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Wheeler Getting Job Done In 9th
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Published: August 29, 2008
ST. PETERSBURG - Since closer Troy Percival began his latest stint on the disabled list Aug. 15, Rays manager Joe Maddon has insisted there is no designated fill-in closer.
Then again, Dan Wheeler has gotten the call to handle the ninth inning in each save situation the Rays have faced since then — including three consecutive games last week — so it's clear where Maddon's preferences lie. And a big part of the reason Wheeler keeps getting the call is that he has filled the role before, both for the Astros last season and (unofficially) during Percival's previous DL trips this year.
"Experience matters, absolutely it does," said Maddon. "Everybody wants to ordain the guy that throws 95, but that's not necessarily what's going to get it done. This time of year, under these types of circumstances, experience really matters a lot, I believe, and Danny definitely has got a handle on that."
It's nothing against Grant Balfour, Maddon is careful to emphasize. He has given Balfour ample opportunity in tight situations, and he has come through just about every time. In fact, it could be argued that Balfour has been called upon to get the more difficult outs in various games Wheeler has ended up closing; the Australian often is called upon to put out a mid-inning fire with his strikeout-oriented stuff.
"I like Balfour's versatility, and we've had the situations pop up where I've wanted to use him earlier [in the game] and it's just worked out that way," said Maddon. "It's kind of evolved into this."
Wheeler doesn't need a label hung on him to understand his job. He said it boils down to him getting up whenever the phone rings in the bullpen, no matter the inning.
"It shows me they have confidence and they want me out there in that situation," he said of pitching the ninth. "But for me, I don't treat it any differently. It's just a different inning that I'm pitching, and that's the mindset I'm trying to take out there. I'm trying not to make the situation bigger than it is."
In that regard, his experience performing a variety of different bullpen roles over the course of his career helps. He said he feels comfortable doing anything asked of him, and even the pressure of pitching in a pennant race doesn't change the approach.
"It's still a game that we have to win," Wheeler said. "I think that's one of the things I do to myself — I don't think about all that extra stuff that's going around. I treat every game that I pitch as the biggest game ever at that exact moment."
Percival said he felt great after throwing a live batting practice session Thursday afternoon, and he likely will be back by next Tuesday at the latest. Whenever it happens, Wheeler will keep doing whatever the Rays need.
GETTING THERE: C Dioner Navarro said his hamstrings felt "way better" Thursday than they had the day before, but he still wasn't able to return to the starting lineup, and he might not be in there tonight.
"He still may sit out [tonight] and we may target Saturday as the game to put him back in, as of right now," Maddon said.
Navarro said he was still feeling some soreness in his legs but wasn't having any trouble moving around. He took some pregame swings in the batting cage and was available for duty off the bench.
GONE HOLLYWOOD: Major League Baseball is set to roll out an advertising campaign for the playoffs over the next month, and a couple of Rays will be featured players.
Carlos Pena and Evan Longoria filmed spots Thursday afternoon for MLB Productions, which set up elaborate lighting gear and other equipment in the Rays' clubhouse.
"It seems like it's going to be really cool, so I'll get a copy," Pena said with a smile. "Hopefully we'll get to do that more often, right?"
FARM FACTS: The Rays released the schedule and rosters for the fall Instructional League. This year's top two draft picks, SS Tim Beckham and LHP Kyle Lobstein, head the list of players expected to participate. The game schedule and full roster can be found on the Rays Report blog on TBO.com.
Also, LHP David Price was the lone Montgomery player named to the Southern League postseason All-Star team — even though he made only nine starts in the league.
NOTEWORTHY: Saturday's Rays-Orioles game is being billed as a national telecast on Fox, but according to the network only nine percent of the country will see the game. The rest of the U.S. will get the Phillies-Cubs game. … The Palma Ceia team that advanced to the Junior League Softball World Series earlier this month was recognized before Thursday's game.
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