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Gomes Looking Forward To Back-To-Back Starts

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By MARC LANCASTER | The Tampa Tribune

Published: May 19, 2008

Updated: 05/19/2008 12:03 am

ST. LOUIS - Jonny Gomes always appreciates the Rays' trips to Oakland, the closest he gets during the season to his hometown of Petaluma, Calif.

But the next three games hold an added significance for Gomes beyond the time he will get to spend with friends and family. The A's are scheduled to start left-handers Greg Smith and Dana Eveland in the final two games of the series, which means Gomes should get back-to-back starts for the first time since May 1-2.

"It's like Christmas Eve," Gomes said Sunday, with just a hint of sarcasm.

It's no secret that Gomes has been frustrated by his lack of playing time lately. He has started just once in the Rays' past eight games and isn't slated to be in the lineup tonight. It isn't because of anything Gomes has done; the Rays just haven't seen many lefty starters of late, and Manager Joe Maddon has committed to using Cliff Floyd and Eric Hinske against righties.

"It's hard, the role I have right now," Gomes said. "But I'm not the only one in the big leagues doing it, so it's not an excuse."

Though Gomes, at age 27, certainly would prefer to get more of a chance to show what he can do - "It's time for me to start getting my career on the road," he said - he knows there isn't much room to argue with the way playing time is doled out as long as the Rays keep winning.

"He understands his role even though he doesn't like it, which I can appreciate," Maddon said.

With more idle time on his hands than ever before, Gomes has tried to channel his energy into studying the game more closely. It's his way of "staying mentally checked in" while he spends games in the dugout.

"I try to pick up stuff to help the team," Gomes said. "Opponents' hit-and-run counts, their hit-and-run situations, who's running, when they like to back-pick the catcher throwing back to a bag to pick off a runner, who likes to back-pick, just situations like that."

The following day, he often will compare notes with the Rays' quality assurance coach, Tim Bogar. They had breakfast together Sunday, as a matter of fact.

Which raises the question - might Gomes consider trying to become a manager someday?

"I would love to be a manager down the line," he said. "I come across like this freaking caveman, but there's definitely a method to the madness."

SICK DAY: Maddon originally had planned to give 2B Akinori Iwamura a day off Sunday, but it was Iwamura's double-play partner who got a break instead. SS Jason Bartlett was the latest to get hit by a 24-hour flu bug sweeping the clubhouse and wasn't feeling too good Sunday morning.

"It's fever, throwing up, that kind of stuff," said Bartlett, who was replaced in the lineup by Ben Zobrist.

Coaches Tom Foley, Dave Martinez and Jim Hickey and trainer Ron Porterfield dealt with similar problems Saturday.

BRUSH WITH GREATNESS: Maddon was excited to meet Cardinals legend Stan Musial, a fellow Pennsylvanian, before Sunday's game.

The 87-year-old Hall of Famer was honored Sunday, with the portion of the street outside Busch Stadium that runs past a statue of Musial officially renamed "Stan Musial Drive."

NOTEWORTHY: The Rays wore their dark blue jerseys during Sunday's game at Martinez's suggestion. They previously had used the jerseys only for spring training and batting practice. ... Tampa Bay's seven doubles were a season high. The Rays entered the game with just 53 doubles all year - 13 fewer than any other big-league club. ... The Rays went down 1-2-3 in the fourth and ninth innings Sunday, the only two frames of 28 in the three-game series that saw them retired in order.

Marc Lancaster

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