Spring Training

No shortage of competition

By MARC TOPKIN, Times Staff Writer

© St. Petersburg Times
published February 27, 2003

Lou Piniella says he likes challenges. Well, he has one. And it's a big one.

Over the next month the new Devil Rays manager will have to sift through the 72 players in camp, and others who may be brought in, to choose a 25-man roster.

The Rays invited so many players to camp because they wanted competition. They should have plenty of it, trying to fill a wide-open pitching staff, picking the starter at a couple of crowded infield positions and determining whether 21-year-old wonderboys Rocco Baldelli and Carl Crawford are ready to play every day in the outfield. Piniella says defense will be a priority in his decision-making.

What makes it even tougher is that several of the positions are interrelated, resulting in myriad combinations that will be discussed, displayed and dismissed during the exhibition season.

Here is a position-by-position breakdown of what the Rays have, and what they'll be looking for over the next four weeks:

PITCHERS

Starters

SPRING FLING: Joe Kennedy is 23 with only 50 big-league starts, but he is the closest they have to a sure thing and the ace of the staff. The Rays want to give their prospects an opportunity, but the rest of the rotation likely is to be some combination of young guys trying to prove they should be there and older guys trying to get back.

[Times photo: Michael Rondou] Joe Kennedy is being counted on to be the ace of the Rays' pitching staff.

Of the less experienced candidates, there's Victor Zambrano, who went from being a bad reliever to a decent starter midway through last season; Dewon Brazelton, the 2001 first-round pick who made it to the big leagues in September and is being counted on to stick around; lefty Nick Bierbrodt, who was sidelined with severe control problems last spring then injured in a shooting; and Jason Standridge, who is getting a fresh start under the new coaching staff. Mexican League imports Gerardo Garcia and lefty Edgar Huerta also will get looks.

Of the veterans, 27-year-old lefty Jim Parque, who won 13 games for the 2000 White Sox but has struggled since May 2001 shoulder surgery, has looked very good. Not far behind is Steve Parris, a 35-year-old who won 23 games for the Reds in 1999-2000 before having September 2001 shoulder surgery.

POSSIBLE SURPRISE: The assumption is that Jorge Sosa, a Rule 5 pick last season, will go to the minors to continue to learn how to pitch. But if he shows enough progress, he could keep learning on the major-league job.

Relievers

SPRING FLING: The rotation seems set compared with the bullpen, where there are legitimately 18 candidates competing for seven jobs (two for lefties). Piniella would like a mix here too, stocking the pen with young hard-throwing relievers and veterans who at least have been there before. His top prerequisite is the ability to throw strikes, and he'll consider anyone who can do it, even A-ball pitchers.

Lance Carter, who made it back from two Tommy John elbow surgeries to reach the majors at the end of last season, is the closest thing to an incumbent, and a closer candidate, that they have.

Based on early spring performance, right-handers Jesus Colome and lefty Bobby Seay seem to have an edge. Righty Dan Reichert has shown the ability to be there, too.

Other top young candidates include returnees Travis Harper, Delvin James and Travis Phelps, plus prospects Seth McClung, lefty Jon Switzer and Huerta.

From the senior contingent there is Mel Rojas, a former star closer who hasn't been in the majors since 1999; Carlos Reyes, who worked last season as a minor-league pitching coach; John Frascatore, who sat out the season; and Bob Wells, who pitched for Piniella in Seattle in the mid 1990s.

POSSIBLE SURPRISE: Mike James, a seven-year veteran who spent most of last season at Triple A, quietly has been impressive in the early stages of camp. If he keeps it up, he could end up being an effective middle man.

CATCHERS

SPRING FLING: Plan A is for Toby Hall to step up and be the No. 1 guy from the start, and there really is no Plan B. If he struggles, they have problems. Of the handful of candidates for the backup job, Jorge Fabregas seems to have a slight advantage, though Charlie Greene is an excellent receiver and Hector Ortiz can add some offense.

POSSIBLE SURPRISE: If John Flaherty doesn't unseat Chris Widger for the Yankees backup job, would a return to the Rays, albeit at a reduced rate, be possible?

INFIELDERS

First base

SPRING FLING: The Rays seemed to be set with Aubrey Huff, then they seemed to have depth when Lee Stevens signed a minor-league deal. But the late addition of Travis Lee has changed everything. Lee is considered an elite defensive player with a decent left-handed bat, and it would be best for the team if he were at first about every day. He'll get a look in the outfield, where he is serviceable, but moving him and playing Huff at first would seem to weaken the Rays at two positions.

POSSIBLE SURPRISE: Stevens seems to be an odd man out, but if he shows his power (20-plus homers from 1997-2001) and defensive skill, the Rays might have to find room, or work a trade.

