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Opportunity arises to split young lefties

By KEVIN KELLY

© St. Petersburg Times,
published August 17, 2001

NEW YORK -- After waiting a few weeks to make a decision, Hal McRae might have found an opportunity to break up left-handed starters Nick Bierbrodt and Joe Kennedy.

The tentative plan is to move right-hander Tanyon Sturtze behind Bierbrodt and ahead of Kennedy during the Rays' upcoming homestand against the Orioles and White Sox.

If all goes as expected, Bierbrodt will pitch the final game of the Orioles series on Aug. 23 followed by Sturtze and Kennedy in the first two games against Chicago.

McRae has wanted to split the two lefties because they offer similar styles and opposing teams are capitalizing. Kennedy has lost seven decisions in a row.

"We're both similar from the standpoint of how we pitch," Kennedy said. "Him pitching before me or after me or splitting us up isn't going to make a difference to me winning or losing.

"It's good though because we do pitch similar. If we're back to back then teams basically see the same type of pitcher. It might help a little bit."

And if Bryan Rekar comes off the disabled list as expected next week, McRae would insert him into the rotation and push Paul Wilson back two days. Rekar, on the 15-day DL with tendinitis in his right shoulder, has made two rehab starts with Double-A Orlando and is scheduled to pitch again on Sunday.

DEFENSIVE LAPSE: The Rays committed a combined five errors during the final two games at Yankee Stadium, raising their league-leading season total to 107.

They had gone five games without an error before Wednesday.

On Thursday, leftfielder Jason Tyner was credited with an error on a double by Shane Spencer in the fifth and first baseman Aubrey Huff bobbled a throw from starter Ryan Rupe in the sixth.

"The floodgates opened," McRae said. "We haven't been able to recover (after errors). That's something as a team we need to overcome."

SWEEPS WEEK: The Rays' four-game sweep of the Twins, then the three-game sweep of the Rays by the Yankees marked the fourth time in club history that has happened in consecutive series. Tampa Bay has been swept nine times this season.

FEELING FINE: Despite a season-high 131 pitches against the Yankees the evening before, Wilson said his arm felt fine Thursday.

The right-hander, who allowed eight runs, had been on a 100-pitch limit but could see that rise. His next scheduled start is Tuesday against Baltimore.

"He needed to extend himself to prove that he could do it," McRae said. "One outing is not going to bother him. It's the cumulative effect that you're concerned with."

FALL ROSTER: Seven Rays will play with Maryvale of the Arizona Fall League: pitchers Jason Standridge and Delvin James, outfielders Brandon Backe, Carl Crawford and Josh Hamilton and infielders Jorge Cantu and Paul Hoover.

ODDS AND ENDS: A foul ball off Damian Rolls' bat in the third inning cut home plate umpire Bruce Froemming's left ear. Froemming had a bandage placed over the cut and returned. ... Catcher John Flaherty will start the next two games against the Twins so Toby Hall can rest. ... Hall has an eight-game hitting streak. ... The Rays lead the majors with 21 games in which they've allowed 10 or more runs. ... New York has won 11 of 13 games against Tampa Bay this season.

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