Pitching fines don't make McRae happy

© St. Petersburg Times
published August 1, 2002

ST. PETERSBURG -- The Rays had been waiting to find out whether Esteban Yan will be suspended for hitting Boston's Manny Ramirez in the ninth inning July 18.

On Wednesday they were notified Tanyon Sturtze was fined $750 for hitting Ramirez leading off the second inning of that game.

They were not happy about it.

"They're getting outrageous with those fines and suspensions," manager Hal McRae said. "He hit a batter, but it was with no warning, no nothing. And in the second inning.

"That doesn't make any sense whatsoever. It's tough to explain that one."

Sturtze was shocked to be fined because he was not disciplined by the umpires.

"I was very surprised," he said. "It was the second inning of the game and the ball happened to go in a little too far and I hit him. I think it's kind of strange."

Major League Baseball vice president Bob Watson, who issued the fine, did not return a phone call from the Times. Monday, Watson said he was investigating the events of the night, which included Brent Abernathy being hit twice and the umpires issuing a warning. He also said the history between the teams, which included a 2000 brawl and an exchange of snippy comments in May, was a factor.

McRae said it shouldn't be.

"It's got nothing to do with anything," he said. "There's no animosity between the two clubs. (MLB is) reading something into what happened. We have no beef with (the Red Sox) and they should have no beef with us. It's a non-issue.

"They're reading too much into the fact that we were pitching inside. Look at the stats. We hit a lot of batters (59, second only to Boston). We hit a lot of batters last year (75). There's nothing wrong with getting hit. That's why they make you wear helmets."

McRae also said Ramirez, who has been hit six times this season, could be to blame.

"Maybe he doesn't move very well," McRae said. "He's been hit quite a bit. He has a responsibility to get out of the way."

Yan, who was ejected because he hit Ramirez after a warning was issued, has yet to hear anything from Watson. Red Sox officials said there has been no discipline against Frank Castillo and Tim Wakefield for hitting Abernathy.

PICTURE THIS: Before the game, Jason Conti was working in the batting cage hitting pitches that were down and in. When he went up to pinch hit in the seventh inning, the first pitch he saw from Yorkis Perez was down and in -- and Conti hit it over the rightfield fence. "It was the same exact swing I had," Conti said. "It was almost like muscle memory."

NUMBERS GAME: The Rays lost 20 games in a month for the fourth time. ... The seven wins match their record low from May 2001. ... A 6.02 ERA was their third worst for a month.

MINOR MATTERS: Matt White, coming back from May 2001 shoulder surgery, made a strong first start for Double-A Orlando, allowing two hits in five innings. ... Left-hander Bobby Seay, who opened the season on the disabled list, was promoted from Orlando to Triple-A Durham. ... Right-hander Delvin James, who made five starts for the Rays before being injured, is pitching again for the O-Rays.

MISCELLANY: Greg Vaughn, recovering from a June 22 bruised right shoulder, took a cortisone shot to speed the healing. ... Wilson Alvarez, on the disabled list with left elbow tendinitis, will throw an early batting practice session today. ... Felix Escalona (second base) and Andy Sheets (shortstop) are scheduled to start Sunday and Monday. ... Carl Crawford extended his hitting streak to eight games and has hit in 11 of 12 since being recalled. ... Chris Gomez is 7-for-13 in the series. ... Baltimore's Chris Richard, activated off the disabled list Wednesday afternoon, homered on his first swing of the season.