McRae cautious with Sturtze

© St. Petersburg Times
published April 10, 2002

BALTIMORE -- Even before Tuesday's game was postponed, the Rays were planning to give No. 1 starter Tanyon Sturtze an extra day's rest to alleviate slight soreness in his right shoulder.

What manager Hal McRae identified as tenderness was the result of what Sturtze said was an ache during his April 2 opening-night start.

Sturtze, who did not have arm discomfort during spring training, said he did not feel right while warming up for the sixth inning of the opener.

"There was just a little bit of aching, and a little pain after the game," he said.

Sturtze said he felt close to normal when he pitched Sunday in New York, and he refused to blame his two poor starts on the discomfort. "I was just not making pitches," he said.

Rather than pitch on his normal day Friday, Sturtze will move back to Saturday.

"I'm glad they're giving me the extra day and hopefully it will work out well," Sturtze said. "It felt a lot better in New York, it felt a lot better (Tuesday) and hopefully it will feel a lot better on Saturday."

QUICK DECISION: Having been swept by the Yankees over the weekend and had Monday off, the Rays were eager to play Tuesday. But the decision to postpone the game was made early, giving them another day without a game.

"We got it; it doesn't really matter whether it was welcome or not," McRae said. "What can we do? Mother Nature made the decision, so we're going to have to go along with that."

The Orioles called the game about 5:30 p.m., which seemed early because the rain was neither heavy nor steady. What may have been a factor was an expected crowd in the low to mid 20,000 range, which would have been the smallest for a regularly scheduled game in the Orioles' 10 seasons at Camden Yards.

RAIN DROPS: The Rays moved their scheduled pitchers back a day, meaning Paul Wilson will start tonight and Joe Kennedy on Thursday. Ryan Rupe will pitch the opener of the Toronto series at home Friday, followed by Sturtze and Wilson Alvarez. ... The postponement was the eighth in Rays history and the first since a Sept. 17, 2000, home game against Oakland was canceled as a result of Hurricane Gordon. It was the Rays' first outdoor rainout since May 10, 2000, in New York. ... The game will be made up Aug. 22, which was supposed to be a day off for the Rays in Chicago.

FIRST AT THIRD? Russ Johnson, who sprained a ligament in his right foot the final week of spring training, is 3-for-13 in three rehabilitation games for Double-A Orlando.

Johnson played third base on Tuesday after serving as DH the first two nights. McRae said the Rays want to see how he does at third before deciding whether he will be ready to be activated from the disabled list Friday. "We'll get a better read," McRae said.

MINOR MATTERS: Top 2001 draft pick Dewon Brazelton had a better showing in his second pro start, allowing four hits over five shutout innings for Orlando on Tuesday afternoon. ... Durham outfielder Carl Crawford went into play Tuesday night with a 14-game hitting streak, nine from last season and all five this season.

MISCELLANY: The Rays likely won't seek to sign veteran outfielder Tom Goodwin or reliever Mike Trombley, who were released by the Dodgers. ... Baltimore's David Segui's .364 average against the Rays is fourth best, trailing Ivan Rodriguez (.402), Jason Giambi (.381) and Bernie Williams (.366).