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Long Odds Only Get Longer For Hernandez

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By TONY FABRIZIO | The Tampa Tribune

Published: March 13, 2009

DUNEDIN - Manager Joe Maddon says he will "more than likely" name a No. 5 starting pitcher before the end of camp, and LHP Carlos Hernandez probably didn't improve his long odds much with a mixed outing Friday against the Blue Jays.

Hernandez, competing for the job with three others, extended his spring excellence until giving up three runs in the third inning of his four-inning outing.

He worked out of a jam in the second after Brad Emaus tripled but walked the first two batters in the third. Both scored on an Emaus double, and Emaus scored on an Adam Lind single.

"I thought he threw the ball really well, but he had the one bad inning where he lost command a little bit," Maddon said. "I saw a better curveball for a strike today, saw good velocity. He just lost the feel for the strike zone, but overall I thought he did well."

Hernandez, who hadn't allowed a run in eight previous innings, seemed dejected about the walks later.

"That's something as a pitcher that's hard to swallow," he said. "I hate to do that. I'm going to walk a guy here and there, but back-to-back is tough."

Jason Hammel, also competing for fifth spot, fared better Friday but faced lesser hitters in the late innings. He pitched three shutout innings.

Hernandez and Hammel are competing with Jeff Niemann, Mitch Talbot and David Price for the final spot in a rotation that has four potential aces. Maddon hasn't said when a decision will be made, but it sounded like the call isn't too far off.

"We want that person to get ready," he said.

OFFENSE LACKING

The Rays didn't bring any of their frontline players from Port Charlotte and they didn't generate much offense in a 3-1 loss.

They scored their lone run in the fifth when Adam Kennedy singled, stole second and scored on Justin Ruggiano's single off Jeremy Accardo.

Maddon had more good things to say about the veteran Kennedy, whom he coached years ago with the Angels.

"He very quietly impacts the game," he said. "He normally doesn't make a mistake on defense, he gets on base, and he's a very good base runner. If you don't pay attention, he can steal. I consider him more of a situational stealer, but he knows the right situation to do it."

SCHEDULES ARE SET

RHP Jason Isringhausen will make his spring debut Sunday, and OF Matt Joyce, who has battled what was recently diagnosed as lower-leg tendinitis, has been penciled for a start Thursday, Maddon said.

Isringhausen, a former Cardinals closer, is scheduled for one inning of relief work Sunday against the Pirates.

Joyce, the Armwood High grad who was acquired from Detroit for RHP Edwin Jackson, is tentatively scheduled to DH against the Cardinals.

LHP Scott Kazmir will start today against the Reds in Sarasota with an assignment similar to what James Shields fulfilled Thursday - four innings and up to 50 pitches.

RETURNING SOME LOVE

DH Pat Burrell said thanks to his former team and fans in Philadelphia on Friday and helped the struggling newspaper industry in the process.

The Rays' most prominent newcomer took out ads in the city's two largest newspapers expressing appreciation for the support received during his nine seasons there. He said he hoped to see Philly fans again at the World Series and signed the ads, "all my best, Pat."

Burrell signed a two-year, $16 million free-agent contract with the Rays in January.

ALSO NOTEWORTHY

The Rays will play without a DH for the first time this spring today against the Reds in Sarasota, meaning Kazmir will be in the batting order. Burrell will play right field. ... IF Willy Aybar, who returned Thursday after playing for the Dominican Republic in the World Baseball Classic, will start at second today. ... Thursday's game drew a sellout crowd of 5,691, the largest crowd since Dunedin Stadium (formerly Knology Park) was renovated in 2002.

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