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Rays' Bullpen Gets A Makeover

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By MARC LANCASTER

The Tampa Tribune

Published: May 3, 2008

BOSTON - The most effective bullpen in the majors got a bit of a makeover Friday.

The Rays' new long reliever is Jason Hammel, bumped out of the rotation to make way for Scott Kazmir's season debut Sunday.

Gone from the relief corps for the time being is Gary Glover, who was placed on the 15-day disabled list Friday with right shoulder tendinitis in a move back-dated to April 26, the day after his most recent appearance.

And out indefinitely in a troubling turn of events is Al Reyes. The Rays had expressed the hope as recently as Thursday that he might be ready to come off the DL on Friday, but the veteran setup man isn't progressing as hoped in his return from a right shoulder impingement. Reyes will get an MRI and consult further with the Rays' medical staff, but his potential return date is uncertain.

"Not this weekend, not anytime soon," was how Manager Joe Maddon put it.

The loss of Glover combined with the continued absence of Reyes will shift Scott Dohmann and J.P. Howell into more high-leverage situations toward the end of games, with Hammel expected to pick up some of the slack in the early innings when needed.

Admittedly disappointed to be shunted to the bullpen after going 2-2 with a 4.88 ERA in five starts, Hammel wasn't surprised by the move.

"I kind of saw it coming, just because the timing of it for me wasn't the best," he said, "but I've still got a job to do and that's get guys out."
Andy Sonnanstine and Matt Garza - who along with Hammel had been considered candidates to cede their spot to Kazmir - have excelled recently. But Hammel had a rough outing Tuesday in allowing 10 base runners over 22/3 innings in Baltimore. Hammel said Maddon told him that performance had only a little to do with a decision that has been under discussion for a while now. Maddon said it was a "tough" call, but he emphasized that the remaining starters needn't fear for their rotation spots if they string together a few bad outings.

"Nobody's got to be looking over their shoulders right now," Maddon said. "If somebody were to get injured, that would be a different story, but otherwise these guys are out there for a decent period of time, and we'll see how it all rolls."

The Rays also will wait and see on Glover, though they are hopeful he will be able to return in the minimum amount of time. With the back-dating, he'll be eligible for activation May 11, a week from Sunday.

Glover said his shoulder problems came on gradually but were starting to get worse. He said he tried to warm up Tuesday in Baltimore but never felt right.

"This is all new to me; I've never been in this situation before," he said. "Hopefully with rest I'll be able to bounce right back."

Maddon, who pushed for Glover to go on the DL even though the pitcher kept telling him he was OK ("He'll tell me he's fine if his ligaments are sticking out," Maddon said), didn't want to take any chances this early.

"I see him as being vital to our success," said Maddon. "I didn't want to mess it up."

Reporter Marc Lancaster can be reached at (813) 259-7227 or mlancaster@tampatrib.com.

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