Rays ace's spring gets worse: 1-2/3 innings, 10 hits, nine runs

The Yankees clobber Joe Kennedy for his third consecutive poor outing.

By TOM JONES
© St. Petersburg Times
published March 27, 2003

[Times photo: James Borchuck] In his past three starts, Joe Kennedy, the Devil Rays' opening-day starter, has allowed 26 hits and 17 runs (16 earned) in 8 2/3 innings.

ST. PETERSBURG -- Just when it seemed the spring couldn't sink any lower for Devil Rays pitcher Joe Kennedy, he slammed into rock bottom Wednesday night. Then the Bronx Bombers hauled out a jackhammer and helped the designated ace of the staff tunnel even deeper.

If there was marginal concern before Kennedy's latest start, there should be plenty today after the Rays' opening-day starter failed to get through the second inning against the Yankees in a 15-3 loss, allowing 10 hits and nine runs, eight of them earned.

"That's obviously what we didn't want to see," Rays manager Lou Piniella said. "But it's spring training, thank God. That's one good way to look at it."

One bad start is no cause for alarm. But what about three?

Kennedy stumbles into Monday's opener against Boston with three consecutive dreadful starts and just two decent outings, which came three weeks ago.

Suddenly, the guy the Rays call their best pitcher is serving up more runs than outs.

Kennedy, though, showed no anxiety after Wednesday's game.

"Just forget about it and look forward to opening day," Kennedy said.

"I think I'm throwing the ball well. The numbers just aren't there."

Kennedy entered Wednesday's game 0-3 with a 6.23 ERA this spring. The two starts before Wednesday produced worse numbers: 0-2 with a 10.29 ERA and 19 runners allowed in only seven innings.

It's only spring, everyone said. He's just getting his work in, stretching out his arm, gearing up for the regular season. Wednesday, though, was supposed to be the final dress rehearsal, the real test.

And for one inning, everything was fine. Better than fine. Kennedy, named the opening day starter not long after spring training began, mowed down the top three batters in the Yankees order on only five pitches.

No problems, no worries, no troubles.

[Times photo: James Borchuck] Rey Ordonez forces Alfonso Soriano to hold the ball on Carl Crawford's potential double-play grounder during the third.

Alfonso Soriano, Derek Jeter and Jason Giambi, perhaps the most fearsome first three hitters in any major-league lineup, went quietly, and Kennedy had a sharp start to his final spring fling.

The plan was for Kennedy to work six or seven innings. The plan was scrapped. He didn't make it through the second.

His inning from a Stephen King novel went like this: single, single, fielder's choice, single, three-run homer, single, single, single, sacrifice fly, two-run homer, single, single.

"What do you think?" Kennedy said when asked if he was disappointed in his outing, which he blamed on bad two-strike pitches.

Six of the 10 hits he allowed came with two strikes.

His velocity was fine, Piniella said, but his location was too high. Hey, at least he didn't bounce any up to the plate.

"Nothing bounced except for the ones that went over the wall," Piniella said. "The guy who has been pitching the worst for us is our opening-day pitcher. How about that?

"We're trying to trick Boston."

When Piniella mercifully took the ball, Kennedy's night was finished. He pitched just 12/3 innings, faced 15 batters and threw 58 pitches.

Add the totals from the past three starts? Scary: 82/3 innings, 26 hits, 17 runs, 16 of them earned.

Still, no one seems all that worried.

"I never really worry about him," said catcher Toby Hall, who added that Kennedy's arm looked good Wednesday. "He's got too good of stuff for me to be concerned."

Is he worried that Kennedy, known for his self-confidence, is worried?

"No," Hall said. "Not Joe Kennedy."

Piniella, meantime, said Kennedy will throw on the side a couple of times with pitching coach Chris Bosio and, hopefully, be ready for the opener.

"Sometimes, you hit rock bottom and work your way up from there," Piniella said. "And this was about rock bottom."

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