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McRae continues to help Yan develop

By MARC TOPKIN and KEVIN KELLY

© St. Petersburg Times,
published September 25, 2001

TORONTO -- One reason Hal McRae made the surprising move to bring in Esteban Yan to start the eighth inning of Sunday's game was that he wanted to preserve the rest of the bullpen.

The other was that he wanted to give Yan a chance to prove himself.

Yan has struggled during much of his first season as closer, but McRae has stuck with him. With the Rays clinging to a 1-0 lead, McRae wanted to see how Yan would respond to the challenge of getting the final six outs.

"He's inexperienced in that role and he has to go out and figure some things out," McRae said. "He's getting better, but he has to figure some things out and the only way to do that is under the gun. He has to pitch in order to figure some things out. Telling him stuff is not going to do it all. Once he becomes comfortable with his role and what he has to do out there, he's going to be a better pitcher."

As Yan improves, the rest of the bullpen becomes better.

Even though the Rays had Monday off, McRae wanted to rest the other relievers, knowing he may need them all to get through two games against the Yankees.

"I know (Yan) has struggled when he has had to go back out (for a second inning), but I needed to do it," McRae said. "It gives him confidence that he can do it, and the major plus is that it rests the bullpen. ... Occasionally, he needs to do two innings. He has the stuff, he has the stamina, and it gives the bullpen a rest."

Yan has converted 19 of 28 save opportunities, including 2-of-6 of two innings or more.

CASH IS CHARITY: Friday's Cash is King promotion will benefit the American Red Cross Emergency Relief Fund.

Normally, the Rays and the St. Petersburg Times give a cash prize to a fan each inning. This time, a matching donation will be made to the relief fund. A total of $10,000 -- including a $5,000 grand prize -- will be given out, and another $10,000 will be donated.

The Red Cross also will accept donations at Tropicana Field that night.

ARIZONA BOUND: Former No. 1 draft pick Josh Hamilton and four other Rays prospects leave today for Arizona where they will play for the Maryvale Saguaros of the Arizona Fall League.

"I want to play and have a good time, I haven't been able to do that all year," said Hamilton, who was limited to 27 games with Double-A Orlando and Class A Charleston because of the flu, back trouble and a hamstring injury this season. "That's the main thing. If I do well, I do well. If I don't, I haven't seen live pitching in a while."

Hamilton will be joined by pitchers Brandon Backe and Delvin James, infielder Jorge Cantu and outfielder Carl Crawford for the team that will be managed by Rays minor-league field coordinator Tom Foley.

"I know about half the guys on that team so it will make things easier," Hamilton said. "I'm looking forward to it and I know the guys on the team are."

Reliever Jason Standridge, catcher Paul Hoover and pitcher Dewon Brazelton, who was Tampa Bay's top pick in June's draft, also are expected to participate in the league after the major-league season concludes on Oct. 7.

TOE SURGERY: Much-heralded prospect Greg "Toe" Nash had surgery Monday on his left knee. Nash hit .240 with eight homers and 29 RBI in his first pro season but last week aggravated an injury to the knee during the second day of instructional league workouts.

LET THE GAMES BEGIN: More than 45 of the Rays' top prospects begin their 25-game Instructional League schedule against the Phillies today at St. Petersburg's Naimoli Complex. Among those on the roster are former first-round pick Rocco Baldelli, Appalachian League MVP Jonny Gomes and Matt Diaz and Nathan Kaup, who ranked among the top three in hitting in the California League this season.

Games are free.

RAYS BITS: Greg Vaughn is expected to return to the lineup as the DH on Wednesday. ... Felix Martinez is scheduled to make a rare start tonight. Jose Guillen and Damian Rolls are likely to play Wednesday. ... Sunday's 1-0 win marked the sixth time in 63 games the Rays won when scoring fewer than four runs.

Tonight: Rays at Yankees, 7:05 p.m.

WHERE: Yankee Stadium

TV/RADIO: Ch. 32/970 WFLA-AM, 760 WLCC-AM (Spanish)

BY THE NUMBERS:

vs. East: 20-32

vs. Central: 13-19

vs. West: 10-26

vs. NL: 10-8

vs. RH starters: 42-74

vs. LH starters: 11-22

On grass: 17-47

On turf: 36-49

In day games: 22-34

At night: 31-62

One-run games: 17-17

Two-run games: 10-17

Extra innings: 5-4

Scoring first: 39-28

Scoring four or more: 47-39

Scoring fewer than four: 6-57

INFO: 1-888-FAN-RAYS

The pitchers

TANYON STURTZE: Sturtze has been the Rays' most dependable starter since joining the rotation May 2, going 8-10 with a 4.64 ERA. He is 5-5 in his past 13, and the Rays have won eight of the games. Sturtze is 1-1 with a 4.40 ERA against the Yanks this season, 1-1, 6.88 overall.

ROGER CLEMENS: All Clemens has done is go 20-1 with a 3.42 ERA in 30 starts. If there is a flaw -- and it's a small one -- he has averaged less than seven innings and doesn't have a complete game. Clemens is 3-0 with a 2.67 ERA against the Rays this season, 5-1, 3.40 overall.

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