Kazmir happy with arm strength

Scott Kazmir made his final start of the spring Wednesday against the Phillies, allowing one run on five hits and two walks in three innings, with four strikeouts and a wild pitch. After being hindered by a sore shoulder for much of the second half of 2006, Kazmir was happy with how strong his arm felt this spring. Hopefully, that will translate into better results once the regular season begins, as the Devil Rays ace allowed eight walks and 20 hits over 16 2/3 innings, wrapping up Spring Training with a 6.48 ERA.
Source: MLB.com

Baldelli ready for season opener

Slotted in the lineup as the designated hitter, Rocco Baldelli went 2-for-4 with a double and a run scored in a Minor League game on Wednesday. The Devil Rays have been playing it safe with Baldelli since he strained his hamstring on March 20, but the center fielder is now expected to be ready for the season opener on April 2.
Source: MLB.com

Devil Rays closer job still open

Devil Rays Manager Joe Maddon indicated the team may determine by Tuesday whether right-hander Edwin Jackson or lefty J.P. Howell will fill the final rotation spot, the Rays won't name a specific closer before Opening Day. "The answer is no," Maddon said Sunday when asked if the ninth-inning job would be clarified this week. "As we get to that moment, I'm going to do what we did last year, pretty much - kind of mix and match in the beginning." That means any number of relievers could be in line for whatever save opportunities arise early in the season. Dan Miceli, Brian Stokes, Shawn Camp, Al Reyes, Seth McClung - you name a pitcher and he might have a shot if he's on the roster.
Source: The Tampa Tribune

Baldelli has sore hamstring

Rocco Baldelli went 3-for-3 with a double Tuesday, but left the game after fourth inning with tight right hamstring. "It was done as a precaution," team spokesmen Chris Costello said. "He's day to day." Baldelli's history of injuries could scare you, but he's a strong injury-risk sleeper -- especially in Rotisserie leagues. He has the potential to go .300-20-60-100-20 this season and he has even more potential than that long term.
Source: CBS SportsLine.com

Kazmir named Opening Day starter

Big surprise, Scott Kazmir will be the Devil Rays' Opening Day starter. Manager Joe Maddon officially announced that the staff ace will open the 2007 campaign, when the Rays play the Yankees in the Bronx on April 2.

Kazmir went 10-8 with a 3.24 ERA and 1.27 WHIP in 2006. He started 24 games, pitched 144.2 innings and recorded an impressive 163 K's. He had a stiff shoulder for most of the second half last season, prompting the Rays to eventually employ the cautious approach by shutting him down the rest of the year. Kazmir's last appearance of '06 came on Aug. 22, when he earned a no-decision against the Rangers in a 5-3 Rays' win. Maddon could be counted among the cautious last summer, but not anymore. He's convinced that Kazmir is more than ready for the upcoming season.

Any questions that the Rays might have had about Kazmir's shoulder have been answered this spring. The left-hander has pitched pain-free since the beginning of Spring Training, and his performance has improved in every outing.
Source: MLB.com

Seth McClung: Losing the Hold on Closer's Job

Seth McClung had a poor outing for the Devil Rays against Houston on Sunday, and after the game, manager Joe Maddon indicated the closer's role was still up for grabs, the Tampa Tribune reports.

McClung allowed two runs and four baserunners in one inning of work Sunday (two hits, one walk, one HBP, no strikeouts). According to the report, Maddon indicated McClung still has trouble harnessing his fastball, and until that's no longer an issue, Maddon said McClung can't be considered the closer. "By no means has that role been established for him," Maddon said. So far this spring, McClung has allowed eight of 17 batters to reach base while registering just one strikeout; those are awful performance indicators for any reliever, let alone a closer. If McClung pitches his way out of the closer's role, it appears Al Reyes and Chad Orvella are on the short list of candidates to claim the job at the moment.
Source: RotoWire.com

2007 Devil Rays Projected Lineup

2007 Tampa Bay Devil Rays

Batting Order

1. CF Rocco Baldelli
2. RF Delmon Young
3. LF Carl Crawford
4. DH Jonny Gomes
5. 2B Jorge Cantu
6. 1B Ty Wigginton
7. 3B Akinori Iwamura
8. C Dioner Navarro
9. SS Ben Zobrist

Gomes is reportedly 100% healthy this spring from his shoulder problems. B.J. Upton will serve in a super-utility role and will maximize the offense's potential when he's playing shortstop.

