Crawford learning value of relaxing

By DAMIAN CRISTODERO
Published May 27, 2005

ST. PETERSBURG - Carl Crawford said he believed he had something to prove this season, which perhaps pushed him to prove too much.

It was a good way to explain the recent funk in which the Devil Rays leftfielder found himself. But a modest four-game hitting streak in which Crawford is batting .375 (6-for-16) with two home runs, a triple and six RBIs seems to have put things right.

"He's starting to swing it," manager Lou Piniella said. "He's starting to drive the ball in the gaps. He's starting to get on his game."

"I'm just trying not to do too much," Crawford said after Thursday's 2-1 victory over the A's in which he had two hits, a run and an RBI. "I'm not trying to overswing or always trying to pull the ball."

Crawford said he believed he had to immediately pick up where he left off last season, his first as an All-Star. That pressure made him less selective at the plate, which led to first-pitch outs and strikeouts.

"You always want to prove the year before wasn't something that just happened," Crawford said. "You tend to press a little bit. But it's such a long year, you tend to calm down a little bit and figure out the ... adjustments you need to make."

With two outs in the sixth inning, Crawford smacked an up-and-away pitch to the opposite field for a run-scoring single that gave the Rays a 1-0 lead.

"He's tough," Oakland starter Dan Haren said. "He's an All-Star, and you have to respect him. I got a pitch over the plate and he hit it pretty good."

Even with his hot streak, Crawford is batting .200 (15-for-75) in his past 19 games. He also is second on the team with 35 strikeouts, just 54 fewer than last season.

Crawford, batting .264 for the season with five home runs and 26 RBIs, said he isn't worried.

"I know where I'm going to end up at the end of the year," he said.

All he has to do is prove it.

POSITION PLAYERS: Piniella complimented outfield coach Billy Hatcher on his positioning, especially of centerfielder Damon Hollins, who made catches off Eric Chavez in left-center and Mark Ellis in right-center.

"On Chavez's fly ball, Billy had just finished moving Hollins five or 10 steps," Piniella said. "In the ninth, on the ball Ellis hit, it was the same thing. He moved him to the right spot."

"It's taken time to learn my outfielders," Hatcher said. "Now I know their strengths and weaknesses."

Hatcher commended pitcher Hideo Nomo for keeping the ball in play.

"He made some good pitches," Hatcher said. "The outfield made good plays."

HELLO, SEATTLE: It's not the big deal it was when he first came to the Rays, but Piniella said he still enjoys facing the Mariners.

"I always enjoy seeing the kids I managed in Seattle," he said, "especially the ones who have played well."

None better than Ichiro Suzuki, though his .281 average last season against the Rays (9-for-32) was 91 points lower than his .372 season average. Piniella denied inside information.

"We don't have any secret for it, believe me," he said. "I wish we had a secret. We don't."

MISCELLANY: Rays shortstop Julio Lugo, on an eight-game hitting streak, is batting a team-best .371 (20-for-54) with runners in scoring position. ... Outfielder Alex Sanchez (bruised shin) was available to pinch hit but did not play. ... Rightfielder Aubrey Huff played after missing two games with a stomach virus and one with a stiff neck. ... The 2-hour, 11-minute game was the Rays' shortest nine-inning game of the season. ... Tampa Bay earned its 20th series sweep of three or more games. ... Haren, who at one point retired 16 straight batters, has a six-game losing streak, tied for second longest in the majors. ... The Rays announced the signing of three 2004 draft picks: pitcher Donald Fines (14th round), shortstop James Scholzen (18th) and first baseman Matthew Fields (44th). Tampa Bay has signed 18 of 20 selections. ... Former Lightning All-Star Brian Bradley threw out the first pitch.

[Last modified May 27, 2005, 00:40:18]