Tampa Bay Rays' Luke Scott signs with Korean baseball team

The SK Wyverns announced Thursday they've signed Major League Baseball veteran Luke Scott to a one-year contract.

The Incheon-based Korea Baseball Organization (KBO) team said they inked the 35-year-old veteran for US$250,000, along with a signing bonus of $50,000.

Scott made his big league debut with the Houston Astros in 2005 and most recently played with the Tampa Bay Rays in 2013.

He batted .241 with nine home runs and 40 RBIs in 91 games. For his nine-year career, Scott has hit 135 homers with a .258 batting average in 889 games.

He hit more than 20 homers in three straight seasons starting in 2008, all with the Baltimore Orioles.

Scott is the first foreign player to join the KBO with more than 100 career MLB home runs.

The Wyverns said Scott, along with extra-base power, has a good eye at the plate and has the ability to get on base. He has a career on-base percentage of .340.

Scott has played all three outfield positions and first base over his career.

Last week, the KBO decided to add an extra roster spot for foreign players on each team. Teams can now acquire up to three players from overseas, with two of them able to play at the same time. The two expansion teams, the NC Dinos and the KT Wiz, can have a maximum of four foreign players on their active rosters for their first two KBO seasons.

The Wyverns have now filled up their quota of three foreign players. They've retained left-handed starter Jo-Jo Reyes from last season and signed right-hander Ross Wolf to replace the departing southpaw Chris Seddon.

Rays' Tim Beckham to miss most of 2014 season with as torn ACL

Tampa Bay Rays infielder Tim Beckham will miss a significant portion of the 2014 season after tearing the ACL in his right knee, the Times has learned.

Beckham, the top pick in the 2008 draft, made his major-league debut in September, and has earned praise from manager Joe Maddon.

Though Beckham, 23, would have been a longshot to make the opening day roster, he was likely to see action during the season if the Rays needed depth or had an injury to a middle infielder.

Beckham was promoted after a solid season at Triple-A Durham, hitting .276 with four homers, 51 RBIs and a .342 on-base percentage. He was chosen by the Rays ahead of Pedro Alvarez, Eric Hosmer and Buster Posey, among other present-day major-league stars.

The knee injury is the latest setback in Beckham's career, as he has progress has been slowed by inconsistent play and a drug-related suspension. Beckham was believed to have been hurt working out, but no details were available.

Hak-Ju Lee, the Rays other top middle infield prospect, is recovering well from knee surgery after being injured last season, but his status for the start of the 2014 season is uncertain.

Rays make a sand sculpture of Mariano Rivera

The Mariano Rivera farewell tour is making its final rounds. Teams have been giving the New York Yankees closer gifts as passes through their city one final time. Unless the Yankees make the playoffs Rivera will be retiring at the end of the regular season.

The Tampa Bay Rays have unveiled a sand sculpture to honor Mariano Rivera on the New York Yankees closer's last regular-season visit to Tropicana Field.

The sculpture, located in the rotunda near the main gate, will be on display for fans to see throughout the three-game series that concludes Sunday.

The Rays also presented Rivera with a check for $3,150 - a number that represents $50 for each save he has earned against Tampa Bay - for the Mariano Rivera Foundation.

Rays' Evan Longoria opening a restaurant

Tampa Bay Rays third baseman Evan Longoria has entered the restaurant business. Longoria is a part owner/investor in Ducky's Sports Lounge in South Tampa.

Located just west of downtown (1719 W. Kennedy Boulevard), the 5,700-square-foot boutique sports lounge will be the only restaurant in South Tampa to feature four lanes of mini bowling – a smaller, simpler form of the sport that does not require special shoes, uses a smaller ball, and incorporates two, 80-inch high-definition projection screens in the middle of each lane for optimal game viewing.

“Ducky’s will have a little something for everyone – mini bowling for friends and families, a convenient happy hour spot for the downtown crowd and an incredible game-watching venue for sports fans,” said Keith Goan, one of Ducky’s owners. “It’s exciting to be a part of the current wave of development along Kennedy Boulevard and to bring this unique concept to the area.”

Hopefully this will be a sound investment for Longoria, since there have been many stories of professional athletes making bad financial decisions and going broke. Also, for Longoria's sake, this place doesn't end up on Bar Rescue or Kitchen Nightmares.

David Price recants his opinion on Yankees comments

Yesterday Tampa Bay Rays pitcher David Price said that he wouldn't stay with the New York Yankees if he was traded there because of the team's policy regarding facial hair.

Today Price backtracked on his statements and called the Yankees the best organization in sports.

When people get critical of you over a statement always recant your story and translate it to the masses.

