[Moriarty9]

Hope springs eternal
D-Rays to open exhibition games
February 27, 2001

FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. — The Tampa Bay Devil Rays will open up their spring training exhibition schedule this afternoon against the Baltimore Orioles, bringing game situations to evaluate players fighting for roster spots and jobs.

"We're optimistic about this year's ballclub," said Devil Rays manager Christian O'Neal. "We have some good pitching, some good hitters, some good ballplayers."

One spot that will not be subject to competition is the role of ace of the pitching staff. Pedro Martinez is coming off his second consecutive Cy Young award season and will be on the mound come Opening Day. Who will take the ball in game numbers two, three, four, and five — that is yet to be determined.

The Devil Rays have eight starting pitchers in camp to compete for a spot in the starting rotation, or perhaps a bullpen spot as a long-reliever or spot starter.

Right-handers Kevin Millwood and Roy Halladay will compete with lefties Matt Beech, Bruce Chen, Mike Hampton, Mark Mulder, and Randy Wolf.

Millwood, 26, went 10-13 with a 4.74 ERA in 33 starts for the Devil Rays and is a top candidate for a spot in the top half of the starting rotation. Another candidate is Halladay, a promising 23-year-old. Halladay went 4-7 with a 4.94 ERA in 15 games, 14 starts, at the big league level between the Philadelphia Phillies and Tampa Bay.

Chen is a leading left-hander after posting a 13-8 record and 4.18 ERA in 31 starts for the Devil Rays last season. He went 7-5 with a 3.92 ERA in 16 starts in 1999.

Hampton was touted as a big piece of the team's rotation for the 2000 season but that was derailed late in spring training when he tore a tricep muscle. He has rehabbed over the winter and figures to be a big piece of the team's rotation in 2001. Mulder has failed to live up to the promise and potential that scouts have said he has. The 23-year-old went 8-18 with a 5.73 ERA in 33 starts for the Texas Rangers last season and owns a career record of 17-23 with a 5.73 ERA in 52 big league starts.

Also fighting for a spot in the rotation will be Wolf and Beech. Wolf went 4-3 with a 4.01 ERA in 12 games, 11 starts, with the Devil Rays last year. Beech was 3-1 with one save and a 5.52 ERA in 27 relief appearances for Tampa Bay.

O'Neal believes the lineup will be equally deep. Charles Johnson won his second straight Gold Glove as catcher, with Paul Konerko (.293, 31 HR, 115 RBI) and Erubiel Durazo (.299, 32 HR, 97 RBI) work together at first base and as designated hitter.

Acquired in a trade last July, Adam Kennedy returns as the club's starting secondbaseman. Rookies Aubrey Huff and Jimmy Rollins hope to capture starting jobs at third base and shortstop, respectively, but Tony Graffanino (.297, 8 HR, 70 RBI, 108 R) will be fighting to keep himself in the starting lineup at some position. Secondbaseman Mark Grudzielanek (.282, 7 HR, 55 RBI in 122 games for the Cleveland Indians), infielders Shane Halter and Lou Merloni, and utility man Wilton Guerrero will also fight for roster spots and playing time.

There are just six regular outfielders in camp this year: Rickey Henderson, Benny Agbayani, Carlos Beltran, Mike Cameron, Raul Mondesi, and Ryan Radmanovich.

Henderson, 42, hit .272 with eight home runs, 27 RBI, 49 runs and 13 stolen bases in 265 at bats last year, despite battling a couple of different back injuries. Agbayani hit .310 with 20 homers and 61 RBI in 137 games for Tampa Bay while Cameron hit .277 with seven roundtrippers and 24 RBI in 188 at bats.

Beltran suffered a fractured wrist and later serious back spasms, hampering his production to a .282, 11 homers, 47 RBI, 67 runs, and 22 stolen bases in 102 games. Mondesi had a monstrous season, hitting .295 with 47 home runs and 154 RBI. Radmanovich struggled in limited playing time last season — although he did display power when he did play — and may not be on the roster come opening day. Radmanovich hit .171 with five homers and 10 RBI in 25 games.