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Rays' tales

By MARC TOPKIN

© St. Petersburg Times,
published September 16, 2001

THE DO RUN-RUN: With 22 steals in 27 attempts, Jason Tyner is closing in on Miguel Cairo's team record of 28 stolen bases. Tyner has larger larceny in mind for the future.

"I'd like to shoot for 50 if I can," he said, "I had 49 one year in Double A."

The bases are still 90 feet apart, but it's tougher to steal them in the majors because the pitchers have better pickoff moves and the catchers have better arms.

Tyner, however, is making progress. "I'm getting better jumps, I'm learning the catchers and learning the pitchers," he said. "I feel more comfortable and getting more confident. When I get on now I'm always looking to go. Before I was afraid of getting thrown out."

There's one other key, Tyner said. "You've got to get on base too."

NICE TO SEE YA, TOO: We were hoping to use this space to tell you how ex-Ray Fred McGriff was doing in Chicago, but he didn't agree. Passing through the windy city Monday, we stopped at Wrigley Field to check in on him. As the Cubs opened what was to be the most critical week of their season, McGriff was out of the lineup with a slightly sore hamstring. We found him in the clubhouse, coming out of the players' lounge/dining area, and here's how the conversation went:

US (smiling, thinking he'd be surprised to see us): "Hey, how's it going?"

FRED (not smiling, not looking surprised or anything else upon seeing us): "Okay. ... I've got to get treatment (on my leg)."

US: "Figured you did. Can you delay it just five minutes?"

FRED: "Um, nah. I'll see ya down there (in Tampa). I'll be down there."

For the record, McGriff is hitting .268 with five homers and 23 RBI in 36 games for the Cubs. Teammates say he is quiet and professional. He hit .318 with 19 homers and 61 RBI in 97 games for the Rays.

Singles club

Rays batting coach Wade Boggs may lose a place in the record book. Seattle sensation Ichiro Suzuki has 171 singles (out of 217 hits overall), giving him a shot at Boggs' 1985 AL record of 187 singles in a season. Pittsburgh's Lloyd "Little Poison" Waner has held the modern-day record of 198 for nearly 75 years. Here are the top 10 highest singles totals:

Quote of the week

"There really aren't any baseball questions because there is no baseball."

-- HAL McRAE, Rays manager speaking to the media before Saturday's workout

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