| Alex Noshirvan. 20th September, 2005 - 3:56 pm
 Well the future is obviously not now. Why do you ask? Because the Tampa Bay Devil Rays, and their “brilliant” management group has decided against calling up the two best players in the Minor Leagues, Delmon Young and B.J. Upton.
Usually once September comes along in MLB, Tampa Bay is almost always 30 games out of first and the exodus of young minor league talent gets called up once the rosters expand to 40 men.
So who did Tampa call up this September? Eric Munson, Joe Biemel, Lance Carter, and Dewon Brazelton, not exactly the kids to bank the future on. So what was the reason management gave to the fans after they declined to call up Delmon and BJ? That they were tired and needed rest.
Well that my friends is the biggest load of BS this organization has ever tried to pull on us (and there have been a whole load of crappy moves by GM Chuck Lamar and Owner Vince Naimoli, remember Greg Vaughn and his .195 batting average) This organization is not going to ever succeed with these guys at the helm.
So what did Delmon Young think about how this was handled? Well first let me ask how you would feel if you were named Minor League Player of the Year, still felt energized, and ready to test yourself against the best pitching in the world, and some lame-brains (Lamar & Naimoli) tell you that your season is over, because they, NOT YOU, said you were tired. Does that make any sense? NO!
The real reason Delmon and B.J. were not called up is because of their service time. Tampa Bay does not want to have to worry about their arbitration eligibility, so that they can keep them longer for cheaper. So Delmon spoke his mind about what happened, and he started taking heat for just wanting to play ball.
Now Tampa has managed to alienate their two brightest prospects over a month of baseball, which is meaningless. Real Smooth Lamar and Naimoli, real smooth. Both Upton and Young were asked why they were not called up and both of them said, “The only thing I can think of is they’re being Cheap.” Young added, “When it comes to free agency, no use trying to stay around there for the long haul, get your six years and leave.”
Well that always great to hear from the number one pick in the 2004 draft, who hasn’t even stepped into the Trop and he is already thinking about Free Agency.
Lamar claims he told Young in August that he wasn’t going to be called up, but both Young and his agent Arn Tellem dispute that claim. Young has said on numerous occasions he was not even talked to about being promoted in September. This is mind boggling for a team 20 games out of first, why wouldn’t you want to see what Delmon Young could do against a Randy Johnson slider, or Curt Schilling fastball, and give the kid confidence heading into 2006.
Well Chuck Lamar, you really are an idiot, please resign or disappear in the Bermuda Triangle, or just go home, but please stop running this franchise into the ground. |
