Derek Jeter’s 3000th hit got me thinking about the Rays Record Book
July 9th, 2011 will go down as one of the most special days in New York Yankees history, as well as Major League baseball history. Derek Jeter got his 3000th hit, a homerun, off of Tampa Bay Rays All-Star Starting Pitcher David Price. Jeter went 5 for 5 for the game, matching only Houston Astros Craig Biggio as the only 2 players to get 5 hits in the same game they got their 3000th hit. Besides the 3000th hit by Jeter, he also had a double, 3 singles and his last hit, a single drove in the winning run in the bottom of the 8th inning to lead the Yankees to a 5-4 win. But the huge day by Jeter got me thinking about the Rays record book.
I’m sure most Rays fans can name the player who has the most hits in a Tampa uniform…he is now a trader/enemy – Carl Crawford. Crawford had 1480 hits in his Rays career. In fact, Crawford holds almost all offensive categories for the Rays, including batting average (.296), doubles (215), triples (105), RBI’s (592) & stolen bases (409). But, Rays fans, who has the 2nd most hits in franchise history? Answer later in the post.
BJ Upton has the 3rd most hits in Rays history with 705, Fred McGriff has 603 hits to sit in 4th place in team history and Julio Lugo rounds out the top 5 with 550. JULIO LUGO!!?? How sad was this franchise? Current players of note…Evan Longoria sits in 8th place with 508 hits and Ben Zobrist in 10th with 473 hits. Zobrist is already 30 (a late bllomer) so 3000 hits would be out of the question for him, but Longoria has a shot. But a couple things would need to happen…Evan would have to stay healthy, which he is struggling to do early in his career and that is not a good sign as you get older. Second, he will have to hit for a higher average, but I still believe that is on the front office. They need to acquire a bat who can protect your franchise player/hitter, just like the St. Louis Cardinals did a couple years ago. The Cardinals traded for Matt Holliday to protect Albert Pujols and then also signed Holliday to a long term deal. I completely agreed with the Rays not offering Carl Crawford the kind of money the Boston Red Sox offered. Crawford is a speed guy and at 29…well – read between the lines.
Let’s move on to the sexy category, homeruns. Carlos Pena is the franchise leader in homeruns with 144 (I think Pena had 146 hits in his career with the Rays…he is the Dave Kingman of this generation). Aubrey Huff sits in 2nd with 128, Crawford is 3rd with 104, McGriff with 99 is in 4th and then Longoria is in 5th with 93. Barring injury, Longoria will have the 3rd most homeruns by the end of 2011 and then could possibly be the Rays all time leader in homeruns by some point during the 2012 season. I don’t think 3000 hits is realistic for Longo, but 400-500 homeruns definitely is a possibility as long as he stays with the Rays – and heck, if Tampa even stays in existence.
Answer to the trivia question: Aubrey Huff
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Are Tampa Bay Rays’ Fans Expecting Too Much from Desmond Jennings?
The Tampa Bay Rays have been high on outfield prospect Desmond Jennings for sometime now. In fact, most analysts believe in Jennings to the point of anointing him top 10 prospect status in all of baseball. However, my concern is that the fans are immediately going to compare him to a former outfielder- the one who bolted for 150 million and red colors. Carl Crawford ring any bells? Is Jennings talented like Crawford was- sure. But sometimes prospects don’t pan out- so are the fans prepared just in case? I think it’s crazily unfair to expect Crawford like numbers out of Jennings because Jennings shouldn’t have to be Crawford. He should try and be himself. Joe Madden has given glowing reviews of Desmond Jennings so far this spring- which is definitely a good sign. Hopefully everyone is right. Hopefully Jennings turns into an all star. But let’s let the kid grow with no pressures right now.
Johnny Damon and Manny Ramirez now Tampa Bay Rays
Johnny Damon AND Manny Ramirez are now both Tampa Bay Rays players heading into 2011. According to SI’s Jon Heyman on Twitter, the only thing holding up these deals is a physical.
According to Heyman, Johnny Damon will be paid $5.25 million this season plus a $750K attendance bonus and Manny Ramirez will get a salary of $2 million from the Tampa Bay Rays.
