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Balfour Happy With Outing

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By MARC LANCASTER

mlancaster@tampatrib.com

Published: October 23, 2008

Updated: 10/24/2008 01:47 am

ST. PETERSBURG - Throughout the division series against Chicago, Grant Balfour symbolized the Rays' swagger. Punctuating high-octane strikeouts with primal screams, the reliever seemed untouchable.

But his aura dimmed a bit in the ALCS against Boston. Balfour gave up the first four runs in Boston's miracle Game 5 comeback, including the three-run homer by David Ortiz that turned the game. He surrendered five runs in four games during that series after allowing only 10 in 51 regular-season appearances.

As the World Series opened Wednesday, Balfour and the Rays' bullpen in general were due to rebound, and that's exactly what happened. Rays relievers tossed three scoreless innings behind Scott Kazmir, including 12/3 by Balfour.

"I'd say Grant more than anybody needed that little bit of a moment where he was able to feel what he had been feeling all season again," Rays manager Joe Maddon said. "I thought he did. When he struck out Shane Victorino I think it said 97 on the radar gun, so that's pretty nice."
Balfour didn't argue with that notion.

"I had two outings there where I was a little off," he said Thursday. "I got hit that one night in Game 5 and I'll be honest, I felt like in a season where everything's going so good for me, all of a sudden I get one night where it didn't and it kind of knocked me off a little bit. It was nice to get back on track."

Nice and necessary. The Rays also had a chance to see what they're up against in the Phillies' vaunted bullpen, with Ryan Madson and Brad Lidge forming an especially nasty back end. Tampa Bay's relievers did their job Wednesday, but they know they'll have to be almost perfect in the late innings to match the Phillies' crew.

"Their relief was as advertised," said Maddon, "but our bullpen guys matched up really well with them."

IN A PICKLE

Maddon remained adamant Thursday afternoon that Phillies LHP Cole Hamels had committed a balk on the throw that picked Carlos Pena off first base in the sixth inning of Game 1.

The balk rule is ambiguous, Maddon acknowledged, but he felt it was clear that Hamels stepped toward home plate before throwing to first. He protested to crew chief Tim Welke knowing he wouldn't get Pena back but hoping the umpires would pay closer attention during Hamels' next start.

"I'm sure the umpires talked about it," Maddon said. "It's not an easy call based on where they're standing, I get all of that, but to me, Wednesday night, that was a pretty obvious one. I know there's times when it's a little bit less obvious and I totally understand that, but I was upset because I thought it was more obvious."

YOU STAY CLASSY, RAYS

From the team that brought you the Ed Hardy T-shirt road trip and, most recently, an "express yourself" hat on the ALCS trip to Boston, it's time to go conservative. Inspired by his dinner near the campus of Harvard University last week, Maddon ordered up a team dress code based on khakis and blue blazers for today's charter flight.

"Going to Philadelphia, preppy kind of a situation," Maddon said. "I just thought I'd give the guys a taste of that."

With a late game Thursday, the Rays again decided to get a decent night's sleep at home before flying. They'll work out at 5:30 p.m. today at Citizens Bank Park in preparation for Game 3 on Saturday.

Six inactive players will travel with the team: Shawn Riggans, John Jaso, Jonny Gomes, Eric Hinske, Jason Hammel and Reid Brignac.

JUST ANOTHER DAY

Getting a start in the World Series didn't change Rocco Baldelli's preparation Thursday.

"I ate Chipotle for lunch," he said. "I played Rock Band this morning before I left the house. That's pretty much what I do."

Baldelli was in the lineup against RHP Brett Myers because Maddon felt good about how his swing would match up against the power pitcher he had never seen before. Cliff Floyd also got his first start of the World Series, but with an impressive track record. He had three homers in 33 career at-bats against Myers.

THIS & THAT
Game 1 drew a 9.2 household rating on Fox, the network's best prime-time showing for any night since the All-Star Game even though it was down 12 percent compared to last year's World Series opener between the Red Sox and Rockies. The game drew a 35.7 rating in the Philadelphia market and Tampa/St. Petersburg was close behind at 31.9. ... Maddon was named AL Manager of the Year by the Sporting News in a survey of his fellow managers. ... ... Rays principal owner Stuart Sternberg and his wife Lisa celebrated their 20th wedding anniversary Thursday night.

Marc Lancaster

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