Rays/MLB

McClung's task: Learn and grow

By MARC TOPKIN
Published May 24, 2006

[AP Photo]

Coaches hope Seth McClung, who gave up five runs in the first three innings Monday, commits himself to better preparation for future starts.

TORONTO - The frustration manager Joe Maddon and pitching coach Mike Butcher had with starter Seth McClung over his poor preparation for Monday's start was replaced Tuesday by their hope that the 25-year-old right-hander learns from the experience.

"There's a lot of growing that has to happen here," Butcher said. "And hopefully - and I do mean hopefully - he grows from this."

Butcher and Maddon were upset that, among other things, McClung was late starting his warmup and that the lack of preparation affected his early-inning performance in the 6-4 loss.

"The whole idea is to be mentally and physically prepared to pitch in every ballgame that you're in," Butcher said. "The day when you go out there when you don't prepare yourself is the day that this game will bite you in the butt, and it gets you hard. It will humble you in a heartbeat. There isn't any one player that's greater than this game, and I think that's the gist of what it was (Monday).

"You've got to take your job serious. You've got to go out there and continue to work on your craft as a pitcher and try to get it to where your routines are set. ... That's what he needs to do. He needs to be focused every fifth day and focused for the four days in between, putting the work in that you need to do to win at the major-league level."

Butcher said there was no "animosity" toward McClung and "our main focus is getting him back on track and making a commitment to this game and to his team and to himself. This is about our team. We want to win."

If all goes well during the rehab assignment outfielder Rocco Baldelli started Tuesday at Triple-A Durham, he will rejoin the Rays around June 10.

And if all stays according to the current plan, he will come back to play rightfield rather than center.

Baldelli planned to play rightfield in the minors to reduce stress on the strained left hamstring that has sidelined him since spring training, and Maddon said Tuesday that now will be the plan as well when he returns.

"As of right now, in my mind's eye, when he shows up he will be the rightfielder," Maddon said. "Is he going to be the rightfielder every day? I'm not sure of that yet. I don't know if he still is going to need that break. Is it two (games) on, one off? Three on, one off? I don't know. That may be based on his arm at that point. I'm really wide open about it."

With Baldelli in right, Jonny Gomes will be primarily the DH and centerfield will be manned by Joey Gathright and/or Damon Hollins.

Maddon said it was an option, albeit less likely, to move Carl Crawford from leftfield to center. "I'm not discounting that," he said.

Baldelli, who debuted Tuesday as the DH in Durham, went 2-for-4 with two runs in the 7-5 win over Richmond. He singled in his first at-bat and scored from first on Elijah Dukes' triple, flied out to left, singled and scored on Dukes' homer and flied out to center.

Baldelli, who missed all of 2005 following knee and elbow surgeries, is expected to play 12-15 games for the Bulls during the 20-day assignment.

Maddon said second baseman Jorge Cantu, out since April 24 with a broken left foot, is on schedule to rejoin the Rays around June 2, at the end of the current road trip.

That means by mid June, the Rays could have their projected starters on the field together for the first time.

Casey Fossum said his strained left groin felt well enough for him to make his start tonight, though he will have it wrapped tightly to reduce the chance for further damage.

Fossum said he will also try to make a slight adjustment to his mechanics to reduce stress on the area, and make his pitches sharper in the process.

"Having my leg wrapped up might be a pretty good reminder for me to stay under control and stay on top of my pitches, which enables me to get way more movement," he said. "It's to try to keep me from overextending or overstretching my groin area."

The Rays blew their 30th lead, matching the Braves for most in the majors. ... David Wells will come off the disabled list to start against the Rays and Scott Kazmir on Friday in Boston. The Rays will face Josh Beckett on Thursday, Curt Schilling Saturday and Tim Wakefield Sunday. ... Mark Hendrickson is now 2-5 with a 4.67 ERA against his former Toronto teammates. ... The game drew 34,594 due to a $2 Tuesday promotion. ... Since Hendrickson rejoined the rotation April 27, Rays starters have a 3.50 ERA but a 9-8 record.

[Last modified May 24, 2006, 02:45:18]