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Rays' Bullpen A Collection Of Characters

Tribune photo by CHRIS URSO

Chad Bradford in the seventh inning against the Phillies.

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By JOEY JOHNSTON | The Tampa Tribune

Published: October 27, 2008

Updated: 10/27/2008 01:49 am

At Philadelphia's Citizens Bank Park, there is a two-tiered bullpen area in right-center field.

The Rays are on the top level, closest to the Phillies' fans, and that's no coincidence. The fans camp out along the railings and voice their, um, opinions.

"As a visitor, you better bring your earmuffs because you're going to be slaughtered," said Phillies reliever Brad Lidge, who remembers the verbal abuse firsthand from his time with the Houston Astros.

But it's nothing new for Rays relievers.

When the Rays went to Chicago for the American League Division Series, some White Sox fans were relentless. Rays reliever Grant Balfour finally pulled out a chair, put a Red Bull drink nearby and motioned for the fan to join the pitchers.

The fan, disarmed, laughed and gave Balfour a thumb's-up.

"We try not to get too fazed by anything because we see it all," Balfour said.

Bullpen coach Bobby Ramos is the group's ringleader, a jokester who likes to keep things loose. Normally, that's not a problem.

"J.P. Howell is a lot of fun, Balfour is hilarious, and to be honest, I think I'm the most consistently funny guy down there," Ramos said. "It's a collection of characters, no question. It's like a little family. Things are different down there."

For one thing, it's a high-stress job. Some relievers are called upon to face just one batter, usually with the game in peril. But in the early innings, relievers like to cultivate a light-hearted attitude. At Tropicana Field, there is a row of fans directly behind the bullpen area and it's common to have running conversations.

"The first four innings or so, between innings, we're joking around, talking about everything, looking in the stands to check out the pretty girls, you name it," Ramos said. "But we're staying in the game, too. We're talking about what pitches get these guys out, how the game is progressing.

"About the fifth inning, the mood starts changing. Guys start stretching out and getting ready. You never know how the game is going to turn. You've got to be ready for anything."

When the bullpen phone rings - usually pitching coach Jim Hickey is on the other end - there's great anticipation.

"It's kind of like Christmas," said David Price, a starter in the minor leagues who has spent the postseason in a bullpen role. "The phone rings and it's like, 'Who gets the present?' I always hope it's a present for me. If not, I look to the next call. We all want to contribute."

Ramos said it has been a fun season because of the personalities and also the ever-present teamwork in the bullpen. Everybody is supportive. There's discipline, enforced by veterans such as Dan Wheeler, Trever Miller and Troy Percival.

The younger players, such as Howell, Balfour and Price, have learned about the importance of establishing a routine, about being a professional.

And they have learned about interacting with fans.

"We don't have the privacy of the other players, who are in the dugout," said Ramos, who also works with the Rays' catchers and has developed a close relationship with Dioner Navarro. "Boston, you've got to be careful there. It can get a little rough. Philadelphia is a rough place, where they are on top of you.

"You've got to pick your spots. Sometimes, when you respond to fans, you're asking for trouble. In Chicago, they were throwing stuff down in our area. You get that. You've got to have a thick skin. Being a reliever isn't a job for everybody."

And that doesn't even take into account the actual game action.

It requires a thick skin - and a sense of humor - to just exist in the bullpen area. In most places, especially Philadelphia, it can be a world of its own.

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