Rays roster appears set

Though not official, still pending MLB approval and conceivably subject to change, the Rays roster for the division series appears set. The final piece became apparent when RHP Troy Percival said he is not expecting to be on the roster, meaning rookie LHP David Price will be. As will OF Fernando Perez, as the Rays opted for 10 pitchers and 15 position players.

If all goes as planned, this is what they will submit by Thursday's 10 a.m. deadline:

Starters
James Shields
Scott Kazmir
Matt Garza
Andy Sonnanstine

Relievers
Grant Balfour
Chad Bradford
J.P. Howell
Trever Miller
David Price
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
Eric Hinske
Fernando Perez
B.J. Upton


DH
Cliff Floyd

At least five of the players not on the roster will continue to work out and travel with the team, as injured players can be replaced during and between series: C John Jaso, OF Jonny Gomes, RHPs Edwin Jackson, Jason Hammel, and Troy Percival.

Others not chosen include 1B Dan Johnson and OF Justin Ruggiano. C Shawn Riggans and INF Reid Brignac are continuing their recoveries from injury and could be available, if needed, in later rounds.


 

Comments

[Johnny]

I like little boys!

[rocky]

Great roster...Price will make some big outs (especially against the lefties in the White Sox lineup) and Baldelli will be DH when we face the two left handers for the Sox.

Good luck Rays, our defense and speed should rule today and tomorrow...October baseball rocks..Go Rays..

[Bly]

In reality, the story is fantastic but Rocco should have been left off. Hate to say that but he can't play in consecutive nights so you are taking the bat out of someone's hands that can help us every night. It is a cruel world but they can't afford to be sentimentel at a time like this. Can't argue with Maddon this year though and I am pumped for the first pitch.. GO RAYS!!!

I have two tickets in section 145 right over Crawford's shoulder. What are they going for right now?

[Hinske Fan]

Hinske hit a home run, brought in 2 and stole a base in the last out. What do you people want?
He's the best.
I will wear my Hinske shirt tomorrow with pride and joy that he will play. He's been a solid, dependable player and he has 20 HRs...that's a lot you dopes.

[Eric Hinske]

I think you guys are crazy..Hinske will be THE player of the series..Just a fact jack

[9=11]

9 players for 9 innings equals an 11 game win streak starting tomorrow.
stranger things have happened.

[Meg]

Kat: Me too! I am going to arrive when the parking lot opens at 11:00AM, then maybe walk over to Fergs for a short while waiting on the gates to open. I'm VERY excited, especially since I finally got a ticket today!

I don't care if Johnny comes and sits next to me dressed from head to toe in Red Sox gear, because you know what? It's October Post Season Rays Baseball at Tropicana Field in beautiful St Petersburg Florida!

[Johnny]

I use Clearsil twice daily, my mom lost 126lbs so far, I date twins, and I love the SOXS!!!!!!!!!

[WE ALL KNOW]

Johnny is 38 and lives at home with his fat mom in a trailer park.

He's from White Trash City, America but swears he's been a Res SUX fan all his life.

Johnny - get a life. Do something about that acne and meet a nice fat girl. Like your mom.

Loser

[Rex]

Nice guys - Minus one or two idiots; good, intellingent observations.

I much more enjoy this instead of:

Put the stadium in Tampa
The Trop is ugly
Raymond is Ugly
etc

Blah Blah

The cream is risong to the top, now let's blow the top off of the Trop tommorow.

I took the day off - READY to ROCK

RAYS NATION!!

Party Poopers - Move AWAY.

[Razzlegator]

Johnny be dumb.

[Goose Gossage]

Jackson would make a great closer

[Johnny]

Does not matter.
Devil Rays will lose in 4.

[Kat]

Sounds good. I just know that at noon tomorrow I'll be heading to the Trop to go to my first ever play-off game. I'm excited and happy. Anybody else feel that way?

[krd2]

can we get rid of blowme? I'm feeling a need to hurt a ynker fan

[Shoeless Joe Jackson]

Edwin had a chance to clinch a spot for the playoffs in Detroit. He stunk and out he goes.

I think Maddon gave him a chance - he blew it.

He should be there but can't mentally keep his game MLb level. Once he does that he will be a 20 game winner. I wouldn't be surprised to see him traded to Texas in the off season.

[BlowYourself]

Blowme,

Look in the mirror and repeat.....

" I am the meat of Life for I shall not let your meat spoil."

[Marc]

ahhh, I wanted Edwin in there...can't he be listed as a reliever and take over if Kazmir has a blow out?

[price fan]

price is ready, willing, and able, and it's the right decision to put him on the roster. any opinions otherwise are WRONG. get over it.

[BlowMe]

You guys need to get a life.

[Tony]

They need Hinske and Floyd. Both are vets who have been to the playoffs. In fact, Shields himself said that the vets told him what to expect from "playoff atmosphere" so he wouldn't be overwhelmed. Vet presence is SO important. Remember this as well, without Percy this team would never have gotten to the playoffs. He hasn't lost his stuff. He's still clocking at 93 MPH. He's just not the same pitcher he was since he got injured. Jackson is way too inconsistent for the playoffs. I'd rather have Percy in there. I questions the Price decision. I don't know if he's quite ready for playoff baseball. Regular season sure, but maybe not the playoffs.

[Richard]

A great mix of veterans and newcomers. I am glad to see Miller, Hinske and Floyd in there to help keep things settled down when the pressure is high. Do they think we're for real yet?

[9equals8.com]

Ted, Indeed!

TB - Percy has been great for this team and I am sorry that he's "not right". A healthy Percy is a big plus for this team, but he's not healthy.

Bill - I predict that Hinske will have a moment in this series that will make you take that comment back. We shall see.

[Bill]

I think it looks great..........10 pitchers.........maybe I'd carry one more instead of Hinske.....but it's really a wash each way. There is a day off between games 2 and 3.......so relievers that pitch in both games 1 and 2 will be available in game 3.

[TB]

Thank God Percival is not on the playoff roster! He can't close anymore and grant balfour is a better option. I am sick of percival giving up HR and acting like he didn't do anything wrong.

[TED]

It sure is great that its october and we are arguing about rosters.Go Rays

[9equals8.com]

SKP - 10 pitchers is more than enough for a 5-game series. This effectively means that the Rays have 7 pitchers available for each and every game. I suspect Maddon will use Price more for longer outings (2-3 inning situations) since he's the guy that can go longest out of the pen. But, Joe will not need to hold anyone back in the ALDS. If a game went into extras, he can always pull Sonny up as a last resort. I also predict that Shields would come back with 3 days rest if the Rays are down 2-1 going into Game 4. Given that option, Sonny is always available out of the pen in an emergency (e.g. game goes deep into extras and Rays are low on arms).

[9equals8.com]

5:07 - EJ has been a key contributor this year, but he is not fit for the pen. He has always struggled from the pen and in his last appearance out of the pen, he gave up two runs. It's just not his thing and that's OK. He's a valuable member of this team and a key reason for it's success. He should not feel slighted by this move at all as everyone knows you only go with 4 starters (max) in the playoffs.

[skp]

would rather carry an extra reliever, even if it's percival, instead of hinske....he just doesn't add much, whereas you never know when you're gonna need a bunch of relief arms....

looks good joe

[Nick Nunz]

I disagree 5:07...in fact anyone who thinks that is a silly fool. If you had any friends, I would tell them to make fun of you in their email chains.

Jackson should be on the roster. He is a solid option for 4 innings is someone (Kaz) only goes three or four. I would rather have him than Miller.