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Hammel Makes Strong Case For Rotation Against Reds

Tribune photo by CHRIS URSO

Hammel allowed a leadoff walk and two hits but needed only 50 pitches to get through his start.

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By ROY CUMMINGS | The Tampa Tribune

Published: March 28, 2009

PORT CHARLOTTE - If RHP Jason Hammel has proved anything this spring, it's that he can bounce back from a bad outing.

One of two candidates vying for the fifth starter's role, Hammel bounced back in a big way Saturday, throwing five scoreless innings against the Reds in his last outing before Manager Joe Maddon decides on the final spot in the Rays' rotation.

Hammel allowed a leadoff walk and two hits but needed only 50 pitches to get through his stint, which came on the heels of a four-inning outing against Pittsburgh in which he surrendered six hits and four earned runs while walking five and striking out two.

His outing Saturday marked the second time this spring that Hammel has shut down an opponent following a bad outing. The first came March 13 when Hammel avenged a four-hit, four-run appearance against Boston by throwing two hitless innings against Toronto.

"I just went back to the aggressive approach I used earlier in camp and you can see the difference,'' Hammel said. "It was like night and day. It was basically just attack today. I wasn't going to walk guys today. The one walk I did have was pretty close.''

Hammel immediately erased that walk by picking leadoff batter Willy Taveras off first base in the first inning. He then proceeded to retire seven straight and 11 of the next 12 Reds batters, striking out four and allowing only one legitimate base hit.

The Reds other hit came when 3B Evan Longoria and 1B Carlos Pena failed to communicate on a wind-blown pop-up that fell between them behind the mound.

Said Maddon: "That was very nice. We keep talking about command of his fastball and he kept it down today and threw his ground balls. And he was able to throw his offspeed pitches for strikes when he was behind in the count. So I thought he looked very very sharp today. Extremely sharp. That shows progress there today.''

Hammel's outing wasn't enough for Maddon to alter his plan for naming his fifth starter by Monday. Maddon said he'll likely take one more look at fellow contender Jeff Niemann, probably on Monday, before making that call.

Niemann has a 6.32 ERA, six walks and 10 strikeouts in 15 2/3 innings this spring. Hammel now has a 3.96 ERA, nine walks and 18 strikeouts in 25 innings.

GOLD GLOVE: 2B Akinori Iwamura has been flashing some pretty fancy leather since he returned from the World Baseball Classic four days ago. In practice, he's been using a two-tone fielder's glove made of black and shiny gold leather.

Iwamura said his goal is to earn a "real gold glove'' this year, and while this is only his second season working at second base, Iwamura is well on his way, according to Maddon.

"He exceeded expectations defensively last year,'' Maddon said of Iwamura, who played third base his first year with the Rays. "When you talk about turning the double play, he was one of the best at that period last year.

"Furthermore, just his range to both sides, his overall game was a lot better than what we anticipated. So I would say he should be at least as good if not better [this year].''

Maddon is most impressed with Iwamura's work on the double play, where the Japanese import has clearly mastered the art of exchanging the ball from glove to throwing hand.

"He's got this quick transfer thing from here to here and he gets a lot on the throw,'' Maddon said. "And he seems to be fearless with that particular play, which you have to be.

"He hangs in there well. Guys will be right up on him and he still stays in there. I don't know the exact reason but he does hang in there, like a quarterback who just keeps looking downfield.''

PAT THE BAT:The Rays are determined to get more than a few big hits out of Pat Burrell this season. One day after starting him in right field, the Rays had Burrell working out at first base Saturday during batting practice.

"We actually started that several days ago,'' Maddon said of working Burrell at first. "It's something we discussed in the offseason.''

Playing first base is nothing new to Burrell. He broke into the majors as a first baseman, playing 58 games there for the Phillies in 2000. He hasn't played the position since, so he's no doubt a bit rusty.

READY TO GO:Spring training started a week earlier than usual because of the World Baseball Classic. As a result, most players are more eager than usual to break camp and get into the grind of the regular season.

"I think a lot of guys are at that point,'' SS Jason Bartlett said. "We've all had enough at bats to be ready and so we've pretty much got our eye on opening day in Boston now. The key is just to stay healthy and get there.''

ROSTER MATTERS: The Rays will wrap up their Grapefruit League campaign on Wednesday, then take a day off before leaving Florida for a pair of exhibition games against the world champion Phillies in Philadelphia on Friday and Saturday.

Maddon said he plans to have his team set by the time the Rays take Thursday off, though he expects to use several minor-leaguers for the second of the two exhibition games against the Phillies.

NOTABLES: B.J. Upton played five innings in center field in a minor-league game on Saturday, going 1-for-3 with a walk. He's scheduled to DH in a minor-league game today. … The Rays plan is to have Upton start the season on the disabled list but come off in time for the home opener April 13 against the Yankees. … RHP Jason Isringhausen walked a batter and was touched up for three hits and two earned runs in his one-inning stint in relief of Hammel and took the loss on Saturday. Isringhausen will throw again today against the Reds in Sarasota. … The 5-1 loss dropped the Rays' spring record to 12-13-1.

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