Devil Rays 7/28/03
July 28, 2003
FIC Local Spin
The Devil Rays are 5-6 to begin the second half of the season and they are 11-12 in the month of July. Tampa Bay travels north of the border to begin a three-game series with the Blue Jays on Tuesday and then spend the weekend in Kansas City for a three-game tilt with the Royals. The Devil Rays have a few parts to sell with the trade deadline days away but the players other teams want are named Aubrey Huff and Rocco Baldelli, and that is not going to happen. Devil Rays that may get a free flight out of Tampa are 1B Travis Lee, RHPs Jeremi Gonzalez and Victor Zambrano and LHP Joe Kennedy.
Latest Team Info
Lance Carter, the lone Devil Ray all-star, no longer will be the sole closer for the Devil Rays. Since the break, Carter, Travis Harper, and Jesus Colome have each garnered a save for the Devil Rays. Since the Rays don’t win many games to begin with, none of the pitchers mentioned above are worth owning since the opportunities will be even scarcer with three pitchers vying for saves….The Devil Rays are going to give rookie Antonio Perez an extended look at third base, which has been a weak link all season. Perez, obtained in the Lou Pinella deal, is hitting .309 in 68 at-bats, with 2 HR, 10 RBI and 3 SB. Perez was slated to participate in the Futures Game before being recalled shortly before the All-Star break
On the Farm
C Pete LaForest took Perez’s spot in the futures game. LaForest got a late start to the season due to visa problems but has hit well at AAA. Pete is hitting .277 with 9 HR and 21 RBI in 31 games at AAA. According to manager Lou Pinella, LaForest will be recalled soon and see some time at DH due to the injury to Ben Grieve (see below).
Injury Report
Ben Grieve is out for the season and will be undergoing surgery to remove a rib this week. The rib is the reason behind the blood clot in Grieve’s right armpit. Grieve was only hitting .230 with 4 HR and 17 RBI.
Quick View:
Add: Carl Crawford – 6 steals in his last ten games
Antonio Perez - .303 over last nine games with 1 HR and 9 RBI
Drop : Joe Kennedy – hasn’t won since May 13th
Lance Carter – no longer primary closer
