Two-week trek big test for kids

By MARC TOPKIN, Times Staff Writer

© St. Petersburg Times
published May 14, 2002

ST. PETERSBURG -- For family vacationers, New York, Baltimore, Seattle and Oakland are pretty fun destinations.

For a young, inexperienced, undermanned baseball team, the 12-game, 13-day journey could be a long trip.

The Rays open a stretch tonight in New York that has them facing some of the league's best teams and could provide a pretty good indication of how the rest of their summer is going to go.

"It's going to be a challenge, and we know that," Brent Abernathy said. "If we can play good baseball like we have been and give ourselves a chance, that's all you can ask for going into any game, especially against really good, solid clubs.

"We plan on going on the road and approaching games the same way, and I think good things will happen on this road trip. It looks like everybody might be starting to come together and things are jelling a little bit. We're getting hits when we need them and making pitches when we need them."

Having followed a 15-game losing streak with a pair of wins against Baltimore, the Rays are trying to regain their early season confidence.

And a three-game series in Yankee Stadium -- where they were swept this season, where they have a 6-24 overall record and where they'll face, in order, Roger Clemens (who has beaten them twice this season and has a 7-3 record against them), Orlando Hernandez (who is 8-1 with a 1.25 ERA against them) and David Wells (who is 4-1) -- is not what you'd prefer.

"We've got to bring our A games," Steve Cox said. "We can't think, "Oh, the next three nights we're facing this pitcher, this pitcher and this pitcher.' You just have to do what you do on a certain day."

"We've got to play good, play good and think we can win," manager Hal McRae said. "That's the best we can do. They're a good club, and we've just got to go in and play hard and play to win. I'm concerned with playing good. If we play good and they beat us, they beat us. But we don't have to go in there and lay down. We have to play our game, play hard and play good. If we win, we win."

MOTIVATIONAL SPEAKER: Rookie Delvin James will be pitching with a purpose when he makes his sixth major-league start tonight. The Yankees knocked him around and knocked him out in the fourth inning Wednesday, and he has something to prove.

"I feel like I'm getting a chance to redeem myself," James said. "I'll have a better idea how to pitch these guys having seen them a couple games in a row. I'll take the same approach, stay positive and keep doing the things I've been doing and hopefully it will turn out better this time."

James may have something to go on. He got knocked out in the third inning April 27 by Boston, then came back May 3 and held the Red Sox to one run over seven innings. "I'm just going to try and do what I did against the Red Sox."

STREAKING: With a sweep in New York, the Rays could be part of a positive streak. Of teams that lost at least 15 in a row, the best recovery was by the 1948 Senators, who won five in a row.

CONFIDENCE BUILDERS: McRae said he has been impressed with reliever Jorge Sosa and will use him more frequently in tight situations. ... Jason Conti also is likely to get more opportunities, especially as a pinch-hitter.

TEE IT UP: The first Rays of Hope Foundation Charity Golf Tournament will be Aug. 12 at the Renaissance Vinoy Resort and Golf Club, with all players and coaches in attendance. For information, call (727) 825-3135.

MISCELLANY: Matt White, out since May 2001 after shoulder surgery, is pitching in extended spring training and could join a minor-league team in the next couple of weeks. ... Bobby Smith was expected to clear waivers Monday and become a free agent. ... Player rep John Flaherty will be at union headquarters today for labor negotiation matters. ... Wilson Alvarez will pitch in an extended spring training intrasquad game at 12:15 today at the Naimoli Complex, 7901 30th Ave. N, St. Petersburg. ... Struggling leftfielder Jason Tyner and catcher Toby Hall are expected to return to the lineup tonight after getting the weekend off.

Today's lineup

Rays