Wake-Up Call: Bartlett crucial to Rays' hopes of repeating

The Wake-Up Call greets you each weekday with news, views and a few Tampa Bay area sports offerings to anticipate for the day and night. We encourage suggestions and contributions.

Good morning!

It's difficult to repeat. The Rays are getting daily reminders of that grim reality as they aim for a postseason return.

Heading into tonight's road series opener at Toronto, even coming off Sunday's disheartening 4-0 loss against the Texas Rangers, the Rays (67-56) remained three games behind Boston in the American League wild-card race.

But one thing hasn't changed.

Shortstop Jason Bartlett still looks like the team's Most Valuable Player.

He's the key to the Rays staging a successful run through the season's final six weeks.

There are other important performers, of course. Left fielder Carl Crawford (.317, AL-leading 54 stolen bases) is having the best overall season of his career. Third baseman Evan Longoria (.273, 24 homers, 88 RBIs), while cooling off considerably during the second half, is extremely dangerous. The versatility of second baseman Ben Zobrist (.288, 22 homers, 67 RBIs) has been an unexpected bonus.

Meanwhile, on the pitching staff, right-hander Jeff Niemann (11-5, 3.71 ERA, two complete games) is a legitimate threat for AL Rookie of the Year. Left-hander J.P. Howell (2.26 ERA, 15 saves) has adjusted into the full-time closer's role.

For the Rays to become a playoff team again, though, it must start with Bartlett.

His offensive work has been a revelation. Bartlett is batting .340, third in the AL (only one Ray has finished in the final top 10 - Aubrey Huff at .311, ninth in 2003). In the leadoff position, where he moved permanently three weeks ago, he's batting .360 (with 18 runs scored in 21 games).

Bartlett's defense, though, remains his most valuable quality.

Last week was evidence of that. Wednesday, with the Rays clinging to a one-run lead against the Baltimore Orioles in the fifth inning, they faced a bases-loaded, no-out situation. Bartlett dived to spear Cesar Izturis' line drive, but couldn't make the catch. Without missing a beat, he picked up the ball and fired it to home plate for a stunning force play.

Afterward, Rays first baseman Carlos Pena said, "It goes to show you there is a sixth tool, like an instinct."

The Rays touted that part of Bartlett's game last season, saying his abilities contributed heavily to the club's much-improved run prevention. According to Rays manager Joe Maddon, that quality must be present for Tampa Bay to play in October.

"It's not just about hits, homers and all this other stuff," Maddon said. "The better we play that (defense), the better chance we have (of qualifying for the posteason).

"We're going to hit enough, but if we start catching the ball like that, that's going to give us our best chance. That really impacts the pitching staff in the best way."

It impacts everyone else, too.

"There have been several times when we're all kind of going different directions and he's directing me out there, telling me which way I need to go (at second base)," Zobrist said. "I haven't played second base a whole lot in my career. If I don't know what I'm supposed to be doing, I just look to him. He always knows.

"He has a great feel for where everybody is on the field. If you came and watched himn for just one game, you definitely wouldn't notice a lot of things about him. But when you see him everyday, you know how valuable it is to have a guy like that in the middle of the field."

Pitching and defense.

That was Tampa Bay's winning formula in 2008. A similar path might need to be followed. If so, look for Bartlett to lead the way.

Just like last season, even when surrounded by players with gaudy offensive statistics, he still looks like Tampa Bay's MVP.

Kime part of championship team

Pitcher Allison Kime (Bloomingdale) was a member of the Rockford Thunder, which won the National Pro Fastball softball league's championship on Sunday by defeating the USSSA Pride 2-0 in the championship tournament's final game at Akron, Ohio.

The Thunder was led by former University of Texas pitcher and U.S. Olympian Cat Osterman, who was selected Most Valuable Player after striking out 50 batters in 31 innings during her five starts at the championship tournament.

Murphy scores for Raiders

Former University of Florida wide receiver Louis Murphy (Lakewood), a fourth-round draft pick by the Oakland Raiders, caught a 24-yard touchdown pass from JaMarcus Russell in Saturday night's 21-20 exhibition loss against the San Francisco 49ers.

The Raiders started two rookies at receiver - Murphy and Darrius Heyward-Bey. Murphy caught two passes for 34 yards in all (including a 10-yarder from Jeff Garcia). On his touchdown, a third-and-21 play, he beat 49ers' Pro Bowl cornerback Nate Clements to the end-zone corner.

"I never thought that would happen, but it's happening," Murphy told the Oakland Tribune, when asked about his early starting assignment. "We can't look back now. We've got to continue to work hard and continue to go out every day and play with a purpose."

Diaz a hit with Braves

Atlanta Braves outfielder Matt Diaz (Lakeland Santa Fe Catholic), a Rays' 17th-round draft choice in 1999 who was assigned uniform No. 99 in his first spring training with Tampa Bay, is having an eye-opening season.

Diaz, formerly of Florida State University, is batting .310 overall. He went 4-for-4 in Sunday's 7-5 victory against the Florida Marlins. He's batting .524 (11-for-21) since Nate McLouth went on the 15-day disabled list with a hamstring injury.

Diaz was released by the Rays in 2005 - he had 30 big-league at-bats with Tampa Bay in 2003 and '04 - but has clearly found a home in his three seasons with the Braves.

