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By KEVIN KELLY
© St. Petersburg Times, published August 7, 2001
CHICAGO -- Jason Standridge's first memory of Tropicana Field was when the ballpark "was concrete with dump trucks in there."
The 22-year-old pitcher is now one of four players -- catcher Toby Hall, shortstop Chris Gomez and pitcher Nick Bierbrodt are the others -- who will play at the Trop for the first time with the Rays this week. All four joined the team during a 14-day road trip that ended Monday.
Standridge is scheduled to make his first major league start on Thursday against the Yankees, replacing left-hander Joe Kennedy for one game, but only if manager Hal McRae can keep from using him before then in relief.
Roger Clemens is scheduled to pitch Thursday for the Yankees.
"That's going to be pretty special," Standridge said. "In spring training when I went against Pedro Martinez, that was pretty sweet.
"Now this is for real. This is when it counts. I want to see what happens."
Standridge was recalled from Triple-A Durham on July 27 and has appeared in two games since. He has not allowed a run in 21/3 innings.
"It's just unbelievable," Standridge said. "It's just so nerve wracking.
"It's just an awesome, awesome experience."
McRae wants to give Kennedy's arm a rest like he did with Ryan Rupe on Monday. Long reliever Jeff Wallace started in Rupe's place.
BACK PROBLEMS: First baseman Steve Cox did not play Monday against Chicago because of a stiff back and is questionable for tonight's game against the Yankees.
He sustained the injury Sunday when he jumped for a ball, and was to be examined after the team returned to St. Petersburg.
"If he can't swing the bat (today)," McRae said, "I think we'll have to think about making some adjustments."
Should Cox need to be put on the disabled list, third baseman Jared Sandberg would most likely be called up from Durham and Aubrey Huff would continue to fill in for Cox at first base.
Sandberg was batting .232 with 16 home runs and 49 RBI in 91 games while Durham first baseman Ron Wright was hitting .285 with 17 homers and 62 RBI in 92 games at Durham before Monday's games.
"It's feeling better now," Cox said after Monday's game.
THE DEAL'S COMPLETE: Cubs minor league infielder Jason Smith was acquired by the Rays to complete the July 27 trade that sent Fred McGriff and $1-million to Chicago for pitcher Manny Aybar and a player to be named.
Smith, 24, was assigned to Durham and was scheduled to join the team today. He was hitting .233 with 4 home runs, 15 RBI and 71 strikeouts in 70 games for the Iowa Cubs.
Aybar got his first win at Durham on Sunday. He pitched six innings and allowed three runs, striking out seven and walking one.
ODDS AND ENDS: Tampa Bay grounded into 11 double plays during its four-game series against the White Sox. ... Tyner's 18 hits during the road trip tied him with former Rays Jose Canseco and Gerald Williams for the club record. ... Speaking of Canseco, he was unstoppable against his former team. The White Sox designated hitter was 7 for 12 (.583) with five runs, two homers and four RBI. ... Chicago first baseman Paul Konerko's 19 putouts Monday were three shy of a major league record. ... With no errors on Monday, the Rays ended a streak of nine games in which they had made at least one error. ... Huff's seven-game hitting streak ended as did Tyner's 10-game streak.
WHERE: Tropicana Field.
TV/RADIO: FSN; WFLA-AM 970, WLCC-AM (Spanish).
TICKETS: Available at Ticketmaster locations, Tropicana Field box office and Rays Dugout stores at WestShore Plaza, Brandon Town Center and Bay Walk.
PROMOTIONS: Purchase a regularly priced ticket (excluding Southwest Airlines seats) for any of the games against New York and receive a free general admission for Friday's game against Minnesota. ... Upper general admission seats are $8 with coupon in Tampa Tribune.
TANYON STURTZE: The Rays are 4-2 the past six times Sturtze (6-9, 5.13) has pitched. The right-hander threw seven innings and allowed two runs in his last win -- Thursday against Baltimore.
MIKE MUSSINA: Mussina (11-9, 3.92) had a two-game winning streak broken Thursday against Texas. He allowed eight runs in four innings. New York is 13-10 when Mussina starts.
Rays manager Hal McRae was among those who watched the Mariners blow a 12-run lead and lose 15-14 to the Indians on Sunday night. At one point during the comeback, ESPN broadcaster Jon Miller likened the Mariners' meltdown to something more appropriate for a last-place team like the Rays. "We're always mentioned," McRae said, "when it's something negative."