Tampa Bay - not calling up upton/young

[Radar3454]

I am torn on this issue. I can understand why they are not calling them up b/c they are out of contention and don't want to burn service time. I think Young's play warranted a callup and getting some ab's this year could help him prepare for next year. Upton I can understand not calling up b/c as good as he was offensively he really struggled defensively.

 

What do you guys think? Were the DRays right is not calling them up in order to delay arbitration/fa or should they have called them up?

[BigbadB]

I think it was the right call. They aren't going anywhere this year.

[Derwood]

Especially if Lou "White Dusty" Piniella wouldn't play them much

[K-Town]

I think they've earned a call-up, and this is robbing them of an opportunity. Tampa Bay should hope that they have short memories.

[imb]

Asked today why he thought he wasn't called up by the Devil Rays, Delmon Young replied: ''The only thing I can think of is they're being cheap.''

Outstanding. Frankly, we're more upset about B.J. Upton not being recalled, but it's nice to see Young speak up about his club's tactics. Maybe it was just the heat of the moment, but he also suggested tonight that he doesn't see himself retiring as a Devil Ray. ''When it comes to free agency, no use trying to stay around there for the long haul,'' he said. ''Get your six years and leave".

[CuseCubFan69]

The Cubs used to do the same thing...it's just good business. I still wish MLB would contract this team.

[CuseCubFan69]

Asked today why he thought he wasn't called up by the Devil Rays, Delmon Young replied: ''The only thing I can think of is they're being cheap.''

Outstanding. Frankly, we're more upset about B.J. Upton not being recalled, but it's nice to see Young speak up about his club's tactics. Maybe it was just the heat of the moment, but he also suggested tonight that he doesn't see himself retiring as a Devil Ray. ''When it comes to free agency, no use trying to stay around there for the long haul,'' he said. ''Get your six years and leave".

 

That's exactly why Tampa kept them down, they know they won't be able to afford them after 6 years so why start the clock ticking early?

[BigbadB]

I think they've earned a call-up, and this is robbing them of an opportunity. Tampa Bay should hope that they have short memories.

 

Tampa would never be able to afford to keep them after their free agent years anyway, so I don't see what part short memories would play in all of this.

 

The likelihood is that they will be traded for prospects at the deadline in their free agent year.

[K-Town]

I think they've earned a call-up, and this is robbing them of an opportunity. Tampa Bay should hope that they have short memories.

 

Tampa would never be able to afford to keep them after their free agent years anyway, so I don't see what part short memories would play in all of this.

 

That's probably true. Ultimately though, you're probably going to reap what you sow. Are they in ruins because they treat their players like crap, or do they treat their players like crap because they're in ruins?

[BigbadB]

They're an organization that has a smaller team salary than the combined earnings of Derek Jeter and Alex Rodriguez make this year.

 

They will probably always be that way. Why bring up young talent for one month of service time in a season that they have absolutely no snowballs chance of doing anything other than finishing last in the division?

 

Why risk one of these guys having a career ending injury in a meaningless game? Why knock off a year of service time? They have some pretty good talent coming up, as well as some really good talent already on the team. It's not a huge stretch to think they might be able to compete in a few years. Cleveland is doing it now. Oakland has been doing it for years.

 

By waiting until spring to bring these guys up, Tampa doesn't end up with Kazmir, Cantu, Gomes, Upton and Young all becoming free agents at practically the same time.

 

I think it's a good call.

[K-Town]

They're an organization that has a smaller team salary than the combined earnings of Derek Jeter and Alex Rodriguez make this year.

 

They will probably always be that way. Why bring up young talent for one month of service time in a season that they have absolutely no snowballs chance of doing anything other than finishing last in the division?

 

Why risk one of these guys having a career ending injury in a meaningless game? Why knock off a year of service time? They have some pretty good talent coming up, as well as some really good talent already on the team. It's not a huge stretch to think they might be able to compete in a few years. Cleveland is doing it now. Oakland has been doing it for years.

 

By waiting until spring to bring these guys up, Tampa doesn't end up with Kazmir, Cantu, Gomes, Upton and Young all becoming free agents at practically the same time.

 

I think it's a good call.

 

I can see it, to some extent. But if you're adopting this "we're a last place team, so why should we care about Young & Upton" attitude, then is there any wonder why the fans don't care, either?

[BigbadB]

I think that's a loaded question. Does management care about the fans? Darned if you do and darned if you don't, I guess.

 

Bring them up now and watch the team continue to flounder for the remainder of the season and appease the fans, or save the service time for a year when they can actually compete for a division title and appease the fans?

 

I suppose the answer can only come from management themselves. But, small market teams can't operate like large market teams. That's a fact.

[CaliforniaRaisin]

Do you guys think it's a good move when the Rays don't call either up next year? Now that's stupid (or "unconscionable" as Jim Callis said):

 

Ask BA (8/31/05)[/url]"]Second, Topkin reports that shortstop B.J. Upton likely won't be called up from Triple-A Durham in September, and that Upton and Delmon Young may spend next year in the minor leagues. The Devil Rays are focusing on contending in 2007 or 2008, and keeping Upton and Young in the minors would delay their eligibility for arbitration and free agency.

 

If I were a Devil Rays fan, this would make me livid. Upton's defensive problems and need for a position change aside, he and Young are the two most talented players in the minors and ready to play in Tampa Bay. But purely for financial reasons, they won't get that chance next year? That's unconscionable.

[Derwood]

I think that's a loaded question. Does management care about the fans? Darned if you do and darned if you don't, I guess.

 

Bring them up now and watch the team continue to flounder for the remainder of the season and appease the fans, or save the service time for a year when they can actually compete for a division title and appease the fans?

 

I suppose the answer can only come from management themselves. But, small market teams can't operate like large market teams. That's a fact.

 

Floundering? The D'Rays have won 32 games since the ASB. The Cubs have won 28. Just saying.

[BigbadB]

I think that's a loaded question. Does management care about the fans? Darned if you do and darned if you don't, I guess.

 

Bring them up now and watch the team continue to flounder for the remainder of the season and appease the fans, or save the service time for a year when they can actually compete for a division title and appease the fans?

 

I suppose the answer can only come from management themselves. But, small market teams can't operate like large market teams. That's a fact.

 

Floundering? The D'Rays have won 32 games since the ASB. The Cubs have won 28. Just saying.

 

And the Cubs are where in the standings?

 

Just saying.

 

The Rays have the 4th worst record in baseball, 8 1/2 games behind Baltimore within their division.

[Derwood]

I think that's a loaded question. Does management care about the fans? Darned if you do and darned if you don't, I guess.

 

Bring them up now and watch the team continue to flounder for the remainder of the season and appease the fans, or save the service time for a year when they can actually compete for a division title and appease the fans?

 

I suppose the answer can only come from management themselves. But, small market teams can't operate like large market teams. That's a fact.

 

Floundering? The D'Rays have won 32 games since the ASB. The Cubs have won 28. Just saying.

 

And the Cubs are where in the standings?

 

Just saying.

 

The Rays have the 4th worst record in baseball, 8 1/2 games behind Baltimore within their division.

 

I'm not saying they are going anywhere, just that they are playing better 2nd half baseball than the Cubs, which is saying very little

[BigbadB]

Ah, gotcha. Now, if what Raisin is reporting is accurate, forget I said anything.