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It's Time For The Rays' Big Push

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By MARTIN FENNELLY | The Tampa Tribune

Published: January 24, 2008

Updated: 01/24/2008 12:11 am

ST. PETERSBURG - Who says the economy is in trouble? They're handing money out like candy at Tropicana Field, of all places.

Baseball's newest ATM hummed again Wednesday. The Rays locked up pitcher James Shields for perhaps as long as seven years and as much as $44 million.

Just Friday, the Rays paid Scott Kazmir and paid out for Carlos Pena.

I walked into Shields' news conference and got offered a two-year deal myself.

"I'm excited to be a Devil Ray," Shields said.

Pause.

"Excuse me ... Ray."

Call them improved.

Anyone can see that. True, it's just as easy to see that this franchise holds the world record for most news conferences held without winning anything.

New icon, new uniforms, new stadium drawing ...

Can we get a little 81-81 around here?

No more excuses.

Time To Leave Losing Behind

I'm not saying someone has to stand up at Rays training camp next month and pronounce the Red Sox and Yankees dead men walking.

But we're at the point where 66 wins won't do. Way past that point, in fact. It's time for these Rays to flirt with .500 at the very least.

"Our long-term goal is to make this a destination where people want to play, where people want to work," Rays executive vice president Andrew Friedman said.

This has to be the Big Push.

Days like Wednesday are a great start.

In Shields, the Rays have a 26-year-old anchor for their starting rotation. In Shields, Kazmir and Matt Garza, they might have a 1-2-3 punch.

Yes, it's a calculated risk. Few pitchers have contracts as long as Shields' deal. Risky business, pitching.

He delivers or else.

Yes, it's a calculated risk. The Rays traded immense talent Delmon Young to the Twins for Garza and shortstop Jason Bartlett. I didn't like the deal. If Young develops a batting eye before Garza wins 15 games, watch out.

Yes, it's a calculated risk. The Rays are putting their eggs in Pena's basket off just one breakout season, and hitching their star to B.J. Upton off one season.

Yes, it's a calculated risk. The Rays hope veterans Cliff Floyd and Troy Percival can stay healthy to help this club on the field and in the clubhouse.

But this isn't just throwing money around, as the Rays did with the misbegotten "Hit Show." And I don't think this is politicking for that new ballpark, though I guess winning, or at least finally trying to win, wouldn't hurt.

There is method here. Identify the core players and pay them. And maybe someone like Carl Crawford sees he has a chance to win here and stays aboard, and maybe Rays fans stay fans and they all dance one day in the big new sailboat stadium.

"If we win," Shields said.

We've heard that before. But team payroll should be $40 million on Opening Day, still a laughable sum in baseball, but watch out, Marlins, Nationals and Pirates. The Rays are coming, and they're big tippers.

Hey, it's a start.

Shields A Keeper

Real objectives would be a start, too.

I nearly passed out laughing last All-Star break when Rays manager Jumpin' Joe Maddon pronounced 34-53 a good first half. Enough of that. No more excuses.

I don't doubt that any team would jump at any number of Rays in a heartbeat. Shields is one. He eats up innings, keeps his club in games and has one of the best change-ups in baseball. By the way, he is listed as James, but goes by Jamie, too.

Call him a keeper.

And now Shields might be able to buy spare parts for that gas-powered model car he remote controls around the Trop outfield hours before games.

"Just a way of unwinding," Shields said.

You should see that car zip around.

It's time for the Rays to get up to speed. There are people who would pay to see that. Rays management has finally joined that crowd. It's a start.

The finish is another matter.

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