Raburn goes deep (twice)

Detroit Tigers outfielder Ryan Raburn (Durant) had his first multi-homer game in the major leagues since July 25, 2007 when he homered in his first two at-bats during Friday night's 3-2 win against the Oakland Athletics. Raburn is having a great August - batting .368 (14-for-38) with four homers. Overall, he's batting .275 overall with 10 homers and 34 RBIs.

Swauger still scorching

Chris Swauger (Jesuit), a left fielder with the Class A Palm Beach Cardinals, continued his torrid August on Sunday by going 5-for-6 (four singles and a double) in a 15-3 victory against Jupiter. Swauger, who began this season with the Midwest League's Quad Cities team, is batting .486 in his last 10 games.

Auburn's Smith faces assault charges

Auburn University sophomore running back Eric Smith (Armwood) is facing third-degree assault charges and will turn himself into police today, according to the Opelika-Auburn News.

Smith was arrested early Friday outside the Lexington Hotel, where police were called to the scene because of a fight. According to the police report, Smith was sober and did not resist arrest.

Hours after Smith's arrest, Auburn coach Gene Chizik would not clarify the player's status on the team.

"In my opinion, it's a family matter between Eric, myself and our football team," Chizik said. "But I can assure you it has been addressed. I've met with the young man. I've met with the football team.

"We have certain expectations of an Auburn man, and quite frankly, he didn't live up to that. So we've addressed it. If you see him in an Auburn uniform again, I can guarantee you he's paid a price to be an Auburn man. And he'll be a lot better one at that point than he is now."

Smith rushed for 83 yards as a freshman and was contending for significant playing time in the backfield.

Early line on Dunlap, Selvie

Carlos Dunlap (University of Florida) and George Selvie (University of South Florida) are two of the top defensive ends to watch for the 2010 NFL draft, according to Russ Lande, a draft analyst for The Sporting News Today.

Lande's top five:

1. Carlos Dunlap, Florida, junior (6-6, 290) - "He is a good athlete with rare quickness, agility, athleticism and strength. He must become more consistent to reach his potential." Projection: Top-15 pick.

2. Greg Hardy, Ole Miss, senior (6-4, 261) - "He definitely shows the tools to be an impact pass rusher in the NFL with improved strength. He explodes off the snap to threaten the corner as a speed pass-rusher." Projection: First-round pick.

3. Brandon Graham, Michigan, senior (6-1, 273) - "He is highly productive despite being the focus of blocking schemes. He lacks ideal height and looks a little stocky for a defensive end, but he is a good athlete and a potential impact player in the NFL." Projection: First-round pick.

4. Corey Wootton, Northwestern, senior (6-6, 271) - "He was expected to enter the '09 draft before blowing out his knee in Northwestern's last game of the season.

Wootton must get healthy and regain his pre-injury form to be a high pick." Projection: Late first-round or high second-round pick.

5. George Selvie, South Florida, senior (6-3, 241) - "After a breakout '07 season, many scouts penciled in Selvie as a future top-five pick. However, he struggled last season and no longer is viewed in the same light. If he has a bounceback '09 season, scouts will overlook his junior film and attribute those struggles to nagging injuries instead of lack of consistent effort. Projection: Late first-round or high second-round pick.

Tillman turns heads in Cape Cod

Florida Southern College relief pitcher Daniel Tillman was one of the best players at this summer's Cape Cod League. Tillman, who pitched for Cotuit, didn't allow an earned run all summer, finishing with 11 saves and 31 strikeouts in 22 innings pitched.

Long-time Cape Cod League observer Greg Schimmel, who blogs extensively about the players, said Tillman "has moved himself into the first-round conversation for June. He is going to be a reliever, but he can be a very good one."

Chargers making their mark

Six members of the Clearwater Chargers Soccer Club are beginning their college soccer careers:
* James DeConinck (St. Petersburg Catholic) at Saint Leo University.
* Max Gallin (Palm Harbor University) at Princeton University.
* Nick Jones (St. Petersburg Catholic) at Florida International University.
* Sasha Ratkovic (River Ridge) at Florida Southern College.
* Alex Tuch (Tampa Prep) at the University of Pennsylvania.
* Sam Venker (Palm Harbor University) at Christopher Newport University.
Additionally, two Chargers have made 2010 college commitments - Wes Sever (Tampa Prep) to George Mason University and Ben Sweat (Palm Harbor University) to the University of South Florida.

Birthday wishes

Happy birthday to former Bucs center Dan Ryczek, who started during the franchise's 0-and-26 beginning. After 1977, with Steve Wilson ready to assume the starting role, Ryczek was traded to the Los Angeles Rams for a sixth-round pick. And he got to Super Bowl XIV when the Rams defeated the Bucs 9-0 in the 1979 NFC Championship Game. Today, Ryczek turns 60.

The Answer Man

Carl Crawford holds the Rays' club record for single-season batting average (.315 in 2007).

Monday trivia

Here's our daily sports trivia question, featuring a Tampa Bay/Florida spin. Try your luck by commenting below.

Rays first baseman Carlos Pena leads the American League in home runs (34), despite a .220 batting average. Since major-league baseball went to a 162-game schedule in 1961, what is the lowest batting average by a league home-run champion?

There will not be a Wake-Up Call on Tuesday, so check back Wednesday for the answer.