American League

Sporting News, The, June 11, 2001

Tampa Bay

15-40: 5th

Kennedy gives the rotation a rare reason for hope

LHP Joe Kennedy's rise through the minors this season has been spectacular, and the team hopes he can continue to dazzle at the major league level. Kennedy, called up last Friday, took the rotation spot of the ineffective RHP Paul Wilson, who was sent to the bullpen to correct his control problems. Kennedy, 22, went 6-0 with a 0.99 ERA in 11 combined starts for Class AA Orlando and Class AAA Durham. He throws three pitches--a mid-90s fastball, a curveball and changeup--and his control of those pitches has improved dramatically this season. If the rotation continues to be dismal, another prospect, RHP Jason Standridge, could be called up.

SCOUTING REPORT:. Greg Vaughn begrudgingly has accepted the full-time DH role. However, Vaughn clearly is not comfortable as a DH and hits much better when he is playing in left. That way, Vaughn's head remains more in the game and he can get into the flow. Vaughn loves to pull inside fastballs with his short, powerful swing and still is very capable of hitting 30 homers. But Vaughn can be rendered ineffective with off-speed stuff away and sinkers. This year, he has been striking out at a high rate.

SEE A DIFFERENT GAME: When G.M. Chuck LaMar signed Wilson Alvarez to a five-year, $35 million deal in 1997, he reasoned that Alvarez would be the best lefthander on the free-agent market for the next two years. However, Alvarez has been on the disabled list five times since 1998 and hasn't pitched for the team since 1999. From Alvarez's last start on October 2, 1999 to Kennedy's first start on June 6--a span of 219 games--the team did not use a lefthanded starter. The team has three lefthanders among its top prospects, but none is ready. The closest is Bobby Seay, but the team planned on using him as a reliever had he made the roster this spring. Jeff Ridgway is another lefthander with promise, but he has only one full year of pro experience. Ronni Seberino has been in the system since 1996 and has progressed well but also is being groomed as a reliever. --Chris Anderson

Dugout Signals

When 2B Russ Johnson returned from the D.L., he was not given his starting job back, even though he was playing well before a quad strain. Damian Rolls continues to start. Johnson has more value as a utilityman. He plays three infield positions and is a good pinch hitter.

BATTERS       AVG   G    AB    R    H    HR

McGriff( )   .321   52   193   20   62    9
Winn(#)      .321   35    81   11   26    2
(*)Rolls     .306   25    85   12   26    1
Johnson      .269   35   119   15   32    3
Sheets       .261   15    46    3   12    1
Grieve( )    .253   52   186   23   47    3
DiFelice     .250   19    60    5   15    1
Flaherty     .250   39   128   10   32    1
Vaughn       .247   53   198   30   49   14
Williams     .221   52   208   27   46    3
(*)Huff( )   .216   32   116   12   25    2
Cox( )       .213   33    89    8   19    3
Tyner( )     .143   10    14    2    2    0

BATTERS      RBI   OBP    SB   K    BB   E

McGriff( )    35   .367    0   32   15   6
Winn(#)       12   .450    4   16   17   0
(*)Rolls       6   .359   10   16    7   3
Johnson       14   .370    1   30   19   1
Sheets         7   .327    0    6    5   1
Grieve( )     20   .371    0   51   33   1
DiFelice       3   .297    0   16    3   1
Flaherty      14   .271    0   11    4   5
Vaughn        31   .326    1   57   23   2
Williams      16   .274    9   38   13   1
(*)Huff( )     5   .248    0   23    5   4
Cox( )        11   .271    0   20    6   0
Tyner( )       0   .200    1    1    1   0

GRAND SLAMS: None

PITCHERS        ERA    W-L       IP    H    R       ER

Wallace( )      1.10   0-0      16.1   18    9       2
(*)Phelps       1.20   0-0      15.0    3    2       2
Creek( )        3.65   1-1      24.2   24   10      10
Meacham         4.50   1-3      28.0   28   16      14
Yan             4.84   2-2      22.1   23   14      12
Rekar           5.08   0-7(a)   72.2   81   52      41
Lopez           5.15   3-6      71.2   80   41      41
Sturtze         5.55   2-4      47.0   49   30      29
Wheeler         5.87   1-0      15.1   21   10      10
Wilson          8.43   2-7(a)   57.2   77   63(a)   54(a)
Rupe            8.50   2-5      42.1   57   41      40
(*)Kennedy( )     --   0-0       0.0    0    0       0

PITCHERS        HR   K    BB   SV   AVG.

Wallace( )       1   14    8    0   .281
(*)Phelps        0   13    5    1   .061
Creek( )         4   20   15    0   .276
Meacham          2   10    7    0   .255
Yan              1   20    3    5   .261
Rekar            7   46   23    0   .276
Lopez            8   42   32    0   .283
Sturtze          4   31   19    1   .265
Wheeler          2   10    5    0   .328
Wilson          11   37   28    0   .325
Rupe             8   32   19    0   .324
(*)Kennedy( )    0    0    0    0     --

SHUTOUTS: Lopez (1)

COMPLETE GAMES: Lopez (1)

(*) Rookie

( ) Lefthanded

(#) Switch hitter

(a) League leaders in bold

Statistics provided by STATS Inc. through Saturday, June 2.