[USML Announce] Desmond Is Forever

Thu Jun 18 13:29:56 EDT 2009

Unless of course the Jays decide that Ryan needs to be a closer to allow them to move his contract or unless Downs just gets Pipped, either of which could happen.? Ryan hasn't given up a run in about three weeks.

Mark

-----Original Message-----
From: Doug Shabelman <doug at burnsent.com>
To: USML Announcements <announce at usml.net>
Sent: Thu, Jun 18, 2009 11:54 am
Subject: RE: [USML Announce] Desmond Is Forever

Scott Downs stubbed his toe, he's going to be back closing lights out as he has ($1, Y2, fyi) been since taking over for BJ Ryan, etc.

DS

From: announce-bounces at usml.net [mailto:announce-bounces at usml.net] On Behalf Of Blocker, Mark B.
Sent: Thursday, June 18, 2009 11:48 AM
To: USML Announcements
Subject: RE: [USML Announce] Desmond Is Forever

URGENT MISINFORMATION ALERT:

?

In the e-mail below, Brad has reported that Frank Francisco has been "shelved for the season."? This is wildly inaccurate: he is set to come off the DL shortly and resume as closer.? Here is the item from RotoWorld this morning:

?

?
The Rangers will ease Frank Francisco back into the closer's role once he's activated from the disabled list.

It sounds like C.J. Wilson owners will be able to squeeze a few more saves out of their guy. Francisco is set to begin a minor league rehab assignment on Thursday with Double-A Frisco. He's raring to get back at it. "I'm ready right now," he said. "You know, I've been working the whole time, and I don't think it's that much different. All I need to get back is my command. That's it."

From: announce-bounces at usml.net [mailto:announce-bounces at usml.net] On Behalf Of Brad Jansen
Sent: Thursday, June 18, 2009 11:07 AM
To: USML Announcements
Subject: [USML Announce] Desmond Is Forever

Dear Comrade Mark:

? I can only chuckle at your inane puffery of the likes of Juan Rivera (anything to get?out of?that long-term contract, eh?), and I can only resign myself to your utter contempt and lack of grace in responding to my compliments and concessions.??But I will not sit idly by as you attack what's left of my minor league talent.? Allow yourself the time to read the following espn.com article about Desmond Jennings (not that he's on the trading block, by any means, but the Truth about my team cannot be suppressed):

?

??? 
Desmond Jennings, OF, Rays

The 22-year-old's biggest issue before this season was simply staying on the field. In 2007, Jennings missed a month due to knee surgery (yet still hit .315 with 45 steals in the Sally League), and managed to play in just 24 games at high Class A last year, as he missed the first two months of the season with a back injury, followed by left shoulder surgery that ended his season prematurely. It's no wonder that at the beginning of this season, Jennings told me he was "just trying to stay healthy; trying to get back in the flow."

Well, consider him flowing.

Jennings has excelled for the Rays' Double-A club in the Southern League this year, entering Wednesday hitting .327 with a .403 on-base percentage and a .518 slugging percentage. He's also walked 29 times with just 35 strikeouts in 63 games, and has gone 22-for-26 on the base paths. Those numbers certainly catch your attention.

"There's no one thing I need to work on after missing a whole season," Jennings said, "because I need to work on everything after losing all that time."

Jennings was a 10th-round pick in the 2006 draft out of a community college in Mississippi, and had even signed a letter of intent to play wide receiver at Alabama out of high school. But on the diamond, he has all the "tools" to be a prototypical lead off man.

His swing is short to the ball, and he gets the bat through the zone quickly. Though he occasionally will over swing and get away from his contact-oriented approach, Jennings said he knows his "job is to get on base and score runs." He has excellent plate discipline, knows the strike zone, and his swing allows him to adjust to off-speed stuff well.

For a lead off man, he's not a slap hitter by any means, and can hit balls gap-to-gap with pull power. The 6-foot-2, 180-pound right-handed batter projects to have teens homer totals in the big leagues.

His biggest asset is his 70 speed on the 20-80 scouting scale, which allows him to make up for the occasional misreads in center field and create havoc on the base paths. There's very little not to like aside from the injury history, and he's stayed on the field thus far this season, as he still has to demonstrate that his durability issues are behind him.

It's an easy and somewhat obvious comparison to liken Jennings to a right-handed version of his future teammate Carl Crawford, but it's no less apt. The Rays can afford to be a little patient with him, as he may be a year away, but fantasy players know how special a player Crawford is and Jennings should be worth the wait if he can stay out of the trainer's room.

?

---So, you can tout your wild-eyed rookie?pitchers, sore-armed relievers and?past their prime veterans, but a hardy number of us already have some nice talent, thank you.

--And, typical of your ridiculously blessed?fortunes this year, how fortuitous that as soon as Francisco gets shelved for the season, Scott Downs gets hurt and your reserve pitcher Jason Frasor gets the nod to close. When it's your year, it's your year and Mark, it's your year.? So, enjoy it with love and positive vibes.

?

--Brother Brad?

?

?

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