Rays/MLB

Fellow players vote Crawford as fastest

By MARC TOPKIN
Published August 9, 2006

SEATTLE - Anyone who watches the Devil Rays knows Carl Crawford is fast.

According to other major-leaguers, he is the fastest in the game.

In a poll of major-league players by Sports Illustrated released Tuesday, Crawford was the overwhelming choice as the fastest everyday player.

He received 37 percent of the vote. Former Rays outfielder Joey Gathright (now with Kansas City), was second with 21 percent, Mets shortstop Jose Reyes third with 16 percent and Mariners outfielder Ichiro Suzuki fourth with 11 percent.

Crawford seemed pleased when told of the honor.

"What can I say?" Crawford said. "Thanks for the votes."

Going into Tuesday's games, Crawford led the AL with 12 triples and was tied for third place in steals with 34, the same as Suzuki, who has six triples. Reyes leads the majors with 13 triples and 45 stolen bases. Gathright, in less than full-time duty, has two triples and 15 steals.

CLAIM GAME: Whether they truly are upset at the Red Sox for their actions involving the Julio Lugo talks at the trade deadline - including potential tampering by contacting Lugo's agent - or they simply were looking for a spare left-handed hitting outfielder, the Rays did claim Boston outfielder Adam Stern on waivers.

That's noteworthy because Stern was reportedly the player the Sox were going to send to Baltimore to complete the trade for Javy Lopez. The claim, reported by the Boston Globe, will force the Red Sox to pull back Stern, who is playing for Triple-A Pawtucket. The Orioles and Sox will have to wait until the season is over to complete the deal, and though the terms are not expected to change, the delay is probably of some slight annoyance to both parties.

The Rays are believed to have claimed more than a half-dozen players in the past week and have yet to be awarded any. Teams routinely put all players on waivers in August and pull them back if they get claimed. Players who clear waivers are eligible to be traded.

SPRING FLING: The Rays' have advanced to "preliminary negotiations" about moving their spring training site from St. Petersburg to Charlotte County, according to a Sarasota Herald-Tribune report. The facility would first require a $25-million to $30-million upgrade, and the Rays expect to have more detailed talks in the next couple weeks.

PITCHING IN: Manager Joe Maddon named Casey Fossum to start Saturday's game in Oakland but was holding off on a Sunday starter until he could see how Jae Seo got through Tuesday's game.

Maddon would like to keep Seo, who has been pitching with a cracked nail on his right index finger, on a regular once-every-five-days schedule. But if Seo needs a few extra days, Maddon likely will start Tim Corcoran on Sunday.

Left-hander Scott Kazmir went through a 30-40 pitch bullpen session as a final tuneup for Friday's start in Oakland and said he was ready for his first appearance since July 23.

Maddon said he was "really pleased" with reliever Dan Miceli, who returned Monday from the disabled list after missing more than three months with a shoulder problem, noting his fastball was as high as 90 mph and he had good depth on his split-finger pitch.

MINOR MATTERS: Outfielder Josh Hamilton, returning after a four-year absence due to injury and drug problems, is expected to have arthroscopic surgery on his left knee today during a visit to Dr. James Andrews that will end his comeback season after 15 games. The Rays haven't decided whether to have Hamilton play winter ball. ... Joel Guzman, the premium prospect acquired from the Dodgers in the Lugo trade, homered in both games of Tuesday's doubleheader for Triple-A Durham.

FUN AND GAMES: Maddon said he had several good memories of Mariners starter Jarrod Washburn when both were with the Angels, topped by the time Washburn arranged for a live ostrich to be brought to their clubhouse during spring training.

"Ramon Ortiz just jumped into his locker and started screaming in Spanish, 'That's the biggest chicken I've ever seen,' " Maddon said. "That was all Wash. Typical Jarrod, a practical joker. He's wonderful."

MISCELLANY: Greg Norton extended his hitting streak to eight games. ... Principal owner Stuart Sternberg turned 47 on Tuesday. ... The season-high 14 men the Rays left on base Monday were two shy of their team record in a nine-inning game. ... Crawford has reached 12 triples in three straight seasons, something, according to the Elias Sports Bureau, done by only six other players since World War II: Lance Johnson, Juan Samuel, Garry Templeton, George Brett, Lou Brock and Stan Musial.

- MARC TOPKIN, Times staff writer

[Last modified August 9, 2006, 05:41:36]