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Vaughn feels guilty as club's bats sag

[AP photo] Rays players from left, Randy Winn, Chris Gomez and Aubrey Huff don't trust the netting as they move to avoid a line drive foul to the dugout by teammate Jason Tyner in the first inning Wednesday.

By KEVIN KELLY

© St. Petersburg Times,
published August 16, 2001

NEW YORK -- Greg Vaughn is disappointed in himself most of all.

Introspective by nature and playing for a last-place team with 12 rookies, the Rays outfielder is mired in a dreadful slump that has dropped his batting average to .230.

"If I do what I'm supposed to do, it can eliminate so much pressure from a lot of people," said Vaughn, who went 0-for-3, including two strikeouts in a 10-3 loss to the Yankees on Wednesday. "All the young guys and all the guys around me are doing an outstanding job. I've been the one stinking it up. I'll be the first to admit it.

"But, shoot, I'm trying. I'm here early. I'm staying late."

Though the four-time All-Star chooses not to attribute his struggles to the trade that sent Fred McGriff to the Cubs, the numbers show the lack of another power hitter in the lineup is costing Vaughn in several ways.

Vaughn still leads the team with 24 home runs and 74 RBI, but he hasn't seen many good pitches since McGriff's departure. He's 11-for-70 with one home run and four extra-base hits in the 20 games since the July 25 trade.

"I'm not going to blame it on the pitches," he said. "I get pitches to hit and I've got to hit them. If I do what I'm supposed to do, it doesn't matter what they throw me.

"So I'm not going to blame not seeing good pitches. I'm blaming myself right now. I have to do what this organization counts on me to do and that's drive in runs and try to be a leader."

STILL WORKING: A slight adjustment to Brent Abernathy's batting stance after a 0-for-3 night against the White Sox on Aug. 3 continues to prove beneficial.

Abernathy moved his hands up 5 inches and is 16-for-38 with eight walks in 11 games.

"I went ahead and made the adjustment with my hands because I feel like in the long run that will make me a better player, doing the things I'm supposed to do as a No. 2 hitter and second baseman," he said.

"The effect is that I get on top of the ball. I'm hitting more line drives with carry on them and more ground balls. I'm not the type of guy, being 6 feet, 180 pounds, that can hit fly balls that are over outfielders' heads."

NOT JUST A BAT: Catcher Toby Hall is hitting .440 in his past seven games, including 2-for-4 Wednesday, but continues to impress manager Hal McRae most with his defensive awareness.

Hall has thrown out 44 percent of would-be basestealers and showed his mobility in the fifth inning Tuesday when he fielded a bunt and threw to third on a force play.

ODDS AND ENDS: First baseman Steve Cox, on the 15-day DL with a strained lower back, is expected to start taking full batting practice by Friday before going on a short rehab assignment. ... Pitchers Wilson Alvarez (Triple-A Durham) and Bryan Rekar (Double-A Orlando) reported no problems in their rehab starts Tuesday. Both are expected to pitch Sunday. ... The game against Chicago on Aug. 25 will be Fire and Rescue Appreciation Day at Tropicana Field. The team will provide four tickets to all fire and rescue personnel in Hillsborough, Pinellas, Polk, Pasco, Sarasota and Manatee counties. ... The Rays' 16th-round draft pick, first baseman/pitcher Timothy Layden from Deer Park, N.Y., worked out with the team before Wednesday's game.

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