'Natural' rivalry not quite a glamor one

Rivalry? What rivalry?

The Rays' game tonight, the first of three against the Marlins, involves a team with a losing record and empty seats in its domed ballpark against a team with a winning record and more empty seats in its open-air stadium.

The teams' three games at Pro Player Stadium one year ago this week drew an average 14,848. Their three games at Tropicana Field in July averaged 14,016. And the Marlins, despite a 33-32 overall record and 15-12 home mark, average 1,600 fewer fans than the Rays draw to the Trop.

The Rays are playing interleague games against the National League West this season, but instead of facing Arizona, which began play in 1998 along with the Rays, Tampa Bay is playing its "natural rival" Marlins.

"There's no rivalry," Rays manager Hal McRae said. "We're just in the same state. It could grow into one but it's not there right now. ... I don't think you can just call it a rivalry. People try to do that but it doesn't work. Something has to take place or there's got to be some history, like the Cubs and Cardinals. That goes way back."

Besides, McRae said, "If nobody shows up, how can it be a rivalry? ... I don't take any joy in seeing (fewer) fans. Neither do the players. It shows that people aren't interested in what you're doing."

TRY, TRY AGAIN: Winless Tanyon Sturtze makes his 14th start of the season tonight for the Rays. "I just think a couple of things need to fall into place," he said. "It's not a matter of bad luck or a bad break. Maybe it's one bad pitch that gives up a couple of runs, lets (the opponent) tie it up or go ahead."

Fans continue to send Sturtze good-luck charms, "a bunch of angels, a little bracelet the other day," he said. "I save all their letters so I can write them back and say thank you." And when he gets the talisman that breaks the streak, so to speak? "Put that one in the paper."

He said one good thing about facing the Marlins is, "You don't have that DH sitting in the middle of the order. You've got a pitcher at No. 9."

Sturtze is 0-1 vs. Florida in four appearances (two starts) and is 2-2 in 10 interleague appearances.

FAMILIAR SURROUNDINGS: This is rookie pitcher Steve Kent's first visit to Miami since spending 1999 at Florida International University. He never played at Pro Player Stadium -- FIU's home field is University Park Stadium -- but he did see a few games there. "One of them, Mark McGwire hit a couple of home runs," he said.

"Going back (to Miami) isn't like going home. But I've got a few friends down there. I'll probably have to get a few tickets for them. With all the empty seats I might be able to see them during the game."

Kent lives in Kileen, Texas. The Rays visit the Rangers on July 2-4. "That's when I'm going to need a lot of tickets."

IT COULD BE WORSE: The Rays are 2-9 at Pro Player Stadium, their worst record at any stadium. They've lost five in a row there since winning July 7, 2000. Overall, the Rays are 7-15 against Florida.

Rays pitchers have batted .143 against the Marlins (10-for-70 with one home run, by Esteban Yan in his only at-bat against them). Sturtze is hitting .125 (1-for-8).

ROSTER MOVE: The Rays took pitcher Delvin James off the 15-day disabled list Thursday and optioned him to Double-A Orlando. The right-hander had been on the DL since May 9 with shoulder tendinitis.