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And the MVP is: Hmmm?

ST. PETERSBURG - The question is tough, but it must be answered: Who was the most valuable Ray this season?

By MARC TOPKIN

© St. Petersburg Times,
published October 7, 2001

ST. PETERSBURG -- The question is tough, but it must be answered: Who was the most valuable Ray this season?

Greg Vaughn leads the team in runs, home runs, RBI and extra-base hits. But he's not having a good season by his own standards.

Frustrated by injuries and inconsistencies, Vaughn has limped along with a .233 average, .287 with runners in scoring position.

Jason Tyner embodies everything the new Rays are about: He hustles, he gets his uniform dirty, he has fun.

In less than two-thirds of a season, Tyner set team records for stolen bases (30), infield hits (34) and bunt singles (13); had three hitting streaks of 10 or more games; and was threatening .300 until a 3-for-32 skid. He has put up good numbers, but not MVP numbers.

Normally starting pitchers don't get much support in team MVP consideration, the primary argument being that they play only once every five days. But these are not normal times.

Tanyon Sturtze leads the pitching staff in wins (11) and innings (1951/3), but, more importantly, he has become the leader.

Since coming out of the bullpen in early May, Sturtze has made every start and kept the Rays in most of them. He has gone six or more innings in 22 of 27 starts, allowing three runs or fewer 15 times.

Veteran teammates rave about his attitude and work ethic and the example he sets.

Most impressive is this: In games started by Sturtze, the Rays are 15-12. In games started by all others, they are 47-87.

'Nuf said.

TOP ROOKIE: Sixteen have played for the Rays this season, so there is no lack of choices.

Catcher Toby Hall has been very impressive in his two months, with hits in 38 of 44 starts.

Second baseman Brent Abernathy has been very impressive over his three months, with an impressive .360 average with men in scoring position.

But left-hander Joe Kennedy has been most impressive, winning seven games with an ERA a half-run under the team average.

MOST PLEASANT SURPRISE: That too would be Kennedy. Until this season, he hadn't pitched above Class A. By June he was in the rotation to stay.

BIGGEST DISAPPOINTMENT: There are plenty to consider, from Wilson Alvarez to Bryan Rekar to Ryan Rupe to Gerald Williams to Vaughn to Esteban Yan.

But the biggest has to be Vinny Castilla, as much for what he didn't do with the Rays (two-year combined average of .219 with eight home runs) as what has done for the Astros (a .271 average, 23 homers, 82 RBI).

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