Odds and Ends: Kawakami, Griffey, Greinke

Singh's advantage is that he is a big lefty, but I think Patel is the one with the better chance at the majors. That he is throwing around 90 with his lack of experience AND has a slider that is 10 MPH slower sounds really positive. If he can command that slider, it can function as a really effective out pitch.

what are the 6 teams that have talked to JR?

I think Griffey would be the perfect veteran DH/RF with TB.

"Griffey seems like the perfect DH/RF for TB. He is a veteran and a name."

Wanting players because they are "veterans" and "names" are big red flags.

Griffey is cooked. He shouldn't be in the field. He'll have to DH. The Rays still have to go out and get that guy who can mash lefties, which Griffey, at this stage of his career, just isn't. If the 10-15MM to spend estimate is true, and more than half of that will go to Griffey, that could leave them coming up short in other aspects.

In regards to the Indian pitchers. No knocking the Pirates, but there are literally thousands of high school kids who are younger and have similar stuff who won't get drafted.

"there are literally thousands of high school kids who are younger and have similar stuff who won't get drafted."

True, but those kids won't have appeal outside of their hometown. I think that's the goal here, or at least the ancillary benefit.

Got to agree with you Melonis Rex on the Rays not picking up Jr. he is not going to add anything with his bat, nor glove over henske, probably not even replace what henske did even with the 20 HR 60 RBI .333 OBP that he gave them last year in his OF platoon situation and Hinske only made leass than 1 million. Griffey certainly would want 5-6 times that, not worth it IMO.

Rays may want to look at Ibanez if they can afford him, or I would really like them to go at Burrell who think is going to end up in the 12-13 million, 4-5 year range and could do some damage in that dome where everything flies out of, like 40+ hr's a year.