Piniella getting fed up

The new Rays manager doesn't like what he sees, and he rips players who haven't lived up to his expectations.

By MARC TOPKIN, Times Staff Writer

© St. Petersburg Times
published March 7, 2003

KISSIMMEE -- Lou Piniella has spent much of the spring saying the Devil Rays had too many players in camp. Now it's beginning to sound like he doesn't think they have enough.

At least not enough who are good enough.

With one week of exhibitions, and a 1-5 record, behind him, and opening day little more than three weeks away, Piniella has had a chance to see exactly what he has. It's clear, in some cases, he doesn't particularly like it.

His displeasure is becoming more apparent daily, from candid assessment of the team's shortcomings to obvious signs of frustration, such as an expletive-laced dugout diatribe during Thursday's game (that was shown repeatedly by ESPN) and pointed postgame criticism of reliever Travis Phelps and, by association, catcher Sandy Martinez.

"I think when it's all said and done we're going to be looking for a little help at the end of spring training," Piniella said. "I'm being truthful with you. Now whether we get some or not, we'll see. But I'm open and honest, and I'm beginning to feel that way."

His main concern is an offense that he already has termed disappointing, talking about how the lack of power and abundance of strikeouts will force them to rely on speed, and that to compensate his lineup will likely include some surprising decisions, perhaps with Marlon Anderson starting in the outfield.

"I know it's only a week and I know it can get a lot better -- it's going to have to, quite frankly," he said. "It's going to have to."

Whether they can get any help off the waiver wire, or if they'll have any money to do so, is unclear, but Piniella is hoping, perhaps for a veteran outfielder or a second baseman to compete with Brent Abernathy if Anderson ends up in leftfield.

His dissatisfaction was even more apparent after a 7-6 loss to Houston, a game that turned when Phelps came on with a 2-0 lead in the sixth but gave up a grand slam to Richard Hidalgo.

"You know, talking about Travis Phelps, you can see why a team loses 105 games," Piniella said.

"This is a perfect example. You've got the bases loaded with a power-hitting rightfielder up, and you're just giving him four fastballs to hit. And then after the bases are cleared and five runs are in they're throwing 3-and-2 breaking balls to the seventh and eighth hitters. That makes as much sense as going up there blindfolded and trying to hit!

"How about shaking off the pitch? How about mixing in a breaking ball 3-and-2? At least if you're going to throw your power-hitting rightfielder, with the game on the line, four fastballs you mights as well throw your seventh and eighth hitters, with nobody on base, fastballs too, and we're throwing breaking balls. That doesn't even make sense. It's almost like playing the game backward the way it should be played.

"These things will be addressed."

That said, Piniella turned and walked off the field. Until then he had been pleased with the performance of the young pitchers, saying he had been surprised by how many had thrown so well.

"I like their stuff and I like the fact that they're throwing strikes," Piniella said. "Now we'll see how they continue to do as the numbers get smaller and the competition factor gets greater. But I'm encouraged by what I see."

His assessment of the offense was not nearly as encouraging.

"We're more of a team that strikes out more and walks less, and when you don't have too much power that's not a real good combination," he said. "So at least we better have speed so we can run, put the game in motion."

From what he has seen, he likes Anderson in the leadoff slot and has tried right-handed Rey Ordonez second so he can keep some left-handers, such as Carl Crawford, for the bottom third of the order.

He doesn't know whether Aubrey Huff will be the DH or play third base (but not first), which would open the DH slot for Greg Vaughn or Ben Grieve but leave Jared Sandberg without a job. He wants to watch Anderson and Abernathy at second base for another week or so before deciding which way to go.

Still looming are major decisions on whether rookie Rocco Baldelli is ready to play centerfield every day and whether Vaughn can contribute any day.

And as a guiding philosophy, Piniella wants to put the best defensive team he can on the field to help the young pitching staff.

"I don't know exactly how our lineup is going to work, but I'm starting to get some ideas," Piniella said. "And a couple of them might surprise you."