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Skipper: Defense Can Be Sustained

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By MARC LANCASTER The Tampa Tribune

The Tampa Tribune

Published: May 27, 2008

ST. PETERSBURG - Pick any measurement you like and the conclusion is the same: The Rays' defense is vastly improved this season.

It also goes without saying that Tampa Bay's improvement with the gloves has been a significant factor - perhaps the most significant - in rising from last place to first in the standings.

That's all well and good, but can the Rays keep their winning formula intact over the long haul? Manager Joe Maddon believes so.

"I think we can sustain this," Maddon said.

The Rays seem to have found their groove in the field after committing 17 errors in their first 20 games this year, which roughly matched their pace from last season's atrocious defensive showing. But they have recorded only four more errors in 31 games since then, giving them 21 overall.

Through 51 games last season, they had accumulated a whopping 48 errors.

Maddon believes a hot streak in the field is "absolutely" more sustainable than its equivalent on the mound or at the plate.

"A lot of it's focus, a lot of it's just pride, a lot of it's believing that it is important," Maddon said. "Of course you have to have good hands, good feet, etc., which we have a bunch of guys that have that. But defense is the one part of this game out of all of them, I think, that has the best chance of remaining constant."

WHAT GOES UP...: Monday's umpiring crew can be forgiven for their mistake in initially ruling a ball hit into the Tropicana Field catwalks by Carlos Pena a home run.

As it turned out, it was only the second time in the Rays' 11 seasons that a ball hit the B-ring catwalk in fair territory and didn't come back down. The Trop's ground rules call for a ball hit there to be a ground-rule double, and after a consultation (and a brief protest from Texas manager Ron Washington), the umpires got it right.

The only other time it happened was May 2, 1999, when Jose Canseco turned the trick against the Tigers.

DON'T CHANGE A THING: RHP Andy Sonnanstine suffered one of his worst beatings of the season his last time out at Oakland, allowing nine hits and seven runs in six innings.

The Rays would like to see better results tonight, but Maddon maintained (as he had after that game against the A's) that he was pleased with the way Sonnanstine threw.

"I thought his velocity was good, I liked his curveball that day - they just hit him," Maddon said. "They had a good day."

GETTING CLOSER: IF Willy Aybar (left hamstring strain) got Monday off after playing for Durham the previous three days.

The Rays still plan to get him in a few more games to make sure he's up to speed - he's 5-for-11 with three walks so far with the Bulls - and he will continue to move around the infield. Aybar, traditionally a third baseman, already has played first and second during his rehab stint.

Regardless of how many positions he can play, there is no apparent opening for him on the major-league roster once he is deemed ready. He certainly won't be taking third back from Evan Longoria, and he can't play shortstop so he isn't likely to displace Ben Zobrist as the utility infielder. The Rays also don't plan to play him in the outfield, so that eliminates an Eric Hinske-type role.

Aybar is out of options, so he can't be sent to the minors without passing through waivers.

FARM FACTS: RHP Jeff Niemann on Monday had his longest outing since being sent back to Durham, allowing four hits and one unearned run in five innings against Richmond to lower his ERA to 1.71. He threw 75 pitches and earned his first win since April 8.

Marc Lancaster

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