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Mental strain concerns McRae

By MARC TOPKIN and KEVIN KELLY

© St. Petersburg Times,
published September 18, 2001

ST. PETERSBURG -- Manager Hal McRae doesn't expect the Rays to show any physical effects when they resume play tonight in Boston after an eight-day layoff.

It's their mind-set he is more concerned about.

"It's more mental than physical," McRae said. "It's not physically demanding because they're well-rested. Their arms should be good, though their legs aren't as good. But mentally it's what they all have to conquer somehow."

The Rays held their fourth workout of the off-week on Monday, then flew to Boston. Sometime by 7 tonight, McRae expects them to be refocused on the game.

"I think we're going to be ready to play," he said. "I really feel good about the attitudes. The attitude has been great. The players have concerns, but everyone knows what our challenge is, and we're going to have to come out and at least for three hours concentrate on winning baseball games.

"It's going to be tough to forget, but for three hours we're going to have to concentrate on winning baseball games. It's going to be tougher for some than others, but that's what we have to do."

FLASH POINT: Catcher John Flaherty is feeling better after a cortisone shot eliminated some of the discomfort from the herniated disk in his neck, and he hopes to play again this season.

"I'm trying to get back for the last homestand," he said. "That would probably be the best-case scenario."

Flaherty is scheduled for another shot later this week, with the hope that he will be able to resume his career without further treatment or surgery.

"(The doctor) seemed to think these shots would be the answer," he said. "It supposedly shrinks the disc down and speeds up the healing process. Everything I've been told is that surgery is a long ways away, something we're not even discussing right now."

With Flaherty out for at least the next eight games, Toby Hall will be the everyday starter, though McRae said he does expect to use Paul Hoover at some point.

MAKING THEIR PITCH: No one is sure exactly what the games will be like after the extended break, but the Rays seem convinced that pitchers, much like they are at the start of the season, should have an edge over hitters.

"I think the pitchers will have the advantage because of timing," McRae said. "They're trying to disrupt the hitters' timing."

"The hitters have been out a week so it's difficult for them to get back in the flow of things," pitcher Joe Kennedy said.

TRUE PATRIOT: Rays players, like other major-leaguers, will have American flags sewn on their caps. Infielder Russ Johnson couldn't wait to get his.

"They could dress me in the flag if they wanted to," Johnson said. "It would be fine with me.

"I think it's a good thing to let everybody see what we actually have in this country, how great a country it really is. Even though all the things we have wrong as a people, I still think it's the greatest nation ever."

Today: Rays at Red Sox, 7:05 p.m.

WHERE: Fenway Park, Boston.

TV/RADIO: Ch. 32; WLCC-AM 760 (Spanish).

INFORMATION: 1-800-FAN-RAYS.

RAYS TEAM BATTING

VS. LEFT: .247

VS. RIGHT: .259

AWAY: .247

SCORING POSITION: .259

BASES LOADED: .323

0-0 COUNT: .326

AFTER 0-1 COUNT: .220

AFTER 1-0 COUNT: .277

TWO STRIKES: .176

GRASS: .247

NIGHT: .258

VS. BOSTON: .229

PRE-ALL-STAR GAME: .253

POST-ALL-STAR GAME: .260

The pitchers

TANYON STURTZE: This will be an emotional start for Sturtze (8-11, 4.51), who grew up in nearby Worcester, Mass. It's also an important one. A win tonight goes a long way in giving him a chance to reach .500 this season.

HIDEO NOMO: Of late, Nomo (11-8, 4.33) has looked nothing like the pitcher who threw a no-hitter and a one-hitter this season. He has lost his past four decisions and is 3-4 with a 5.18 ERA since the All-Star break.

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