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Sizing up the Rays

By MARC TOPKIN, Times Staff Writer

© St. Petersburg Times
published March 1, 2002

With the month-long exhibition season about to start, it's time for the real competitions to begin. Though the core of their young team appears set, the Rays have several interesting decisions to make by the April 2 regular-season opener.

Here's a position-by-position look at what they'll be looking at over the next month:

PITCHERS

Starters

SPRING FLING: The front four of the rotation is established, or at least as much as it can be for a foursome with a combined 44 major-league victories. In Tanyon Sturtze, who led the team with 11 victories, and Paul Wilson, who went an impressive 6-2 over his final 12 starts, the Rays have a pair of experienced right-handers who have the ability to be dependable starters. In Joe Kennedy, who went 7-8 in his rookie season, and Nick Bierbrodt, who pitched well in spurts after being acquired from Arizona, they have a pair of 20-something left-handers who have the potential to quickly become big winners. In reality, they don't have anyone better, so even poor springs probably won't jeopardize their jobs.

The true competition will be for the No. 5 spot. Most likely it will be between Wilson Alvarez, the soon-to-be 32-year-old left-hander who has a brutal contract ($8-million) and missed the past two seasons because of shoulder problems; and Ryan Rupe, the soon-to-be 27-year-old right-hander who had a brutal 2001 (5-12, 6.59) and is running out of chances. Other possibilities include Dewon Brazelton, the 2001 top draft pick who would have to show he doesn't need any time in the minors; Jason Standridge, who would have to show he doesn't need more Triple-A experience; and Jesus Colome, who would have to show he could be more effective than in the bullpen. Also in camp is Travis Harper, who was the No. 5 guy at the start of last season.

POSSIBLE SURPRISE: It has been three years since Jason Dickson had shoulder surgery and five since he went 13-9 as a rookie for Anaheim and was selected for the All-Star Game. If the soon-to-be 29-year-old can rediscover past form, he could make a quiet bid.

Relievers

SPRING FLING: General manager Chuck LaMar says the strength of the team is pitching, and the strength of the staff is the bullpen. Esteban Yan struggled last season as he adapted to the closer's role, blowing nine saves (matching the league high) while recording 22. Mind-set and approach were parts of the problem, and the Rays hope to address both this spring. Plus, they figure he'll improve with age and acclimation. There is a trio of hard-throwing right-handers in front of Yan, and each is expected to be better: Victor Zambrano, Travis Phelps and Colome. Lefty Doug Creek is back after a 66-appearance season. If Rule 5 pick Kevin McGlinchy is over his shoulder problems, he, too, should have a job. If not, one of the unsuccessful starting candidates could end up here, or there could be room for the second left-hander manager Hal McRae covets. Bobby Seay, Tom Martin and Rule 5 pick Steve Kent are the leading candidates.

POSSIBLE SURPRISE: Kent has not pitched above Class A, but he throws hard and gets results: 177 strikeouts in 155 innings. If the Rays think he has a chance, they'll find a way to keep him, including going with 12 pitchers.

CATCHERS

[AP photo] Toby Hall forced his way into the starting lineup with a stellar minor-league career, then impressed the Rays with his handling of a young rotation.

SPRING FLING: Toby Hall's offense was never in question, and he showed over the final two months of last season that he could handle pitches and pitchers well enough to be the everyday catcher. All he has to do this spring is stay healthy and continue to learn. Relegated to backup status, John Flaherty appears to be in excellent shape and over the herniated disk in his neck. Though it's unlikely he can push Hall for playing time, what Flaherty can do is push along the trade process by attracting the interest of other teams with a strong spring. Kevin Brown and Sal Fasano have to go through the spring competing for the backup job in case Flaherty is dealt.

POSSIBLE SURPRISE: Paul Hoover is one of those guys who is handy to have around, having started at seven positions. He made it to the majors last season, and a good spring could boost his chances of getting back.

INFIELDERS

First base

SPRING FLING: With Fred McGriff finally out of the way, Steve Cox should be able to relax. For the first time in his career he goes into a season as the big-league starter, which should give the pleasant perfectionist more time to find that elusive ideal swing. The only other player in camp with any significant first base experience is Aubrey Huff.

POSSIBLE SURPRISE: Huff is going to get a look at third base and will be a prime candidate to DH, but if he has a good spring and Cox has a poor one, the Rays could at least have something to think about.

