BOSTON - Paul Abbott knows there are people who didn't expect him to be here.
It's not just that he's pitching tonight for the Devil Rays at Fenway Park but that he has been pitching so well.
Abbott's 2.37 ERA ranks among the American League's best, and his two wins (in three starts) match his victory total from his past two injury-shortened seasons.
Abbott, 36, was confident he would be able to pitch well once his recovery from 2002 shoulder surgery was complete. But he has also been around long enough to know there are people he has surprised with his success.
"I'm sure I have," Abbott said. "You win two games in two years, you're kind of off the radar a little bit. But I think people who've seen me pitch and think I'm healthy, I'm pretty sure they wouldn't be surprised that if I'm healthy I can do some of the things I'm doing."
Abbott has been healthy, and the Rays are doing what they can by getting him extra rest when possible and watching his workload closely. He added a cut fastball to his repertoire, and he hopes to soon rediscover his changeup, but what he has done best is pitch, changing speeds and location and mixing his pitches.
BASEBALL IS A FUNNY GAME: Aubrey Huff's lack of offense has been one of the biggest disappointments of the first month of the Rays season. And his defensive play at third base has been one of the biggest surprises.
Manager Lou Piniella took a bit of a gamble moving Huff to third against right-handed pitchers, but he wanted to add offense to the lineup. This alignment allows him to do that, primarily by using Robert Fick at DH, as long as Huff continues to handle the defensive part of the assignment.
Of course, the Rays want him to start hitting, too.
"He's played really well at third base," Piniella said. "But I told him we didn't sign him to be a defensive third baseman."
KNUCKLE UNDER: The Rays need every edge they can get in their battle against Boston knuckleballer Tim Wakefield, who has frustrated them for years with a pitch that floats like a butterfly and stings like a bee.
Tonight, first-base coach Billy Hatcher will try to help by throwing knuckleballs in batting practice. It won't, however, be quite the same.
"We've found this," Piniella said, "His knuckleball's a little easier to hit than Wakefield's."
HAPPY HENDU: Minor-league hitting coordinator Steve Henderson has been with the team while hitting coach Lee Elia recovers from gall bladder surgery.
Henderson, Rays hitting coach for the 1998 inaugural season before being reassigned, said he has no aspirations of returning to the big-league level.
"I played 13 years up here and I coached up here," Henderson said. "I've had a number of jobs to go back to the big leagues, but I just enjoy working with the kids."
A LITTLE HELP: Just before Aaron Rowand came to the plate in the fifth inning Sunday, rightfielder Jose Cruz noticed how the wind had changed and told centerfielder Rocco Baldelli to move a few steps toward right.
"He said, "You'll be able to get any ball that doesn't go over the fence,' " Baldelli said. "Rowand pretty much tested me to the fullest extent."
Baldelli ran for what seemed like minutes, but he caught up to Rowand's drive just in front of the left-centerfield wall. Just like Cruz said he would.
"I guess his theory worked out pretty good," Baldelli said.
THREE FOR THREE: Piniella knew he was taking a chance pitching Danys Baez in a third straight game Sunday, and he knew right away his closer didn't have much, taking him out after he opened the ninth allowing single-walk-single.
But Baez said fatigue was not an issue. "I felt very good in the bullpen," Baez said. "I've got to be ready every day."
