We'll start by saying that our posts of early March when we declared our love for the prop bet WILL DEVIL RAYS FINISH LAST IN THEIR DIVISION? Yes -2400 No +1500....with our love being directed to the NO play.
Well others obviously agree on accounta the price has dropped to -1400/+700.
We didn't actually get down until +800 and dropped $50 on it then. We've added another $100 at +700.
Here's a breakdown of why we believe the Rays are a solid shot to win 81+.
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We moved to Clearwater in spring of 1998 and attended the Devil Rays' inaugural game at the Fruit Dome. We watched them blow manatee cock for five years, wading thru headlines about Wilson Alvarez, Ramon Hernandez, Jose Canseco, Greg Vaughan and Wade Boggs.
The management gives relatively no payroll, but along the way they draft a good collection of young talent. And in winter 2002 they made the best move ever by bringing in a legitimate manager in Pinella.
Let's compare the 2004 Rays to last year.
1B - Tino Martinez/Robert Fick will provide a much more balanced and powerful punch than last year's Travis Lee.
2B - Rey Sanchez/Geoff Blum and
3B - Damian Rolls
Should provide a fair upgrade to last year's Marlon Anderson/Rolls/Jared Sandberg etc
SS - Julio Lugo...did not arrive until late May last year fresh from domestic troubles in Houston. But within a month, he was providing good solid power from the SS position and given a full season, could pop 20+ HRs and 90+ RBI. A full season of Lugo means no time from total spares like Valentin.
OF - The combo of Crawford, Baldelli and Joe Cruz Jr may be the best in the league.
Yep. Better than the NYY, since Lofton is a shell of former self. Better than the Bostons unless Damon returns to full form.
Better than the Anaheims? Well OK, let's agree they are in the Top 3-4 combos leaguewide.
Look for Cruz to be the Comeback Player of the Year with another 30/30 type season.
DH- Huff will get some time in the OF, but will primarily just bang the baseball.
C - Toby Hall had the best percentage throwing out baserunners in the league last year and is entering just his second FULL season. His 252 average could go up a bit.
The Rays team BA could bust .280 this year, which would put them in the Top 4 offensively.
HR power will be up thanks to Fick, Cruz and a full season of Lugo.
The team ERA should drop at least a half run, which would make last year's 11th ranked staff a Top 7 type team.
"Hear me now, and tell me later.."....the Rays starting staff could combine for 65 wins by themselves.
Zambrano, Gonzalez, Waechter and Abbott are all legit 12-14 game winners. And Hendrickson and Halama provide a great chance for a fifth LH starter. Finally, Jorge Sosa gives them a legit shot at yet another SP. So watch and see that if they are in .500 range come July, that one of the above gets traded to add more prospects to the budding group percolating in the minors....Dewon Brazelton, BJ Upton, Delmon Young (Josh Hamilton?? ever? Please, kid get yer shit together)....
There's no longer 3-4 'easy outs' in this lineup. In fact, most days, aside from Sanchez there will be eight very solid major league bats.
Combine that with the solid core of pitchers (none an 'ace', but all could be solid 3rd starters for most teams) and we like the Rays to surprise the crap out of the AL and finish 3rd...
And sadly, probably at least a dozen games distant from Wild Card Boston or NYY.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
WHAT does this mean to US, the investors?
GREAT news, as the Rays will be dogs in virtually every road game for the first 3 months and likely dogs or low favorites for all home games.
We think they can win 38 in first half and given so much Plus money prices, they should be a great investment most days.
See ya in about five hours for the first pitch!
Well others obviously agree on accounta the price has dropped to -1400/+700.
We didn't actually get down until +800 and dropped $50 on it then. We've added another $100 at +700.
Here's a breakdown of why we believe the Rays are a solid shot to win 81+.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
We moved to Clearwater in spring of 1998 and attended the Devil Rays' inaugural game at the Fruit Dome. We watched them blow manatee cock for five years, wading thru headlines about Wilson Alvarez, Ramon Hernandez, Jose Canseco, Greg Vaughan and Wade Boggs.
The management gives relatively no payroll, but along the way they draft a good collection of young talent. And in winter 2002 they made the best move ever by bringing in a legitimate manager in Pinella.
Let's compare the 2004 Rays to last year.
1B - Tino Martinez/Robert Fick will provide a much more balanced and powerful punch than last year's Travis Lee.
2B - Rey Sanchez/Geoff Blum and
3B - Damian Rolls
Should provide a fair upgrade to last year's Marlon Anderson/Rolls/Jared Sandberg etc
SS - Julio Lugo...did not arrive until late May last year fresh from domestic troubles in Houston. But within a month, he was providing good solid power from the SS position and given a full season, could pop 20+ HRs and 90+ RBI. A full season of Lugo means no time from total spares like Valentin.
OF - The combo of Crawford, Baldelli and Joe Cruz Jr may be the best in the league.
Yep. Better than the NYY, since Lofton is a shell of former self. Better than the Bostons unless Damon returns to full form.
Better than the Anaheims? Well OK, let's agree they are in the Top 3-4 combos leaguewide.
Look for Cruz to be the Comeback Player of the Year with another 30/30 type season.
DH- Huff will get some time in the OF, but will primarily just bang the baseball.
C - Toby Hall had the best percentage throwing out baserunners in the league last year and is entering just his second FULL season. His 252 average could go up a bit.
The Rays team BA could bust .280 this year, which would put them in the Top 4 offensively.
HR power will be up thanks to Fick, Cruz and a full season of Lugo.
The team ERA should drop at least a half run, which would make last year's 11th ranked staff a Top 7 type team.
"Hear me now, and tell me later.."....the Rays starting staff could combine for 65 wins by themselves.
Zambrano, Gonzalez, Waechter and Abbott are all legit 12-14 game winners. And Hendrickson and Halama provide a great chance for a fifth LH starter. Finally, Jorge Sosa gives them a legit shot at yet another SP. So watch and see that if they are in .500 range come July, that one of the above gets traded to add more prospects to the budding group percolating in the minors....Dewon Brazelton, BJ Upton, Delmon Young (Josh Hamilton?? ever? Please, kid get yer shit together)....
There's no longer 3-4 'easy outs' in this lineup. In fact, most days, aside from Sanchez there will be eight very solid major league bats.
Combine that with the solid core of pitchers (none an 'ace', but all could be solid 3rd starters for most teams) and we like the Rays to surprise the crap out of the AL and finish 3rd...
And sadly, probably at least a dozen games distant from Wild Card Boston or NYY.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
WHAT does this mean to US, the investors?
GREAT news, as the Rays will be dogs in virtually every road game for the first 3 months and likely dogs or low favorites for all home games.
We think they can win 38 in first half and given so much Plus money prices, they should be a great investment most days.
See ya in about five hours for the first pitch!
