2010 MLB preview-Rays outfield
Less than 30 days until opening day, and baseball fans are juiced. I know many of my Tampa Bay Ray friends are especially juiced headed into this next year.
It is time for Joe Maddon and crew to finish the story which was laid out in 2008. Enough already with more Yankees and Red Sox BS, it’s time for the Rays to put this loaded team with young talent to the test and overcome the salary disparity in the AL East.
In the coming few days, I’ll be looking at various aspects of your 2010 Rays team. Today, it’s the outfield.
Your starting Left Fielder: Carl Crawford.
[picappgallerysingle id="5540741"]
Crawford is an exceptional talent. He won’t hit 25 home runs, but he will be a definite threat on the base paths, and will most likely approach 50-60 steals once again this year. Crawford is in his contract year, and if the Rays appear to be out of contention during the playoff stretch, I fully expect him to be dealt to another team.
Crawford is one of five active players to have three career in the park home runs. Rays fans should prepare themselves to not see Crawford in left next season. Sad but true, a financial reality of the game.
Your starting Center Fielder- B.J. Upton.
[picappgallerysingle id="1883920"]
Upton has mad skills, but has simply failed to deliver on that dreaded term, “upside potential”. In 2007, B.J. posted a .300BA-24 HR’s and 82 RBI’s but has regressed since then. He’s been benched by manager Joe Maddon for a lack of effort in the past. He reminds me of Andrew Jones who used to play for the Atlanta Braves. Instead of paying attention to detail, he reads too many of his press releases and is in love with himself and his “upside potential”. So B.J., lets see some of that upside. Lets boost that .241 BA last year 30+ points, add 10+ home runs over the measly 11 of last year, and keep stealing the bases.
Rays draft pick, Desmond Jennings is going to press Upton for the CF spot on the roster. He injured his wrist yesterday here in Ft. Myers, and will most likely be playing at AAA level at the start of the year, but Upton needs to look over his shoulder and step his game up. Jennings batted .318 in the minors last year, and was the MVP of the AA Southern League. He’s a legitimate 5 tool outfielder, so get that smirk off your face B.J., because that sound you hear is Jennings coming for your job.
Your starting Right Fielder
Isn’t that the million dollar question heading into the 2010 season? Matt Joyce is starting to look like a career AAA ball player. 2B Sean Rodriguez is looking pretty sharp with the bat in Spring training, so perhaps a platoon once again in RF won’t be out of the question. Most likely we’ll see Gabe “Welcome Back” Kapler , Ben Zobrist and the flavor of the day in another platoon mode in right this year.
After the signing of Texas’s Hank Blalock, major money drain and disappointment DH Pat Burrell said in the media, he might be able to play right field. What? You couldn’t hit a rotten tomato off a fence post last year, and now you want to play right field? Concentrate on your hitting right now, and if you haven’t gotten your game going by the All-Star break, you are outta here my friend.
Buy Tampa Bay Rays Tickets | Buy Tampa Bay Rays Apparel
Leave a Rant
and oh, if you want a pic to show with your comment, go get a gravatar!
FEATURED PARTNERS
