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Rays tales

By MARC TOPKIN

© St. Petersburg Times,
published July 15, 2001

BALL FORE?: Rays right-hander Tanyon Sturtze, if you ask most hitters, has pretty decent stuff on the mound. If you go by what the editors of T&L Golf magazine say, he can be pretty good on the links, too.

Sturtze has been named one of top golfers among major-league players, with a five handicap that ranks just below Atlanta's John Smoltz and Baltimore's Mike Trombley (zero), Oakland's Mark Mulder and Houston's Bill Spiers (three) and Texas' Rick Helling (four).

Sturtze acknowledged the five handicap (and noted he won't be getting any additional strokes now that it has been in the paper), but shrugged off the lofty status. "I play to relax," he said. "I just enjoy going out, playing and having fun."

He has competed in a few tournaments, including a round at Pebble Beach as part of baseball's World Series of Golf, but said he doesn't envision himself trying the pro tour.

"I've put a lot of grind into playing (baseball)," Sturtze said. "I don't know if I'd want to do that with golf too."

His dream round? With the late Payne Stewart.

"I loved everything about him," Sturtze said. "The way he played, the way he carried himself. Everything. He was just awesome."

PAGING MRS. ALVAREZ: Pitcher Wilson Alvarez caught the attention of more than a few people (and high-ranking Rays officials) when he suggested he might retire, and walk away from an $8-million salary next season, if he can't complete his arm and shoulder rehabilitation and pitch in games this season.

Rays manager Hal McRae, for one, doubts Alvarez would do it. "I can't speak for Wilson, but I think he's going to play," McRae said. "I think he has six, seven, eight million reasons to come back. I don't think his wife would be very happy if he decided to retire."

IN THE REALLY BAD NEWS DEPARTMENT: Not only do the Rays have the worst record in the majors, they also have the toughest schedule of any team in the second half. The combined winning percentage of the Rays' second-half opponents is .538. The team with the easiest second-half schedule is the Yankees. Think that has anything to do with the teams having 12 games left to play?

What they're saying

A headline in Friday's New York Times: As Cubs Wait, McGriff Plays Hamlet

Quote of the week

"It still only counts for one. The margin of victory doesn't mean anything." -- HAL McRAE, Rays manager after 10-0 win Thursday

By the numbers

9: Times in team history a McGriff homer kept Rays from being shut out.

28: Average age of Rays, second-youngest in majors.

32: Games, of 91, in which Rays have scored two or fewer.

Rays vs. Rays vs. Rays vs. Rays

After 91 games

(Year, W-L, Pct., P-GB)

2001, 28-63, .308, 5-26

2000, 37-54, .407, 5-12.5

1999, 40-51, .440, 4-14

1998, 34-57, .374, 5-33.5

Overall

(Year, W-L,Pct., P-GB)

2001, 50-112*, .309* ?-??

2000, 69-92,.429,5-18

1999, 69-93,.426,5-29

1998, 63-99,.389,5-51

* projected. P-GB: Place in East Division-games behind first

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