This is huge news for Tampa Bay Rays fans that thought this was going to be a club which could not win 70 games in 2010. If both of these players can increase their production 10-20% over the 2010 MLB season, they could be great numbers for the Rays in 2011.
It’ll be great to watch Johnny Damon and Manny Ramirez suit up against the Boston Red Sox and Carl Crawford this season.
Tampa Bay Rays continue to build towards the future
Tampa Bay Rays fans knew this season, several key players were going to leave through free agency or trades. Carl Crawford and Carlos Pena departed to sign with other teams. P Joaquin Benoit is now a member of the White Sox. Despite taking some short term hits, the Tampa Bay Rays have made some pretty shrewd moves and continue to build towards the future.
The Matt Garza trade brought five players that should contribute with in a few years. And yesterday it was reported that two Tampa Bay Rays free agents finally signed. RP Chad Qualls signed a one year deal with the san Diego Padres worth $2 million dollars for one season. In return the Rays will get a compensatory sandwich pick between the first and second rounds of this years MLB draft.
Last evening, news broke that the New York Yankees have finally signed RP Rafael Soriano, one of the highest remaining free agents of the offseason. Soriano’s contract is a remarkable 3 year $35 million dollars. Yankees general manager Brian Cashman said last week that the team would not mortgage the future by signing Soriano, despite Soriano stating he would be willing to accept a set up role with the club. This just shows how you cannot take anything a team spokesman says at face value. In return for Soriano, the Rays will now have the 31st pick in the first round in this year’s draft as compensation for losing the closer who recorded 45 saves for the Rays last season.
And for those Rays fans who wanted the club to retain all of these players, here is a staggering figure for you, of the 9 Rays free agents which have signed contracts, those contracts total 19 years of duration and the full value of those contracts are worth a staggering $215 million dollars. And that figure does not include the signings of Grant Balfour, Willy Aybar and Lance Cormier as of yet.
I feel that the Rays have done the best that they could do given the circumstances and I seriously doubt the moves are finished. I have faith that the front office understands what it is doing. The Garza trade allowed a spot on the roster for Jeremy Hellickson, a move that was overdue. These were a series of wise moves for the Rays that are putting together a team that might make another run in 2012 or 2013. However, I am not ruling 2011 out. This is still going to be a very competitive team with one of the best young starting pitching staffs in baseball.
I realize that some Rays fans are having flashbacks to the days of old and are thinking that 2011 is going to be completely lost, the team will be lucky to win 75 games this year. This is not the Rays team of old, have some faith in the moves of the front office and the young talent that this team has groomed. I can easily understand the mindset of what some long time Rays fans must be thinking, I’m also a Tampa Bay Buccaneers fans and after a 3-13 season in 2009, thoughts of the Hugh Culverhouse days flashed into my head. However, look at the season the Buccaneers had this year with very young talent, in a season when not very many analysts predicted them to win more than 6 games.
What are your “Best Rays Moments of 2010″
With only a few more day till we say goodbye to another year, I’d like to reflect on 2010 Rays moments! There are many reasons this past year was fantastic! I really thought 08′ couldn’t be matched. Something inside me says, it’s just gonna keep getting better.
One of the surprising revelations for me was the die hard devotion to the Rays. Whether people agreed… agreed to disagree. The love for the Rays was there. I witnessed it. I saw it first hand!
The never ending talks of our fan base, stadium, the chatter in general, speaks for itself. Someone once told me there’s no such thing as bad publicity (slightly disagree). In general, The Rays are now being talked about. Which is an accomplishment in itself. Especially considering we were once the worst team in baseball! We’ve come a long way!
The Rays and Joe Maddon have so much to be proud of, and I’m proud to be a Rays fan!
What was your best Rays memory of 2010?
Was it the beginning?
Spring Training?
A favorite player meeting?
Opening Day?
Matt Garza’s No No?
Reid Brignac’s clutch homer in 11th inning?
Winning the AL east?
Maddon’s classic ejections?
MFIKY?
The BRayser?
A game that meant alot to you or your family?
The very cool plaid?
A special Rays romance?
Maybe even the Carlos toothbrush holder?
Let’s reminisce about the 2010 Rays. Whatever your moment was I’d love to know … I can’t wait to tell you all about mine!
Ciao for now! Jenny
