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Rays tales

ISN'T IT IRONIC: Funny how things work out.

Devil Rays manager Lou Piniella is fortunate Scott Kazmir was pitching for him Monday night instead of against him. Or something like that.

Kazmir made a sparkling major-league debut for the Rays, shutting out the Mariners over five innings in the 9-0 victory.

Kazmir, though, came thisclose to pitching for the Mariners.

When Piniella wanted out of the last year of his contract before last season, the Mets were interested in getting him to manage in New York. As compensation, the Mariners asked for Kazmir, who was in Class A but still considered the Mets' top pitching prospect.

The Mets turned down the request, saying Kazmir was untouchable. Well, turns out he wasn't that untouchable. The Mets sent Kazmir to the Rays in a deal that shipped Victor Zambrano to New York.

"I'm glad I was the beneficiary of that deal instead of being on the other end," Piniella said.

It could be worse: Piniella could have ended up in New York managing the fourth-place Mets. After all, the Rays have spent most of the season in third place.

CALL THE VET: Think of some of the veterans who have put on - and then quickly took off - Rays uniforms in years past. Not to name names, but think of the Hit Show.

Well, Piniella, pointing out that he is not pointing fingers, has a reasonable explanation as to why, often enough, veterans don't work out on losing clubs.

"When you're a player and you're used to winning, this is an adjustment," Piniella said. "You got to be pretty headstrong, and that's one of the reasons, probably in this organization, (there have been) a lot of misfires. They bring in veteran players used to winning or (used to) at least having a good chance of winning. All of a sudden, you got to be pretty headstrong to keep yourself together and stay productive."

As far as the productivity and professionalism shown by veterans such as Tino Martinez, Rey Sanchez and Julio Lugo, Piniella thinks it has been a big hit.

What a nice start for Kazmir. At 20 years, 7 months, he became the youngest pitcher in the majors this season, and he did it with style, pitching five shutout innings for the victory. In the past 30 years, only nine pitchers won their major-league debut at a younger age.

"I like to look at players' faces and Tino has got the eye of the tiger when he puts that uniform on, and that's what you like to see."

- LOU PINIELLA, Rays manager, talking about the solid season of first baseman Tino Martinez