McRae considering time off to help Vaughn end slump

© St. Petersburg Times
published April 29, 2002

BOSTON -- Manager Hal McRae has given Greg Vaughn ample opportunity to play his way out of his brutal month-long slump.

Soon he may try not playing him.

McRae plans to rest Vaughn on Thursday, but hinted he may give the once-feared slugger several days off to see if extended time out of the lineup helps him regain his batting stroke.

"I'm reluctant to give him a day off, but that might be the next thing to try, give him a couple days off," McRae said Sunday. "Putting him in the outfield is an option, but the next thing I'll probably try is a couple days off."

Vaughn goes into play tonight hitless in his past 25 at-bats, dating to April 19. He has a .108 average that is the lowest among major-league regulars, no home runs and five RBIs.

"He has, when I played we called it the worst stroke going, which is behind the fastball and ahead of the breaking ball," McRae said. "It's the type of stroke an everyday player hates to have. You're sort of in-between every pitch they throw. What he has to do is get on one speed, it doesn't matter which speed it is, and time it."

As bad as Vaughn has been -- and he'd have to get 16 consecutive hits just to get his average better than .250 -- McRae said he still can have a major impact on the lineup.

"With a power hitter, if he comes out of it and has a good three weeks, you'd never know he was struggling," McRae said. "So that's what I'm holding out for, the good three weeks. Because he can help the club more than anyone else can if he were to swing the bat good for three weeks."

Vaughn, eagerly looking forward to the end of "the worst month of my pro career," continues to believe he can get things straightened out.

"I'll be all right," he said. "I'll be fine."

RAIN-DELAYED: The Rays moved all their pitchers back a day following Sunday's postponement, meaning Joe Kennedy pitches tonight and rookie Delvin James opens the weekend series with Boston at Tropicana Field.

Some teams change the rotation after rainouts to use their top starters on their normal fifth day, pushing back the No. 5 starter. But with Tanyon Sturtze and Paul Wilson experiencing shoulder stiffness earlier in the month, McRae said the extra rest was of more benefit.

DOUBLE DUTY: Sunday's game will be made up as the opener of a day-night doubleheader on July 23.

The Rays and Red Sox are off on July 22, but the game couldn't be made up then because the Rays would be playing 32 consecutive days, exceeding the limit of 20 in a row. Instead, they'll play at 1:05 and 7:05 on the 23rd, and they'll still end up starting the second half of the season with 32 games in 32 days, and 45 in 46 days.

THE JOE SHOW: Last time Kennedy pitched at the Metrodome, he somehow -- and he still doesn't know how -- injured his left ankle during pregame warmups.

He hobbled to the clubhouse and had to have it taped heavily, then went out and threw six solid innings to snap a seven-game losing streak.

"Maybe I'll figure out what I did with it and do it again," Kennedy said.

NECESSARY CHANGE: With the Rays in a month-long stretch of playing the league's top teams, McRae said he will make it a point to rest the starters. Jason Tyner and Russ Johnson are scheduled to get tonight off, with Bobby Smith playing left and Felix Escalona at third. Tuesday, look for Jason Conti to play center with Randy Winn off.

MISCELLANY: With five hits in their past two games, the Rays need seven tonight to avoid their lowest three-game total. ... In their first 22 games, the Rays have scored two runs or less eight times. ... Durham's Lee Gardner is leading the International League with six saves.