Veteran Wheeler Likes Rays' Chances

BRADENTON - Dan Wheeler returned to Tampa Bay last summer right around the time the bullpen mushroom cloud was beginning to dissipate.

The Rays expected the veteran reliever to help stabilize a unit that, aside from closer Al Reyes, had been an unmitigated disaster. While Wheeler's arrival helped kick up the professionalism of the makeshift relief corps a couple of notches, the results weren't what the pitcher had hoped for.

He struggled with his location - sometimes because of mechanics, sometimes because he just couldn't make a good enough pitch - and posted an 0-5 record and 5.76 ERA in 25 relief appearances with the Rays. On the heels of a 1-4 start and 5.07 ERA through the first four months with the Astros, who gave him the closer's job and then took it away, he became introspective.

"You try not to overanalyze everything and just go out there and believe in yourself," he said. "Sometimes you've just got to go out there and do it. When you're thinking too much, that can be your worst enemy - I try not to think too much when I'm out there, just go with the flow of the game."

Wheeler had all winter to ponder what he needed to do in order to reclaim his status as one of the game's most reliable setup men, a status he held with the Astros in 2005 and 2006. A Seminole resident, he was a regular at the Naimoli Complex throughout the offseason and reported to camp in great condition.

Along the way, Wheeler kept an eye on the evolution of the Rays' roster, with Troy Percival and Trever Miller coming aboard to join him, Reyes and Gary Glover in the bullpen. The addition of other relievers with a postseason pedigree means less of the burden of turning things around will fall to Wheeler.

The 30-year-old still wants the ball as often as possible when the game is on the line, but the Rays' newfound depth and seasoning should lift everyone.

"There were a lot of great arms last year," Wheeler said. "This year I think we have some guys who can go out there and make some pitches in tight situations, and that's big."

The Rays consider Wheeler one of those guys. He probably will pitch mostly in the seventh and eighth innings, working alongside Reyes behind Percival. Rays manager Joe Maddon said he was determined to avoid wearing out Wheeler by using him too often. He thought Wheeler was at his best last season when he pitched only two days in a row.

"I really want to avoid trying to abuse this guy," Maddon said. "I think if we get him back on pace, throwing the appropriate number of pitches and innings, I think we're going to see a very successful year out of him. He's in great shape, he had a great offseason, he's highly motivated - I see him having a really good year, actually."

Wheeler sees the same for the Rays, who drafted him in 1996. He said there has been a "night and day" change in the organization between the time the Rays released him in 2001 and now. Thoughts cross his mind now that never entered it before.

"To walk around the Tampa-St. Pete area with a World Series ring, that'd be pretty awesome. I know the fans are dying for it and we are, too," he said. "The way they've really restructured this and they've stayed the path, I think it's that time. We have a legitimate chance.

"It's not going to be easy - there's no question about that. This game is not easy and I'm not making predictions about what our record's going to be, but I think we'll go out there and compete and that's all we can ask for. I think we have the nucleus and the group here to do that, I really do."