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Reyes Willing To Do Whatever It Takes

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By MARC LANCASTER, The Tampa Tribune

Published: February 23, 2008

ST. PETERSBURG - Through no fault of his own, Al Reyes lost his job during the winter.

Still as competitive as ever with his 38th birthday looming in April, you can't say Reyes is happy he will no longer be closing games for the Rays. But he is pleased about the move that precipitated his demotion - Tampa Bay signing Troy Percival - and the other changes around him designed to resuscitate what was the major leagues' worst bullpen last season.

"I feel good, because the team is doing something to cover what we missed last year," Reyes said. "We lost a lot of games, especially in the bullpen, and they tried to bring in guys to help the team win. I just want to win, too - whatever it takes to win."

The Rays won only 66 times last year, but everyone around the team acknowledges they wouldn't have reached that unsightly plateau without the job Reyes did pitching the ninth inning, particularly in the first half. He saved 17 of the Rays' 32 victories through June 23, converting his first 16 opportunities to set a club record. He didn't allow a run in a save situation until May 13.

It was heady stuff for a lifelong grinder who, entering the season, had recorded only six saves over a big-league career that began in 1995. The fact he was coming off Tommy John surgery at the end of 2005 that kept him out of the big leagues in 2006 made it more remarkable.

His uncertain health led Rays manager Joe Maddon to use caution early, initially keeping Reyes from pitching back-to-back days and waiting awhile more before using him three days in a row. Reyes has no worries about his elbow or anything else in the medical realm this spring. He said his arm feels good and he's ready to contribute however he can.

His opportunities likely will come in the seventh and eighth innings. Though the ninth is the glamour spot, anyone who watched the Rays' bullpen last season - Reyes included - knows earlier frames often are just as vital in determining the outcome of a game.

"Every inning when you come from the bullpen counts," Reyes said. "You can lose the game in the seventh, and if you hold a situation in the seventh you can win the game."

Last season, the Rays lost 16 games in which they led in the seventh inning or later, and six games in which they were leading after the eighth. Early on, those innings were assigned to the likes of Brian Stokes, Shawn Camp and Ruddy Lugo. None of them can match track records with Reyes, Dan Wheeler or Trever Miller.

"Last year, I think the only veteran in the bullpen was myself," Reyes said. "The rest of the guys were young, and they were learning and making mistakes. We make mistakes too, but sometimes you're making mistakes so consistently every time you come out, you've got to think and see what you're doing wrong. It's a good thing we've mixed the bullpen with veteran and young guys - that's good."

Reyes said he thinks the offseason overhaul has given the Rays "one of the best bullpens in the league." At the very least, the hope is that the relievers will be able to carry their own weight and not drag the rest of the team down as they often did last year. Dropping lead after lead in the late innings can't help but take a psychological toll.

"Last year we scored a lot of runs, but we lost a lot of games in the middle of the game," Reyes said. "Our team, we score runs. We just have to hold the game when it comes to our hands in the bullpen. The hitters, they do their jobs. If you put more than four or five runs on the board and you're past the sixth inning, we can't lose those games. We've got to win those games."

Reporter Marc Lancaster can be reached at (813) 259-7227 or mlancaster@tampatrib.com.

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