Sturtze stupefied; Yan is off the hook

© St. Petersburg Times
published August 2, 2002

ST. PETERSBURG -- Major League Baseball vice president Bob Watson said he fined Tanyon Sturtze $750 because he felt Sturtze threw intentionally at Boston's Manny Ramirez on July 18.

Sturtze didn't exactly agree with the explanation.

"I think it's a joke," Sturtze said. "We have people trying to change baseball that are sitting in an office. Umpires can't call strikes anymore because of a computer system. We can't throw inside because we're going to get fined or thrown out of games.

"Why don't we just set the ball on a tee and let the batter hit it? We'll just stand in the field and see what happens. If he's going to sit in his office and assume people are getting hit because he thinks it's on purpose, what's the point?"

Sturtze and manager Hal McRae were surprised Sturtze was fined because Ramirez was leading off the second inning when he was hit and the umpires didn't take any action.

Watson, a long-time major-league player, felt differently.

"There doesn't have to be warning given," Watson said from New York. "If after talking to everyone and watching video I feel it's intentional, that's what the fine is for."

Boston's Frank Castillo was fined $750 for hitting Brent Abernathy. Watson said there would be no suspension or further disciplinary action for Rays closer Esteban Yan, who hit Ramirez in the ninth, or McRae.

Yan said that was good news.

"I wasn't really thinking about it," Yan said. "All I know is that in my heart and my mind I didn't do it on purpose."

ROSTER SHUFFLE: The Rays designated shortstop Jason Smith for assignment Thursday to clear a space on the 40-man roster for a pending move, general manager Chuck LaMar said.

Smith, acquired last year in the Fred McGriff deal, hit .200 in 24 games before being sent to Triple A in July. The Rays have 10 days to trade or release him or pass him through waivers.

COMEBACK TRAIL: If Wilson Alvarez doesn't have any setbacks in the next few days, the left-hander could be activated off the 15-day disabled list by early next week.

Alvarez pitched two simulated innings Thursday, facing hitters for the first time since going on the disabled list July 17 with left elbow tendinitis. He is scheduled to throw again Saturday.

"I felt pretty good," Alvarez said. "Now, it's whatever they want."

What the Rays want is for the 32-year-old, who was 2-2 with a 6.32 ERA as a starter this season, to take a new role as a middle to long reliever.

"I think that's the logical way to start," McRae said. "He doesn't have to get ready quickly, he gets time off in between pitching."

ROTATION SHAKE-UP: Victor Zambrano will move from the bullpen and take Luis De Los Santos' place in the starting rotation Monday.

How long he will stay there has not been determined.

Zambrano has made six professional starts but none since 1999. The Rays are trying to help him regain confidence.

"Maybe starting will shake things loose. Maybe not. It's an attempt to get him straightened out," McRae said.

De Los Santos, unimpressive in three starts, will take Zambrano's place in the bullpen.

MISCELLANY: Rookie leftfielder Carl Crawford extended his hitting streak to nine games with an infield single in the third inning. He has a hit in 12 of his 13 games, and an RBI in seven, since being called up July 20. ... Crawford and Chris Gomez tied a team record with nine hits in a four-game series. ... Jared Sandberg has five homers in a 27 at-bat span, 11 in his past 132. He shares the team lead with Steve Cox at 12. ... The 323-foot homer by Baltimore's Chris Richard to leftfield was the shortest in Tropicana Field history. ... The Rays have played an AL-high 54 games decided by one or two runs (going 20-34) and an AL-high 35 one-run games (13-22).