Marc Topkin answered your questions
You wanted to know about Carlos Pena's All-Star candidacy. Dioner Navarro's stuggles. And, $1 hot dog nights? Rays beat reporter Marc Topkin answered these questions and more during a live chat this afternoon. Click the link below to replay the chat.
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.
I dont think Marc knows anything that any of us couldnt learn from listening to the pregame and reading espn.com. He didnt seem to have much confidence and really beat around the bush on the though questions. I would really like to have a Q&A with Andrew or Stu. But im sure thats impossible.
Posted by: KennyNance | July 08, 2009 at 04:21 PM
Why does Maddon refuse to change the batting order, especially when it has only worked about 50% of the time (.536)? Upton is not really a leadoff hitter with a .240 AVG, .330 OBP, 74 hits, 41 walks, and 92 K's. Leading off games, he's hitting .121, .240 OBP, 9 hits, 9 walks, and 19 K's. It's nice to have his speed on base (if he ever gets on).
Posted by: BB | July 08, 2009 at 12:07 PM
Marc
What's the latest with our draft picks, particularly picks in the first 5 rounds and Austin Maddox? All the scouting reports on those guys are very favorable, going over slot money seems like the thing to do to get them signed, but in what order? Has the Cesar Perez signing "shown" the Rays hand to these draft picks how much $$$ they are willing to give to get them to sign?
Posted by: Mikey A | July 08, 2009 at 11:50 AM
Mark,
Can you explain why the Rays exposed Winston Abreu, who seemed to have good potential in the pen for only two appearences? Can you also tell me your thoughts on who we got for him and what we should expect from him?
Bill
Posted by: Bill | July 07, 2009 at 12:31 PM
I would like to understand the rational of moving Niemann around in the rotation. Keeping his routine regular appears to be the least concern of management and when he performs his best - and better than some of the other starters- is when they seem to react with bumping him. Is there more to the situation than just aligning the other starters? Why is he the only one who has to adjust to the changing schedules? It seems disrespectful to him and his talent.
Posted by: kay | July 01, 2009 at 06:08 PM