Rays

Waechter will get a hometown start

SEATTLE - Doug Waechter woke up a bunch of friends and relatives around St. Petersburg in the middle of the night Wednesday with the news of his thrilling victory in his major-league debut.

Next time he pitches, they'll get to see for themselves.

Manager Lou Piniella was impressed enough to move the 22-year-old St. Petersburg native into the rotation with plans to start him Wednesday at Tropicana Field.

"He competed," Piniella said. "He threw the ball. He's got a nice arm ... a nicer arm than I thought he had. I was impressed."

Waechter will take the place of rookie Chad Gaudin, who will go back to the bullpen in hopes he can strengthen the sagging middle relief corps.

"He's pitched very well for two-three innings, and that's what we expected when we got him," Piniella said. "I like Chad a lot. He fits in next year in our bullpen so we might as well put him right in where he belongs."

There may be further changes. Piniella wants to go back to a five-man rotation but also wants to see more of Jorge Sosa, who was dazzling Thursday, and Jon Switzer, who is expected to be recalled from the minors next week. That could mean Joe Kennedy, whom Piniella has said he'd like to try in the bullpen, and/or Rob Bell will lose their spots.

Waechter said he'd be thrilled by the opportunity to start, especially at home. Thursday morning he still was a bit dazed by the blur of events that started with word of his promotion Sunday night and culminated with his strong 21/3-inning performance in the key innings of Wednesday's 8-4 victory, including strikeouts of Edgar Martinez and Ichiro Suzuki.

"Everybody I talked to was really excited; it was great," he said. "They all stayed up, but I think they were all passed out by the time I called them. I don't think they were too upset with me waking them up."

HEAD GAMES: Rocco Baldelli has tried different kinds of contact lenses, and he has tried eye drops, but he still has trouble seeing the ball at times.

After avoiding injury Wednesday when a line drive glanced off his glove and struck him on the forehead - "It got me in the emblem," he said - he might try some goggle-type glasses, similar to what Dodgers closer Eric Gagne wears.

Meanwhile, he resigned himself to seeing plenty of replays of his embarrassing error. "I'm sure I'll see myself on some blooper reels," he said.

WELCOME BACK: Adam Piatt spent parts of four seasons with the A's before being waived and claimed by the Rays Aug. 19. Going back to Oakland to play his old mates, and to see close friends such as Tim Hudson, Barry Zito and Scott Hatteberg, will be different.

"It'll be weird going to the other clubhouse," he said. "You have mixed emotions."

SPOIL SPORTS: The Rays have won series that knocked three other teams out of first place, but none this late in a season. They did it to the Braves in July 2001, to the Twins in mid August 2001 and in April 2002 and now to the Mariners.

"We know we're not going to the playoffs, so let's ruin it for somebody else," reliever Lance Carter said.

DEAL (FINALLY) CLOSE: General manager Chuck LaMar said he expects top draft pick Delmon Young to be signed in time for the mid-September start of instructional league. "I think we're closer today than we've ever been to getting a deal done and I think over the next week or 10 days I expect him to be a Devil Ray," LaMar said.

The Rays are believed to be offering a major-league contract and a deal worth in excess of $5-million.

MINOR MATTERS: Wednesday's win for Double-A Orlando gave right-hander Scott Autrey 14 for the season, breaking the team minor-league record of 13 by Dave Eiland in 1998.

MISCELLANY: Piniella had lost six straight on his birthday and is 6-10 overall. ... Carter has converted nine consecutive saves. ... LaMar said decisions have not been made on September callups. ... The Mariners have lost eight of nine. They had been in first place from April 14 through Wednesday.