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© St. Petersburg Times, published March 31, 2003
SCOUTING REPORT: The Red Sox are coming off their fifth straight winning season, and this team looks like a good bet to make it six. The starting rotation of Pedro Martinez, Tim Wakefield, Derek Lowe, Casey Fossum and John Burkett has the potential to be the best in the majors. Well, at least the best this side of the Yankees. The bullpen, though, struggled last season with a 15-22 record. The offense, with speedster Johnny Damon at the top and sluggers Nomar Garciaparra and Manny Ramirez in the middle, will be a good early test for the Rays' young pitching staff. If the Red Sox have problems, they're on defense, particularly the left side of the infield. Shortstop Garciaparra and third baseman Shea Hillenbrand each had the most errors at his position in the American League. They combined to make 48. The Red Sox went 15-14 in the spring. Ramirez led the majors in hitting during the spring with a .490 average. Hillenbrand was third at .448.
CONNECTIONS: Rays first-base coach Billy Hatcher played parts of three seasons in Boston. Bench coach John McLaren was the Red Sox bullpen coach in 1991. Centerfielder Rocco Baldelli grew up in New England (Woonsocket, R.I.). Ex-Ray Ryan Rupe was sent the Red Sox's Triple-A team in Pawtucket last week.
2002 SEASON SERIES: The Rays were 3-16 against the Red Sox, 0-10 at Tropicana Field. The 16 losses were the most by one team against another since the Pirates lost 17 to the Mets in 1986.