Sports: McRae needs a sign Rupe can help in '02

McRae needs a sign Rupe can help in '02

By MARC TOPKIN

BOSTON -- Hal McRae wants to see Ryan Rupe pitch tonight. Actually, he wants to see him pitch a lot tonight.

As the Rays use the rest of this season to make their plans for the next one, one of the more interesting and important decisions they face concerns Rupe's role.

The 26-year-old right-hander has posted horrible statistics. He has a 5-11 record and 6.98 ERA, has won one since June 20 and has pitched past the sixth inning once in his past seven starts and twice in the past 12.

Rupe insists things are better than they appear. He says that he feels good and isn't pitching that badly, that usually just a few mistakes cost him.

McRae, essentially, wants Rupe to prove it.

"He says he's healthy, but I think the way you prove that you're healthy is that you carry good stuff through the sixth inning and hopefully into the seventh inning," McRae said. "That's the only way I know to determine where we are because the game requirements are nine."

Because the Rays expect to have young left-handers Nick Bierbrodt and Joe Kennedy in the 2002 rotation along with Tanyon Sturtze, and because their bullpen is relatively young, McRae wants as little uncertainty as possible with the other two starters.

"It would serve me well if he gives us some innings because we're going to have to find some innings somehow," McRae said.

"You can't depend on pitchers that are hurt. You can't make plans with pitchers that are hurt, or the perception is that they're hurt. The only way they can prove they're okay is they give you innings, and they give you good stuff over X amount of innings."

VAUGHN DOWN: The tightness in his left calf is bad enough, but the frustration of being sidelined again is even worse for Greg Vaughn.

"This is unbelievable," Vaughn said. "It's been frustrating. There have been some rays of hope and then ... it's been disappointing, really, since I've been here because I know I'm a lot better player than the way I've played. And any time I start getting going, something ends up happening."

Vaughn is available to pinch-hit, but he isn't likely to return to the lineup until this weekend in Toronto or perhaps next week in New York.

PROMOTIONAL EFFORT: The changes to the schedule have led to revision in the promotions for the final homestand.

The Shirts Off Our Backs promotion (fans can win the actual game jerseys) and Fan Appreciation Day have been moved from Sept. 30 to Oct. 7, the new last day of the season. Cash Is King Night has been rescheduled for Oct. 5 and Travel Mug Day will be Oct. 6. The Boy Scout Night sleepover will be Oct. 5.

Fans holding tickets for the postponed games can use them for the rescheduled games. Fans who can't attend the rescheduled game can exchange the ticket for one of equal value to any remaining home game.

RAYS BITS: Jason Tyner set a team record with his 10th straight stolen base. He has 24 overall, four shy of Miguel Cairo's single-season record. ... Rays batters went into Wednesday leading the American League with 1,000 strikeouts. ... Team employees will help restore the softball field at the Salesian Youth Center in Tampa today.