“It probably wasn’t the best thing to say, but I didn’t mean anything by it,” Price said. “I wasn’t looking to offend the Yankees. It’s probably the best organization in all of sports. Not just baseball, but all of sports. I didn’t mean anything (against) the New York Yankees. I’ve had friends on that team for multiple years.”

“I can’t rule out anybody because, obviously, what they do for the game of baseball is just tremendous,” Price said of the Yankees. “I was talking about Joe (Maddon). I was talking about the way we do everything over here, how he lets us be comfortable in our own skin. And that’s what I was referring to.”

Of course Price wouldn't want to rule out the Yankees because they're the team that will probably throw the most money at him. But I still believe that Price is a different cat and may not want to sign because of money.  Personally I would like to see him remain in Tampa.

Rays' David Price says he wouldn't sign with the Yankees over facial hair policy

Tampa Bay Rays starting pitcher, David Price, will be a free agent in 2016. The Rays can trade Price at any time before they lose him for nothing. I'm not knocking the way the Rays operate, but Price could be gone sooner than later unless the Rays make a World Series run.

There is one team that Price wouldn't want to go to. The New York Yankees.

Price told Fox Sports reporter Jon Paul Morosi, that if and when he does hit free agency there are teams that he wouldn't sign with because of certain rules and policies. The Yankees have a no facial hair policy and that doesn't go over well with Price. Price sports a beard and doesn't plan on getting rid of it.

“It’s a joke to me, that I had less rules in college than I would on some major league teams. That’s not my style, man. I couldn’t do it on some of these teams I hear about. I couldn’t do it. I’m a grown man.”

 “If I ever did hit that free-agent market, there would be teams I wouldn’t sign with simply because of the stuff that I’ve heard – every rule they have. Being here since 2007, being treated like a grownup, given that respect and freedom and space – it grows on you.”

“I wouldn’t stay there (New York) very long then,” he responded. “I wouldn’t sign a long-term deal there. Those rules, that’s old-school baseball. I was born in ’85. That’s not for me. That’s not something I want to be a part of.”     

We all know money talks and current Yankee C.C. Sabathia said that he didn't want to play in New York until the Brinks truck rolled in. Price may simply be a different cat. He just likes to play the game and hopes to compete for championships.

There will be plenty of where will Price go to rumors over the next 2-3 years, but as a fan i hope he stays in Tampa.

Luke Scott has more anti-Red Sox sentiment

During the offseason Luke Scott changed from one AL East to another as he left the Baltimore Orioles for the Tampa Bay Rays. When he got to Tampa he relived the moment he had as a member of the Orioles when they knocked the Boston Red Sox out of the playoffs on the last night of the season. In the process Scott had some anti-Red Sox sentiment as he revealed how he felt about the Red Sox fans.

The Rays are taking on the Red Sox this weekend and Scott still isn't afraid to speak his mind. In an interview with Scott Chastain of MLB.com, Scott revealed how he felt about historic Fenway Park.



“As a baseball player, going [to Fenway Park] to work, it’s a dump,” Scott told Scott Chastain of MLB.com earlier this week. “I mean, it’s old. It does have a great feel and nostalgia, but at the end of the day, I’d rather be at a good facility where I can get my work in. A place where I can go hit in the cage. Where I have space and it’s a little more comfortable to come to work.


“You’re packed in like sardines there. It’s hard to get your work in. ... You have to go to their weight room if you want to lift. From a fan’s perspective, it’s probably pretty cool to go see a game at a historic park. But from a player’s point of view, it’s not a place where you want to go to work.”


Scott once again fans the flames with his disdain for the Boston Red Sox.

Hot Wheels

The Tampa Bay Rays gave manager Joe Maddon a three year extension last week which was well deserved. Maddon has built the Rays into an AL East contender and kept the team competitive despite financial constraints.

So after the extension was finalized Maddon did a little shopping for a reward for himself. He ended up getting himself a 1956 Chevy BelAir. Maddon called it a "new contract present".

Maddon bought the car in Arizona, had it restored and updated, and delivered to the Charlotte Sports Park. It has air-conditioning, so he said you'll see him driving it around Tampa and St. Petersburg once the season starts.


Maddon said he was looking for a Charger, Roadrunner or Barracuda, but couldn't find one he liked so instead picked this one over a '57 Nomad. "When I drive this it's pretty quick when it starts up, and I love the color and I love the interior,'' he said. Maddon already has two restored convertibles - a '67 Galaxy and a '72 Chevelle.


Maddon said his wife, Jaye, endorsed the purchase, which she named Bella.  "She was all for it,'' he said. "My wife is kind of like a guy sometimes - she likes big flat-screen TVs, she likes watching football on Sundays, she likes fast cars, she used to drink martinis, though she kind of toned that down a bit. She's got a lot of great man-cave qualities about her.''


