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A win no matter what

In first outing against major-leaguers in about two years, the Rays' Wilson Alvarez just wants to pitch without pain.

By MARC TOPKIN, Times Staff Writer

© St. Petersburg Times
published March 2, 2002

ST. PETERSBURG -- Normally, it is the results that count. But sometimes, in extreme times, just getting there is what matters most.

Wilson Alvarez would like nothing more than to rip through his two innings of the Rays' major-league exhibition opener today, striking out Gary Sheffield and dazzling Sheffield's Atlanta teammates.

But when you've been away as long as Alvarez has, and had to come back as far as he has, you start with more meager goals.

"I just want to get back on the mound," Alvarez, 31, said. "That's all I care about now. Just get back out there and throw the ball, just pitch, just be back in the game. That's all I want so far."

[Times photo: Toni L. Sandys] "Right now, I just want to go out there and make the first pitch pain-free. That's all I want," says Wilson Alvarez.

It was nearly two years ago, in a seemingly routine spring start against the Royals, that Alvarez felt the first twinge that would lead to left shoulder surgery and a two-year odyssey of false hope and frustrating setbacks.

Finally, he says he is healthy and ready to return to the Rays rotation.

Today, he gets to take the first steps.

"I'm going to be nervous, oh yeah. I haven't faced a big-leaguer in so long," Alvarez said. "I'll be nervous, but I've got to go through it sooner or later. Right now, in my mind, I just want to go out there and make the first pitch pain-free. That's all I want. We'll see what happens after that."

Physically, Alvarez should be fine. He has been throwing his full repertoire of pitches with no problems, though his fastball is lacking about 5 mph in velocity, clocking in the mid 80s rather than the low 90s.

Perhaps as importantly, Alvarez appears to be mentally ready. New Rays pitching coach Jackie Brown, who worked with Alvarez during his prime seasons with the White Sox, said he can see it plainly.

"I'm big on looking at someone's face, and I see nothing but good in Wilson Alvarez's face right now," Brown said. "Nothing but good, nothing but positives. Right now, he's ready. He's upbeat. He can't wait for the games to start. He feels good about himself.

"He really believes he can pitch, and that's the hurdle. The big hurdle."

Because Alvarez has been out for so long, because he has made so much money in the first four seasons of a five-year, $35-million contract and done so little, because he sometimes looks out of shape and appears disinterested, he has become something of a symbol, a poster boy, of the Rays' failures.

As a result, fans are likely to be equally skeptical and demanding.

But Rays general manager Chuck LaMar, who given the criticism he has taken over the signing is probably as eager as anyone to see Alvarez pitch, said it wouldn't be right to make any judgments today.

"I think it's a starting point," LaMar said. "He's going to get better as the spring goes on. I know the fans, because of all the wait, are going to judge him immediately on one day. I think that's extremely unfair to Wilson. ...

"Does he do it pain-free? Does he do it as easy as he threw the baseball two years ago? Does he have fun? Is he competing? Does he want to be out there? If we see those things, it will be a success no matter what the linescore is."

Ultimately, the decision will be based on what happens over the next month. Having seen Alvarez get as close as Triple A last season but not make it back, the Rays have refused to promise him even a spot on the staff.

He has responded to the challenge, accepting the reality that despite two 15-win seasons with the White Sox and a reputation of having some of the nastiest stuff in the league, he is competing for the No. 5 spot in the rotation on a team that will be fortunate not to finish last.

"I've got to go out there and make a spot for me," he said. "They said I'm not for sure, so I have to go out there and earn it."

Today, all the Rays want him to do is throw strikes and keep the ball down.

More importantly, they're looking for him to do it again in four or five days.

"The main thing is to get him on the mound, get him through it and for him to have the confidence to keep going," Brown said. "The health and the confidence."

-- Times staff writer Kevin Kelly contributed to this report.

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