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Kazmir Makes Good On Prediction

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By TONY FABRIZIO

The Tampa Tribune

Published: September 21, 2008

ST. PETERSBURG - Scott Kazmir was the first player to suggest with conviction the perennial last-place Rays could do something extraordinary in 2008.

"What's possible? Playing in October; that's possible," the ace left-hander said on the first day of spring training.

One by one, the Rays all became believers. And Saturday evening, with none other than Kazmir on the mound, the team that couldn't became the team that did, clinching its first playoff berth with a 7-2 victory against Minnesota.

"I knew we had something," a champagne-and-beer soaked Kazmir said as rock music blasted through shorting speakers. "Our rotation, the bullpen, everything we had. We had depth."

Kazmir (12-7) hasn't been the dominating ace the Rays hoped for when they signed him to a three-year extension worth a guaranteed $28.5 million. Instead, he has been one of several substantial contributors on a team of likely and unlikely heroes.

He has come through at some opportune times, and Saturday was one of them.

Facing a hot-hitting Minnesota Twins team with an opportunity to not only lock up a playoff berth but also put a game on the Boston Red Sox in the AL East race, Kazmir delivered six shutout innings.

He did it five days after the worst start of his career, a 13-5 loss to Boston in which he allowed nine runs and four home runs in three innings.

"You can't say enough about what Kaz did today," rookie third baseman Evan Longoria said. "I knew he would."

Catcher Dioner Navarro said Kazmir had "awesome stuff" from the outset, and it gave him the confidence to throw strikes. After opening his previous start with nine consecutive balls and walking four, Kazmir issued one walk and hit one batter Saturday.

"We just went out there and went after guys," Navarro said.

Pitching and defense have been the cornerstones in the Rays becoming only the second AL team to go from last place to the postseason in one year. Kazmir provided the former Saturday, and he got timely help from the latter.

After the Twins loaded the bases with none out in the fourth, the Rays got an unexpected double play. Center fielder Fernando Perez caught Delmon Young's fly ball and threw toward the plate. Carlos Pena cut the ball off and threw to second, where Jason Bartlett tagged out Justin Morneau.

In the fifth inning, Navarro leaned into the Rays dugout to make one catch and Perez dived in center for another.

"It puts momentum on your side to have big plays like that made behind you," Kazmir said.

Even the architect of one of the greatest turnarounds in baseball history - Rays executive vice president Andrew Friedman - wasn't sure about Kazmir's optimism in February.

Friedman liked what he heard, though, and "didn't think it was impossible."

How fitting it was, Friedman said, that Kazmir was on the mound to see his vision come true.

"Scott has been here for a long time and has seen a lot of losses," Friedman said. "He steps up in big games. That's who he is, and we're looking forward to watching him pitch in October and continuing this."

Reporter Tony Fabrizio can be reached at (813) 259-7994 or afabrizio@tampatrib.com.

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