Rotation battle now for final three spots
By MARC TOPKIN
Published March 9, 2005
LAKELAND - It will probably be a week or two before the Devil Rays decide if veterans Hideo Nomo and/or Denny Neagle will be part of their rotation.
But some of the other spots are filling up.
Manager Lou Piniella said Tuesday that Dewon Brazelton and Mark Hendrickson have pitched well enough to be among the starting five.
"I like the way Hendrickson is throwing the ball and I like the way Brazelton is throwing the ball," Piniella said. "I think they've been the two most impressive pitchers rotation-wise. I would think that you can expect Brazelton and Hendrickson in our rotation."
If so, then the competition for the remaining three spots just got more interesting. Piniella would like to keep at least one of the veterans, whether it be Nomo, who struggled on a windy day in Lakeland; or Neagle, who looked sharp in his debut Saturday.
That leaves, at most, two spots for a combination of Rob Bell, Scott Kazmir, Seth McClung, Doug Waechter and perhaps Casey Fossum. Plus, there is the possibility of a late spring trade for an established starter.
AIRING IT OUT: With winds gusting to 26 mph, balls were flying all over Joker Marchant Stadium. Nomo made it worse by leaving his pitches up too much in a rough eight-batter first, allowing two two-run home runs.
"It was windy, but my pitches were a little too high," Nomo said through an interpreter. "That was clear."
Piniella acknowledged the conditions and Nomo's 1-2-3 second inning but termed the outing "very so-so." Velocity may also be an issue as Nomo's fastball was again clocked only in the mid-80 mph range.
"He'll get another start (Sunday), and let's hope it's better than this one," Piniella said.
In two exhibitions, Nomo has allowed eight hits and six runs over four innings with one strikeout. More than 20 Japanese media came to watch Tuesday.
"I feel good about my physical condition, but I'm getting behind hitters," Nomo said.
GAME DETAILS: The Rays rallied from a 4-1 first-inning deficit to beat the Tigers 12-4, improving their spring record to 4-2. ... Josh Phelps had two home runs and prospect Delmon Young added one, with older brother Dmitri watching from the Detroit dugout. ... McClung and Fossum drew Piniella's praise after teaming for five shutout innings. ... The teams combined for 12 extra-base hits, 24 hits overall.
POWERBALL: The Rays signed Phelps to add right-handed power, and he showed plenty, hitting one home run high over the centerfield fence and lacing the other on a line through the wind to left.
"If he keeps hitting the ball like that, he'll be getting a lot of at-bats," Piniella said.
"I don't try to hit home runs," Phelps said. "I just try to get off a good aggressive hack, and sometimes that is the result."
FOREVER YOUNG: Young, 19, will go back to the minors to open this season, but Piniella said he won't need much more time to develop.
"He's a complete player," Piniella said. "I would think a good solid season in the minors this year, whether it's Double A or Triple A, and I see a guy who can come into camp next year and compete for a job. That's a projection, and it's a quick one. ... Say within the next two years, and it could be as early as next."
HIGH VISIBILITY: Left-hander Chris Seddon's efforts in the minors last season, a 14-10 combined record at Double-A Montgomery and Class A Bakersfield, earned him a spot on the 40-man roster.
His work this spring has caught Piniella's eye. "I've liked what I've seen from Seddon," he said. "I've asked the pitching coach to let me see him a little bit more."
MISCELLANY: First cuts of the spring are expected this morning, with about 15 players likely to be sent out. ... Today is the 10th anniversary of the awarding of the Tampa Bay franchise. Poster cards of the March 10, 1995, Times will be given away at today's game. ... Neagle rejoined the team Tuesday after flying home to Colorado on Saturday to attend to his 6-month-old twins, who were hospitalized with pneumonia. ... OF Chris Singleton was sore but doesn't expect to miss much time after leaving Monday's game with a twinge in his groin. ... Starting today, the Rays play nine of their next 11 games at Progress Energy Park.