Rays relievers might need to grow up fast

Hard-throwing pen can be a strength despite inexperience.

By KEVIN KELLY, Times Staff Writer
© St. Petersburg Times
published March 29, 2002

ST. PETERSBURG -- Were he a member of another major-league club, Doug Creek would be a standard left-handed relief pitcher with an above-average fastball.

With the Rays, Creek is an extremist.

The 33-year-old happens to be the oldest pitcher in Tampa Bay's bullpen. Not only does he have more major-league experience (197 2/3 career innings) than all but one other reliever, he has pitched in two full major-league seasons, with the Giants in 1996 and last season with the Rays.

What does all this tell you about the Rays relief corps?

It's young. It's inexperienced. And it's learning on the job.

"Right now, basically, we're a bunch of no-names," Creek said. "The hitters know the guys they've faced. So we're not facing a bunch of dummies.

"But as far as the national limelight, we're basically guys with less than a year or maybe two or three years experience ... and even then maybe not all of it with the same club."

Considered the strength of a team that lost 100 games last season, the Rays bullpen will look similar to the way it did at the end of 2001.

Only it has gotten younger.

Joining Creek, Travis Phelps, Esteban Yan, Victor Zambrano and Jesus Colome are two Rule 5 picks who never have played above Class A and bring the average age of the bullpen down to 26.

Left-hander Steve Kent, 23, pitched himself onto the team this spring. Right-hander Jorge Sosa, 24, acquired off waivers last week, is a converted outfielder who throws in the mid 90s.

"They've all got good stuff," pitching coach Jackie Brown said. "I've been impressed by what I've seen so far in spring training."

The loss of Nick Bierbrodt from the rotation will affect the pitching staff because fourth and fifth starters Ryan Rupe and Wilson Alvarez likely won't often pitch past the sixth inning.

But even if it means pitching on consecutive nights, the bullpen should be able to handle the work. Rays starters averaged fewer than six innings per start last season.

"I thought the bullpen was our strength going in," manager Hal McRae said. "Losing a starter, I'm not as confident. But the bullpen can pitch better."

The bullpen's roles appear set, barring last-minute roster moves.

Creek, a left-hander, will be a situational pitcher. Kent and Sosa join Colome, 24, as middle to long relievers. Zambrano, 26, a hard-throwing right-hander, is a late-innings guy. Phelps, 24, the 1,721st pick in the 1996 draft, is good for at least two innings.

"It's a weird mix," Phelps said. "We all get along, but we're all different at the same time. We try to help each other out, but we all have different styles of pitching."

Yan, 26, the converted starter who was tied for first in the American League with nine blown saves last season, begins his first full season as closer.

"I don't think he was ready last year," McRae said. "I think he's ready this time around. He lacked experience, had no foundation last year. He was just out there winging it."

Yan converted his last six saves after blowing four of eight from July 28 to Aug. 12.

"I learned more about situations as they came, how you have to pitch and in what situations," he said. "As a starter you pitch every five days and can go seven innings. But as a closer, you have to come in and close the door. You have to do it right now, not tomorrow."

Last season, Tampa Bay's relievers held opponents to a .250 batting average, had a 19-28 record with a combined 4.44 ERA in 491 innings and converted 30 of 52 save opportunities.

Zambrano's five-game winning streak from July 6 to Aug. 12 tied for the longest among AL rookies last season. He, Colome and Phelps ranked among the top seven in lowest opponent's batting average. Phelps also finished third among AL rookies with 49 relief appearances.

"It's a bullpen where, if everybody continues to develop and if things stay the same, (we) could grow up together," Creek said. "We've got a lot of young arms. But a lot of the young arms that we have are somewhat proven arms. These guys took the ball in some tough situations last year.

"The mark of a good team is having somebody to come in there and finish out for your starter. Whether it's just one guy or three or four guys. It's a group effort down there. We're all pulling for one another."