TBO.com - TBO is Tampa Bay Online

Sternberg Gratified By Team's Success

ADVERTISEMENT

The Tampa Tribune

The Tampa Tribune

Published: June 22, 2008

ST. PETERSBURG - Stuart Sternberg freely admitted Saturday that superstition has been his motivation in avoiding his team for the better part of two months.

The Rays' principal owner watched his first game in person since May 1 at Baltimore, saying he had put off a couple of planned visits to Tropicana Field because the team was playing so well. Now that time has perhaps given him more of a sense of security that the Rays' success isn't a fluke, Sternberg said it was gratifying to see everything work out as he had hoped.

"I think the thing, for those who know me, is that I really appreciate when a plan comes together," he said. "That's what it's all about."

Sternberg also reiterated his spring training pledge to provide the resources executive vice president Andrew Friedman might need to supplement the roster in the coming months. He said the Rays would do "whatever we think is reasonable, right, and as much as we possibly can," with one caveat:

"It's got to be something that's right," Sternberg said. "We're still long-term greedy, which is the motto from one of my old businesses. What that means is you can't completely mortgage your future, but by the same token, you don't necessarily get a lot of opportunities to take a real good cut at a fat pitch, so to speak."

As for the other topic that has occupied his and his employees' time lately, Sternberg described the proposed waterfront stadium as "touch and go" and "still a work in progress."

He said Tropicana Field is a "nice place," but "it just doesn't give us the opportunity, midterm and long term, to sustain what it is we've begun to build here."

Sternberg is firm in his belief that the Rays ultimately will need a new stadium to do so, but said they won't continue to spin their wheels on the current project indefinitely.

"Whatever work and whatever money we've put into it at this point - and I can sit here and tell you it's substantial ... you don't just keep throwing money after it, and, most importantly, time and energy, just because of what you've done."

ROCCO ON TRACK: After making three appearances as the DH for Vero Beach last week, Rocco Baldelli was back at Tropicana Field on Saturday for a quick breather before resuming his rehab work.

Baldelli will get to stay close to home this week as Vero opens an eight-game road trip to Clearwater and Sarasota. He'll DH today in Clearwater, the first of four scheduled starts at the position during the trip. He said he'll also mix in some pinch-hitting appearances, preferably against left-handed pitchers.

Once Vero heads back to the opposite coast, Baldelli said he likely will move on to Montgomery or Durham.

HOMETOWN HERO: No doubt Scott Kazmir would be more pumped up for today's start against the Astros if it was occurring in his hometown of Houston, but he'll have some extra incentive nonetheless. His family and friends back home don't get many chances to watch him on TV, but they'll have the opportunity today.

"I've been getting phone calls and texts and everything from guys saying they're going to watch," he said. "It's exciting."

FARM FACTS: David Price (4-0) allowed three runs in 61/3 innings against St. Lucie on Saturday while striking out seven. His ERA rose from 1.27 to 1.82.

Marc Lancaster

Share this:

Loading Comments...

Email Print

ADVERTISEMENT