Durham Bulls 2.0

Game 138: Bulls 2, Braves 10
Season: 78-60
Games Left in Season: 6; Home Games: 3
Box

Again, I will commend to you other accounts of last night’s game. If you are feeling a bit down and just want to get it over with, then this might suit you. If you’re deeply into pain and suffering, or deeply depressed and in need of something to push you over the edge, this might be more to your liking.

I don’t know where the Bulls’ heads were last night, but it sure wasn’t at the DBAP. I will note that the 32nd and 33rd pitchers of the year were on the mound.

I’d rather take a stab at understanding the 2.0 version of the Durham Bulls. Please keep in mind my most recent post regarding the interest that the Rays have in our fortunes. To wit: none, zero, nada. Suck it up, Durham. We want these guys up here so they can see how the big leaguers lose a playoff race.

(OK. Take a breath, C. ... Better?)

Players on the 40-man roster of Tampa Bay are marked with an asterisk. They are much more subject to call up in the next couple of days, but have not, so far as I know, been called yet.

Pitchers:

With the Wade Davis call up and Nelson DFA, here’s what’s left:

• Jason Cromer
• Jeremy Hellickson
• Rayner Oliveros
• Heath Rollins
• Paul Phillips
• Dale Thayer *
• Joe Bateman
• Julio DePaula
• Winston Abreu
• Calvin Medlock

First impressions of the new guys from Montgomery (Oliveros, Rollins, and Phillips) are pretty good. We’re about two short of what we need for the next several games and Thayer could get called up at any moment (the Rays used 8 pitchers in a real fiasco last night). Montgomery’s season lasts just as long as ours, but maybe someone could be pulled up for the playoffs. I suppose that Joe Nelson could actually show back up, depending on contracts, agents, other ML teams, etc. I’m assuming Carlos Hernandez and Mitch Talbot are not part of the picture.

Catchers:

• John Jaso *
• Craig Albernaz
• Michel Hernandez

We can go back to carrying three catchers now. I don’t see Jaso going up unless Riggans goes on the DL again.

Infielders:

• Reid Brignac *
• Joe Dillon
• Elliot Johnson *
• Henry Mateo
• Ray Olmedo
• Chris Richard
• Sean Rodriguez *

Tampa folks are so high on Rodriguez I gotta figure he’ll go up there after only a few days here. Reid and Elliott? Don’t know. Hard to guess. But in any case we are not in desperate shape for infielders.

Outfielders:

• Justin Ruggiano *
• Desmond Jennings
• Matt Joyce *

Pretty sure that Matt Joyce will be getting a call up. Doubt that Justin will. We’ve got a problem here, but Johnson has played some outfield and Montgomery has a couple of good guys available for the playoffs.

So where do we stand overall? Here’s my answer — It’s in the hands of Charlie Montoyo. Seems to me the talent is there (sure, need some pitching and at least one outfielder), but orchestrating the talent we have and keeping things sorted out in the clubhouse is what will make the difference. Norfolk and Charlotte have been stirred up as well. X. has his work cut out for him working with the new pitchers (as do Jaso and Michel Hernandez). But building a team, well the old hands (Chris Richard, Justin Ruggiano, Joe Dillon, Henry Mateo, Ray Olmedo) are going to have to step in and help keep on top of things.

In the end, it seems like we’re in pretty good shape. It could have been worse. It could get worse given Tampa Bay’s attitude. But at this moment, we’re OK.

Just no more games like last night.