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© St. Petersburg Times, published October 2, 2001
ST. PETERSBURG -- John Flaherty was back on the Rays bench Monday night but that doesn't mean he'll be back in the lineup anytime soon.
The 34-year-old catcher has not played since Sept. 2 after suffering a herniated disc in his neck and said it is unlikely he will play in the final six games.
"It's a little better," Flaherty said. "But it's not as drastic an improvement as we had hoped for."
Flaherty did not accompany the team on its recent eight-game road trip, opting to stay in St. Petersburg to receive cortisone shots and begin rehabilitation. He received his third and final shot Friday but said he's not ready to return to the field.
"I've had three weeks of shots and now we have to wait and see when it gets to 100 percent," said Flaherty, who estimates he is at about 50 percent. "Obviously it's not going to happen in the next week."
NO. 1 FOR NO. 1: Dewon Brazelton, the first-round pick in June's amateur draft, made his first appearance in a Devil Rays uniform Monday.
Brazelton started an Instructional League game against the Phillies in Clearwater, pitching two perfect innings and striking out three.
Though he had not pitched in a game since May 18 when he was at Middle Tennessee State, the 6-foot-4 right-hander topped out at 96 mph and clocked a change-up at 78.
"I was so nervous before the game, I was putting too much pressure on myself," Brazelton said. "Since I've been here there's been a lot of stuff said (about his abilities). I'm just excited to be able to give them something to be excited about."
Brazelton is expected to pitch again at 10 a.m. Saturday vs. Pittsburgh at the Naimoli Complex.
READY TO GO: Greg Vaughn said his left calf, which has limited him to two pinch-hitting appearances since Sept. 9, is better and he is ready to return to the lineup. Manager Hal McRae might have other ideas.
McRae has been using Vaughn's absence to take an extended look at Aubrey Huff in the DH role and may continue that over the final six games.
"I really want to see Huff play," McRae said. "I really don't know what he can do. I know what Vaughn can do."
MR. DO-IT-ALL: Russ Johnson has perhaps the hardest role on the team. He's the player who shows up everyday, only to play twice a week. Maybe.
He's also one of the most productive players on the bench.
Johnson started his second consecutive game, finishing 3-for-3 with two doubles and two RBI, raising his average to .295.
"It's the hardest thing in this business," Johnson said of playing only once or twice a week. "This is a game of repetition. It's a job that somebody has to do and I'm glad that somebody is me. I enjoy it."
Part of Johnson's everyday routine is to have hitting coach Wade Boggs throw full speed from about 7 feet in the batting cage, to simulate game time speed. Johnson figures the reaction time from that distance is equivalent to facing an 87-89 mph fastball.
DOUBLE VISION: Johnson's second-inning double extended the Rays' streak to 39 consecutive games with at least one double, the longest streak in the majors this season and tied for third longest in the past five years. Only the 1999 Braves (51) and 1996 Indians (75) have had more.
STINGY PITCHERS: The Rays have won six of their past eight, pitching to a 1.80 ERA and holding opponents to a .212 batting average.
WHERE: Tropicana Field, St. Petersburg
TV/RADIO: Fox Sports Net, 970 WFLA-AM, 760 WLCC-AM (Spanish)
TODAY'S PROMOTION: Today is Tampa Tuesday; fans can purchase upper general admission tickets for $3 (normally $8) with a coupon from the Tampa Tribune.
TICKETS: Available at stadium box office, through Ticketmaster phone and retail outlets and at team stores in WestShore Plaza, Brandon TownCenter and Bay Walk.
INFO: Call 1-888-FAN-RAYS
PAUL WILSON: Wilson is 7-9 with a 5.24 ERA after splitting time between the rotation and the bullpen this season. The Rays are 7-3 in his 10 starts since he rejoined the rotation July 20. Since then Wilson is 5-2 with a 2.85 ERA. He is 1-2, 5.85 lifetime against Boston.
CASEY FOSSUM: Fossum is 3-1 with a 4.02 ERA. He never has faced the Rays. In 12 games this season (six starts), he has given up 36 hits in 40 1/3 innings, struck out 24 and walked 18. Opponents are hitting .237 against him.
"It wasn't really me anyway. I was just messing around. Besides, it's not like it brought me any luck Thursday night." -- Newly clean shaven Rays second baseman Brent Abernathy, explaining why he took off what little beard he managed to grow last week. Thursday he fouled a ball off his ankle and missed the next three games.
MONDAY'S CROWD: 10,775
TROPICANA FIELD CAPACITY: 44,445
SEASON TOTAL: 1,189,235
PER-GAME AVERAGE: 15,856
2001 LARGEST CROWD: 41,546
2001 SMALLEST CROWD: 10,539
2000 PER-GAME AVERAGE: 19,368
1999 PER-GAME AVERAGE: 19,296
1998 PER-GAME AVERAGE: 30,939