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Kazmir Pushed Back, Likely Out Opening Day

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The Tampa Tribune

Published: March 16, 2008

TAMPA - Rays LHP Scott Kazmir will not make his Grapefruit League debut today against the Tigers in order to continue to build arm strength, and Manager Joe Maddon said publicly for the first time Saturday that it is virtually certain Kazmir will not start for the Rays on Opening Day on March 31 against the Orioles.

Maddon said Kazmir, who played catch Saturday and is scheduled for a bullpen session Wednesday, had not aggravated the left elbow strain that has sidelined the team's 24-year-old ace since Feb. 26.

"He's fine. There's not a thing wrong with him," Maddon said. "During the season, he probably would've pitched. But I just want to build up a little more arm strength with this whole thing. He's going to just play catch and then go back on the mound again, and then when I'm satisfied we'll put him into the game."

The season begins in 15 days, not enough time for Kazmir to compile the spring training innings normally required to round into game shape. Although no formal announcement was made, RHP James Shields (who'll start today instead of Kazmir) is likely to make the Opening Day start.

The question now is whether Kazmir will begin the season on the disabled list or make his regular-season debut toward the back of the rotation. With a scheduled day off April 1, the Rays won't need a fifth starter until April 10 against Seattle.

REST FOR C.C.: Rays LF Carl Crawford developed tightness in his legs and was scratched from Saturday's Legends Field travel squad. Maddon said Crawford is expected to play today, but he could rest through the day off Monday and return Tuesday against the Phillies.

"He just came up a little bit tight today," Maddon said. "I think the field was kind of wet Friday, and sometimes when guys run on soft ground that can happen."

HAMMEL REBOUNDS: Coming off a disastrous start against the Indians that saw him allow nine runs in 3 1/3 innings, RHP Jason Hammel dazzled against the Braves at Lake Buena Vista on Saturday. Hammel allowed three hits and two walks in five shutout innings against Atlanta's regular lineup.

"Night and day," he said.

That's nothing new for Hammel, whose biggest problem is a lack of consistency. He hopes he is figuring out a way to maintain a more even keel.

"After a while, this has got to end," he said. "You get fed up, just frustrated. Everything feels good and things just aren't working out, but you've got to keep working, and hard work pays off."

TWO DOWN: The Rays saw two more players injured late in their game against the Braves, as C Shawn Riggans and LHP Kurt Birkins had to leave the game.

Riggans got the worst of it, getting hit in the left hand by a Blaine Boyer pitch in the ninth inning. He went down hard and was in significant pain. The official diagnosis was a contusion, but he was to get X-rays when the team returned to St. Petersburg.

Birkins walked off the mound two batters into the eighth with tightness in his left elbow.

DIDN'T GET THE MEMO: Green caps bearing Tampa Bay's old logo were displayed prominently in the main gift shop at Disney's Champion Stadium, and the visitors' line on the main scoreboard read "Devil Rays" for a while during batting practice.

NOTABLE: Rays RHP Jeff Niemann allowed the Yankees one run in four innings, striking out one and walking none. He worked out of a bases-loaded, one-out situation in the second by forcing Yankees RF Greg Porter into an inning-ending double play. ... The Rays refuted a report in Friday's Los Angeles Times that Tampa Bay was among the teams that placed a bid to host the 2010 All-Star Game. The report indicated the Angels were favored to land the game. ... Alex Montoyo, the 5-month-old son of Durham manager Charlie Montoyo, has been released from UCLA Medical Center. Alex has been hospitalized since he was born Oct. 17 with heart problems but was scheduled to fly home to Tucson, Ariz., with his mother and older brother Saturday, according to the Montgomery Advertiser. Montoyo is expected to join the Bulls for spring training next week. ... Principal owner Stuart Sternberg's son Jake was at Disney for the Rays-Braves game along with his lacrosse teammates from Rye (N.Y.) Country Day School. The team is participating in spring training of its own at Disney's Wide World of Sports.

Carter Gaddis, Marc Lancaster

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