Bogar joining Rays as "quality assurance" coach; Other tidbits from organizational meetings

The Rays added former major leaguer Tim Bogar to their major league coaching staff as a "quality assurance" coach.

Bogar's duties will include coordinating spring training schedules, series preparation and serving as a liason between the scouting department and the ball club. He will watch the Rays from the stands and scout them like an opponent would, research upcoming opponents and do a lot of the advance leg work.

"I know this is a radical approach to baseball," Rays manager Joe Maddon said. "But so was the bench coach when that came along, so was the DH, so was color television at some point. With all the information that's available to us and all the different things that the coaches have to do on a daily basis, I want the coaches to be able to really be able to get involved with the players as much as possible."

"We're trying to get somebody to try to get ahead of our own mistakes," Maddon said. 

Bogar -- who managed in the minor leagues the last four seasons, including the past two at the Indians' Double-A team in Akron, Ohio -- will be in uniform during spring training assisting with infield and base-running instruction.

Other nuggets out of Thursday's media session:

-- The team wrapped up three days of organizational meetings and didn't come to a conclusion on whether Evan Longoria is ready to assume the starting third-baseman duties on Opening Day. Executive VP Andrew Friedman said he'd like to go in with a set plan before spring training. Maddon said he'd like to see it play out in spring training. "We know he's going to be our third baseman," Maddon said. "It's just a matter of when."

-- Maddon said that he sees five pitchers (Jason Hammel, Edwin Jackson, Andy Sonnanstine, J.P. Howell and Jeff Niemann) fighting for the two open spots in the rotation. Scott Kazmir, James Shields and Matt Garza are already in.

-- Friedman said he  would "be surprised" if the Rays didn't sign their four remaining arbitration eligible players (Scott Kazmir, Jonny Gomes, Dan Wheeler and Carlos Pena) before having to exchange figures a week from Friday. Even though teams are allowed to keep negotiating after figures are exchanged, as per team policy, if deals aren't worked out be then, Friedman said they will go to arbitration.

-- The team is still seaking a superutility player, more likely through trade than via the free-agent market, Friedman said, and perferably one who can play both all three outfield positions. With Rocco Baldelli's health unclear, the Rays currently don't have a backup centerfielder to B.J. Upton, but internal possibilities like Justin Ruggiano exist. They will also try Joel Guzman and Chris Richard in the outfield this spring.

-- The search for a left-handed reliever continues (also through the trade market), but Maddon said there are other possibilities, including moving Howell to the pen if he doesn't make the rotation.

-- Among the non-roster invitees this spring will be RHPs Wade Davis and Chris Mason, LHP Jacob McGee and SS Reid Brignac.

-- The Rays promoted Nick Paparesta to major league assistant athletic trainer. Paparesta, who was based out of the Rays' minor league complex, will join head trainer Ron Porterfield and assistant Paul Harker as the Rays third trainer at the major league level in attempt to share the workload and increase their injury prevention programs.

-- The Rays named minor league hitting coordinator Steve Livesey the organization's Player Development Man of the Year and Fred Repke the Scout of the Year.

-- The organization also promoted Mark Vinson to Minor League Rehabilitation and Athletic Training Coordinator, Jmmy Southard to Triple-A Durham trainer, Joel Smith to Double-A Montgomery trainer.

-- Former major league bench coach Bill Evers will be a professional scout, as will Joe Nigro. Kevin Elfering was named East Coast Crosschecker; named area scouts  Evan Brannon (Florida territory), Jayson Durocher (New Mexico; Arizona; Colorado; Utah; El Paso, Texas) and Brian Hickman (Midwest) and named Scott Thurston the trainer at rookie league Princeton.

Comments

[Gene]

Raysfan,

I agree with your points, but that is why we need to see him in the spring. Yes, I know that it is not the same level of competition as the regular season, but the pressure to produce is. He is not a kid just out of HS who needs some experience. If he has the maturity to handle some 0 for 4 days and still keep his head up, the bat and glove will come with.

[parrish]

college players do not need the same amount of time in the minors as a high school player. I think if Longoria has a good spring,he will open at 3rd base.

