Maddon has answers for Sonnanstine

What went wrong for Andy Sonnanstine in 2009? What didn't?

After winning 13 games and racking up 2101/3 big-league innings last season, plus making three solid starts in the playoffs, Sonnanstine had expectations that seemed reasonably high this spring.

"Somehow, somewhere, something changed," said the pitcher, who lugs a 6-9 record and 7.15 ERA into tonight's start against the Orioles.

"It's really hard for me to put my finger on it, because I felt like the same guy. I felt like I was prepared, I felt confident, and the success just wasn't coming around. It really is mind-boggling. I've had a lot of sleepless nights thinking about it."

Granted an unexpected start after a rainout forced a doubleheader Sunday in Boston, Sonnanstine at least will have the opportunity to look forward to next year without that eight-run third inning at Yankee Stadium serving as his most recent reinforcement of all that has gone wrong.

And while Sonnanstine might not have any firm ideas on what that might be, his manager does.

Joe Maddon said he believes Sonnanstine has gotten away from one of the things that made him unique and helped lead to success in the past: his unorthodox delivery featuring multiple arm angles and occasional pauses that threw hitters off their rhythm.

"I don't think he has had the same deception out of his delivery," Maddon said.

Between that change and right-handed hitters suddenly drilling Sonnanstine this year (a .368 average and 1.117 OPS as opposed to .275 and .744 for lefties), the right-hander should have plenty to work on this winter. Now it's just a matter of where he'll fit into the Rays' 2010 plans.

"That's a good question," Sonnanstine said. "As of right now, I hope I'm with the organization - you never know. I'm sure I'll be competing for maybe a spot in the rotation, maybe a spot in the pen.

"A guy like me, I feel like I'm always going to be competing to do something. I think that's going to be kind of the tale of my career."

Casting call

Reid Brignac's 4-for-4 night Monday earned him a start Tuesday, this time at second base, as the 23-year-old continued to audition for a roster spot next year. Tuesday marked his first big-league start at second, a position he says he is "comfortable" playing.

"I haven't played that many games there, but it's a shorter throw to first, and the turn at second, I feel confident that I can turn double plays at second," Brignac said. "I feel pretty good over there."

Given the likelihood that the Rays will decline Akinori Iwamura's 2010 option, playing second likely will be Brignac's best bet for playing time moving forward. Some of what happens depends on what the Rays decide to do with Ben Zobrist, and new acquisition Sean Rodriguez also will be in the infield mix. But Brignac has worked his way into the conversation, for sure.

Wait 'til next year

The Rays will open their 2010 season at home Tuesday, April 6, against the Orioles, then host the Yankees the first weekend of the season. That will be quite a change, as the Rays haven't begun a campaign at Tropicana Field since 2005.

The subject-to-change MLB schedule released Tuesday calls for the Rays to play interleague series against teams from all three National League divisions, traveling to Houston, Atlanta and Florida and hosting the Marlins, San Diego and Arizona.

They'll get their first look at Minnesota's new open-air ballpark, Target Field, from July 1-4 - presumably witnessing holiday fireworks that weren't possible at the old Metrodome.

Farm facts

LHP David Newmann held Tampa hitless through six and 3B Greg Sexton hit a three-run homer as Charlotte beat the Yankees 3-1 to set up a decisive fifth game for the Florida State League title tonight. ... Durham captured Game 1 of the Governor's Cup finals by beating Scranton 4-1. Rodriguez, Joe Dillon and Michel Hernandez drove in runs for the Bulls.

Marc Lancaster