Vaughn still confident in his offensive abilities

© St. Petersburg Times
published March 22, 2003

FORT LAUDERDALE -- If the Devil Rays are about to give up on Greg Vaughn, and it's possible a decision could come this weekend, the veteran outfielder/designated hitter said he isn't worried.

Despite an average that dropped to .217 after another 0-for-3 performance Friday, Vaughn, 37, said he remains confident he will regain his form and have a successful offensive season.

"Whatever happens, happens," Vaughn said. "I know I can do it whether they do or not. I know I will. If they don't think I can do it here, then fine. I know I can. Whether it's here or somewhere else, it's up to them.

"I haven't been based on spring training since I was 21. But if that's what they want to use, that's fine."

The Rays owe Vaughn $9.25-million for the final year of his contract (about one-third of their total payroll) and must pay him even if they release him, so a decision won't come lightly.

And it could be put off if the Rays can't acquire a hitter to take his place, a difficult proposition because they have only the minimum $300,000 to spend.

"What we've talked about is giving (Vaughn) every opportunity to get it going again," manager Lou Piniella said.

"There's nothing more that I'd like to see than for him to get it going."

If the Rays let Vaughn go and don't pick up anyone, they could move Aubrey Huff from third to DH (and play Jared Sandberg), move Ben Grieve from rightfield to DH (and play Damian Rolls) or use Rolls or Ryan Thompson at DH.

DECISIONS, DECISIONS: Piniella said he'll cut the roster to 30-32 players during the weekend to start specific preparations for the regular season. They must be down to 25 by midnight March 29.

"We're going to have to make decisions here fairly soon on how we constitute this club," he said. "Next week, I'd like to start putting the regular lineup on the field and get ready for the season.

"I think we've got a pretty good idea right now what we have here both from a player position standpoint and from a pitching standpoint. Now what we'll do is cut it down and shape it for the season so the guys start getting used to the position they'll hit in the lineup, start using the pitchers a little more in roles and start shaping our bullpen.

"These decisions can't wait much longer. I think if you haven't made concrete decisions by now that last week isn't going to change your mind all that much."

Besides Vaughn, another key decision is whether to carry 11 or 12 pitchers.

With 11, it's more likely they could keep infielder Hector Luna, the Rule 5 draft pick from Cleveland.

GAME DETAILS: The Rays led 1-0 thanks to five shutout innings by Steve Parris and a Jason Conti home run, but Gerardo Garcia quickly gave it back. He gave up home runs to Geronimo Gil and B.J. Surhoff in the sixth and a two-run shot to Deivi Cruz in the seventh. ... The Rays did a nice job creating a run in the seventh with a Sandberg single, a catcher's interference, a good bunt in a tough situation by Brent Abernathy and a groundout by Jorge Fabregas. ... This was the 13th time in 22 games the Rays scored three or fewer runs.

CATCHING ON: Fabregas is leading Hector Ortiz in the competition for the backup catcher job.

"I think Fabregas has moved ahead," Piniella said. "He's a left-handed bat, and he has major-league experience, eight years of it."

MISCELLANY: The premium seating area behind home plate at Tropicana Field has been expanded and renamed the Kane's Club as part of a sponsorship agreement that includes the addition of a furniture showroom in the stadium. With the original 100 seats sold out, 64 have been added. ... Fewer than 500 reserved-seat tickets remain for Wednesday's game against the Yankees. Several hundred berm tickets go on sale at 10 a.m. Wednesday.