TBO.com - TBO is Tampa Bay Online

Kazmir Unlikely To Toe All-Star Mound

ADVERTISEMENT

By MARC LANCASTER

The Tampa Tribune

Published: July 14, 2008

CLEVELAND - The Rays have made it pretty clear they don't want Scott Kazmir to pitch in Tuesday's All-Star Game, and it seems highly unlikely he will take the mound despite some last-minute hedging Sunday.

Hours after Manager Joe Maddon said he already had spoken with American League manager Terry Francona and asked him not to use Kazmir in the game at Yankee Stadium, Rays executive vice president Andrew Friedman said a final decision wouldn't be made until today.

Friedman said he had been involved in separate conversations with Major League Baseball officials about Kazmir's availability, unbeknownst to Maddon, though he and his manager seem to be on the same wavelength overall.

"Obviously on our part we're a little sensitive with him coming back from the arm injury, but we'll see how he feels today," Friedman said. "He threw 104 pitches Sunday, so I'm not incredibly optimistic myself that he'll pitch Tuesday, but we'll wait and see today and make it a collaborative decision and not just ours."

Friedman said it's "hard to imagine" a scenario in which Kazmir would pitch, but he might get a chance if he "feels phenomenal" today.

The Rays no doubt have some lingering concern regarding the way Kazmir was handled in his previous All-Star appearance in Pittsburgh two years ago. He threw way too many warm-up pitches before his scoreless inning and ended up missing most of the second half with shoulder inflammation.

Kazmir said he would be disappointed if he doesn't make an appearance but accepts the reasoning.

"I would love to pitch in the All-Star Game, I really would, but I understand where he's coming from," Kazmir said. "We're looking at the season, not just one game."

Share this:

Loading Comments...

Email Print

ADVERTISEMENT