Bay Area Baseball

Oh what a run to the World Series will do for you. Experts are slobbering all over the Tampa Bay Rays after their shocking run through the playoffs last season. Fans would be wise to temper their expectations though, as the team has many indicators that suggest that Tampa is due for a rough season.

Tampa Bay’s 2008 success leaned heavily on their bullpen, pitchers like Grant Balfour, JP Howell, Troy Percival and Dan Wheeler all had career seasons. David Price was a revelation in the playoffs. The Rays have added in 2009, signing Jason Isringhausen and others in an attempt to bolster their ranks.

Wheeler, Balfour and Howell all threw major innings last season and in the playoffs all three were exposed by both the Boston and Philadelphia offenses. Wheeler looked worn out and Balfour’s volatile demeanor led to critical leads going by the wayside in Game 6 of the ALCS and Game 5 of the World Series. Percival is one pitch away from retirement and Price is headed to the rotation. Isringhausen is a no risk addition but should not be counted on as the closer for 2009.

Tampa will have to lean heavily on its lineup and young stars Evan Longoria and BJ Upton. Both will need to put together full and healthy seasons after battling injury down the stretch. If one were to go down don’t be shocked if the 2009 Rays season mirrors that of the 2008 Rockies, a team coming off its first real postseason run that saw its season fall apart in the form of a Troy Tulowitzki injury.

Maybin is a five tool athlete.

Original Picks
6 Ricky Romero Toronto Blue Jays
7 Troy Tulowitzki Colorado Rockies
8 Wade Townsend Tampa Bay Devil Rays
9 Mike Pelfrey New York Mets
10 Cameron Maybin Detroit Tigers

New Picks
6 Toronto Blue Jays - Cameron Maybin, OF - Five tool star should be in the majors to stay in 2009. Toronto would be lucky to have him along side Vernon Wells and Alex Rios for years to come.
7 Colorado Rockies - Matt Gamel, 3B - A built in replacement at either corner for Garret Atkins or Todd Helton, Gamel is a power bat who could fill a role in the Colorado lineup.
8 Tampa Bay Devil Rays - Andrew McCutchen, OF - It might be overkill to have this athlete in the Rays system, but he would look great in the outfield with BJ Upton and Carl Crawford.
9 New York Mets - Mike Pelfrey, RHP - The Mets have to be pleased with the way that Pelfrey progressed in 2008. He looks like he will be able to support Johan Santana in the #2 spot in their rotation.
10 Detroit Tigers - Brian Matusz, LHP - He didn’t sign in 2005, but the 08 first rounder is the type of lefthander teams dream about with three pitches that rate at above-average.

You bet Joba Chamberlain goes in the top five this time around.

Original Order:
1 Luke Hochevar Kansas City Royals
2 Greg Reynolds Colorado Rockies
3 Evan Longoria Tampa Bay Rays
4 Brad Lincoln Pittsburgh Pirates
5 Brandon Morrow Seattle Mariners

New Picks

1 Kansas City Royals - Tim Lincecum, RHP - Should be no doubt about this choice, Lincecum won the National League Cy Young in 2008, while Hochevar went 6-13 with an earned run average north of 5.

2 Colorado Rockies - Evan Longoria, 3B - He went third in 06 and would move up if it happened again, Reynolds has been a disappointment while Longoria has all the makings of a perennial all star.
3 Tampa Bay Devil Rays - Joba Chamberlain, RHP - Righty flamethrower was drafted low because of injury concerns, he hasn’t done much to alleviate those by missing starts last season but his incredible repertoire would fit right in with the Rays’ pitching depth.
4 Pittsburgh Pirates – Matt Laporta, OF/1B – Sure Laporta didn’t sign with the Red Sox, who drafted him, but his premium bat would certainly be worth first round money in hindsight.
5 Seattle Mariners – Clayton Kershaw, LHP – The top high school lefty in the draft has experienced some major league success so far. His future looks bright and he should be in the Dodgers rotation this year. Seattle has to be happy with the selection of Morrow, but Kershaw’s upside as a lefthander surpasses that of the right-handed Morrow.