Rays/MLB

Healthy Kazmir raring to go

By MARC TOPKIN
Published August 8, 2006

SEATTLE - Scott Kazmir's previously sore shoulder felt so good after a brief workout Monday that the Devil Rays sent J.P. Howell, the pitcher who had been replacing him, back to Triple-A Durham.

That means that barring an unexpected setback in a more rigorous bullpen session today, Kazmir will return to the mound Friday in Oakland for his first start since July 23.

And it meant a long couple of days for Howell, who flew with the Rays to Seattle after Sunday's game as insurance in case Kazmir wasn't ready and will spend pretty much all of today flying to North Carolina to rejoin the Bulls.

The Rays wanted to make sure Kazmir could get loose quickly and had no problems throwing off the mound, and he and manager Joe Maddon said he passed both tests with no problems.

"We wanted to make sure Kaz was well (Monday)," Maddon said. "It's kind of a tough day for J.P. having to fly across the country twice, but Kaz came out of his workout great, so we're going to move on from there."

Kazmir said his shoulder has felt fine, and Monday was just a matter of getting closer during a 15- to 20-pitch session to simulating game conditions.

"It was a matter of knowing I'm 100 percent and just to work off the slope a little more and get comfortable with it," Kazmir said. "Everything felt fine, everything felt strong, I'm looking forward to Friday."

Maddon also thinks Howell, who was 0-1 with a 10.80 ERA in two starts, can be something, which is one reason the Rays wanted to send him right back to Durham so he can stay on schedule and pitch Friday as well.

"I really like this fellow a lot," Maddon said. "I know if you watch the game, his velocity numbers are not what people are looking for, but I think this guy can be special, and I'll be the first to say it. I really do. I like his makeup, I like the way he is. ... I think if he could just regain maybe 1 or 2 miles per hour and get that fastball to the 85 to 87-88 range more consistently, I think the offspeed stuff could really be devastating."

READY FOR ACTION: Veteran reliever Dan Miceli, sidelined since May 4 with right shoulder problems, rejoined the Rays from the 60-day disabled list and said he was ready for whatever role Maddon needed him in.

"I thought it would take less time," Miceli said. "I started the season hurt and tried to pitch through it, but my velocity was down to 86 (mph) and never came back. I kept pushing and pushing and finally it just kind of froze up on me, and I had to take the time and try to get it right."

Miceli pitched five scoreless innings in four games at Double-A Montgomery and said his fastball was back to the 91-93 mph range.

Maddon will ease Miceli, who was 0-1 with a 6.39 ERA and four saves, back into duty, using him in the middle innings, for no more than an inning at a time and not on back-to-back days.

To make room for Miceli on the 40-man roster, the Rays moved reliever Tyler Walker from the 15-day to the 60-day DL, on which he doesn't count against the 40-man total.

HEY NORTON: Being the center of attention after hitting a walkoff homer Sunday proved painful for Greg Norton. He had to put up with ribbing from friends and former teammates who called after seeing the highlights on TV, and he took a few shots from his teammates when they greeted him at home plate.

"My upper right ribs are a little sore; someone got a shot in there," Norton said. "I've got a scrape down my shin. And I think it was (Jorge) Cantu hanging on my back. It was a lot of fun for the guys."

MISCELLANY: Maddon said he is still deciding on his starters for the Saturday and Sunday games at Oakland; if they stay in rotation it would be Casey Fossum and Tim Corcoran. ... Sunday's game was the ninth in which the Rays hit four or more homers, more than all other teams. ... Maddon said he felt compelled to get the bottle of Jean-Paul Gaultier cologne for David Ortiz when he noticed the Red Sox DH simulating spraying himself from the on-deck circle in the first inning Sunday.

[Last modified August 8, 2006, 05:50:30]