Rays may have say in playoff seedings

© St. Petersburg Times
published September 27, 2002

NEW YORK -- The Rays could end up playing a key role in determining who represents the American League in the World Series.

Okay, it's complicated, and definitely a long shot, but it could happen.

If the race between the Yankees and A's for the best record in the AL, and the accompanying homefield advantage in the AL Championship Series, is not settled after Sunday, the Rays would come back to New York on Monday to play the Yankees in a high-stakes makeup of Thursday's rained out game.

"It'd be different," manager Hal McRae said. "I wouldn't say it would be good or bad or whatever."

The Yankees, at 100-58, have a half-game lead over Oakland, which is 100-59. The Yankees also have the tiebreaking advantage because they won the season series.

So the only scenario in which the Rays would have to play would be if the Yankees were one-half game behind the A's after Sunday's games.

For that to happen, the A's have to win one more game than the Yankees this weekend. If the Yankees win two of three at Baltimore, the A's would have to sweep Texas. If the Yankees win one of three, the A's have to win two. If the Yankees get swept, the A's have to win one.

Still, it's an interesting enough possibility that the Rays decided to hold back Joe Kennedy, who was scheduled to pitch Thursday, to start the potential Monday game.

"It would be the best matchup if we were to play the Yankees to decide who has homefield advantage, that we pitched our best pitcher and played our best team that particular day," McRae said. "It'd be intriguing to have Joe go."

Other elements went into the decision. McRae wants to give veteran Paul Wilson, who starts tonight in Boston, the chance to reach the 200-inning level. Wilson has 1921/3.

More importantly, McRae wants to get another look at Victor Zambrano (who starts Saturday) and Delvin James (Sunday), as both figure to be competing for slots in the rotation next season.

"I need to see the two other guys pitch and I don't need to see Joe pitch," McRae said.

GO-GO GOING? Shortstop Chris Gomez has had a successful season, hitting .265 with 10 homers, 65 RBIs and 12 errors in 130 games and providing leadership in a young infield, but he doesn't know if he'll be back.

The Rays hold a $2-million option for next season and haven't said whether they will pick it up or pay him the $250,000 buyout and allow him to become a free agent.

"I don't worry about things like that," Gomez said. "If they pick it up, I'd be happy with that. If not, I'd thank them for giving me the chance to re-establish myself."

SEEING RED: McRae several times has brought up comments Boston manager Grady Little made early in the season about how the Red Sox would rather play the Rays 162 times than a team such as the Yankees.

Little insists he didn't mean anything by it.

"That's forgotten," Little said. "It's past history, no big deal. He's a friend of mine. Something I shouldn't have even said because people who weren't in the room misunderstood the meaning. The topic of the conversation was Pedro pitching against the Yankees and I just used a bad analogy."

ALL FOR ONE: Rays players voted Thursday to approve the labor agreement that was worked out last month. "Unanimous ratification," player rep John Flaherty said.

MISCELLANY: Randy Winn is one hit shy of Quinton McCracken's 1998 team record of 179 in a season. ... The Rays are two hit batters shy of Boston's 2001 major-league record of 93. ... The Rays and Tigers are the only teams in the majors without a pitcher with at least 10 wins. That hasn't happened since 1999, when the Rays and Expos fell short. ... The Rays have allowed an AL-high 212 home runs.