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The Updated Rays Draft Board! Player Stats Included!

In this post we are going to provide you with an overview of the drafted players by the Rays as well as their signing status (A “check” for signed players, “exclamation point” for not signed yet as well as a “cross” for definitely not signable). After the jump you can find notes on every picks signing status.

Since my last update of the Draft Board 4 pitchers, 11th round selection Alex Koronis, 19th round selection Scott Shuman, 21st round selection Matt Swilley (signing bonus: 150.000 $) as well as the 28th round selection, Zach Rosscup, have signed. And while being a bit concerned that no one of the top 5 picks as well as Kevin James, Pierce Johnson and Dylan Floro are not signed yet I’m especially happy about the signings of the local boy Koronis and the potential high upside pitcher Matt Swilley. Lets hope the Rays get at least 5 of the above mentioned high upside players signed.

Here is the updated Draft Board. Click on the table for the full size version.

Rays Move SS: Bartlett Up, Brignac Down

Jason Bartlett was activated from the DL and the Rays could use his bat and defense as they start to get healthy and consistent again. The Rays send down Reid Brignac who was getting a lot of time at shortstop playing in 21 games, 16 starts at short. He was really free swinging with a O-Swing% of 35.2 but did get his first hits in his Major League career batting .271 and slugging .390. Okay at defense with a UZR/150 at -1.9, Brignac still needs to work on the little things like setting up himself to get the ball out of his glove smoothly. Sending him down to Durham is a good thing as he will get his ABs and be able to work on his swing and plate discipline.

Jason Bartlett figures to be a key part in the lineup which has gotten Burrell back and has several hitters finding their groove in Pena and Zobrist. He gives Maddon a lot of options in the lineup, hitting well in every position in the order except for #3-4, which he hasn’t hit in this season.

Pena Is Really On A Groove: Hardball Time

I posted on Saturday about Carlos Pena’s five game surge. Now a six game surge, the numbers are in at HitTracker Online and Carlos had the longest homer in the Majors on Saturday. Not only was that the longest, but the second highest speed off the bat of the season so far. Just .2 behind Pujols early season shot, Pena’s homer went a true distance of 466 ft and 119.4 mph off the bat. And he really hit is on a line with the elevation angle at 23.6 compared to his average at 28.2 mph. That shot it the scoreboard in rightfield at the Trop.

I am trying to imagine he and Longoria coming back to April form as the 3-4 hitters.

Tee Ball With Shields

Is it possible to throw too many strikes?

Yes, and it shows when you are facing Major League hitters. Even watching from the stands I noticed Shields strike count was insanely high as the Nationals hitters were aggressively pursuing those strikes.

At one point, Shields threw 40 strikes in his first 46 pitches. Still somehow to manage getting out of spots early in the game and go 6.1 innings with only 4 runs allowed. Could have easily been more if he didn’t calm himself down. Getting terrible run support while he is pitching doesn’t help either, having one of the worst run support in the Majors.

Jennings Watch

A quick checkup on Desmond Jennings who has been in Double-A Montgomery:

	G	AB	H	XBH	BB	SO	SB	CS	OBP	SLG
April	21	86	30	12	5	15	6	1	0.389	0.605
May	28	106	39	12	16	14	11	3	0.452	0.547
June	12	49	11	5	7	5	3	0	0.333	0.347

Starting in a little slump this month but I like how his BB/K is improving. Looks like he will get as many extra base hits as the previous two months, so the lack of singles may be a luck thing. He could be trying a little harder than he was earlier with some hopes of moving up to AAA in his mind. Although I would like him to get there this season.

Rays Collect Sweep

June 14, 2009 Box

	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9		R	H	E
Washington	0	1	0	3	0	0	0	0	0		4	9	0
Tampa Bay	0	0	0	2	0	2	0	1	X		5	8	0

Just some short notes of what I noticed in today’s game.

• Kapler is really turning things around hitting three home runs in three straight games, all off lefties.
• James Shields shook off a a bad start early and only allowed 4 runs (could have been more).
• Another player finding it Carlos Pena: 2-3 with a double, a walk, and two runs scored.
• J.P. Howell looks to be a good candidate to get the majority of save situations.
• There should be a warning sign to the pitcher, defense, and the fans as Elijah Dukes sprays line drives everywhere. He got two doubles off hard liners to the deep part of the ball park. Was the first Nats player waiting to take BP and hit some hard line drives into the seats, one going 20 rows back. On the field, he is one of my favorite players to watch in baseball.
• Burrell got two walks and has a .80 BB/K.

Isringhausen To The DL; Abreu Contract Purchased

The Rays have placed Jason Isringhausen on the DL with an elbow injury he suffered in the game last night after making a wild pitch. The Nationals color man Rob Dibble quickly noted it was an elbow pitcher, being a former pitcher himself and probably suffering an elbow injury himself.

The Rays have purchased the contract of minor league pitcher Winston Abreu, who has been excellent at Durham this season. In 32 IP, he has earned 10 saves and getting a 13.78 K/9.

Pena’s Five Game Surge

Carlos Pena has been finding his stroke lately with a five game hitting streak. His hitting line in those games is .412/.500/1.177 with three homers, 6 RBIs, and 8 runs. Three walks to four strikeouts too. What has helped this power surge is hitting the ball on a line more including getting his first opposite field home run of the season on Wednesday. His LD% is 23.1% in this surge up from 16% this season.

Now to keep it consistent as the Rays look to go on surge in the win column.

Jason Isringhausen Leaves Game With Elbow Injury

36 year-old relief pitcher Jason Isringhausen felt pain in his right elbow in his throwing arm after throwing a wild pitch with only one strike away from a win. He immediately pointed to the dugout to signal that he felt pain in his arm. Isringhausen did have elbow surgey this past offseason to repair a torn flexor tendon so it may be that elbow acting up again.

The Rays do have some depth in relief pitching with Chad Bradford in rehab and close to making a return. If not, Dale Thayer is already on the 40-man with veterans Winston Abreu and Jorge Julio at Durham.

But it is easier to hope it is nothing to serious has Isringhausen has been pitching very well and has seen his velocity return.