Yabba dabba doo: Hall eats up success

© St. Petersburg Times
published April 9, 2002

BALTIMORE -- Toby Hall likes to make success sound simple. A bowl of Fruity Pebbles in the morning, a few good swings of the bat, a couple of hours behind the plate doing whatever his pitchers need.

"Just trying to trick 'em again," he likes to say.

A week into his first full season as the everyday catcher, Hall has shown to be everything the Rays hoped he would be: a reliable, consistent and productive hitter; a sturdy receiver and strong thrower; and a steadying influence on a young and inexperienced pitching staff.

"He's played extremely well," manager Hal McRae said.

Hall has hit in each of the five games he played and is leading the team with a .381 average, especially impressive because he was a slow starter in the minor leagues.

"I'm just trying to stay aggressive," Hall said.

What makes Hall special is he is aggressive and hits with power but doesn't strike out much -- only twice so far in 22 plate appearances.

"He puts the bat on the ball," McRae said. "He knows how to hit."

Hall has been constantly improving behind the plate, too. "I feel comfortable, especially with our pitching staff," he said. "Everybody's on the same page, trying to go right after hitters without trying to do too much."

About the only thing that can throw Hall off, it seems, is when his favorite breakfast cereal isn't available. But he's on top of that one too: He throws a couple of packages of Fruity Pebbles in his travel bag.

ESCAPE FROM NEW YORK: Having been shut down by the Yankees' pitchers and knocked out of first place in the AL East, the Rays were eager to get out of New York. But they insisted the three-game domination won't have any lingering effects.

"We're not discouraged," said Greg Vaughn, who was 1-for-8 in the series. "They beat us. Their pitching shut us down. Does that mean we quit playing? No. Does that mean I'm not going to hit? No."

TO THE BIRDS: The Rays said they were eager to get to Baltimore and play a team more at their level. But McRae will remind them they still have to do many things right to win games. "We've still got to play hard to win," McRae said. "We've got to make things happen."

The Rays are 28-28 against the Orioles, one of three teams they have a .500 or better record against (21-17 vs. Minnesota and Detroit). The Rays are 14-14 at Camden Yards, one of four American League parks in which they have a .500 or better record (10-9 at the Minneapolis Metrodome and Kansas City's Kauffman Stadium, 5-4 at Detroit's Comerica Park).

BREAKING THE RULE: Lefty reliever Steve Kent is close to shedding his label as a Rule 5 pick in McRae's mind. Kent hadn't pitched above Class A in the Seattle organization but has pitched like a major-leaguer with the Rays, logging three scoreless appearances. "He's moving fast," McRae said. "He's a quick learner."

MISCELLANY: Third baseman Russ Johnson, hoping to be activated from the disabled list Friday, went 1-for-4 in a rehab game for Double-A Orlando on Sunday. ... Temperatures in Baltimore will be warmer than New York, possibly in the 60s tonight. Rain, however, is forecast. ... Randy Winn is a career .361 hitter at Camden Yards. ... Right-hander Jim Magrane won his Triple-A debut for Durham on Sunday. ... Outfielder Jonny Gomes, the 2001 MVP of the Appalachian League, is off to an 0-for-15 start at Class-A Bakersfield.