Kennedy warming up to new routines

CHICAGO - The Devil Rays think keeping Joe Kennedy out of the hot tub will keep him out of hot water when he pitches.

Before Kennedy's last start Tuesday at Tropicana Field, manager Lou Piniella wandered into the trainer's room and saw the left-hander soaking in the hot tub, part of his pre-home game ritual.

"He was bathing in there for 10 or 12 minutes," Piniella said. "I told him if I did that before or during a game I'd be taking a nap by the third inning. If he was dipping in cold water, I could see it. But not the hot tub. You lose strength."

Piniella suggested Kennedy start skipping the hot tub session, perhaps with good reason: Kennedy is 1-5 with a 7.16 ERA at home this season, 2-2, 4.39 on the road.

Kennedy, who starts today against the White Sox, has made some other recent adjustments, most significantly shifting from the first- to the third-base side of the pitching rubber. The move is designed to give him a more direct path to the plate while allowing his pitches to run off the plate more frequently and reducing the strain on his arm created by his across-the-body delivery.

"They've always wanted me to do it; it was a matter of time of me wanting to do it," Kennedy, 24, said.

"I've been tinkering with lots of things because I haven't had my good stuff all year. It's been kind of a learning experience. I'm trying to get everything to feel good, to feel right. It's just a matter of time right now."

Still, the poor record (3-7, 5.82) and six-week stint on the disabled list have made this a disappointing season for Kennedy, but his last outing (three runs and six hits over eight innings) provided a glimpse of what he still can do.

"For Joe, it's throw the ball like you did the last time out, take your chances," Piniella said. "That's what you want."

TRADE WINDS: General manager Chuck LaMar spent much of the day and night on the phone, talking to a half-dozen teams primarily about pitchers Jeremi Gonzalez, Victor Zambrano and Kennedy.

"We're getting to the point where there are some decisions to be made on both sides," LaMar said. "Obviously there have been players discussed. For us to still be having discussions with this many clubs is probably as many as we've ever had going into the last five or six days (until Thursday's deadline for nonwaiver deals). Whether we'll make a trade or not is yet to be seen."

Kennedy said he wasn't too concerned because Piniella told him last week he isn't going anywhere. "They told me nothing's going to happen, and when the manager tells you that you think nothing's going to happen," he said.

REST STOP: Aubrey Huff was back in rightfield Saturday, his two-day respite as the DH over. Piniella plans to rotate in other regulars for a similar rest, with Rocco Baldelli, who played his 99th game Saturday, probably next on the list. If so, that also gives the Rays a chance to look at Carl Crawford in centerfield.

Similarly, Travis Lee may get a few days at DH so the Rays can see Huff at first base, where he might play next season.

MAGIC MOMENTS: Frank Thomas was the second player to hit his 400th homer against the Rays. Baltimore icon Cal Ripken did it off Rolando Arrojo on Sept. 2, 1999.

MISCELLANY: A Sox spokesman said the fan who threw beer on Baldelli Friday was ejected from the stadium but faces no other legal action; Baldelli, however, was interviewed Saturday by Sox security. ... Crawford is hitting .364 over his past 18 starts; his two steals gave him 27, third-most by a Ray for a full season. ... Sox starter Mike Porzio was knocked out in the fourth and sent back to Triple A after the game; Matt Ginter was promoted. ... The Rays increased their AL-leading total of stolen bases to 84. ... Travis Lee is hitting .400 (22-for-55) over his past 16 games. ... Toby Hall has 10 RBIs in his past 13 games and a six-game hitting streak. ... The Rays lead the season series 3-2; they haven't won a series in Chicago since 1998.