Rays notebook

Lou sees room for more Rays All-Stars

By MARC TOPKIN
Published July 6, 2004

BALTIMORE - Lou Piniella didn't want to sound like he was complaining. But after taking a look at the complete All-Star rosters Monday, he had to wonder if more Devil Rays weren't named to the team simply because they were Devil Rays.

"I was a little disappointed that we only had one player taken from our club for the All-Star Game," Piniella said. "The guy that's going, Carl Crawford, really deserves to go and he was the right choice.

"But we've got other people here. I see where other teams that have about our record have multiple choices. I guess with Tampa Bay they're used to taking the one guy."

The Indians (39-42) and Marlins (42-41) had four All-Stars each, and the Tigers (37-44) and Brewers (42-38) had two apiece.

Piniella on Sunday said he thought starter Victor Zambrano, who is 9-4 with three wins over the Yankees, deserved to be on the team. Monday, he said closer Danys Baez and shortstop Julio Lugo also deserved consideration.

In Lugo's case, the issue would appear to be an abundance of star players at his position. Derek Jeter (.273, 13 homers, 40 RBIs) won the fan balloting at shortstop; Texas' Michael Young (.330, 11, 48) was voted in by the players, coaches and managers; and All-Star manager Joe Torre named Baltimore's Miguel Tejada (.316, 15, 69) and Detroit's Carlos Guillen (.328, 11, 57) to the team.

Piniella thought Lugo, hitting .276 with six homers and 48 RBIs, should have measured up.

"I understand, but why? Just because he plays for Tampa Bay? How about if he had the same year playing for the New York Yankees or the Chicago White Sox or the Angels? Would it be any different? I don't know."

STARGAZING: Crawford had seen his name on the All-Star roster on ESPN and in the morning paper, but he still wasn't sure he believed that at this time next week, he'll be preparing to play in the All-Star Game in his hometown of Houston.

"I don't know if it's really sunk in," he said. "I think so. I know it's a big deal, that's for sure. And I'm trying to handle it with care."

Crawford said he had to turn his cell phone off Sunday night because he was getting so many congratulatory calls, including one from fellow All-Star C.C. Sabathia.

MILLER UPDATE: Reliever Trever Miller's newborn daughter Grace Elizabeth, born a month early and weighing 4 pounds, 2 ounces, remains in the neonatal intensive care unit at St. Petersburg's All Children's Hospital but is showing improvement.

"It's been good news," Miller said. "She's doing well, and getting stronger. It doesn't look like she'll need brain surgery, which is great news. And we're hoping she'll be off the ventilator in a week or two. But she's going to be there a while."

THANKS FOR COMING: To make room for starter Jeremi Gonzalez, reliever Bartolome Fortunato was optioned to Triple A after the first game. MINOR MATTERS: Left-hander Brian Henderson, outfielder Joey Gomes and infielder Vince Harrison were promoted from Class A Bakersfield to Double-A Montgomery. ... Reliever Chad Orvella, who was 1-0 with a 1.33 ERA, four saves, 76 strikeouts and only five walks in 471/3 innings at Class A Charleston, was moved up to Bakersfield. ... B.J. Upton hit his 10th homer in his 47th game at Triple A.

MISCELLANY: The 14 hits Jeremi Gonzalez allowed were the most by a Ray since Tanyon Sturtze did so Sept. 9, 2002. ... The Rays hadn't lost three straight since a five-game skid May 14-19. ... The Rays have been swept in their past three doubleheaders and are 0-4-5 overall. ... Fred McGriff did not start either game of the doubleheader. ... The Orioles placed Melvin Mora, who was second in the league with a .347 average, on the 15-day disabled list. ... Gametime temperature for the opener was 94 degrees.

[Last modified July 6, 2004, 01:00:19]