Rays get the message

Players say they're ready and eager to raise the intensity for a new manager who doesn't accept excuses.

By KEVIN KELLY, Times Staff Writer
© St. Petersburg Times
published October 29, 2002

ST. PETERSBURG -- The names on the Devil Rays' roster might not change much, but Greg Vaughn knows something will with Lou Piniella in charge next season.

The veteran designated hitter took Monday's announcement that Piniella had signed a contract to manage the Rays for the next four seasons as a message: Get ready for a serious attitude adjustment.

"All those guys with a soft demeanor, they're in for a rude awakening," Vaughn said. "All those guys who feel sorry for themselves, who can't take the heat, they're in for a rude awakening.

"For so long everybody's been accepting "we're young.' Lou's not making any excuses. I got to play against him and know him. All those guys that are a little soft better try and regroup before they get to camp."

The 59-year-old Piniella comes with track record of success, having won championship rings twice as a player with the Yankees and as Reds manager in 1990. He also has a fiery reputation of base-tossing and dirt-kicking unmatched by predecessors Larry Rothschild and Hal McRae.

"He has a true passion and intensity for competing and winning," second baseman Brent Abernathy said. "He's always gotten the best out of the teams that he's managed, the players that he's managed. That is what separates managers.

"He's a real fiery guy that has all the respect of the players he manages. When you win as much as he's won, it kind of demands respect. I'm sure all 25 of us players, along with the rest of the organization, have that kind of respect."

Piniella's hiring was viewed by Vaughn, Abernathy and other Rays as a giant step in the right direction for a franchise rebuilding and reinventing itself and as a message it is serious about winning.

"It couldn't be better," pitcher Joe Kennedy said. "We got the best manager out there. He's a proven winner. He's won everywhere he's managed."

Vaughn added: "The main thing is they made a commitment for four years and gave him the money. We might go before he goes. For the first time it won't be like, "I'm a player, I'll be here longer than the manager.' "

But this is by far Piniella's most ambitious undertaking as a manager.

The past two teams he inherited, the 1990 Reds and 1993 Mariners, had lineups loaded with future All-Stars and experienced near immediate success. The Reds won the World Series in Piniella's first season, and the Mariners made the playoffs in his third.

Tampa Bay has lost 206 games the past two seasons, 106 this season with the youngest lineup in the major leagues while ranking 11th in the American League in batting and last in pitching. If that's not enough, the Rays are expected in 2003 to again have the lowest payroll in the major leagues.

Piniella, however, did seem enthused Monday about the prospect of working with so many young players and having the opportunity to mold this franchise into a success.

"This organization has got a plethora of young players," he said. "What we need to do is have a little patience with them and teach them how to win and how to improve. That's what a manager and a coaching staff get hired to do and that's exactly what we're going to attempt to do."

He admittedly has little patience with losing, but the Rays could get used to such an attitude.

"There's going to be a more intense mentality, which I think might be something that we need at this point in time," Abernathy said. "We need some excitement surrounding the Devil Rays; our fans need that, too.

"I think everybody is genuinely excited. Hopefully it will show in our play. I would expect us to probably be very intense when we set foot on the field in spring training. I guess that's going to be a direct reflection of how Lou manages the game."

-- Times staff writer Marc Topkin contributed to this report.