So...

[Pavelb1]

Yes, they can. Most of their core is locked up long-term.

Absolutly agree, and they still have depths of their minor league system they haven't plumbed yet. And personally I think Price is going to be everything Joba was supposed to be, while Joba himself will fade.

[koolzach1]

Absolutly agree, and they still have depths of their minor league system they haven't plumbed yet. And personally I think Price is going to be everything Joba was supposed to be, while Joba himself will fade.

Lol, of course YOU THINK Joba will fade... I THINK Buchholz will forever be a bust, Lester will fade, and Dice-K will regress.

[flatcap]

Yes, they can. Most of their core is locked up long-term.

that's most of the core, but what are you going to do with the rest? Let me rephrase that to, they might be able to keep it up, but actually win the division or the wildcard consistently.

[HoustonGM]

that's most of the core, but what are you going to do with the rest? Let me rephrase that to, they might be able to keep it up, but actually win the division or the wildcard consistently.

They have Pena, Crawford and Iwamura through 2010.
They have Kazmir and Price through 2012.
They have Shields through 2014.
They have Longoria through 2016.

This, obviously, doesn't include all their other very good players with little service time that they have yet to lock up to long-term deals, like Matt Garza, or all the excellent minor league prospects that they have. The Rays are set-up to win both now and in the long-term. They aren't going away any time soon. They're perennial contenders for the foreseeable future, barring catastrophe.

[Pavelb1]

Lol, of course YOU THINK Joba will fade... I THINK Buchholz will forever be a bust, Lester will fade, and Dice-K will regress.

I think Buchholz will be traded and may or may not be a bust, but on a noncontender maybe he'll do better. Lester will probably regress a tiny bit as will Dice-K.

There's a reason Joba was drafted 41st. Between his body type, injuries and general lack of maturity I think he will continue to fail overall. That is not to say I WANT him to do so.

[Arctic Blast]

they can't keep up with the sox, yankees, and bluejays for long unless they open up that wallet. But yes, they have an incredible young talent in that organization.

Keep UP with the Blue Jays? You mean, the organization with one of the oldest rosters in the majors...the one that's STILL just mediocre at best?

[koolzach1]

I think Buchholz will be traded and may or may not be a bust, but on a noncontender maybe he'll do better. Lester will probably regress a tiny bit as will Dice-K.

There's a reason Joba was drafted 41st. Between his body type, injuries and general lack of maturity I think he will continue to fail overall. That is not to say I WANT him to do so.

Joba will awesome in college, and would've EASILY been a top pick, but he had weight concerns and had injury concerns in return. Joba used to weigh well over 300 pounds, so he has lost a LOT of weight since his college days. Joba is a very mature young man, IMO. Sure, he got a DUI, but if you have not seen any of his interviews or anything, then you cannot truly understand the positive outlook on life this young man has; Joba is mature beyond his years.

[Pavelb1]

Joba will awesome in college, and would've EASILY been a top pick, but he had weight concerns and had injury concerns in return. Joba used to weigh well over 300 pounds, so he has lost a LOT of weight since his college days. Joba is a very mature young man, IMO. Sure, he got a DUI, but if you have not seen any of his interviews or anything, then you cannot truly understand the positive outlook on life this young man has; Joba is mature beyond his years.

Throwing twice over Youks head because he thought it would impress his idol Clemens or because he thought it was funny isn't mature. Then beaning him again this year for no apparent reason...after Youk could have put knocked him into the new stadium at the plate but pulled up to keep from hurting him... isn't mature.

And I'm sure that wasn't the only time he drove and drank, that would be incredibly unlikely.

Of course this is all subjective and I respect your right to wear the homer glasses and say all three of those pitchs were accidents.

EDIT: I'm actually misremembering apparently after some research and watching some on MLB.com. Joba threw over Youks head twice last year, yes and was tossed. This year he threw behind Youk after Youk slid into him on a wild pitch play at the plate. Again ,Youk could have knocked him into 2009....and later in the month Joba sent one right at Youks noggin that somehow Youk got out of the way of. So he hasn't actually been hit yet. For the record Jerry Remy said he didn't think Joba was trying to hit Youk on the last one.