Tyner gets time off to heal knee, bat

© St. Petersburg Times
published May 25, 2002

OAKLAND, Calif. -- Outfielder Jason Tyner will be out of the lineup for the weekend ostensibly to rest his sore left knee. But it seems clear the Rays are increasingly concerned about his ailing bat.

Expected to be the catalyst of the offense, Tyner is hitting .214 with an on-base percentage of .249 and has been bounced from the leadoff spot.

"He'll get the weekend off to rest the knee and to work on his stroke," manager Hal McRae said.

In simplest terms, McRae said Tyner is lunging at the ball, creating too much movement in his swing to be successful. "He's going to the ball rather than letting it come to him," McRae said.

Tyner said the knee is "kinda sore" but "more of a bother than an impediment. I don't think it keeps me from doing anything I want to do. I'll get a few days off to rest it and hopefully find my swing and get going offensively."

Since a seven-game hitting streak ended in late April, Tyner has hit .177 (14-for-79). The Rays have been relatively patient but soon may consider sending him to Triple A.

General manager Chuck LaMar said in general the Rays will stick with a younger player such as Tyner "as long as we still believe we're helping that player's long-term development by keeping them in the major leagues.

"I don't think it's by a certain date, I don't think it's that he has to put up X amount of numbers by a certain date. I truly think when Hal and I believe that for his future development it would be better for him to spend time in Triple A, then that decision will be made immediately."

Sending Tyner down next week would make for an interesting side note: The team is scheduled to give out Tyner bobbleheads June 2.

FOR EVERY ACTION: With Tyner out, Greg Vaughn will play leftfield for three games, which he likes. Vaughn has been the DH for all but five of the 44 games he has played. ... Russ Johnson, who hadn't played in nine days, will be the DH. Johnson has been a DH twice in the big leagues, going 1-for-7 during a two-game stint in September.

HELP WANTED: Winless through 10 starts and feeling he can't get a break, Tanyon Sturtze is looking for your help:

Good-luck charms, spell-breakers, Buddhas, angels, anything that might change his luck.

"Whatever they want to send," Sturtze said.

"My girlfriend is trying to find good-luck charms on the Internet. I tried rubbing the Buddha (in Toby Hall's locker). I've tried everything: new underwear, new socks, a new shirt ... I've got to find something. This is driving me crazy."

Sturtze can be reached care of the Rays at Tropicana Field, 1 Tropicana Drive, St. Petersburg, FL 33705.

INTERESTED SPECTATOR: Lee Gardner spent his first week in the big leagues sitting in the bullpen waiting for the chance to pitch. "It's a pretty good seat," the 27-year-old right-hander said. Three times, he warmed up without getting in. "I think I've got the warmup stuff down," he said.

MINOR MATTERS: Josh Hamilton homered in three consecutive games for Class A Bakersfield as part of an 8-for-17 tear. Through 17 games he is hitting .382. ... Pitcher Jason Dickson, a veteran of four major-league seasons, was released from Triple-A Durham with a 3-4 record and 5.70 ERA.

MISCELLANY: Ex-Ray Cory Lidle, sidelined with shoulder tendinitis, is expected to come off Oakland's disabled list and start Friday at the Trop. ... Felix Escalona is likely to start at shortstop today with Jason Smith at third. ... Left-hander Wilson Alvarez, on the disabled list since April 15, makes what should be his final rehab start today for Double-A Orlando at Greenville, S.C. ... During the four-game winning streak, Rays starters had a 1.67 ERA and the bullpen allowed one run in nine innings.