Sosa-Tampa Bay starter: info

[Terryray]

Sosa likely to make his starting debut

By Times staff writers
? St. Petersburg Times
published June 25, 2002
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Though the club announced no roster moves Monday, the Rays are expected to make at least two changes before tonight's game against Toronto.

Jorge Sosa, the Rule 5 pitcher claimed off waivers in March, likely will be reinstated from the 15-day disabled list and make his first major-league start.

Ryan Rupe, who was scheduled to start tonight, has been bothered by soreness and inflammation in his right knee and is expected to be placed on the 15-day DL retroactive to Thursday. The right-hander is 0-4 with 7.20 ERA in his past four starts and would be eligible to come off the DL on July 5.

Sosa was converted to relief pitching last season after playing the outfield for six in the Mariners organization. Used solely out of the Rays bullpen this season, he has been on the DL since May 26 with a right shoulder strain and didn't allow a run over seven innings in two rehabilitation starts for Double-A Orlando.....



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from Tampa Bay Tribune:


"......With RHP Ryan Rupe (right knee inflammation) expected to go on the disabled list today, RHP Jorge Sosa could make his first major-league start for Tampa Bay today against the Blue Jays. Sosa, 24, worked out of the bullpen for the Rays before being sent out on a rehabilitation assignment with Double-A Orlando.

He's a Rule 5 draft pick out of the Seattle organization and had never pitched above Class A before this season. He has a 4.91 ERA in 14 appearances for the Rays, but has not allowed an earned run in seven innings as a starter for Orlando.

Rupe's stint on the DL would be retroactive to the date of his last start, which would make him eligible to return July 5.

Scott Carter






"We played like we had been at sea for six months."

-- Manager Hal McRae,
after a particularly ugly 10-2 loss at San Francisco.

 

[Terryray]

from www.strikethree.com:

Got That Rule 5 Fever

Jason Michael Barker

I've always been intrigued by the Rule 5 draft, which places young players
on major league rosters despite their being far from ready for the majors.
It's not quite that simple, of course, but that's generally the end result.

To recap: Minor leaguers, as determined by the age at which they signed
their first contract, must be placed on their team's 40-man roster after
either their third or fourth professional season. Those who are left off are
eligible for the Rule 5 draft.

The catch is that players chosen must stick on the drafting team's major
league roster all season, so few players are chosen at all. Even fewer last
all year, as teams generally get sick of keeping a utility infielder or relief
pitcher who really should be in double-A working on his plate discipline or
developing a changeup.

This year, no fewer than seven players from the Rule 5 began the year in
the majors -- eight if you include Kevin McGlinchy, who is on Tampa Bay's
60-day disabled list and hasn't pitched since last August.....




RHP Jorge Sosa, Tampa Bay
I saw Sosa pitch at short-season Everett last year, and it was clear he
wasn't even ready for double-A, let alone the majors. That didn't stop the
Devil Rays from grabbing him off waivers from the Brewers (who drafted him
from the Mariners) and sticking him in their bullpen, however. A lanky kid
with surprising smooth mechanics for a guy who has only been pitching for
two years, Sosa hits 97 when he's on but that's about it. If he does stick in
the majors, I expect he'll get shelled regularly.