[raysfan2]

raysfan, it's not THAT uncommon for a top draft pick out of college to make it to the majors after a year and a half in the minors. Ryan Zimmerman only had 250 at bats in the minors in less than a year before he got called up.

There are plenty of baseball guys in the Rays front office. People keep saying the Rays are being run by businessmen and non-baseball people, but they have baseball people around them. Theo Epstein isn't a "baseball person" but he's in charge of the Red Sox. He has baseball people around him.

[Sean]

raysfan,

By playing in college and last year in the minors he has played as much minor league ball as Delmon Young did (Delmon missed 50 games due to suspension). I am not saying he is ready, but I do not agree with your reasons. If they rays call him up I will be happy, and if the Rays send him down for two months I will be happy. As long as he is here by the all star break...

[raysfan]

jtb and sean --

my point about longoria is that it doesn't matter how well he does in the minors in such a short period of time. his great numbers, while they are relevant to some, in my mind, are irrelevant because of the short amount of time we're looking at that he's spent down there. what can be gained by rushing him up to MLB and watching him flounder? those numbers will NOT translate to the bigs. he's going to come up and he's going to suck at first. but the question is, how long will it take him to adjust to MLB pitching. we know he's got the talent, but he's got to make the adjustment.

i always hesitate when people try to justify bringing a guy up because of sick numbers in the minors. that's not the only factor. the expectations are just too high and the numbers just will not replicate themselves in the majors. this is why i think he needs to wait longer and NOT be the opening day starter. i don't trust ownership on this one. they're not baseball people; they're businessmen. hopefully people will make the right choice and give it more time.

[JTB]

raysfan:

- hunsicker is pretty much a special adviser to the GM (or whatever the rays term is for GM). this quality assurance coach sounds completely different.

- edwin jackson was quite a bit better than sonnanstine in the 2nd half of last year. check the numbers.

- longoria might need a little time in AAA, but he doesn't have much left to prove in the minors. 888 OPS in over 100 ABs in AAA...if he's not ready now, he will be before the all-star break.

[Sean]

Hey man who cares if they are the first team to do it. Basically all they did was hire another pair of eyes to help them scout. How can that be a bad thing?

As for Longoria, he is older than Delmon Young who made his debut last year. I know Delmon played more minor league ball but Longoria played 2 years of college and was just ridiculous in all the minor leagues except for AAA. But he did the same thing when he was promoted to AA at the of the year. Hit about .270 and the ripped it up in the post season and the following season. With the exception of BJ Upton, the rays have never rushed anybody to the majors so I don't see them starting now. If he gets promoted it is because they think he is ready. That being said I hope Evan spends April and some of May in the minors.

With Sonnastine I don't think he should be lumped in with Howell and Hammel neither but that is because I think they are only going to become AAAA players in the majors. I really think it is between Niemann, Jackson and Sonnastine for the final 2 spots. One of hammel or Howell will probably make it with the other one going to the pen but they will be on a very short leash and Niemann will get the call up after 10 starts.

[raysfan]

-- quality assurance coach? is the implication that the rays are the first organization to try this idea? uhm, and wasn't that sort of gerry hunsicker's job description up there, minus the part about going to the games?

-- andy sonnanstine doesn't need to fight for a job at this point among that scraggly gang of lightweights. he shouldn't be an "if" at this point. that's ridiculous. he and the likes of JP howell are not in the same class.

-- evan longoria starting at 3B in '08?!?! what the h-e-double-hockeysticks is the rush to get this guy into the majors? didn't we only draft him, like, TWO years ago? i don't care how good he is in the minors. minor league to major league is a BIG BIG jump. this guy is too young and it's just too soon. WHAT IS THE RUSH?!

we traded away an infielder and now we've got a problem. we need another one. trade somebody (not just ANYBODY) to get this so-called superutility (that's not even a word) infielder so we don't have to haul longoria up here so soon. it doesn't work, people. major league pitching is going to kick his @$$ unless he can get more time in the minors first. no offense evan but that's just how it goes.