EARLY DELIVERY: Going 0-for-4 doesn't seem like a big deal these days for Devil Rays third baseman Jeff Liefer. Not after what he has been through during the past couple months.
Last week, he welcomed home his first baby, a son named Cade Jeffrey. Quite a blessing considering Cade arrived much earlier than expected.
Liefer's wife, Missy, went into labor late June 23.
"He wasn't even due until Aug. 16," Liefer said.
Liefer just had been sent down to Triple-A Durham. He didn't know a soul there when Missy started to deliver. The baby came in the wee hours of June 24.
"He was breathing on his own from the time he (was born)," Liefer said. "He was 41/2 pounds, which is the weight they let most prematures go home. We definitely were worried but pretty confident he was going to be all right."
Cade, now up to more than 6 pounds, came home Monday, and he and Missy are doing fine.
"It was probably the toughest thing I've ever been a part of," Liefer said.
The only hard part now is Liefer is up with the Rays while Missy and Cade remain in Durham.
TRADING PLACES: Last week's nonwaiver trade deadline reminded manager Lou Piniella of the times he was traded. Only one really bothered him: when he went from the Royals to the Yankees on Dec.7, 1973, along with pitcher Ken Wright, for pitcher Lindy McDaniel.
"I was really disappointed," Piniella said. "I was living in Kansas City, and I had played five years there and had some success. It was unsettling. But I tell you what, it was the best thing that ever happened to me."
Piniella played in the Bronx for 11 seasons, batting over .300 five times. In the seven seasons in which he played a minimum of 100 games, he never hit lower than .281. The Yankees won two world championships. Meantime, McDaniel never developed into the closer the Royals hoped he would.
"I think it worked out a little better for the Yankees," Piniella said.
ROOKIE RUN: Closer Lance Carter is the 17th rookie to save 19 games, and only five have gotten to 19 saves quicker. Kansas City's Mike MacDougal reached 19 on June 26.
The others to get to 19 quicker were Seattle's Kazuhiro Sasaki (July 5, 2000), Baltimore's Jorge Julio (July 15, 2002), St. Louis' Todd Worrell (July 25, 1986) and Toronto's Billy Koch (July 26, 1999).
Carter is on pace for 29 saves. Only five rookies have had that many in a season.
YOU DON'T SAY
"If it's not the right deal, why do it?"
- LOU PINIELLA, Rays manager talking about the team making one deal before the nonwaiver trade deadline
BIG NUMBER
22-24: That's the Rays record against the American League East. They are 18-43 against everyone else.
[Last modified August 3, 2003, 01:47:46]
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