Second base

SPRING FLING: Piniella has mentioned using free-agent acquisition Marlon Anderson as a super-utilityman, but it seems more likely he'll end up starting at second. His defense can be erratic, but he brings athleticism and a lively bat. Incumbent Brent Abernathy, who struggled much of last season, isn't going to let go easy, but may have to show some versatility to stay on the team.

POSSIBLE SURPRISE: Infielder Antonio Perez, acquired from Seattle in the Piniella compensation deal, is probably best playing second, and a strong spring could earn him a backup job.

Shortstop

SPRING FLING: Even if Rey Ordonez isn't back to his three-time Gold Glove form, he'll be by far the best defensive shortstop the Rays have had. Before even playing a game, he already has awed his new teammates with his skill and grace. He has a rep for not being a strong offensive player, but Piniella has been encouraged so far and is considering using him in the No. 2 slot.

[Times photo: Michael Rondou] Rey Ordonez should become the best defensive shortstop the Rays have ever had.

POSSIBLE SURPRISE: B.J. Upton, the No. 2 overall pick in the June draft, isn't going to make the team as an 18-year-old. But a strong spring, and some studying of Ordonez, could accelerate his progress.

Third base

SPRING FLING: Jared Sandberg's biggest problem this spring was supposed to be cutting down on his strikeouts. But then the Rays signed Chris Truby, the one-time Houston top prospect, to a minor-league contract. And then they signed defensive whiz Travis Lee to play first base, sending Aubrey Huff across the diamond to show if he has improved enough defensively to play third.

The result is a crowd, and it may not be thinned until a decision is made at some other positions. The Rays would like to give Sandberg the chance to develop what looks to be impressive power. But Huff needs a place to play, and if it's not at first or DH, it's going to be third.

POSSIBLE SURPRISE: Not so long ago, Truby was an elite prospect in the Houston organization. If he can regain his batting stroke, he could make things even more interesting.

Reserves

SPRING FLING: It will be hard to figure out the bench until the composition of the team is known (such as whether Huff is the DH or starting third baseman). One of the backups has to be able to play shortstop, which should be good for Rule 5 draft pick Hector Luna (who played Class A ball for the Indians last season), Gabby Martinez or Antonio Perez. Other bench candidates include Damian Rolls, who can play anywhere in the infield or outfield, Abernathy (or Anderson), Felix Escalona, Jay Canizaro and Justin Baughman. Sandberg could end up a backup at first and third, or Stevens could be a backup at first, DH and outfield.

OUTFIELD

Starters

SPRING FLING: The Rays are pretty confident the outfield of the future will be Carl Crawford in left, Rocco Baldelli in center and Josh Hamilton in right.

The outfield for March 31, 2003, is a little less certain.

The Rays would like nothing better than for Crawford and Baldelli to win starting jobs this spring and stay there for 10 years. But whether they are ready to do so could be the key to the whole lineup.

Crawford, who showed glimpses of his talent last season and seems to be hungry and focused this spring, has to show more consistency. Baldelli, whose speed, grace and athleticism stand out, must prove he can handle major-league pitching on a daily basis, and will be watched closely.

Because Hamilton has missed most of the past two seasons with injuries, the plan is to send him back to the minors for the chance to play every day for a couple months.

So what for now?

If Crawford and Baldelli are ready, they'll start in the outfield with Ben Grieve, who may show some signs of life in the final year of his contract. Don't be surprised if Piniella flips them around and puts Crawford in right and the less-mobile Grieve in left.

But if either of the dynamic duo isn't ready, there will be some shuffling, with centerfield the bigger concern.

If Baldelli isn't there, Crawford may get the chance to slide over, with Jason Tyner, Jason Conti and Damian Rolls other possibilities. Anderson even could get a look. Without Crawford, leftfield would be wide open, with candidates including Tyner, Conti, Rolls, veteran Greg Vaughn and Lee or Stevens on an occasional basis.

POSSIBLE SURPRISE: The Rays know Hamilton needs more time in the minors, but if he makes a strong impression in the spring, they just might be tempted to put him in the lineup in right or center.

Reserves

SPRING FLING: Piniella craves versatility, and there aren't many more versatile players than Rolls. If Crawford and/or Baldelli aren't ready to start, they'll go back to the minors, which opens a spot(s) for Conti, who is out of options and would have to be exposed to waivers; Tyner, who was the opening day leftfielder last season; Stevens; and players signed to minor-league contracts such as Ryan Thompson, Chad Mottola and Brian Lesher.

DH

SPRING FLING: Most likely, the DH will be Huff. Unless it's Vaughn. Or Stevens.

Until the Rays know what they are doing at other positions, it's hard to know who is going to DH. If Lee is at first and Sandberg is at third, then Huff will be the DH. If Huff ends up at third, or if Lee gets moved to the outfield, that opens the way for Vaughn. And if Vaughn ends up in the outfield, or ends up getting released, then Stevens could have a shot. In other words, check back in about three weeks.

Today's lineup

Rays