Percival back on DL; Talbot up

Following Tuesday's game, the Rays placed veteran closer Troy Percival on the 15-day disabled list with a left hamstring strain.

The team also recalled RH Mitch Talbot from Triple-A Durham; Talbot was 7-6 with a 4.41 ERA in 17 starts for the Bulls, and is being promoted to the big leagues for the first time. In 98 innings, he had 77 strikeouts against just 16 walks.

In Percival's absence, the Rays will likely use a closer-by-committee, with RHP Dan Wheeler, RHP Grant Balfour, LHP J.P. Howell among the candidates.

Comments

[Raymond The Rays Mascot]

I just had a big glass of SWEEP, err sweet Tropicana orange juice to rinse down some chowda stew that has been cooking in the Trop the past two days.

[Ray F]

I hope they play sweet caroline again when the Rays win. That was priceless last Sux series.

[Bodog]

I hear ya brother, got my big industrial broom at the ready too! Sweep em right out the door.

[Ray F]

Bodog,

I wasn't saying to trade FOR Huff. I was saying Talbot was worth Huff because he came over from Houston in the trade that sent Huff there.

I'll be there tonight with my cleaning supplies if you know what I mean.

GO RAYS!

[Bodog]

The cubbies have a young right fielder,right handed bat, that they may be willing to give up as well. I can't think of his name at the moment, but he started for the cubbies in right field before they signed Fukedome. He's got a good bat and he's young and he will fit into the Rays program money wise and the Rays may not have to give up as many prospects to get him.

[Bodog]

Great stuff on the board today, no-one bashing anyone, just great baseball stuff. Ray F, good point, but I don't see Huff in a Rays uniform, we don't need another left handed bat. Talbot came totally out of left field when Percy went on the DL. I agree - he just might be trade bait - he'll go in the pen, get a couple of looks before the trade deadline and off he goes to Pittsburg with Gross, Jackson, and another body for Bay or Nady. I hope it's Nady. As far as that closer issue, I think we all agree it will be Balfour. I sat in section 148 last night and I could see the intensity in his eyes from my seat. Dude got ice water running thru his vain. I'll be in my same seat tonite. Don't forget to wear your blue.

[LariKat]

I am a season ticket holder in Durham. Talbot is not the best we have to offer. He is a complete and utter head case with great stuff. This is a quick fix roster move without having to disrupt the 40-man roster. Reyes will be back shortly and Talbot will be gone.

[Ray F]

Caleb- I'm with you on the rotation. Can you say D-A-M-N!!! That's a nasty rotation.

However,
Jackson isn't an effective closer because he's inconsistent. He may go 8 and give up one run or he could go 2 and give up 6. You can't have a guy that can't stay out of the big inning.

He needs to learn how to pitch around mistakes and regain his focus. He gives up snowball effect runs. Balfour's going to be the guy down the stretch. His fastball must look like it's going 150 miles an hour after JP lights up the gun at 85-87 MHP and the nasty bender before him.

And Wheeler is lights out. I think they should make Wheeler the 7th inning guy and make JP the 8th inning guy so it progressively slows down before the Aussie comes in to spin some heads.

GO RAYS!!!

[Caleb]

Price isn't ready to be brought up and it would be a terrible idea to throw him in the bullpen.

Starters by August should be:

Soctt Kazmir
James Shields
Matt Garza
David Price
Andy Sonnanstine

Relievers:
JP Howell
Trevor Miller
Grant Balfour
Dan Wheeler
Jason Hammel
Al Reyes
Edwin Jackson

Jackson, Reyes, Balfour, and Wheeler should all rotate closing/setup duties.

[Ray F]

My theory with closing pitchers is:

Usually a closer starts out as a starter who has an above average fastball and one off-speed pitch. Most of the successful closers were starters that could get through the lineup once and had trouble the second time through. Put those guys in the bullpen, tell them to put a couple extra feet on his heater, and tell him you only need 3 outs and they usually do really well. A neat paradox is that a good closer must be a consistently ineffective starter without being inconsistent.

With Price- he is lights-out (so far) for 6-7 innings which means he makes adjustments as he goes through the lineup the second and 3rd time through. He should not come up as a closer. He has more than 2 pitches and so far has proven he belongs as a starter at the levels he's played at.

In my opinion, the Yankees took the wrong approach with Joba. I think he will fizzle out fast. But I may be completely wrong about him.

[hockeyjoker]

Here is a question for those who know more about baseball than i do. Would it ever be worth it to bring up price and use him as a closer, kinda like what the yankees did with joba?

[Ray F]

Talbot could possibly be treade bait. He's a good prospect. Not good, but definately worth Aubrey Huff.

I think it would be brilliant to bring him up to give him some MLB experience to up his trade value. He doesn't fit in the long term starting rotation with Price coming up and Garza hitting his stride.

Great move.

GO RAYS!!! I got some good seats behind the Rays dugout for tonight and the sw....... I alomost said it.

I'LL SEE YOU SCUMBAGS OUT THERE!!!

[mm]

Talbot is actually a pretty high regarded prospect. Don't look too much into numbers. Besides, he will be in the bullpen and those numbers are most likely reflecting him as a starter. Look what it did for JP Howell to go to the bullpen.

[Phillip]

Enough with the closer by committee idea!!! Balfour should be the full time closer until Percival is 100% healthy!

[Bill]

Who is this guy? Is he really the best pitcher we could call up? It seems like we have so many solid pitching prospects, that we don't need to call up a guy with a barely .500 record and an ERA over 4.