Looks like Maddon went car shopping and ended up on 'Pimp My Ride'. It's a cool car and if I had the time and money I'd do the same. If the Rays keep winning, Maddon will have his own showroom.

Luke Scott takes shots at Red Sox fans

The Boston Red Sox choked away the American League wild card last season, which made for a joyous celebration in Tampa, Florida. But the Tampa Bay Rays weren't the only team celebrating that final night of the season. The Baltimore Orioles were doing their part by taking out the Red Sox on the final night and celebrating when the Rays came back to beat the New York Yankees.

Former Oriole Luke Scott was injured for the last game, but he took much pleasure in the Red Sox not making the playoffs. Scott became a Rays fan for those last few hours of the 2011 season.


"I'd already had [right-shoulder] surgery, so I was in the clubhouse during the game," Scott said. "The guys were battling. I was sitting in the clubhouse watching the game with some of my teammates, guys that weren't playing. We were following back and forth.


"We were pulling for Tampa Bay. They were down, 7-0, and we were like, 'Dang-it, we've got to beat Boston, so we can force this playoff.' And then the next thing you know the score [in St. Petersburg is] 7-6. Then it's 7-7. And we're going into the ninth against one of the best closers in the game."


Scott isn't one to hold his tongue though and had some parting shots for Red Sox fans. I'll say this, he doesn't like them very much.

"Just their arrogance," Scott said. "The fans come in and they take over the city. They're ruthless. They're vulgar. They cause trouble. They talk about your family. Swear at you. Who likes that? When people do that, it just gives you more incentive to beat them. Then when things like [the last game of last season] happen, you celebrate even more. You go to St. Louis -- classiest fans in the game. You do well, there's no vulgarity. You know what? You don't wish them bad."


"The clubhouse afterward was like we'd just won the World Series -- a lot of celebrating, a lot of high emotions," Scott said.


"Everybody's giving high-fives, then all of a sudden [Longoria] homers," Scott said. "Everybody's in the clubhouse and it's like, Bam! And we're like, 'Go home Boston! Pack your bags. See you next year."


I guess a last place team does have some kind of emotion, even though I don't think Buck Showalter had the Orioles packing it in. Scott fired more shots at the Sox fans.

"I got to see a priceless thing driving back to my apartment," Scott said. "I see all the Boston fans walking around, and I mean they were crying crocodile tears. People were like this, walking side by side."


Scott wrapped his arm around a reporter's waist and began to wail to demonstrate.


"It was like someone shot their dog. I rolled down the window and I'm like, 'Ah, hah, sucks doesn't it, when someone laughs or makes fun of you when things aren't going your way.'" 


I can hear him saying that in a Boston accent. Scott isn't one of the best players in the game, but I'm sure he'll get showered with boos and more when the Rays visit Boston. It should make for interesting theater this season.

Matt Garza Has His 2008 AL Championship Ring Stolen

When someone gets a championship ring of any kind the person that has it normally guards it with his/her life. They're pretty hard to come by and they don't get handed out like Halloween candy.

Chicago Cubs pitcher Matt Garza is finding out just how valuable those rings are. Garza was victimized in a robbery in which his 2008 American League Championship ring was stolen.

Sheriff's detectives are investigating a burglary at the Fresno County home of Chicago Cubs pitcher Matt Garza, a theft that included his 2008 American League championship ring earned while playing with the Tampa Bay Rays.

The ring is valued at $30,000, the Sheriff's Office said. The burglary happened between the afternoon of Jan. 26 and late Tuesday morning. Garza's name is engraved inside the ring, which has several white diamonds and one yellow diamond.

Hopefully this story has a good ending. 

Read more here: http://www.fresnobee.com/2012/01/31/2704859/local-sports-briefs-30000-ring.html#storylink=cpy

Read more here: http://www.fresnobee.com/2012/01/31/2704859/local-sports-briefs-30000-ring.html#storylink=cpy

 

On The Sneak Tip

I'm not knowledgeable about drug smuggling but there are lots of different ways to do, so I've heard. Former Tampa Bay Rays prospect Cristian Vasquez Martinez went a different route when he tried to smuggle drugs into the United States.

Martinez was busted trying to smuggle six pounds of cocaine through JFK Airport via the Dominican Republic. When the authorities searched him, they found the cocaine stashed in four pairs of sneakers. I guess good old odor-eaters weren't good enough. He could've at least tried to convince customs that it was shoe powder.

Apparently martinez turned to the drug trade since the Rays terminated his contract last month. In guess he'll never get a shot at the Major League dream.