Rotation

Scott Kazmir
Jae Seo
James Shields
Casey Fossum

5th spot battle:
J.P. Howell, Brian Stokes, Jason Hammel, Tim Corcoran, Edwin Jackson, and Jae-Kuk Ryu

Closer: Seth McClung

McClung is basically a lock for the closer role, but could be pushed this spring by Chad Orvella and Juan Salas.

Crawford: Treating Wrist As Precaution

Devil Rays outfielder Carl Crawford has had trainers apply hot wax to his left hand and wrist this spring as a method for combating the effects of tendinitis. Owners shouldn’t be too concerned, as Crawford has managed to produce despite dealing with fluctuating wrist pain for the past couple of seasons. If anything, attacking the problem with pre-emptive treatment is probably better for him in the long run. Besides, the 25-year-old speedster’s legs appear to be as healthy as ever, as he swiped a pair of bags in Wednesday’s Spring Training contest vs. the Indians.
Source: MLB.com

Gomes: Shouler Is Fine

Jonny Gomes put any lingering worries about his shoulder to bed on Monday by making a diving, backhanded catch in right field. "Right now, I'm 100 percent," said Gomes. "It's great just to be out there. Last year I couldn't even throw. I couldn't do anything over the head." In 2005 when he was fully healthy, Gomes hit .282 with 21 homers and 54 RBI in just 348 at-bats. He's expected to get a full complement of plate appearances this year, and is a nice bounce-back candidate.
Source: RotoWire.com

Kazmir: Throws Well

Scott Kazmir (shoulder) reported no pain and looked impressive while throwing batting practice against Carl Crawford, Delmon Young and Rocco Baldelli in the Devil Rays' camp on Saturday, the team web site reports. "I thought he looked good. He was throwing strikes. That's pretty much all he was worried about," Baldelli said after Kazmir's session.

Kazmir threw 39 pitches in 10 minutes against the top of the Rays' order, throwing mostly changeups, four-seam fastballs and "four or five sliders," Kazmir said. It was Kazmir's first live BP session this spring. "It was fun to get back out there in the swing of things ... all I was really trying to do was stay consistent and everything and not over throw. Everything felt free and easy, every pitch. Used my slider, which I haven't really thrown too much in my bullpen yet. Felt like I got a good feel for it today." So far this spring, Kazmir has reported no pain, and he said he has recovered easily after throwing.
Source: RotoWire

Cantu Hopes To Bounce Back

MLB.com reports that Jorge Cantu vowed he would enter 2007 in the best shape of his life during the final game of the 2006 season in Cleveland. "I put my mind toward getting better for this season," Cantu said. "I wasn't happy with last season. So I had to go a long way this winter." Since injuries hindered his development last season, Cantu believes that if he can get into better condition, he'll ward off another year on the DL. So he has spent two and three weeks at a time away from his home in Texas to work with Devil Rays' trainers. "It's just been all agility stuff," Cantu said. "All reaction. All range. And power. I've got power already, just [trying to] make it better."

Cantu hopes to get back to his 2005 numbers when he hit .286 with 28 homers and 117 RBI. "But be just a little better," Cantu said. "I hit 28 home runs, so I want to hit at least 29, and like that. Just continue to be successful." He'll be in the injury-risk sleeper category than a potential breakthrough Fantasy star this spring.
Source: CBS SportsLine.com