ST. PETERSBURG - After Alex Rodriguez and Gary Sheffield hit two-run homers to give the Yankees a 4-0 lead against the Devil Rays in the top of the first Tuesday, Yankees manager Joe Torre was ready to put his feet up.
"I thought we were going to steamroll them," Torre said. "We felt very confident."
But by the end of Tuesday, and now after three games of the season, the Yankees are sick of the Rays. The giant of the AL East has twice now been knocked out by the East's David. By beating the Yankees two out of three to start the season, the Rays are in first place. Big deal, you might say. Well, in a way, it is. Believe it or not, the Rays have never been in first place this late into the season.
"They've got a good offensive team," losing pitcher Mike Mussina said. "And they're swinging the bats well right now."
After coming into the season with an 11-4 record against the Rays, the ace of the Yankees staff has given up 11 runs and 19 hits in nine innings against the Rays in two starts.
As far as the Yankees go, are they still feeling the effects from the trip to Japan?
"Well, that team over there (the Rays) went on the same trip," Torre said. "That can't be an excuse."
FULL HOUSE: The home opener drew 41,755 and was considered a sellout, the second in team history and first since the inaugural game in 1998. But how could the game be a sellout when the inaugural game drew 45,369?
Over the years, the capacity of Tropicana Field has been lowered because of reconfigurations in the outfield and along the lines. There were empty seats, but the Rays chalked that up to no-shows and officially listed the game as a sellout.
WHO'S ON THIRD: The Rays might give it another try. Aubrey Huff at third base, that is.
Looking to get a little more offense, specifically Robert Fick, in the lineup, the Rays might put Huff at third today and play him there periodically during the season.
Huff started last season at third, but that experiment didn't last long. He made three errors in the first five games and appeared in eight games at third before moving on to primarily play rightfield. With the acquisition of Jose Cruz Jr., Huff figured to be the club's full-time designated hitter.
But Huff has been taking grounders at third in recent days and could start there today. If so, Fick likely will be the DH, while Geoff Blum, who was supposed to platoon at third with Damian Rolls but had a subpar spring, might play second today.
AL LOPEZ AWARD: Reliever Chad Gaudin is this year's recipient of the fifth annual Al Lopez Award given to the Rays top rookie in spring training. Gaudin pitched in six spring games, allowing no runs and only two hits with one walk and five strikeouts in seven innings. Opponents hit .083 against him.
Previous winners include pitcher Dan Wheeler (2000), infielder Brent Abernathy (2001), pitcher Steve Kent (2002) and Rocco Baldelli (2003).
HAMILTON IN SI: The upcoming issue of Sports Illustrated contains a feature on suspended Rays prospect Josh Hamilton. It discusses his checkered past, but does not contain any new information on his situation. Hamilton was suspended last month for the season for violating the league's drug program.
MISCELLANY: John Warden, who pitched for the Tigers in 1968 and is the baseball correspondent for ESPN2's morning show Cold Pizza, worked the opener and did an interview with Rays manager Lou Piniella. ... Undisputed world junior middleweight champion Winky Wright from St. Petersburg threw out the ceremonial first pitch.
