Season opener falls on Kazmir's shoulder

Kazmir is opening day starter for second straight year.

By JOE SMITH, Times Staff Writer
Published March 21, 2007

ST. PETERSBURG - In a move more soothing than surprising to Rays fans, manager Joe Maddon on Tuesday named staff ace Scott Kazmir his opening day starter at Yankee Stadium on April 2.

Unlike last year, when Kazmir admitted he "didn't know if I'd get the nod," the left-hander said he never had any doubt he'd be ready to go; not when his 2006 season ended early because of shoulder stiffness, or even when he didn't appear especially sharp in his early spring appearances, going 0-1 with an 8.64 ERA.

"In my mind, never," Kazmir said. "It just felt like something where maybe if I took a couple of days off, it would have been good. We were just cautious and did the right thing."

Kazmir's pain-free spring and strong, five-plus inning performance against the Phillies last week has the 23-year-old "happy" and "healthy" heading into the Bronx.

"I mean, it's an historic park," Kazmir said. "Playing against the Yankees. What more can you ask for?"

What Kazmir likely hopes for is a better outing than the 2006 opener against Baltimore, when he gave up six runs on eight hits in just four innings. Kazmir went on to go 10-8 with a 3.24 ERA before the Rays shut his season down in late August due to continued shoulder stiffness.

"I'm not concerned; I mean this guy is good," Maddon said. "You have to look at the previous year to really understand what he's going to do this year. I've got no concerns about him whatsoever."

NAVARRO UPDATE: C Dioner Navarro said he's "pain-free" and plans to return to the lineup Thursday, two weeks after the 23-year-old suffered a mild left hamstring strain.

Navarro said he has been rehabbing starting at 7:30 a.m. each day and has caught in the bullpen. He will take batting practice today at the Naimoli Complex with the minor-leaguers.

"My arm feels good, my back feels good," Navarro said. "All the work is paying off."

BEING HIMSELF: Maddon praised his pitching staff, including RHP Scott Dohmann, a reliever candidate who had a rough start this spring.

Dohmann gave up Cleveland's only hit in Tampa Bay's 7-0 win, but he struck out two in 12/3 innings. The 29-year-old said the biggest change he has made is relaxing, "just letting it rip."

Earlier in camp, Dohmann said he focused too much on mechanical tweaks such as shortening his stride; it "got me too mental; I wasn't showing my personality."

Tuesday "was a step in the right direction," Dohmann said. "I'd rather start off slow in the spring than finish slow."

SEO STRONG: RHP Jae Seo pitched six innings of one-hit ball Tuesday against the Phillies' Triple-A team. Seo threw 75 pitches, including about 20 two-seam fastballs, striking out four, walking two and saying "Everything's good."

BALDELLI HONORED: CF Rocco Baldelli will receive the 2007 Roger Maris Award on Saturday at the A La Carte Pavilion in Tampa. The award, presented by the Major League Baseball Players Alumni Association, was created to honor Maris for his "hard work, dedication and respect for the game and his teammates."

MISCELLANY: The Devil Rays and Chick-fil-A agreed to a multiyear sponsorship relationship, with Chick-fil-A receiving signage at Tropicana Field in addition to promotion on TV broadcasts. ... Tony De La Rosa, a 13-year-old sixth-grader at Westgate Christian in Tampa, was the Rays' ceremonial manager.

Joe Smith can be reached at joesmith@sptimes.com or at 727 893-8129.

[Last modified March 21, 2007, 07:19:20]