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MARC TOPKINThe team hopes a revamped infield and Gold Glove rightfielder will help it close the gap in the AL East.
ST. PETERSBURG - A winter's worth of work came together Friday as the Devil Rays staged their first full-squad workout of the spring. Though they believe they improved their pitching, they acknowledge they lack frontline starters, and though they bolstered their offense, they admit they are short on power.
So if they are going to make good on manager Lou Piniella's promise to catch up to the other teams in the rugged American League East, a key will be their ability to catch the ball better.
"Our club should catch the ball," Piniella said. "We put this thing together with defense in mind so we could help our pitching. We didn't put this club together from an offensive standpoint first. We put it together from, "Can we catch the ball?' to "How do you fit in offensively?' "
The Rays weren't that messy last season, tying for fifth in the American League in fielding percentage, making 103 errors and allowing 65 unearned runs. But they expect to improve with the new alignment.
"There's no question we added quickness and arm strength," bench coach John McLaren said. "It only helps the pitching staff. The infielders catching the ball and the outfielders running balls down really makes the difference."
If the outfielders stand still for a moment, it will be easy to see how good they are.
The Rays already have future stars in Carl Crawford, who had the second-best fielding percentage among AL leftfielders, and Rocco Baldelli, who led the American League with 14 assists as a rookie centerfielder. Now they have a trio that is one of the best in either league, adding Jose Cruz, who won a Gold Glove for his efforts last season in San Francisco, to play right.
"You take a look at our outfield, we have as much speed and athleticism as any team in the big leagues," Piniella said.
The infield underwent significant renovation.
While Julio Lugo, who joined the team in May, is expected to remain at shortstop, the other three projected starters are new: Tino Martinez at first base, Rey Sanchez at second base and Geoff Blum at third base.
That's a complete makeover from last spring, when the Rays started the season with Aubrey Huff at third, Rey Ordonez at short, Marlon Anderson at second and Travis Lee at first.
"We have basically turned that over completely," Piniella said. "It's totally different. I'm looking forward to see how it all works out."
The Rays may have lost one of the game's best defensive first basemen in Lee, but they minimized their loss by trading for Martinez, the 36-year-old Tampa native.
Martinez has never won a Gold Glove, but not for lack of trying. He has finished first or second in fielding percentage five times, including the past three seasons, and his .995 career fielding percentage is sixth all time.
"He's a well-above-average first baseman," McLaren said. "He's not flashy, he just does his job well. He's a blue-collar guy who doesn't get the recognition he deserves for what he does."
Piniella considered moving Lugo to second and using Sanchez at shortstop, where his .981 career fielding percentage is third best all time, but he said Friday he plans to keep Lugo where he is.
That's fine with Sanchez, who is considered one of the most solid veteran infielders in the game. He has played second and short on a regular basis and said he is comfortable with whatever alignment Piniella prefers. "Doesn't matter," Sanchez, 36, said. "It's all about playing."
"Everywhere Sanchez plays he does a great job," McLaren said. "He's as steady as they come. He just makes the plays."
Lugo, 28, was a bit erratic after joining the Rays in May, but he settled down as the season went on (one error in his last 34 games) and was excited that the Rays picked up his option.
"I think Julio will play better for us," general manager Chuck LaMar said. "He played awfully good the last two months, but I think with a full year, in a place he likes to play, he'll be even more productive."
Lugo figures to be better with experience, and with Sanchez at his side. "Rey is going to help me a lot," Lugo said.
Blum, who is expected to share time with Damian Rolls, has soft hands, having come up as a shortstop, a quick release and a strong arm. "A gun," McLaren said. "And he catches the ball well."
The Astros used Blum, 30, as a utilityman, but he played 83 games at third last season and 104 the year before and is eager for full-time work.
Throw in the performance of catcher Toby Hall, who led the majors by throwing out 41.3 percent of potential base-stealers, and it's obvious the Rays are excited about being on the defensive.
"With a pitching staff without a couple power arms at the top of the rotation, teams are going to put the ball in play," LaMar said.
"That's where our defense needed to get better. We were in the middle of the league last year and improving as the year went on. I think with the addition of Sanchez in the middle of the field and Cruz in rightfield, it's a better defensive club. I wouldn't be surprised if we play like we're capable of and catch the ball like we're capable of, I think we'll be in the upper echelon defensively in the league."