Team's level of progress depends on point of view

By MARC TOPKIN

© St. Petersburg Times,
published September 30, 2001

ST. PETERSBURG -- There is a week to go in the season, and the final evaluations being prepared are not exactly going to be glowing.

Barring a remarkable finish, the Rays will finish their fourth season with their worst record, with the added bonus of the stigma that comes with losing 100 games for the first time in their history.

That looks like a step back, reads like a step back and sounds likes a step back.

But Rays officials, who have taken their share of missteps over the years, would like you to believe instead it truly is a step in the right direction, that they -- finally -- have the team headed on the proper path by building with young players.

It's just that they can't prove it to you yet.

"This is a process that can't be measured by games, or by the start or the end of a season," general manager Chuck LaMar said. "Next year, we'll be in the same mode, and we'll have more young players hopefully ready to perform at the major-league level.

"I don't see us spending any money in the offseason to make the club better. Improvement has to come from within, the developing of more players from the minor-league system who are ready to play in the major leagues, and the continuing improvement of the guys who have already made it to the major-league level."

LaMar should be eager for the building; he's spent much of the past year-and-a-half working the other way, becoming more proficient than he'd ever hoped at slicing payroll.

After opening the 2000 season at $64-million and starting this season at about $56-million, the Rays could field a team now with a payroll of around $35-million. And that includes the $15-million they are paying Wilson Alvarez and Juan Guzman to not pitch; the $8.25-million they are paying Greg Vaughn, who has struggled for months; and the $3-million they are paying John Flaherty, who was playing twice a week before he got hurt.

Alvarez, Vaughn and Flaherty all are signed for next season, and none will be easy to move. Alvarez has a no-trade clause; Vaughn and Flaherty are coming off injuries with big contracts and unspectacular numbers.

Still, LaMar may get the payroll lower than $30-million next season. Bryan Rekar and Jose Guillen, with salaries in excess of $1-million, are spare parts that are likely to be gone. An interesting decision will have to be made on shortstop Chris Gomez, who made $3-million in the final year of a deal he got from San Diego.

At the end of next season, with Alvarez and Flaherty off the books and Vaughn most likely traded, the Rays could have a payroll around $20-million, and a pretty good young team to show for it.

The process is in place; now it's a matter of seeing how far the Rays get.

"I know our schedule runs out, but our course of development leading to becoming a competitive club will continue hopefully through the offseason in winter ball and the fall leagues, and will continue next year," LaMar said. "What we're going through this year we expect to continue next season."

CARRYOVER EFFECT: Going into Yankee Stadium on Tuesday, for the emotional first game back, against Roger Clemens, on the night the Yankees could clinch the AL East, was quite a test for the young Rays. "We definitely had all odds against us," Brent Abernathy said.

Winning, it turns out, could have some residual benefits.

"We did what it took to win," Abernathy said. "It's a big win for us to know we can come into these situations and win games for the future. We can go into next year kind of trying to carry a game like this on."

DO NOT DISTURB: One thing that stands out after spending a 10-day trip with the Rays, on their planes and buses, is how taxing the travel can be. Twice within seven days, the Rays arrived after 3 a.m. and had to play later that day.

SIR SPEEDY: By stealing two bases in Tuesday's game, rookie Toby Hall matched the total stolen bases by Rays catchers in the franchise's first 634 games -- Flaherty and Mike DiFelice each had one.

HOO-RAYS: With contributions from the front office, it appears the Rays' donation to the disaster relief fund will top $250,000. ... MLB.com is selling caps with team logos in a patriotic red, white and blue, but, curiously, not for the Rays, or a few other teams. ... The annual team cruise to the Bahamas is set for Jan. 17-20. Call toll free 1-800-638-3137, extension 2, for information.

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