Rays Notes: Dr. Sam Fuld, Forgetful David Price, Kazmir Back in Win Column

It’s a new day, a day where the Rays (hopefully) will not get shut out. Let’s just think happy thoughts and look at the Rays’ news items.

Breaking news: Sam Fuld is a doctor.

Dr. @SamFuld5 is peppered by 13 Toronto media. Bautista came to Sam 4 advice b4 deciding to undergo same wrist surgery. pic.twitter.com/gXFeF0rN
— Dave Haller (@HallerDave) August 30, 2012

#Rays @SamFuld5 on speaking to 13 Toronto reporters on wrist injury/surgery facing #Jays star Jose Bautista: "It's all we have in common"
— Marc Topkin (@TBTimes_Rays) August 30, 2012

How could you go to anyone but Fuld? Who needs Dr. James Andrews, we have Sam Fuld!

Why did David Price struggle in Texas? Clearly because he forgot his passport in St. Pete.

As #Rays headed to Toronto, David Price instead had to fly back to Tampa b/c he didn't have his passport, then fly up. Maybe Astro hid it?
— Marc Topkin (@TBTimes_Rays) August 30, 2012

#Rays @DAVIDprice14 made it to Toronto, called audible + had friend fly to dallas and bring him his passport, then flew here
— Marc Topkin (@TBTimes_Rays) August 30, 2012

Maybe Price’s delay in getting to Toronto is also what caused the Rays’ bats to delay scoring runs in the Rays’ first game versus the Blue Jays. Come on, David! Think of the team! Price is a great pitcher, but his teammates will make fun of him for this for a while.

David Price is the Rays’ latest ace lefty. The first: Scott Kazmir. Kazmir is quite a while removed from his great days in Tampa Bay, but he is making progress in his attempted big league comeback as he won his first professional game at any level since 2010 with the Angels (which came against the Rays). Kazmir tossed 8 shutout innings for the Sugar Land Skeeters, allowing just 2 hits and striking out 3 while walking 1. That doesn’t sound like the Kazmir we know at all, but nice job by Kazmir getting back in the win column and hopefully we’ll see him back in the big leagues someday. Kazmir is still just 28 years old.

Unsurprising news: the Rays are smart. Bloomberg Businessweek ranked the Rays the smartest spending team in the four major sports over the last five seasons in terms of wins per dollar spent. The Rays ranked first of the 122 major sports teams, with the Texas Rangers, Red Wings, Lakers, Celtics, Penguins, Patriots, Packers, Giants, and Bruins rounding out the top 10. The Buccaneers ranked 59th while the Lightning ranked 76th. Always nice for the Rays to get some recognition, but this had to be expected and wasn’t even close.

Some knucklehead wrote about the Rays possibly moving to Montreal. Uhhh, no.

And we close with a couple nice minor league notes.

The @HVRenegades beat the @BkCyclones to earn their first @NYPennLeague playoff berth since 1999. #rays #gades
— Sean T. McMann (@SeanTMcMann) August 31, 2012

#Rays OF @DrewVettleson named to Midwest League Postseason All-Star Team (217 TB, 2nd in league) http://t.co/WZrZWt0j
— CAA Baseball (@CAA_Baseball) August 30, 2012

The Renegades might have their most talented roster ever, headlined by the Rays’ last two top picks, Taylor Guerrieri and Richie Shaffer, and it’s great to see them finally making the postseason. Drew Vettleson is having himself a great season, posting a .283/.346/.445 line with 24 doubles, 5 triples, 15 homers, 69 RBI, and 19 stolen bases in 127 games and also 20 outfield assists in right field. Vettleson has become one of the Rays’ top prospects, and it’s great to see his performance recognized.