Trop welcome sight for road-weary club

By MARC TOPKIN
Published May 24, 2005

ST. PETERSBURG - The turf is a bit worn, the seats mostly empty and the off-white roof will always be something of a concern.

But Tropicana Field probably has never looked so good to the Devil Rays.

After going 2-8 on a frustrating trip to Kansas City, Detroit and Miami, during which they lost five by one run and eight by 12 total, the Rays limp home with a 3-18 road record that is second worst in the majors.

Before they head out again Sunday night for a two-week cross-country journey, the Rays get to play six games at the Trop, where they have been (relatively) successful, going 12-12.

They are hitting more than 30 points better at home (.295 to .263) and scoring nearly 1.5 more a game (5.2 to 3.8) there. Their pitchers have done better as well, posting a 5.27 ERA at home to 6.20 on the road.

Are the Rays just a better team at home?

Well, maybe.

"I think the surface helps us," manager Lou Piniella said. "I think the familiarity of the ballpark helps. I think playing indoors when other teams aren't too used to playing indoors is an advantage; it takes them maybe a game or so. When you have a relatively young club, they tend to feel more comfortable at home."

Or are they just a bad team on the road?

Well, maybe.

"It takes more of a veteran team to be able to win on the road with some consistency," Piniella said. "And what you need is real good starting pitching. It quiets down the opposing crowd, and it keeps you in the game all the time. Teams that struggle a little bit starting pitching-wise make it more difficult."

NOW, OR NEVER?: If the Rays are going to make any type of run this season to improve their record, and avoid the possibility of 100-plus losses, this would seem to be the time.

Starting tonight against Oakland, the Rays play 21 straight against teams with losing records: six with the A's, six with the Mariners and three each with the Reds, Pirates and Brewers.

After that, they play 19 straight against teams with winning records, including the division leading Cardinals, Marlins and White Sox.

DRAFT BREEZE: Not picking until eighth in the June 7-8 draft is a good thing because it means seven teams finished with a worse record last season than the Rays.

But it also makes it more difficult for special assistant Tim Wilken and the other Rays officials running the draft.

General manager Chuck LaMar said the Rays have at least a dozen players under consideration for their first pick and probably will until the final days before deciding.

"It's a unique year, we're picking eighth, so it keeps more people in the mix, and you don't have the clear-cut three or four players that are going to be the top (picks). We've challenged all the scouts to try to keep as many players up (for consideration) as possible, and then we'll weed them out."

Baseball America projects the Rays to take Rice pitcher Wade Townsend , who was drafted eighth last year by the Orioles but didn't sign.

MISCELLANY: Reliever Lance Carter should find out this week how much of his five-game suspension he has to serve. Carter appealed the punishment, stemming from the April 24 scuffle with the Red Sox, and a ruling is expected soon. ... The Rays likely would have interest if reliever Danny Graves , 31, the Brandon High product who was designated for assignment Monday by the Reds, is released. ... As part of the Verizon Superpages Grand Slam Book Challenge, fans who bring new or (gently) used children's books to the guest services desk can get vouchers for free tickets (one for one-four books, two for five-plus) to the July 29 game against Kansas City. ... Aubrey Huff is expected back in the lineup tonight after missing Sunday's game with a stiff neck.

[Last modified May 24, 2005, 18:02:36]