Second base

SPRING FLING: Brent Abernathy came up in June and established himself as the starter, hitting .270 with five homers and 33 RBIs in 79 games. That was last year, as McRae likes to remind the young players, but it doesn't appear the Rays have anybody to beat him out. Russ Johnson (who is more valuable as a utility man), Felix Martinez, Andy Sheets, Kevin Sefcik, Bobby Smith, Jason Smith and Wilmy Caceres all can try.

POSSIBLE SURPRISE: Bobby Smith keeps getting more chances, and there is a possibility he might one day take advantage of them. He won the starting job from Abernathy last spring but was shipped out after six games.

Shortstop

SPRING FLING: Signing Chris Gomez turned out to be one of the Rays' best moves last season. Released in June by San Diego, Gomez spent a month in Triple A, then joined the Rays with a bang, hitting .302 with 36 RBIs in 58 games plus eight home runs, tops on the team during that stretch. Recovering from knee problems, he played good but not always great defense. The Rays will be looking to see how he does this spring, and how durable he'll be.

POSSIBLE SURPRISE: When he joined the Rays in May 2000, Martinez looked like one of the top defensive shortstops in the league. He didn't play or hit well last season and was relegated to a utility role, and now that job is not even secure. If he's going to reestablish himself with the Rays, he'd better do it now.

Third base

SPRING FLING: This is the only truly open spot in the lineup. The Rays say Jared Sandberg plays defense well enough to be a big-league starter, so the question this spring is whether he hits enough. If he can, the job will be his. If not, the Rays will have to decide between bulked-up Huff, who swings a powerful bat but struggled mightily in the field last season, or Johnson, a solid utilityman who played well in spurts but has to show he can sustain his performance, or some combination of the two. Another option would be a late spring trade, with Texas' Michael Lamb a rumored possibility.

POSSIBLE SURPRISE: Huff looked uncomfortable and out of place at third last season, but he says he intends to play well enough defensively this spring to reclaim the job outright. If he is successful, it would have to be considered a surprise.

Reserves

Until the starting jobs are settled, the specific reserve roles won't be determined, so it's hard to say who will fill them. If Johnson isn't the starting third baseman, he'd seem to be a lock as the top backup at second and third (plus, he's the emergency catcher). The same could go for Huff, who would be the backup first baseman and at least occasional DH. McRae is adamant that there be another backup who is able to play shortstop, so that means Martinez, Caceres or Jason Smith (who brings left-handed power) is likely to be on the team. Bobby Smith, who could play all four infield positions plus the outfield, also may be a possibility.

OUTFIELD

Starters

SPRING FLING: The outfield is so crowded, there are too many scenarios to discuss them all. Barring trade or injury, this much is known: Jason Tyner will be out there, along with either Ben Grieve or Greg Vaughn, or possibly both.

If Vaughn can play the outfield on a regular basis and McRae wants him to, then he'll be in leftfield and Tyner in center, and the big decision will be whether to play Grieve in right or use him as the DH and give the rightfield job to Randy Winn, Troy O'Leary or Emil Brown.

If Vaughn ends up as the DH because he can't play the outfield or McRae doesn't want him to, then it gets more complicated. Tyner could move to left (where some think he is better), with Winn or Brown in center and Grieve in right. Or Tyner could stay in center, with Grieve in right and Winn or O'Leary or Brown in left. Or it could be the other way around. That's what spring training is for.

POSSIBLE SURPRISE: Carl Crawford isn't going to make the team out of camp (he isn't, right?), but he is precisely the type of player McRae is looking for and with a strong spring could prove that he's not very far away.

Reserves

Again, there's probably no way to figure out the bench until the starters are chosen. Barring a trade, Winn would seem to be the fourth outfielder, with O'Leary, a veteran who started for seven seasons in Boston, and Brown, who hasn't had a chance to play regularly, competing for the fifth spot. Bobby Smith, Damian Rolls and/or Sefcik could be in the picture as swingmen.

DESIGNATED HITTER

Because the outfield is so unsettled, it's hard to determine who will end up as the DH. McRae said he may not decide until the day of the regular-season opener. Given his previous leg and shoulder problems, Vaughn might seem the most likely candidate, but he doesn't like it, and his numbers with the Rays prove it: .214 with 20 homers and 59 RBIs as a DH, .271-32-87 as an outfielder. If not Vaughn, it could be Grieve, who prospered as a DH (.353-5-24 in 33 games). If not Grieve, it could be Huff, who hit .273 in 20 DH starts. If not Huff, well, things can happen.

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