Rays/MLB

Players can't wait for plan's fruition

By MARC TOPKIN
Published July 16, 2006

ANAHEIM, Calif. - By now, the plan is plainly obvious. Ditch the veterans who weren't part of the future and pick up young players who bear the promise of eventually making the team better.

For Devil Rays fans, it's a matter of trust, of believing that things truly will be different this time, that the new administration is committed to winning, that this is not another years-long journey on a treadmill without ever reaching a goal of at least competing, if not contending, for postseason play.

For the Rays players, too.

They don't want to spend another couple years talking about a future that never arrives, spouting false optimism, watching former teammates play on TV in October, wondering what it's like, as they joke around the clubhouse, to be on a real major-league team.

Carl Crawford, who at age 24 somehow is now the second-most senior Ray behind Travis Harper, said the players are ready to win.

"I know they keep saying the future, but if you look around here right now, you ask the guys that are in here, we'll tell you the future is now," the leftfielder said.

"This is the time right now. I think everybody is cool with the things that have been going on so far. The guys that have been traded so far, I don't really think it's been too much of a surprise. But now we're at that point where we're ready to get this thing in motion.

"The main process they've been talking about for so long, that's there. That foundation is there. Now it's time to start adding and plugging in and doing the little things they need to do."

All the pieces aren't there yet, but they are at least identifiable.

B.J. Upton is coming soon, and Delmon Young will join them eventually with Wes Bankston, Elijah Dukes, Reid Brignac, Evan Longoria and - just maybe - Josh Hamilton, among others on the way. The potential of a September lineup that includes Upton, Crawford, Rocco Baldelli, Jorge Cantu, Young, Jonny Gomes and Dioner Navarro seems enormous.

They need to hit on a couple of more pitching prospects - don't forget about Jeff Niemann - and likely will have to supplement with a free agent or two, say a closer and a veteran starter.

And a tough decision has to be made at shortstop, whether to keep Julio Lugo, turn things over to Upton or Ben Zobrist, the prospect acquired from Houston in the Aubrey Huff deal, or find someone else.

The new regime's unofficial official target is to be in contention for postseason play by 2008 and to stay there. Crawford said the players don't want to wait that long.

"We're ready to see our team be the team that we always wanted it to be at some point and some point soon," he said.

"We're not going to sit here and say, 'Two years from now.' We're definitely thinking that the future is right now. It's time to make a push."

RAYS RUMBLINGS: Houston's Lance Berkman said Huff "may turn out to be the steal of the trading season." ... The Blue Jays appear the most logical suitor of Lugo, though the Mets, who would use him at second base, continue to monitor the situation. ... Tropicana Field was again ranked among the top 10 most vegetarian-friendly stadiums in the majors by PETA, People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals. ... Ex-Ray Toby Hall's frustration isn't just sitting on the Dodgers bench now. He's concerned the backup status hurts his ability to get a job, as well as a decent contract, next season: "For me right now, I need to establish myself with another club for the future." ... Whenever a Ray hits a home run into the new touch tank that opens above the right-centerfield wall at the Trop on Friday, the team will donate $2,500 to the Florida Aquarium and $2,500 to the charity of the player's choice. ... Despite his announced plans, Gomes said he neither got tattoos over the All-Star break nor drank beer. ... Former big-leaguer Dave Stewart, now an agent who does podcasts for something called nbx.com, said ex-Ray Mark Hendrickson should consider going back to the NBA and "whenever he's pitching I'm betting on the other guy, even if it's my 6-year-old daughter."

[Last modified July 16, 2006, 01:48:33]