Rays Tales

CANDY MAN: There are a number of things a rookie must learn to deal with during his first stint in the major leagues: the travel, the dress code, the facilities.

And for Mark Malaska, the bullpen candy bag.

Tradition is that the reliever with the least amount of time in the majors is responsible for bringing treats for the rest of the guys.

"It really doesn't bother me," the rookie left-hander said. "It's a little weird when we win and we're shaking hands and you've got to carry it around with you. My dad made fun of me a little bit: "Your purse looks cute.' "

But a man has to do what a man has to do, and Malaska thinks he has done well.

"I've gotten mostly positive feedback," he said. "I keep a good variety, and water's important too. I've been told I put more cookies than normal in there. I don't know if that's my bias showing a little bit. But there really haven't been any complaints."

THEY CALL HIM UNC: Hitting coach Lee Elia is about as passionate as they come about his craft, and his players. "I guess my biggest problem in all the years I've done this is that I fall in love with them," Elia said. "Especially when they work."

BIG DADDY: Lance Carter isn't the only elite ballplayer in the family. His father, Zeb, is a top player on the Florida Legends 60-and-over softball team.

Zeb Carter grew up in the Bradenton area, started playing baseball in the Navy, then began playing tournament-level softball, first fast-pitch and now slow-pitch, on teams that traveled the country. Along the way, he taught Lance how to play baseball and how to pitch.

Zeb, 61, joined the Sarasota-based Legends last year and is their catcher and one of their top hitters. He was the MVP at the 2002 World Championship tournament.

"He can bang it," Lance said.

Well enough that Lance says he is not at all tempted to want to pitch to him.

"I don't think I've ever thrown him a softball," Lance said.

- LOU PINIELLA, manager, after winning No. 36 in the 100th game.