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Rays order, rotation is taking shape

By MARC TOPKIN

© St. Petersburg Times, published January 21, 2001

ST. PETERSBURG -- We interrupt our extensive and unparalleled coverage of the Super Bowl to provide some news from the Devil Rays: They're still here.

Except for a couple days of headlines when they traded their closer for a potential No. 3 hitter, it has been a quiet winter. (And that's not all because managing general partner Vince Naimoli is on his 10th month of refusing to talk to the Times.)

But with the start of spring training less than four weeks away, there are some Rays subjects worthy of discussion.

The injured pitchers, including theoretical ace Wilson Alvarez, are said to be coming along well.

Alvarez, who missed last season after shoulder surgery, has been throwing with no setbacks and doing well given the extent of the injury. "Probably better than you'd think," manager Larry Rothschild said.

The Rays hope Alvarez, who could have the largest impact on the team of any player, will be set by Opening Day or shortly thereafter.

Juan Guzman, who made one 2000 start, is also said to be progressing well, though he is likely to be a few weeks behind Alvarez. And Ryan Rupe, whose brutal sophomore season was cut short by a blood clot in his right arm, is in great shape, according to Rothschild.

Barring an unlikely trade for a established closer, the Rays will go into camp with Esteban Yan the leader of an unproven field of candidates. Yan was held out of winter ball to keep his arm strong, and is expected to report early to camp.

Once the Rays know who is healthy and sort out the rotation, there is a good chance one starting candidate will move to the bullpen. Don't be surprised if that is Tanyon Sturtze, who would seem to have the talent and temperament to pitch in the late innings.

Rothschild said he hasn't decided on the best batting order. Given the logic of splitting up left-handers Ben Grieve and Fred McGriff, he would seem to have two basic alternatives.

One is to bat Grieve third, Greg Vaughn fourth, McGriff fifth and Vinny Castilla -- assuming he is a) healthy and b) not traded -- sixth. The other is to go Vaughn-McGriff-Castilla-Grieve.

Overall, with about a dozen players in pre-spring workouts at the spring training facility, Rothschild said there are reasons for optimism.

"I like a lot of what I've seen," Rothschild said. "Things really could come together. But we've got a lot to prove before we start talking about anything but winning games."

LIGHTS, CAMERA: Jim Morris went to the Dodgers and his movie has officially gone Hollywood. Dennis Quaid is set to play Morris, who went from Texas schoolteacher to Tampa Bay relief pitcher in 1999. Production is set to start in the spring, about the same time Morris' book, The Oldest Rookie, should hit stores, said Steve Canter, Morris' agent.

After his dramatic debut with the Rays, Morris missed most of last season because of an elbow injury that required surgery. He was designated for assignment in November. But Canter said Morris, who turned 37 on Friday, is in tremendous shape. "He no longer looks like a schoolteacher throwing 98 miles an hour; now he looks like a major-league player throwing 98 miles an hour," Canter said.

SOUND FAMILIAR? Jose Canseco signed a minor-league deal with the Angels but is talking about putting up some major numbers. "I see myself stealing 30 bases, hitting 50 or 60 home runs," Canseco said. "If I'm healthy I can put up those type of numbers." Canseco claims to be down from 262 pounds to 240 and ready to play in the outfield. Canseco is guaranteed $200,000 if he makes the team, but can net as much as $5.15-million if he makes 500 plate appearances.

METS-MERIZED: Having failed to land Johnny Damon, Mike Hampton, Dustin Hermanson, Mike Mussina, Denny Neagle, Manny Ramirez or Alex Rodriguez, the Mets are looking to the NFL Giants for inspiration. Or solace. "The last off-season in football, people got excited about the Redskins because they made all these big acquisitions, and the Giants signed some linemen and defensive backs," Mets general manager Steve Phillips said. "Everybody said, "Well, the Giants didn't do much, look at the Redskins.' But the Giants did what they needed to do without any flashy acquisitions, and they won."

MISCELLANY: Rays officials will be in Mexico City this week promoting the March 17-18 exhibitions there. ... Another Tag Day for prospective season ticket holders is scheduled 10 a.m.-2 p.m. on Feb. 3. ... Jesse Orosco, who turns 44 in April, will work out for more than a half-dozen teams in the next week. ... Gary Carter was playing golf when he got word Tuesday that he again was not elected to the Hall of Fame. He was on the 13th hole. ... Rays scout Don Williams first signed new Hall of Famer Dave Winfield.

- Information from other news organizations was used in this report.

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