Rays make roster official
The Rays this morning made official that there would be no changes to their roster for the World Series from the ALCS. That means OF Gabe Gross is still active and OF Eric Hinske is not, and they are sticking with 11 pitchers and 14 position players despite having three games this weekend under NL rules.
The roster:
PITCHERS
LHP Scott Kazmir
RHP James Shields
RHP Matt Garza
RHP Andy Sonnanstine
RHP Grant Balfour
RHP Chad Bradford
LHP J.P. Howell
RHP Edwin Jackson
LHP Trever Miller
LHP David Price
RHP Dan Wheeler
Catchers
Dioner Navarro
Michel Hernandez
Infielders
Willy Aybar
Jason Bartlett
Akinori Iwamura
Evan Longoria
Carlos Pena
Ben Zobrist
Outfielders
Rocco Baldelli
Carl Crawford
Gabe Gross
Fernando Perez
B.J. Upton
DH
Cliff Floyd
*
Follow Tampa Bay Rays baseball from spring training to the World Series with Marc Topkin, Joe Smith and the St. Petersburg Times sports staff. From Evan Longoria to B.J. Upton and James Shields, we're your source for Tampa Bay Rays scores and schedules.
Would like to see Riggins instead of Hernandez and Hinske instead of Gross. Apparently, Riggins isn't well enough to play. Gross has not had a good postseason and should be replaced. Hinske had better numbers than Gross during the season. I hope Joe knows what he's doing once again.
Posted by: BB | October 22, 2008 at 07:49 PM
As for my opinion of Gross vs Hinske, id stick with Gross. First off, Gross is a lot better defensively. Plus, Gross isnt going to stay in this slump forever, while there was no sign of Hinske ever breaking out of his. Gross has still had some pretty nice hacks, just hasnt gotten lucky with them. But if he finds himself in a pressure situation you better believe he will rise to the occassion.
Posted by: Ryan | October 22, 2008 at 06:49 PM
GIMME SOME COWBELL!!!!!!!!!!
Posted by: Ryan | October 22, 2008 at 06:47 PM
Hinske should be in.
Gross should be out.
Bottomline!
Posted by: BigRay | October 22, 2008 at 05:41 PM
I guess I'm OK with it. Would like to see Hinske get a chance and would love to see Riggans there to catch Garza. Great chemistry between those two. Don't know if Gross could hit a beachball right now. Hope he snaps out of it. Hasn't looked that great in the field either. Maybe give Perez some more work. GO RAYS!!!!!!
Posted by: ric | October 22, 2008 at 04:05 PM
if you're going to use Price, you might as well use Fernandez in RF .... Gross brings next to nothing to the table
Posted by: Unlce Freddie | October 22, 2008 at 03:34 PM
I agree with Ken. Joe and Andrew have earned our trust on moves like this. How anyone can second guess them at this point is beyond me.
Posted by: Bill | October 22, 2008 at 02:13 PM
Joe knows baseball . . . 9. Yankee's fans have been rooting for the Rays since September . . . I have some buddies who are Yanks fans, when I start talking about the Rays, the response is "baseball? I thought it was football season!!!"
I love it.
GO RAYS!!!!!
Posted by: TXDave | October 22, 2008 at 02:01 PM
"Fools" Tim, why do you bother? The team is ALREADY in the World Series and a big part of the reason they got here is GABE GROSS, like it or not. I feel bad for Hinske but he didn't light it up at the end of the year either.
Go Rays!
Posted by: Tom | October 22, 2008 at 02:00 PM
ALL YOU FOOLS CAN SAY WHAT YOU WANT.BETTER HOPE AND PRAY A DECIDING PLAY DOES NOT COME GROSS'S WAY. HE IS CLEARLY OVER MATCHED BY THE SPOTLIGHT OF PLAYOFF BASEBALL.ERIC GOT SHAFTED AGAIN.WHAT A JOKE!
Posted by: TIM | October 22, 2008 at 01:34 PM
Doh. I know how to spell Hinske's name. Really.
I need more coffee even though it's already 1:00, apparently.
Posted by: Helene | October 22, 2008 at 01:18 PM
I like Hinskie and kinda want to see Gross benched on principle, but yeah, I wouldn't expect him to be much of an upgrade, especially in the field (sorry Hinskie.) Hopefully Gabe will shake off whatever the heck has been wrong with him (nerves? Who knows.)
"3. They are who we thought they were!"
Heh. Kudos for the reference to the most awesome press conference ever.
Posted by: Helene | October 22, 2008 at 01:14 PM
Invest in Cowbell Futures, take a longo position!
Posted by: Archie | October 22, 2008 at 12:48 PM
Ladies and Gentlemen,
The time has come to admit a few things about 2008 baseball...here they are in order of importance:
1. Attitude is Everthing.
2. Pigs can and do fly!
3. They are who we thought they were!
4. Power and Speed are good things.
5. TBS, ESPN and FOX have a lot to learn.
6. The school board does not understand baseball.
7. John Kruk should get on the phone to Dan, Don or Mike Golic, FAST.
8. Boston fans are now rooting for the Rays.
9. Yankee's fans have been rooting for the Rays since September.
10. Duh, there are no cowbell shortages.
GO RAYS!
RAISE some hell tonight!
Posted by: joeknowsbaseball | October 22, 2008 at 12:45 PM
how did hinske get the shaft? I think he could be more valuable the gross. but i love'em both
Posted by: | October 22, 2008 at 12:33 PM
Ken, Perfectly put. "we've learned that Maddon and Friedman are smarter than you or me"
Posted by: Perfect | October 22, 2008 at 12:25 PM
I got a feeling that Gross is going to come out of his postseason slump. Just as the season has always been, someone will step-up when they need to. Gross will be there.
Posted by: Mike S. | October 22, 2008 at 12:24 PM
Marshall @ 11:59 -- Yes. Just look at Hinske's numbers in the last month or so of the season. Or are you still wishing they'd traded a couple of our high-end pitching prospects for Jason Bay? I think at this point, if we've learned nothing else, we've learned that Maddon and Friedman are smarter than you or me. Trust Joe. Trust Andrew. And enjoy.
Posted by: Ken | October 22, 2008 at 12:03 PM
could eric hinske do any worse than gabe gross' 1 for 16?
Posted by: Marshall | October 22, 2008 at 11:59 AM
Looks good. Go out and make us proud! LETS GO RAYS!!!!
Posted by: Mike | October 22, 2008 at 11:35 AM