LaMar, McRae talk about players

© St. Petersburg Times
published September 25, 2002

NEW YORK -- General manager Chuck LaMar and manager Hal McRae met Tuesday and will talk again today and Thursday, but a decision on whether McRae will retain his job won't be made until next week.

The talks are part of LaMar's annual season-ending review, but have attracted more attention this season because of McRae's uncertain status. He is signed to manage through next season, but the Rays have not said if he will be back. Managing general partner Vince Naimoli said it is up to LaMar to decide.

While McRae's uncertain status is a popular topic among players and fans, it didn't even come up in the meeting. LaMar and McRae are going through the team player by player and position by position; Tuesday they talked about the pitchers.

"Nothing's changed in what we're discussing or how we're discussing it," McRae said.

LaMar, who met with his scouting staff extensively this week, will spend the weekend reviewing the information. He will probably then meet with Naimoli, and may talk again with McRae next week about the managerial situation, before announcing a decision.

OVER, AND OUT?: A season scarred by a 4-17 record and salvaged in any form only by his 2181/3 innings pitched will come to an end tonight for Tanyon Sturtze.

What he doesn't know is if it will be his last start in a Tampa Bay uniform.

Sturtze is arbitration eligible after the season and it's possible the Rays may let him go rather than give him a substantial raise from his $295,000 salary.

Sturtze said he would like to stay a Ray -- as long as they don't try to shift him to the bullpen, which was suggested several times this season.

"I'd love to be back. I love the Tampa Bay area. I think it will take a little time with the young guys we have but I think we have a good bunch of guys," Sturtze said.

"But I'd like to start and I want to start and if that's not in the plans, then I don't know. I think there are a lot of teams out there that would like a No. 4 or 5 starter who can throw 220 innings for them and make every start and keep their team in ballgames.

"Your guess is as good as mine if I'm going to be back."

PITCHING IN: McRae said Paul Wilson, who has pitched a career-high 1921/3 innings and looked tired in his past several starts, will make his scheduled start on Friday in Boston.

"I'd like to see him pitch 200 innings if he could," McRae said. "It's something he could be proud of."

PERSONNEL ISSUES: Reliever Jason Jimenez, designated for assignment last week to make room for Dan Reichert, was claimed on waivers by Detroit. Reliever Lee Gardner, who was taken off the roster when the Rays needed to add Paul Hoover as a backup catcher, cleared waivers and has until Thursday to accept an outright assignment to Triple-A Durham.

MINOR MATTER: With the Reds securing the last open affiliation in the Carolina League, the Rays are down to one option to bring their advanced Class A team back to the East -- the Brevard County team in the Florida State League.

If a deal can't be worked out there -- and it is complicated because Red Sox owner John Henry owns the Brevard team and the Red Sox own the Sarasota team -- the Rays will have to stay in the California League. They are talking about going back to Bakersfield, or moving to Visalia or Rancho Cucamonga.

MISCELLANY: The Rays hit two more batters Tuesday, giving them 90 for the season, three shy of Boston's 2001 major-league record. ... The shutout was the Rays' 14th, one behind Baltimore for the major-league lead ... The Rays will make a third consecutive Wednesday appearance on ESPN tonight, though only the Fox Sports Net coverage will be available in the Tampa Bay area. ... Outfielder Joey Gomes was rated the 19th-best prospect in the short-season Class A N.Y.-Penn League by Baseball America. No Rays players made the Class A South Atlantic League top 20. ... Top draft pick B.J. Upton was a DH on Monday and played his first game at shortstop Tuesday in the instructional league.