Place an Ad Calendars Classified Forums Sports Weather

sptimes.com Text-only News sections Arts & Entertainment AP The Wire Business Citrus County Columnists Floridian Hernando County Hillsborough Letters Movies Neighborhood Times News Update North Pinellas North of Tampa Obituaries Opinion Pasco County South Pinellas Sports State Tampa Bay TV Times World & Nation  Find your local news section Weekly sections Brandon Times City Times Homes Outdoors Perspective Personal Tech Taste Travel Weekend Xpress Special Sections Arena football Buccaneers College football Devil Rays Lightning Police reports Schools Seniority Subscriber Services Subscribe Renew Help Advertise Place an ad In print Online Market Info Join Us Internships Scholarships Times Jobs Contact us

Rose getting look in starting staff

By KEVIN KELLY, MIKE READLING and MARC TOPKIN

© St. Petersburg Times, published May 9, 2001

ST. PETERSBURG -- Circumstances sent Brian Rose to the bullpen. Now Rays manager Hal McRae is taking him out.

McRae said Tuesday that Rose, claimed off waivers from the Mets on April 24, will make his first start of the season Saturday at Cleveland.

Mike Judd made the past two starts when the Rays needed a fifth starter. He pitched five innings and allowed three runs in his last start, a win against Detroit on April 28.

"We're going to look at Rose and see how he does," McRae said. "I think he has the ability to throw strikes."

Rose had started 51 of the 58 games he had appeared in entering this season. Traded to the Mets on March 26, he was placed in the bullpen because of New York's overabundance of starting pitching.

Rose, who said he will have an 80-pitch limit Saturday, is 0-0 with a 2.70 ERA in 62/3 innings since joining the Rays.

"I think this could be a good step for me," he said.

ALVAREZ UPDATE: Wilson Alvarez is in a rush to get back to the major leagues, but he's not going to rush himself.

After pitching four innings during his fourth extended spring training rehabilitation start Tuesday, Alvarez said he felt no pain but needed time to develop velocity. He threw 55 pitches against Blue Jays minor-leaguers, allowing four hits and striking out four. But his fastball topped out at 84 mph and his fastest breaking pitches were at 71 mph.

"I want a couple more games down here," said Alvarez, who is recovering from rotator cuff surgery in May 2000. "I feel I need more velocity. I'm pain-free, but I feel I need more work, I need more strength."

Alvarez is scheduled to pitch Monday and probably Saturday before possibly moving up to Double A Orlando.

McHALE UPDATE: Though there were no official comments, discussions were said to be continuing with Tigers president John McHale Jr. about becoming Rays chief operating officer. An announcement could come by the end of the week.

LONG TIME COMING: By throwing 21/3 innings of scoreless relief, Rays pitcher Rusty Meacham earned his first victory since July 18, 1996. As a starter for Seattle that day, he pitched 71/3 innings and allowed eight hits and one earned run in the 15-3 win against Anaheim.

"I tell you what, it's a great feeling to go out and shake hands," he said. Meacham replaced Doug Creek with one runner on and two outs in the sixth. He struck out Baltimore catcher Brook Fordyce to end the inning.

"My job after (striking out Fordyce) was to just keep our team in the game," said Meacham, 1-1 with a 2.37 ERA. "I was able to do that."

STRAINED: The Rays got a scare Monday when Orlando pitcher Bobby Seay was taken out of a game against Carolina after six pitches. Diagnosed with a strained left index finger, Seay was placed on the disabled list. It is not known how long he will remain disabled. ANOTHER MILESTONE: When Jose Mercedes gave up Fred McGriff's winning home run on a 2-and-1 fastball in the eighth inning, he became the 300th pitcher to allow a homer to McGriff. The Rays first baseman joins Mark McGwire, Hank Aaron, Barry Bonds, Eddie Murray and Reggie Jackson as the players to homer off 300 pitchers.

Today: Orioles at Rays, 7:15

WHERE: Tropicana Field.

RADIO: 970 WFLA-AM, 760 WLCC-AM (Spanish).

TICKETS: Available at stadium box office and team stores at WestShore Plaza, Brandon TownCenter and BayWalk, and through Ticketmaster -- call (727) 898-RAYS or (813) 282-RAYS.

TODAY'S PROMOTIONS Log on to the team's Web site (www.devilrays.com) today and print out a ticket special.

INFO: Call 1-888-FAN-RAYS.

The pitchers

ALBIE LOPEZ: Lopez (3-3, 3.60) comes off two subpar starts in which his ERA has risen by 1.94. This is his eighth start and second against Baltimore. Against Cleveland on Friday, he lasted a season-low five innings and allowed a season-high seven runs.

SIDNEY PONSON: Ponson (0-3, 6.62) makes his first start since coming off the 15-day disabled list with inflammation in his right elbow. In a rehab start with Double A Bowie on Friday, Ponson threw four shutout innings and struck out two. His last win was Sept. 22 against Boston.

You don't say

By the end of their three-game series, the Orioles and Rays will have played each other 13 times this season. Baltimore won six of the first 10, a figure that surprised Tampa Bay manager Hal McRae. "I thought we were worse than that," he said.

© 2006 • All Rights Reserved • St. Petersburg Times
490 First Avenue South • St. Petersburg, FL 33701 • 727-893-8111

Contact the Times | Privacy Policy
Standard of Accuracy | Terms, Conditions & Copyright