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Success Difficult To Find In Anaheim

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By MARC LANCASTER The Tampa Tribune

The Tampa Tribune

Published: June 9, 2008

ARLINGTON, Texas - No one has to remind Joe Maddon he's 0-8 as a visiting manager at Angel Stadium, the ballpark he called home for a dozen seasons.

And when it comes to analyzing exactly what has led the Rays to struggle so badly there during his tenure, Maddon slices it down to the most basic level.

"We just weren't good enough," Maddon said Sunday. "They were much better than we were. They just beat us. They beat us every time, and I think there were some close games, but they beat us up pretty good some times, too."

The Rays played there twice last year, dropping a two-game set in April in which they were outscored 20-4 before losing three closely fought games in September, the last two decided by a 2-1 score. Perhaps that final series was a sign of progress for the Rays, who open their only series in Anaheim this season tonight believing things will be different.

There's no doubt they will field a better team than they have at any point during Maddon's tenure, and they have to feel good about James Shields and Scott Kazmir following tonight's starter, Edwin Jackson.

Then again, they'll be facing a hot Angels team (seven wins in a row before falling at Oakland in extra innings Sunday) in an environment that doesn't set up well for the opposition.

"They're good and it's very much a homecourt advantage," Maddon said. "It rivals Boston in a lot of ways, the facility, and it's all red and the people are really into their team and they've got a good product on the field and they've been winning recently, so there's a lot of good things going on out there that make it a tough place to enter into."

Regardless of those obstacles, Maddon is of the opinion the Rays must demonstrate they can win in difficult environments like Anaheim and Fenway Park if they want to establish themselves as a quality team.

"Yeah, I want us to play well in Anaheim and I want us to win games in Anaheim," he said, "because it's also an indication that we have made a lot of progress."

TOUGH CALL LOOMING: The Rays have a few more days to puzzle it out, but as it stands right now there is no easy corresponding move to make when closer Troy Percival comes off the disabled list. Maddon said the Rays still expect that to happen Friday, with Percival slated to throw a simulated game at Anaheim as his last hurdle before returning to the active roster.

RHP Grant Balfour was called up but he has blended in nicely and the Rays would risk losing him on waivers if they tried to send him to the minors. Considering the work he did in Durham (0.38 ERA, eight saves), Balfour probably would be as good as gone if it got to that point.

"We're just going to wait until that moment and then we'll make a decision," Maddon said. "Grant has pitched well. He came up here on a hot streak and he came up here with a great attitude and he's really helped us, so we'll just have to see how it plays out."

STICKING WITH WILLY: Maddon said Saturday that DH Cliff Floyd would be back in the lineup Sunday, but changed his mind and decided to keep riding Willy Aybar's hot bat.

"Willy's swinging the bat so well, I just wanted to get him back out there," Maddon said.

Maddon said nothing is wrong with Floyd's surgically repaired right knee and he would start Tuesday after sitting out again today against Angels LHP Joe Saunders.

DRAFT DOINGS: The Rays' sixth-round pick, RHP Shane Dyer, told the Greeley (Colo.) Tribune on Saturday that he has verbally agreed to terms and will begin his pro career at Hudson Valley. ... RHP Jason McEachern (13th round) signed with the Rays on Saturday, just before his high school graduation ceremony, according to the Hickory (N.C.) Record. He will report to Princeton, W.Va..

Marc Lancaster

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