Triple A is possible if Rupe stays flat

By JOHN ROMANO

© St. Petersburg Times, published May 4, 2000

ST. PETERSBURG -- It was around this time last season that the Devil Rays decided Tony Saunders would be better off working through his early-season slump in Triple A. Now the Rays face a similar decision with Ryan Rupe.

Two weeks ago, the Rays said they were not considering a demotion for Rupe. That position has since softened.

"If it gets to the point where we feel like he needs that, then we have to consider it," manager Larry Rothschild said. "With Tony, it did get to that point. We have to sit down and evaluate it. In the end, the decision is going to be made with what's best for Ryan in mind."

Rupe showed signs of improvement in his past two outings but still was hit hard. He has the second-worst ERA (9.68) and record (0-4) in the American League. The Rays are 0-6 in Rupe's starts this season.

Rupe was one of the top rookies in the AL in 1999 and arguably was Tampa Bay's most consistent starter.

The club had high expectations after Rupe spent the spring working on a slider to go with his fastball and changeup.

The results, however, have not followed. Rupe's mechanics were slightly off in his first four starts, and he has since adjusted his arm slot. He pitched better his past two starts but still has allowed nine runs in his past 11 innings.

"Later in the Kansas City game he was better, and I thought he started (Tuesday's) game better," Rothschild said. "It's tough for a young pitcher to go through this. He's got the personality to battle, and he's going to battle every inch of the way."

SURPRISE APPEARANCE: Rothschild wanted to keep Jose Canseco on the bench during the three-game series to give his ailing right calf a rest, but the manager used him as a pinch-hitter with two on and two out in the eighth.

Canseco worked the count to 2-2 and fouled off a pair of John Wetteland fastballs before hitting into a force play.

"You don't know if you're going to get another shot to tie the game, so I'm going to send (Canseco) up there and let him try to hit a ball out of the park. I would have run for him if I had to," Rothschild said. "I'll take that chance every time."

GOING FOR BROKE: Before Canseco's at-bat, Vinny Castilla saw a 3-0 fastball from Wetteland and fouled it off. Rothschild said Castilla gets an automatic green light to swing on 3-0.

"He's a home-run hitter. I'm not going to hold him back. He's got a chance to tie the game with one swing, there's no reason to hold him back," Rothschild said. "That might be the best pitch he gets to hit out of the park. He's been a big RBI guy and a big home-run hitter."

Castilla ended up popping out.

TRADE TALKS: The Rangers came to Tampa Bay looking for another outfielder, and their interest has intensified after Gabe Kapler strained a hip flexor Tuesday. Texas reportedly has inquired about Quinton McCracken and Randy Winn at Triple-A Durham and may be interested in Dave Martinez.

THAT SMARTS: Shortstop Kevin Stocker was out of the lineup Wednesday night after getting hit in the right shin by a Rick Helling pitch the night before.

"It just stiffened up on me," Stocker said. "It seemed to get worse as the day went on, so we decided it would be best to sit down and get rid of it as fast as we can."

HERE AND THERE: Rays pinch-hitters are leading the AL with a .545 average (6-for-11). ... Josh Hamilton and Matt White were named the organization's minor-league player and pitcher of the month. Hamilton hit .448 with 20 RBI in 20 games at Class-A Charleston. White was 2-1 with a 1.93 ERA at Double-A Orlando. ... John Flaherty is in an 0-for-16 slump, dropping his average from .400 to .316.

R-RATED: Told lip-readers were able to follow the gist of his conversation with umpire Tony Randazzo before being ejected Tuesday night, Rothschild said he was aware of that. "That's what my wife told me," Rothschild said. "She received a few phone calls."

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