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Alvarez excels in mound return

By MIKE READLING, JOHN ROMANO

© St. Petersburg Times, published April 24, 2001

ST. PETERSBURG -- Wilson Alvarez arrived at the Raymond Naimoli Complex on Monday not knowing what he was going to find. Not that it mattered.

Alvarez was about to get back on a pitcher's mound for the first time in more than a year and a half, and it didn't matter that he was facing 18- and 19-year-old Toronto Blue Jays prospects or that his wife, Diahanna; Rays general manager Chuck LaMar; pitching coach Bill Fischer; and managing general partner Vince Naimoli all were there to see it happen.

All Alvarez cared about was throwing three pain-free innings and keeping his rehabilitation from May 25 surgery to repair a partially torn rotator cuff on track.

Alvarez threw 31 pitches, 27 for strikes, in his stint, allowing one hit and striking out four. Most important to the 31-year-old lefty was his velocity, which peaked in the mid 80s, and the fact that he could move the ball around the plate as needed.

"I was a little excited, or maybe a little nervous, when I got here," Alvarez said. "After that first pitch, I felt good. I'm not that fast right now, but I think the only way to get the velocity is to keep pitching. I feel like all the work over the past few months is paying off."

Alvarez is scheduled to pitch four or five innings in an extended spring game Saturday.

JUDGING JUDD: His first start with the Rays was less than successful, but Mike Judd will get another shot in the rotation.

Judd, who gave up five runs in 3 2/3 innings in Sunday's loss to Baltimore, likely will get a start on the upcoming road trip to Detroit and Baltimore.

"I don't think I can make snap judgments on anybody," manager Hal McRae said. "I have to give everybody an opportunity to prove their worth and their place on this club. And he showed in his relief appearances that he has good stuff."

Judd said he was disappointed that all five runs -- off home runs in the second and third innings -- came with two outs.

He thought he had gotten out of the second inning 1-2-3 but did not get a third strike call as expected on Brook Fordyce.

"I had a 1-2 count and thought I made a good pitch and was ready to run off the field. When I turned around and saw it wasn't a strike, it kind of surprised me," Judd said. "But you have to make a good pitch after that, and I gave up two singles. Then I got behind (Brady) Anderson and made a mistake and he hit it out."

SCHEDULE TALK: So the Rays have completed their first swing through the American League East. The verdict? Bring back the balanced schedule.

The Rays nearly held their own against the Orioles (3-4), struggled against the Blue Jays (2-4), bombed against the Red Sox (0-6) and should be giddy they missed the Yankees the first trip through the division.

Beginning with tonight's game against the Royals, the Rays play 31 of the next 37 games outside the division. If they are going to make up lost ground, now is the time. The next nine games are against teams with losing records.

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