Why No Hinske??

[love_that_reefer]

The Rays will go with the same roster in the World Series that they used in the ALCS against the Red Sox.
No Eric Hinske, Troy Percival or Shawn Riggans for the Rays. The last two are still hurt, and Hinske is again being overlooked in favor of Gabe Gross and Fernando Perez. One would never know he finished the season third on the Rays in homers with 20 and in OPS (among players with 300 plate appearances).

This is very disturbing to me. He was third on the team in HRs and OPS but he also plays more than one position!!! That is perfect for the style of managing you will have to do in the NL. You will have to make double switches and Hinske is the perfect candidate to do that. Plus he's a good bat to bring off the bench. Gross shouldn't be on the roster and Hinkse should. Let's hope this decision doesn't come to bite them in the ass. I think it might especially in Philly.

[Kingdom]

Didn't really matter in the postseason so far, now did it?

[NYgiantsfan5689]

yeah but reefer's point is it could hurt them in NL play, which they haven't faced yet

[Kingdom]

uh, they won't use the DH in at least 2 games.. they'll have a spare bat as is, and more of a need to have an extra pitcher

Also, Hinske's defense is brutally ugly.

[browntown653]

What exactly did Gross do in the ALCS that warranted a spot on this roster?

[DirtyKash]

Joe Maddon knows what he's doing. Every hunch that he's had has been right, including pitching Kazmir before Shields. Don't second-guess Maddon!

[Kingdom]

Gross = defense and speed.
1 error on the year, stole a few bases. He's only got 16 ABs, he's not the deciding factor for Tampa, but he fits in with what the rest of the team shoots for. Speed and defense.

The only reason Hinske was even able to do something was because of the injuries to Baldelli, Crawford, Upton, and Pena. Congratulations, he's a decent DH.

[cjkalt]

Joe Maddon knows what he's doing. Every hunch that he's had has been right, including pitching Kazmir before Shields. Don't second-guess Maddon!

Ummm... I think the Rays lost games 5 and 6 the last time i checked?

[cjkalt]

I think in the NL park having the HR threat on the bench is bigger than an okay 5th OF, besides, didn't the ball in Game 5 get over Gross's head? He's no defensive wizard either...

As a bandwagon Rays fan i'm concerned that Hinske isn't on this roster

[DirtyKash]

Ummm... I think the Rays lost games 5 and 6 the last time i checked?

Because of the bullpen. Kazmir pitched 6 scoreless and was unhittable thus it was the right move to go with him.

[NYgiantsfan5689]

i agree with cj, hinske's more valuable on the bench as a PH than Gross is in the field

[Hammer]

hinske and gross both pretty much blow. baldelli is injury prone as hell, but that was the only thing i wanted to call maddon out for all series... why baldelli wasnt starting in right the entire series, as opposed to just vs lefties. as long as hes healthy, theres no reason baldelli shouldnt be out there the entire time. better fielder, better arm, similar hitter to gross.

[love_that_reefer]

yeah but reefer's point is it could hurt them in NL play, which they haven't faced yet

1. Don't expect Zito to get anything that relates to strategy in baseball
2. Gross's defense in the postseason has been dreadful
3. Hinske is a lot more valuable than Gross
4. Now they could have Hinske DH in 3 games at the least
5. Heaven forbid people prepare for the worst.

[love_that_reefer]

Hinske is finally on the roster as Cliff Floyd had to be removed for a hurt shoulder.

[cjkalt]

you can remove players???

Is he starting?