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Kazmir Expresses New Optimism

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The Tampa Tribune

Published: February 16, 2008

ST. PETERSBURG - Scott Kazmir threw his first official bullpen session of the spring Friday and said he felt like he was picking up where he left off in September.

But he didn't really get going until he started talking about how different everything around him looked compared to that final series in Toronto last fall. Kazmir spoke out then about the need for the Rays to add a meaningful veteran presence to help get a young team over the hump, and the team's offseason moves combined with some first-day adrenaline led to a declaration of sorts from the young ace.

"What's possible? Playing in October, that's possible," he said. "That's what I got out of Joe Maddon talking to us and talking to all of my teammates. It's not something that's impossible. We have what it takes to win here."

Has he felt that way before?

"No," he said. "I'll be honest - I really thought we were a team that was improving, had a lot of steps to take. Now it feels like we really have what it takes to compete in the toughest division in baseball. I really, truly believe that."

Kazmir appreciated the theme of Maddon's opening statement to the team Friday morning, which revolved around accountability, and indicated the team already has jelled to a large extent even though camp just began.

"It feels like we've been together forever," he said. "The chemistry's definitely there. I think we're all just excited to get the season going."

DAY ONE: He still hasn't played a game as a professional, but LHP David Price was in the spotlight on the first day of workouts. Last year's top draft pick threw a short bullpen session along with everyone else and told a battery of TV cameras and microphones afterward that he was excited to be back on the field after seven months away from competitive action.

He also bought into Kazmir's optimistic vision for the franchise.

"Everybody I've talked to has said this is the perfect time to be with this team," Price said. "Everybody says it just feels 10 times different than it did last year and previous years."

ABSENTEES: C Dioner Navarro is in Venezuela attending to family matters and likely won't be in camp until Sunday at the earliest. Navarro's mother took ill last week and he returned to his home country.

"We told him specifically, don't come back until you're satisfied that your mom's OK," Maddon said.

RHP Juan Salas remains hung up in the Dominican Republic by visa issues. Rays executive vice president Andrew Friedman acknowledged the 50-game drug suspension Salas served last season "definitely plays in" to the delay.

NOTEWORTHY: The Rays agreed to terms on one-year deals with Navarro, Salas, Matt Garza, Edwin Jackson, Kurt Birkins, Calvin Medlock, Fernando Perez, Justin Ruggiano and Mitch Talbot. ... OF John Rodriguez was the one newcomer among the eight early arriving position players who worked out Friday.

APPEARANCES: Jackson will sign autographs from 2-3 p.m. today at Baywalk as part of the NAACP's Diversity Day. ... Akinori Iwamura will serve as grand marshal at today's opening day parades for the Central Sarasota Little League (9:30 a.m.) and Venice Little League (11 a.m.). ... Jason Hammel, Troy Percival and Al Reyes will sign autographs at Champs Sports at Sarasota Square Mall from 2-3:30 p.m. today and hold a mini-clinic at G.T. Brady Park in Bradenton at 4:30.

Marc Lancaster

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