Team Continue to Add Missing Pieces

With most teams reporting date for pitchers and catchers about a month away, teams continue to sift through the free agent bargain bin, looking for players to fill out their empty roster spots.

To say the least, this has not been a banner year for free agents around the league.

The New York Mets finalized their contract offer to Tim Redding. Redding, who led his club in wins last season, was released by the Nationals after finishing 2008 with a 10-11 record and an era of 4.95. Redding, 31, threw 182 innings last season and struck out 120 batters.

Good news for Mets fans; Redding was 3-1 against the World F*cking Champions last season.

The reigning AL Champs signed free agent outfielder Gabe Kapler to a one year deal worth $1,000,018.

We're assuming that Kapler isn't a pompus ass by requesting the extra $18. We're also assuming that he's going to use that $18 (to pay for a ticket) the first time he tries to get into Tropicana field because nobody knows who the hell he is.

Rays Continue to Strengthen Roster

The 2008 defending World Champs had decided to let longtime outfielder Pat Burrell walk via free agency, and it looks like the runner ups have decided to pick him up.

The Tampa Bay Rays and Pat Burrell have agreed, in principle, on a two year contract worth $16 million.

Burrell (.250/33/86 last season) will most likely take over the DH spot in the Rays lineup.

This move comes a few days after the Rays bolstered their bullpen with the acquisition of Joe Nelson.

Rays Eliminate BoSox, Headed to World Series

Look out Fox Broadcasting Company, with the Rays eliminating the Red Sox and advancing into the World Series for the first time in franchise history, your ratings just went straight to hell.

In what may possibly be one of the most "ho-hum" World Series in the recent playoff history, the Philadelphia Phillies are anxiously awaiting the AL power house Tampa Bay Rays.

Any one West of the Mississippi River will probably tune this one out, as two East Coast teams will battle for the Commissioner's Trophy, leaving much of Baseball America searching for something else on the television.

The best match-up for Fox would have been the lovable Dodgers (or Cubs) vs the Boston Red Sox. Instead, thanks to the Baseball Gods giving us the middle finger, we'll be the recipient of countless cut away shots to Dick Vitale screaming his bald head off and the Phillie Phanatic, launching a hot dog into the seats/blowing something up/sexually violating a sting ray.

How to Fix the Devil Rays

It's a thankless job, but here at 108 Red Stitches, we're more than happy to take on the task of providing ways for ownership to fix the worst team in baseball.

1. Stop drafting outfielders. The Devil Rays outfield is more crowded than an LA Freeway or (going to reach deep into the pocket here) the old Star Jones in a pair of size 0 jeans.
Crawford, Young, Rocco, BJ Upton experiment, Greg Norton, Jonny Gomes, plus countless others in their minor league system.
QUICK FIX: Its time to give up on Rocco Baldelli and let him get a fresh start somewhere else. Trade him to a team like the Padres, who are rich in pitching and might need a new centerfielder in case Mike Cameron decides to leave via free agency at the end of the season. Baldelli would fit nicely in the Padres vast outfield, allowing him to roam and use his speed. He might also see his batting average rise, playing all those games at Coors Field.

2. Pitching. I'm sure this has been said before, but pitching is one of the most important elements needed to win ball games. It's very tough for Scott Kazmir and James Shields to go out and pitch effectively every night, only to have their bullpen blow lead after lead. It has to be mentally debilitating for a pitcher to suffer through the same fate game after game.
QUICK FIX: Again, a surplus of outfielders could bring in some pitching help. There are a ton of free agent outfielders this season and most will command big dollars (Hunter, Cameron, Andrew Jones, Corey Patterson). Teams looking for a cheap alternative could find one in the Devil Rays system.

3. Fan Base. I know, you ask, but how can fan base translate into winning or losing games? Try playing 81 games in front of less than 3,000 people showing up. Of the 3,000 half could give a damn about what's going on in the field, and the other half are from out of town. Your biggest crowd comes when the Yankees are in town, which is basically like playing an additional 10 games on the road. We're not saying its the fan's fault that the Rays are awful, but give them something to root for, and maybe, you'll begin to understand what a home field advantage is.
For more info on this subject visit this old ESPN PAGE 2 ARTICLE


4. Respect Factor. If you want to bring in a quality free agent player, you need to be serious about your franchise. No one is going to play for a franchise hoping completely disappear
off the baseball map. The quote from the film "Field of Dreams" applies in this case; "If you build it, they will come." Make that investment in a quality arm or a power bat that isn't on the downslope of a career (see Wade Boggs, Jose Canseco). Show other players that your team is committed to winning now and in the long term. Nobody wants to play for a AAAA team, and wait to be traded to a contender around the deadline.

5. Move Out of the AL East. Maybe a change of "leaguery" would be good for the organization. I'm not advocating re-alignment or contraction, but the move seemed to have (eventually) paid off for the Brew-Crew.