ARLINGTON, Texas - Devil Rays manager Lou Piniella said he watched all day. So did first baseman Tino Martinez. As the team dressed for Friday's game against the Rangers, it was on all the clubhouse televisions.
Hurricane Charley. A hot topic, especially among players such as Martinez and Aubrey Huff, and coaches such as Piniella and Don Zimmer, who have waterfront homes.
All breathed a sigh of relief as it became apparent the storm would miss the west-central Florida coast.
"Everybody is pleased because the storm missed our area," said Piniella, who has a house on Redington Beach. "You feel bad for the people in the Punta Gorda area who got hit pretty hard, but their misfortune is our good fortune. Let's hope the damage is minimal and there are no deaths or injuries."
Zimmer, on Treasure Island for 47 years, said his wife evacuated to their son's house in mid Pinellas County.
"I talked to her and they hadn't had one drop of rain, and so far a leaf hasn't even turned over," Zimmer said. "So far they've been very lucky."
"I watched like everybody else," Martinez said, "just following it to see if it was going to hit Tampa or not. Thank God it didn't happen."
ROSTER MOVES: The Rays released outfielder Robert Fick and optioned reliever Jeremi Gonzalez to Triple-A Durham. They called up infielder Jorge Cantu and reliever Franklin Nunez from Durham.
Fick batted .201 with six homers and 26 RBIs in 76 games.
"I'm sorry it didn't work out," Piniella said. "We gave him opportunities. We thought he'd hit much better. It was just time. I don't think there was a final straw."
Cantu was with Tampa Bay from July 17-31 and batted .300 (9-for-30) with four doubles and three RBIs.
"He did a very respectable job when he was here," Piniella said. "We're going to let him play and give him some experience. Hopefully he'll swing the bat and help us win some ballgames."
"It's the greatest thing that ever happened to me," Cantu said of playing in the majors. "I'm not going to take it for granted. I'll do my little things and hopefully I'll be up here for a long time."
SHORT-ARMED: Piniella compared Nunez's arm to that of high-90s hurler Jesus Colome. But Piniella said Nunez told him he generally has pitched fewer than two innings an appearance.
Piniella said that is "somewhat of a concern" because with the loss of Gonzalez, "We have nothing but really short (relief) people in the bullpen."
GIVE IT BACK: Spokesman Rick Vaughn said the Rays disputed a ruling in Wednesday's game against the Red Sox that took a double away from Martinez.
The hit was changed after Boston centerfielder Johnny Damon told Fenway Park's official scorer he believed he deserved an error even though he leapt against the wall trying to make the catch.
"This is not the way it's supposed to work," Vaughn said. "You don't have a player tell the scorer what you're supposed to do."
Vaughn said the Rays will submit a tape of the play to a committee set up by Major League Baseball that reviews disputed plays and makes recommendations if it feels a reversal is in order.
"I guess he was trying to help out his pitcher," Martinez said. "But I think it was a hit. Whatever."
THE SHADOW GAME: With Clear Channel's Tampa offices under a mandatory evacuation order, WFLA-AM 970 did not broadcast Friday's game. Vaughn said it was the first regular-season Rays game not on radio. He said he expects regular coverage to resume tonight.
ODDS AND ENDS: When centerfielder Rocco Baldelli threw out consecutive runners at the plate in the fifth inning Thursday, he became the first to get two outfield assists in an inning since Gary Sheffield for the Dodgers in April 2001 against the Pirates. ... Seth McClung pitched a perfect inning for Durham with two strikeouts.
