thanks to the utterly unbalanced schedule, sees a lot of them.

I completely agree with Plim about Joe Maddon. He and Francona were the two finalists to replace the execrable little. I wanted Maddon at the time, but things have obviously turned out fine just the same.

He seems to be a very sharp guy who can keep the big picture goals in mind as well as the short term. I remember a game or two last year where he removed Kazmir after something like 90-92 pitches and some Sox fans were chortling about what a dumb decision it had been when the Sox subsequently pounded the Rays pen. But it wasn’t dumb. It was smart, very smart in the big picture. Winning 68 games instead of 67 wasn’t going to do anything for Tampa. Having Kazmir around when things turned around was.

And, as bad as Tampa ownership was under Naimoli(sp?) give them credit. They did keep drafting and signing the best players available. They didn’t go the old Pittsburgh route where a guy who should be picked 24th gets drafted 3rd because he’ll sign cheap.

Anyway, that team’s fielding is real. The offense isn’t great but it’s no mirage. The starters are very good. I think the bullpen is the weakpoint. Troy Percival?

They’ve played 49 home games and 38 road games through today, so things are going to look a little tougher. I expect a little slip from that team but not a collapse or anything close to it. Friedman is sharp too. I thought their little MLB titration chemistry experiment might suddenly show a change next year but they’ve been terrific so far. From a Sox fan perspective, if the Sox don’t win it, they’re the ones I’d like to see go all the way. And this coming week they play the yankees. I can’t believe I’m feeling ambivalent about rooting against the yankees!

By: tgf

tgf — Sun, 06 Jul 2008 22:38:21 +0000

Any chance the Mariners can pilfer Friedman from the Rays, since they can (presumably) offer more money? Sure, it would be kind of a dick move after he just built the Rays into a contender on a limited budget, but so what?

By: Plim

Plim — Sun, 06 Jul 2008 22:02:00 +0000

Joe Maddon has been a real asset for the Rays. The Mike Scioscia clone as far as his ability to relate to players and penchant for preparation was also said to be the Angels main proponent of the usage of stats and is reported to have tracked stats not used by other organizations and the sort. He was the runner up for the jobs in Boston, and Pittsburgh, so how was it that Bavasi missed the boat on him? I know it’s silly to say a manager can be a huge difference but, Scioscia basically turned the Angels franchise around and now Joe Maddon seems to be having a tremendous impact on the young charges that his GM has given him. There has got to be someone out there that can have a similar impact in Seattle, much like Lou did when he came over from Cinci.

By: scott19

scott19 — Sun, 06 Jul 2008 20:04:09 +0000

Everything I hear is that people keep expecting the Rays to fall apart, like itâ€™s all being done with smoke and mirrors.

Which isn’t surprising at all. Besides the fact that they don’t understand how the team was constructed to begin with, the stupid media seems to think that the whole frigging world’s gonna come to an end if either the Yanks or Red Sox don’t win the AL East — since “we won’t get our ratings share in October.” >:(

By: G-Man

G-Man — Sun, 06 Jul 2008 19:35:37 +0000

So if the Rays make it to the WS, will that be a sufficinetly hard whack upside the head to the M’s org to get Lincoln and Armstrong “fired”?

By: cody

cody — Sun, 06 Jul 2008 19:25:18 +0000

I’m rooting for a Tampa Bay-Chicago World Series!
Who’s with me?
(btw, I will be rooting for Tampa)

By: donger

donger — Sun, 06 Jul 2008 19:21:40 +0000

I am on this bandwagon like stink on a monkey. I just bought my cap!

By: edgar for mayor

edgar for mayor — Sun, 06 Jul 2008 18:52:36 +0000

Ah what is must be like to have a intelligent organization…I shouldn’t day dream.