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Sorry, Lou, the Rays' best hope is to get even younger

Sporting News, The, July 1, 2005

Lou Piniella might think the Devil Rays did a bait-and-switch on him regarding the club's direction, but the team's youth movement shouldn't break stride now. With the limited talent on hand, the franchise wouldn't suffer much by going with an almost fully home-grown lineup, Building from within, and watching that talent develop, isn't what Piniella, the fans and the media want. but it's a time-honored blueprint for success. The strategy might be even more worthwhile given general manager Chuck LaMar's lack of success with imports. This is what the Rays of the near future could look like:

(Players in green were drafted or originally signed by the club.)

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1B: Aubrey Huff, 28. His salary and slow start make him trade bait, but he still can anchor a lineup. Hot-hitting Eric Munson, 27, lurks at Class AAA Durham.

2B: Nick Green, 26. Green seems better suited for a utility role, so the club either can move shortstop Julie Lugo, 29, to second or look outside for help.

SS: B.J. Upton, 20. It's time to call him up and find out whether he's a player. He can hit, but he needs to catch and throw better.

3B: Jorge Cantu, 23. He won the second base job in the spring, then replaced Alex S. Gonzalez at third. Cantu will hit wherever he plays.

LF: Carl Crawford, 23. The club made a long-term commitment to him with a new contract. Now it's on Crawford to refine his five tools.

CF: Rocco Baldelli, 23. Injuries ended his season early. If healthy, he can be part of the foundation. Speedster Joey Gathright, 24, is a capable fill-in.

RF: Delmon Young, 19 (playing at Class AA Montgomery). The first pick in the '03 draft has a shot at a 30-30-100 season in the minors.

C: Kevin Cash, 27. A defensive whiz, he was called up after developing a hitting stroke at Durham. He could mount a challenge to incumbent Toby Hall, 29.

DH: Jonny Gomes, 24. A righthanded power hitter, he could round out the middle of the order with Crawford, Huff and Young.

Rotation: LHP Scott Kazmir, 21; RHPs Jeff Niemann, 22, Wade Townsend, 22, Doug Waechter, 24, and Seth McClung, 24. This might not happen right away because Niemann has been hurt and Townsend sat out a year. But this kiddie corps offers hope of providing a much-needed pitching upgrade.

Closer: RHP Chad Orvella, 24. His big-league apprenticeship behind Danys Baez, 27, will end as soon as Baez departs.

Sorry, Lou, the Rays' best hope is to get even younger

Sporting News, The, July 1, 2005

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