Rays' Burrell ready to make adjustments

One of the big questions facing the Rays this spring is whether DH Pat Burrell can turn last season into an aberration and produce as he did before signing a two-year, $16 million free agent contract.

Burrell met with reporters Monday - something he avoided doing last year - and sounded confident he can.

Looking rested and fit - very fit, in fact - Burrell said a longer offseason spent in Arizona provided "a lot more time to get in shape and think about the year and make some adjustments."

He said he's better prepared physically "and definitely mentally," noting that the Rays are no longer a new team and the DH role is no longer unfamiliar.

Burrell batted only .221 with 14 home runs and 64 RBIs last season after averaging 31 home runs and 99 RBIs the previous four seasons with the Phillies. He played in 122 (112 starts at DH), his fewest in a full major league season.

While saying little about specific adjustments, Burrell said he was able to identify some problems watching video with new hitting coach Derek Shelton.

He said he's healthy after missing 29 games May 11-June 11 with a neck strain and struggling with the aftereffects the rest of the season.

"I had some slight herniations in C5 and 6 that (gave) me trouble," he said. "I think the problem was, I didn't address it quick enough, and by the time we found out what was going on ... I'd let it go too far.

"That, obviously, was a mistake on my part. Now we know what it is. It's a lot easier to take care of problems health-wise when you know what they are and you know how to prevent them."

Manager Joe Maddon believes the impact Burrell's neck troubles had on his production last year shouldn't be underestimated and said a lot of "components" are in place for the slugger to have a rebound year.

He pointed to motivation, pride, health and age. Burrell is 33 - a productive age for a power hitter.

"He's a young man, and normally the track record of success sustains itself at that age," Maddon said. "I think there were a lot of reasons why last year wasn't that good, but I believe he's going to bounce back this year."

Burrell allowed that moving to the DH role from playing in the left field "was an adjustment," but quickly added that, "when you get in that batter's box, you have a job to do."

He said he'll change in in-season preparation to replicate that activity he used to get playing in the field.

"When you're used to being out there and you're not, you need to find things to do to keep you in that playing mode," Burrell said. "That's something we've talked about. It's Day 1 (of spring training), but I feel pretty confident things will be a lot better."

About the trouble he had facing American League pitching last year, Burrell said that was "100 percent more about me than anything." He said he has played long enough "to know it still has to go over the plate."

But then he smiled and allowed that he was happy to see Toronto's Roy Halladay move to the National League.

Burrell also said he stayed on top of the winter speculation that had the Rays trading him to the Clubs for Milton Bradley.

"It's part of it," he said - and acknowledged that he's playing for another contract this year.

"I have to feel fortunate about the way things have gone for me in that respect," he said. "Hopefully, I'll have a great year, and we'll have to see what happens."