Sports | Rays

More than just pride is on line for Rays

Strong finishes might give the team and several players plenty to boast about and to build on for next season.

By MARC TOPKIN
Published September 6, 2005

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NEW YORK - With 24 games left in what likely will be their seventh last-place finish in eight seasons, it wouldn't seem the Devil Rays have much to play for.

But with 15 games against teams battling fiercely for playoff spots, with the usual massive roster turnover expected, with the potential for significant offseason changes in ownership and management, there actually is a lot.

Whether it's individual accomplishments or improving their job security, most of the players stress the importance of doing well over the final four weeks. And if they can spoil the postseason plans of a team or two along the way, well, that's good, too.

"That's very good," Julio Lugo said.

After a miserable 28-61 first half, the Rays have played markedly better since the All-Star break - 29-20 - and say they would like to finish strong, knowing they have an outside shot at breaking last season's team record of 70 wins.

"We're trying to win as many games as we can," manager Lou Piniella said, "whatever that number is."

Here is a look at some of the things they are playing for:

Rewriting history

The Rays hoped to improve on last season's 70-win total, but the 28-61 start made it look pretty grim. Turns out, they still have a chance. But they also have a chance to lose 100 games.

At 57-81, to get to 70 wins they would have to finish 13-11.

To avoid 100 losses, they would have to go at least 6-18.

As for getting out of last place? They are 71/2 games behind the Orioles, though they play them six more times.

Individual accomplishments

The biggest surprise of the season has to be the offensive explosion of Jorge Cantu, who leads the team with 96 RBIs (eighth most in the AL), 35 doubles (seventh most) and 23 homers.

Cantu isn't letting up and has his next goal in sight: 100 RBIs. "It's right there," he said. Aubrey Huff's 2003 team record of 107 is not out of reach.

Jonny Gomes is one homer shy of becoming the 11th rookie since 2000, and the 129th overall, to hit 20. "That's a big eye-opener," he said. "That would be awesome." He should finish in the top five for Rookie of the Year voting.

Danys Baez, who already has a career-high 33 saves and ranks fifth in the AL, has a bigger-picture goal in mind: He needs six more saves to have 100 for his career.

Lugo, who ranks ninth in the AL with a .303 average, has a chance for the first .300 season of his career and is eight steals shy of 40.

Three starting pitchers have a shot to finish with double-digit victories, which would be an accomplishment on a team likely to have only 60-something wins. Mark Hendrickson is 8-7, Scott Kazmir 8-9 and Casey Fossum 8-11.

The Rays could be the first team in more than 40 years to have the major-league rookie leaders in home runs (Gomes) and strikeouts (Kazmir). The last was the 1961 Angels, with Ken Hunt and Ken McBride.

The second-half "championship"

The Rays have to be wishing the major leagues were like a lot of the minor leagues that split their seasons into halves to increase interest and allow more teams into the playoffs.

If that were the case, the Rays would be in a heated pennant race for the second-half title in the AL East. Here's a look:

Team W-L Pct. GB

Boston 31-18 .633 -

New York 31-19 .620 .5

Tampa Bay 29-20 .592 2

Toronto 24-25 .490 7

Baltimore 17-33 .340 14.5

Future employment

Realistically, there are only a few players who are locks to be back with the Rays in prominent roles, such as Carl Crawford, Cantu and Kazmir.

Significant contract decisions have to be made on key players such as Baez, Lugo and catcher Toby Hall. So, too, with Travis Lee, Fossum and Alex Gonzalez. Trade discussions will be held about Huff, along with Lugo and Baez. Nontenders or trades will be at least considered for arbitration-eligible players such as Joe Borowski, Hendrickson, Lance Carter, Jesus Colome, Travis Harper and Trever Miller.

For the others - for young players such as Doug Waechter and Seth McClung, and for impressive rookies such as Gomes, Chad Orvella and Joey Gathright - it's a matter of furthering their case to be part of next year's plan.

"A lot of people overlook that," Hendrickson said.

"There's a lot of guys playing for next year. Decisions have to be made in the organization for next year. There's guys fighting for jobs, fighting to turn heads."

[Last modified September 6, 2005, 03:15:21]

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