Ray ready to make most of callup

[LittleOzzy]

Rookie Robert Ray isn't going to get worked up over the recent comments made by Blue Jays general manager J.P. Ricciardi. Ray does not plan on using what Ricciardi said about the young pitcher as a source of motivation, either.

Ricciardi said last week that Ray and fellow Toronto rookie Brett Cecil probably aren't ready for the Major Leagues -- that the pair were promoted more out of necessity than anything else. Reminded of this, Ray just smiles and -- after a moment -- admits that the Blue Jays' GM might be right in his assessment.

That doesn't matter, though. Ready or not, Ray is scheduled to make his second career start for the Blue Jays on Thursday in the finale of their two-game set with the Angels.

"Honestly, I just want to take care of my job," Ray said. "I just want to go out and give us a chance to win and focus more on that. You know, maybe he's right. Maybe we weren't quite ready, or it wasn't the perfect time to bring us up. The fact is we're here now and we have to do what we can to help the team."

http://toronto.bluejays.mlb.com/news/ar ... p&c_id=tor

[tecumseh18]

JP has been so weird this season. He's been doing a "last season Babcock", tamping down expectations at every turn. Of course I expect him to say completely unprofessional things as a matter of course, but for some reason I'm surprised at how he continually comes up with new ways of being an a-hole.

It's especially jarring this season, when maybe even R. Griffin would be finally ready to embrace the guy based on how the kids are doing so far.

[tsherkin]

Even if it's true (which it certainly is, given the way Cecil pitched in ST and in the minors), there's absolutely no good reason to say a thing like that. Ricciardi has a history of being an idiot and a douche in the press, but really? This wasn't Adam Dunn, this was a player on your own frikkin' team, JP.

I hope Ray throws a perfect game, and in the postgame tells Ricciardi to die in a fire.

[Alfred]

I guess JP wasn't expecting to have to call either of these guys up? I really don't understand why he would say something like that.

[BasketballAbyss]

Heh. JP is a confusing guy. He says so many out of line things to the press but a lot of times when I'd listen to him on the fan (Wednesdays with JP) he was pretty polite with the callers and stuff.

Let's see, I remember JP shating on Adam Dunn, calling out our third, fourth and fifth starters back in '06 (Vernon would defend them), crying and complaining about our payroll constantly, and now this. I'm sure I've forgotten some things though.

[Krylian]

JP is a moron....but I'm guessing his reasoning was he is just trying to take some pressure off the kids. Basically saying, look...we know we rushed you up here. Go out there and do your best, but if you have some struggles, don't let it get you down...there are a couple of things we'd like to work on with you and the next time we call you up we know you'll be ready.

Not sure if it's the right approach, but I'm guessing that's all he was trying to do.

[SharoneWright]

I think its pretty obvious to everyone, including Cecil and Ray, that management does not think they are ready for the Major Leagues.

They were given a shot in the rotation right after:

1Doc
2(McGowan)
3(Marcum)
4Purcey
5Litsch
6Romero
7Richmond
8Tallett
9Burress

Does anyone think Cecil and Ray are right on schedule for their Major League debut?
Does anyone think it would be possible to even convince them of that?

No. Because its not true.

JP getting flamed for saying what everyone knows.

[BasketballAbyss]

I think its pretty obvious to everyone, including Cecil and Ray, that management does not think they are ready for the Major Leagues.

They were given a shot in the rotation right after:

1Doc
2(McGowan)
3(Marcum)
4Purcey
5Litsch
6Romero
7Richmond
8Tallett
9Burress

Does anyone here think Cecil and Ray are right on schedule for their Major League debut?
Does anyone think it would even be possible to convince them of that?

No. Because its not true.

JP getting flamed for saying what everyone knows.

I don't think that's the argument though. The problem comes from the fact that he did not have to mention what he said, unless of course he was asked specifically about the two. What's the point in mentioning you don't think the two pitchers are ready yet? They probably think they can pitch in the majors. Who knows whether or not they'll take the comments as motivation though.

I guess JP will always speak his mind, but at times I just don't like the things he says.

[Modern_epic]

Seriously? JP has said his share of stupid things, but this isn't one of them.

They clearly weren't ready, and JP was just being honest about it. It doesn't hurt anybody. And JP wasn't lying to us. People should be happy about this.

But of course folks are going to criticize JP for anything they can, even when the team is winning.

[Alfred]

I think most people were taken aback that he would publicly question the abilities of two of the Jay's potential starters. There's just really no reason to do it.

He could have said that Burress sucks balls and be right, but what's the point?

[tecumseh18]

Seriously? JP has said his share of stupid things, but this isn't one of them.

They clearly weren't ready, and JP was just being honest about it. It doesn't hurt anybody. And JP wasn't lying to us. People should be happy about this.

And JP has such a pristine record for honesty to uphold.

Communications strategy isn't about being honest for the sake of honesty. Communications strategy is about saying the right thing to elicit the desired result. The question is, what is the desired result this season is to JP/management? It clearly isn't to win now, and therefore we see the constant pouring of cold water on fans' expectations that the team will try to win now.

[Modern_epic]

He's not questioning their abilities; he's stating the obvious. I'm sure they were both aware that the team didn't think they were ready for the bigs yet. He isn't claiming they both suck, just that they could use more time in the minors.

Really, what would you have liked him to say about it? If he had said they were ready for the call up after calling up Brian mf'n Burres first, you would all be yelling at him for lying. Someone asked him a question about it. Do you expect him to say 'no comment'?

And if you think this should all be about communications strategy, then you should have been fine about his lying about injuries; it was communications strategy to keep ticket sales up.

[Alfred]

So if JP said "Well, we're calling up Brian Burress even though he's an atrocious pitcher, we need someone to eat up innings." You'd be okay because he's telling the truth?

There's a thing called tact. Saying players you may need to call up to the majors are unready for the major leagues undermines their confidence (as the media directly asked Ray in this article).

"Hey, your GM thinks you're not ready to play at this level right now, what do you have to say?"
"Err... I think I am?"

That sort of sucks for them, ya know?

[LLJ]

JP using reverse psychology to motivate his young guys. Genius!

[Modern_epic]

So if JP said "Well, we're calling up Brian Burress even though he's an atrocious pitcher, we need someone to eat up innings." You'd be okay because he's telling the truth?

There's a thing called tact. Saying players you may need to call up to the majors are unready for the major leagues undermines their confidence (as the media directly asked Ray in this article).

"Hey, your GM thinks you're not ready to play at this level right now, what do you have to say?"
"Err... I think I am?"

That sort of sucks for them, ya know?

Sure, that makes sense. Or would, you know, if there was the slightest chance they didn't already know the GM didn't think they were ready.

If Ray was being completely honest, the discussion would have went:

"Hey, your GM thinks you're not ready to play at this level right now, what do you have to say?"
"Ya, he has used 9 starters prior to me. He even called up Brian Burres before me. So I figured that. That being said, I think I am, and want to prove it."

The only real effect of that comment is letting the two guys know that this isn't their big shot, and even if they are atrocious, he's not going to hold it against them when it comes to future call-ups. So they can just relax and pitch. The more you yell about it, the clearer it is top me that this wasn't just an inconsequential statement, but probably a good one.