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

Six-man rotation may be here to stay

By KEITH NIEBUHR and KEVIN KELLY

© St. Petersburg Times,
published September 3, 2001

ST. PETERSBURG -- Manager Hal McRae hinted Sunday that the Rays might stick with a six-man rotation for the rest of the season and possibly into next season.

"It might not be a bad idea if we have the same personnel next year," McRae said. "To maximize the ability of the players is what we're attempting to do. If that maximizes their ability, what's wrong with doing it?'

The Rays have used Nick Bierbrodt, Joe Kennedy, Bryan Rekar, Ryan Rupe, Tanyon Sturtze and Paul Wilson in the rotation since last month. McRae made the switch to allow the pitchers to get extra rest between starts.

"When the league went to a five-man (rotation) there were people who disagreed," he said. "Who knows how well (a six-man rotation) would work. Maybe it wouldn't."

One possible drawback to the six-man rotation is the toll it could take on the relievers. McRae said if the Rays made the switch permanent, the club might consider carrying an extra pitcher on the roster (teams usually carry 11), which would not be anything new. They have carried 12 or more since July 27.

NO CHANGE: Rays head trainer Jamie Reed said outfielder Greg Vaughn, who did not play Sunday, is day to day after straining his left hamstring while making a diving catch Saturday. McRae and Vaughn expect the Rays' home run leader to be back in the lineup in three to four days.

"He said it didn't feel as badly as before," McRae said. "He goes pretty hard so he needs to be 100 percent to play. He said that it won't happen next year when he's going to be in great shape."

BACK AGAIN: As expected, the Rays recalled outfielder Jose Guillen from Triple-A Durham, but he did not play Sunday. Guillen, sidelined by problems with his left knee for several months, batted .294 in 35 games for Durham.

He hasn't played in the majors since May 17.

"It's good to be back here," said Guillen, whose contract expires at the end of the season. "To tell you the truth, I don't even know if I'm going to be here next year. ... It's been a really tough year. I haven't had much time to play. I've been down in Triple A and doing okay there. My knee is not 100 percent yet, but it's way better than it was before."

JUST A NUMBER: Despite the Rays' recent success (19-21 in their past 40 games), every loss inches them closer to their first 100-loss season.

"We've got to concentrate on winning and being competitive," McRae said. "That number shouldn't be thought of. That's the wrong focus (for the team). That's not how we got to where we are, thinking about that number."

HEALTHY AGAIN: Left-handed reliever Jeff Wallace, activated from the 15-day disabled list Saturday, pitched Sunday for the first time since being injured during an Aug. 6 spot start.

He entered in the seventh and allowed one hit and one earned run in 1 1/3 innings. Wallace had tendinitis in his throwing elbow.

"I think the two weeks (on the DL) knocked it out," Wallace said. "I just needed a little extra rest."

ODDS AND ENDS: Ben Grieve's third-inning strikeout was his 132nd in 449 at-bats. He struck out 130 times in 594 at-bats with Oakland in 2000. ... The Rays entered Sunday's game with a major-league high 66 wild pitches, then added two. ... Oakland has gone back-to-back games without a home run for the first time since late July.

Tonight: Rays at Mariners, 10:05

WHERE: Safeco Field, Seattle.

TV/RADIO: FSN; WFLA-AM 970, WLCC-AM 760 (Spanish).

BY THE NUMBERS 0 -- Wins for Rays when trailing after 8 (82 games).

.412 -- Rays winning percentage (14-20) against first-place teams.

9 -- Consecutive series Rays have lost to the A's.

26.47 -- Average age of Rays roster.

5-52 -- Rays record when scoring fewer than 4 runs.

10-16 -- Rays record in 2-run games.

INFORMATION: 1-888-FAN-RAYS.

The pitchers

PAUL WILSON: In seven starts since rejoining the rotation, Wilson (6-8, 5.75) is 4-1 with a 3.15 ERA, and the Rays are 6-1 in those games. The right-hander allowed six hits and no runs over seven innings in his last start, a 6-0 win against the Mariners.

JAMIE MOYER: Moyer (16-5, 3.57) is 7-0 in his past eight starts. In his last outing, the left-hander allowed three hits and one run in seven innings against the Rays.

You don't say

During the ninth inning Saturday, an overeager fan reached over the railing in rightfield and deflected a fly ball that gave Johnny Damon a triple. Ushers told the fan to move but did not ask him to leave Tropicana Field. Rays manager Hal McRae thinks he may have a way to draw more fans and stop fan interference at the same time: "Send them to jail or make them bring two fans to the next game. ... We don't have enough fans. We can't be throwing them out."

© 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