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Seay, White not ready, but they are on schedule

Rays' first two "bonus babies'' have not reached the majors, but the team still sees progress.

By JOHN ROMANO

© St. Petersburg Times, published March 23, 2001

ST. PETERSBURG -- Their names have been in the news for nearly five years. They have been millionaires since they were teens. Some day soon, Bobby Seay and Matt White may actually be major-league baseball players too.

This was supposed to be the hour. The moment. The time when Seay and White would turn the corner on their pro careers.

Except when Seay turned a corner Thursday, he was heading toward Orlando and more time in Double A. As for White, today will mark his first appearance of the spring in a game against major-league hitters.

Should this go down as a disappointment? Should the Devil Rays have expected a greater return by now from the $10.2-million investment they made in White and the $3-million they gave Seay in 1996?

Not necessarily, say the Rays. The learning curve for high school pitchers can be rather wide. White and Seay were among 10 prep pitchers drafted in the first round in 1996 and only two -- Seattle's Gil Meche and San Diego's Adam Eaton -- have had quality time in the majors.

In the case of the Rays' prospects, there have been extenuating circumstances. They missed their first season of pro ball while fighting the draft loophole that made them amateur free agents. White and Seay, who are both 22, also have had injuries.

Yet, even now, as White battles through problems in his delivery and Seay gets optioned to the minors with an 0-2 record and a 14.21 ERA this spring, manager Larry Rothschild remains confident in their potential.

"When you watch their arm strength and the way they are capable of throwing, you can see they can do a lot at the major-league level," Rothschild said. "They just have to be more consistent."

For all the roadblocks they have hit along the way, 2000 was a good season for the duo. Seay, after going 4-15 and making four trips to the disabled list in 1998-99, made the Southern League All-Star team in Double A last year and capped the year with a gold medal on the Olympic team.

White's progress was just as dramatic. After three years in Class A, he was a smash in his first season at Orlando and was promoted to Triple A after only a few months. He was a combined 10-8 with a 3.54 ERA at Orlando and Durham.

"It was the year we were waiting on in Matt White's development," general manager Chuck LaMar said in the off-season. "Sometimes it happens the first year out, sometimes after five or six years. We thought Matt put it all together at the end of last year."

Although White was the more heralded player when they both signed, some thought Seay would reach the majors faster because he is left-handed and his breaking pitches were further developed.

He entered this spring with a legitimate chance to claim a spot in the bullpen, but fell flat. Of the 37 batters he faced, 19 reached base.

Rothschild insinuated that it was completely up to Seay when he would make the transition from prospect to major-leaguer.

"He didn't pitch well," he said. "He needs to pitch. He needs to get innings and make that commitment to become a major-league pitcher and then get it done."

Seay acknowledged his performance was poor, but said it was a problem with getting pitches up in the strike zone. He said he is more confident than ever that he can succeed in the majors.

"My stuff is there. My curveball is working, everything is going good. I just need to get my pitches down, which is what I did last year," Seay said, a day before he was reassigned. "I'm not discouraged at all. I know I'm on the brink."

White still has a chance this spring, but today's performance will probably go a long way toward determining his next zip code.

He struggled with command of his pitches early in the spring and, after making an appearance against Notre Dame, was held out of games for three weeks while working on his delivery.

White said the problem may have stemmed from some shoulder tightness he had at the end of last season that prevented him from playing on the Olympic team. While the shoulder feels fine, White said concern about the injury might have affected his approach coming into spring.

As for the expectations that have remained a constant companion since signing the largest bonus ever for a drafted player, White said he refuses to worry about timetables others have for him.

"All I can do is take care of my business and work at being professional. I block out all the other stuff and the expectations others might create for you," White said. "To a point, yeah it matters to me where I play this year. But when I'm pitching, I can't worry about that.

"I feel confident in my ability. I have the stuff to get people out."

If not sooner, than maybe later.

Working their way up

High school pitchers taken in the first round of the 1996 draft:

(Player,Pick,Drafted by, Currently,Highest level) John PattersonNo. 5ExposD'Backs10 games at Triple A Matt WhiteNo. 7GiantsRaysSix games at Triple A Adam EatonNo. 11PhilliesPadres22 games in majors Bobby SeayNo. 12White SoxRays30 games at Double A Todd NoelNo. 17CubsYankeesClass A Jake WestbrookNo. 21RockiesYankeesThree games in majors Gil MecheNo. 22MarinersMariners31 games in majors Sam MarsonekNo. 24RangersYankeesClass A Josh GarrettNo. 26Red SoxRed Sox 13 games at Double A Nick BierbrodtNo. 30D'BacksD'Backs15 games at Triple A

TODAY -- Rays Jason Standridge vs Houston Scott Elarton, Osceola County Stadium, 1:05 p.m.

SATURDAY -- Rays (ss) Paul Wilson vs. Toronto's Steve Parris, Florida Power Park, 1:05 p.m.

SATURDAY -- Rays (ss) Albie Lopez vs. Atlanta's Tom Glavine, Disney Wide World of Sports, Lake Buena Vista, 1:05.

SUNDAY -- Rays Ryan Rupe vs. Texas Darren Oliver, Charlotte Country Stadium, 1:05 p.m.

MONDAY -- Rays Travis Harper vs. Minnesota TBA, Hammond Stadium, Fort Myers, 1:05 p.m.

The Rays play the Astros in Kissimmee at 1:05 p.m. with just about all of the regulars scheduled for duty. Players not on the trip will have a 9:30 a.m workout at Florida Power Park.

Keep an eye on ...

Jason Standridge, considered one of the team's top starting pitching prospects, will make his first, and probably only, start of the spring.

"To not give up three-run homers." -- BRYAN REKAR, pitcher, on what he was working on Thursday after giving up four runs, three on a homer, in his last start.

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