Bats snoozing as season nears

ST. PETERSBURG -- One glimpse at the statistics and it's easy to find the Devil Rays' trouble this spring: offense.

The Rays came into Wednesday with the worst average in the majors at .232. That was 26 points lower than the next weakest team in the American League. They've been held to three runs or less in 11 of 20 games. In Wednesday's 4-4, nine-inning tie against Toronto, the Rays snapped a streak of five straight games scoring three runs or less.

"You can't score three runs a game and win with any consistency in the American League -- period," manager Lou Piniella said. "If this was a situation where we could say, 'Well, it's only spring training,' but this is something that's been consistent here for a couple of years. This is not a three-week phenomenon. So, yeah, I'm concerned about my offense and, yeah, I've asked my general manager to see if we can do something."

Piniella has harped on the lack of patience at the plate, and the need to take a better hitting approach. That will help some, he hopes, but that isn't going to do the trick.

"We need some offensive help," Piniella said. "That's the bottom line. I'm perfectly honest. And hopefully we'll be able to do something.

Whether something happens before opening day remains to be seen.

"We've had extensive trade talks the past three, four days, and I expect them to continue until the end of spring training," general manager Chuck LaMar said. "We're trying to make the club better in several areas, but we're not going to take on payroll. We're doing everything we can."

GIMME FIVE: A couple of days ago, the Rays had several candidates for the fifth starter in the rotation. Now they hope they can find one.

Jorge Sosa, one of three candidates, struggled Wednesday: three innings, three hits, four runs, two walks and two strikeouts. Not exactly the pitching line he wanted. The big blow was a three-run homer by Vernon Wells.

He said things were fine through two innings, but he felt he didn't get the benefit on a few close pitches in the third. Piniella said it looked as if Sosa started aiming the ball.

That four-run third ended his day one inning short of what he was scheduled to pitch.

Meantime, Dewon Brazelton, another candidate, remains sidelined with a slight groin strain. He said he felt better but didn't know when he would be able to resume throwing.

He better hope it's soon.

"He's starting to fall behind," Piniella said. "That's really the bottom line. We'll see how long this takes to get better. ... The doctor didn't think it was serious at all."

The longer Brazelton is out, the less his chances are of making the rotation.

"We got three guys competing for the fifth starter's spot," Piniella said. "And if you're on the shelf, it makes it a little harder to compete."

The most impressive candidate has been veteran Steve Parris, who is scheduled to pitch Friday against Baltimore.

MEDIA DISPUTE: WFLA-TV Ch. 8 has filed a complaint with Major League Baseball about the team's actions stemming from Ch. 8's airing of a clip showing Piniella losing his temper in the dugout during a game. The Rays claim the video was shot without authorization. Ch. 8 claims the Rays "will not allow WFLA-TV to interview players or managers until further notice" because it ran the clip.

Rays vice president Rick Vaughn said that is not true, but the team isn't helping the station arrange interviews, as it often does for television crews, or making key officials available for one-on-one interviews.

"I don't trust their news judgment," Vaughn said.

WFLA news director Forrest Carr said his reporters have taken part in group news conferences, but added, "We're not being afforded the same courtesies that they offer the other news stations."

MISCELLANY: Nick Bierbrodt, scheduled to be the fourth starter, had a good outing for Class-A Bakersfield in a minor-league game. He pitched four innings, gave up one unearned run, struck out five and walked one. ... Damian Rolls got a rare start at third base. Rolls was slated to start at first for the first time in his life, but was moved just before the game. Aubrey Huff played first. "We want to get Rolls some at-bats," Piniella said. "He's playing well and we want to keep him sharp." Rolls delivered the tying run with a double in the ninth. ... Piniella said another "sizable" round of cuts could come over the weekend. He would like to get to 30-32 players.

GAME DETAILS: The Rays scored two in the first on a run-scoring double by Brent Abernathy and a run-scoring single by Greg Vaughn. ... Ben Grieve continued swinging a hot bat by going 3-for-3. ... Relievers Cedrick Bowers, Bobby Seay, Lance Carter and Seth McClung combined for six shutout innings, allowing only three hits.