NewsGabes going strong, giving Rays options
Tampa Bay (44-36) at Texas (41-35), 8:05 p.m. ET
By Erika Gilbert / MLB.com
07/01/09 6:44 PM ET
TORONTO -- With right-hander Tommy Hunter set to pitch for Texas on Friday, it will likely be the left-handed-hitting Gabe Gross playing right field for Tampa Bay. But whoever plays there -- Gross or right-handed hitter Gabe Kapler -- Rays manager Joe Maddon is pleasantly surprised with his all-Gabe right-field platoon."Recently, they've both been playing even above what could've been expected," Maddon said.
Both Gross and Kapler have posted statistics better than their career numbers this year. They're getting on base more often and hitting for more power as well.
For Gross, a slight change in posture and a different approach at the plate have paid off.
"He's standing up more," Maddon said. "He's more upright than he had been. That's [in terms of] physical posture, but I also think he's more willing to hit the ball back to the middle of the field and not try to pull everything. I've seen a lot more line drives up the middle, base hits up the middle, even down the left-field line. Just a better approach on a daily basis."
Gross is batting .282 with an impressive .393 on-base percentage and a slugging percentage of .437. While his power numbers are similar to last year's, the improvement in his average and on-base percentage is significant.
"Gabe Gross has really elevated his game, become a much better hitter," Maddon said. "Not just the power numbers -- he still has the big power -- but he's become a better hitter. [He's] utilizing the whole field, working the counts better."
While Gross has only stolen six bases this season, that's two better than his career high, with more than half the season left.
"[He's] become a better baserunner -- more aggressive looking for situations," Maddon said. "The aggressiveness on the basepaths is all [thanks to bench coach Dave] Martinez. Davy's been riding him pretty good in regard to that. We started that in Spring Training.
"Davy's done a nice job of giving him information and giving him some more baserunning courage."
While Gross has the better numbers of the two Gabes to this point in the season, Maddon likes having a right-handed option in right field that he can throw out against left-handed pitching.
Kapler struggled in April and May, hitting only .178 and slugging .274, but took off in June, batting .400 in 14 games (nine starts).
"I wasn't concerned," Maddon said of Kapler's slow start. "I've seen him as cold as anybody and then as hot as anybody, and that's just the way he is. That's just the M.O., so you've got to be patient with people like that and then you reap the rewards. ... [He] has a great track record of hitting left-handers.
"Right now, the Gabes are a pretty nice right fielder."
Pitching matchupTB: LHP Scott Kazmir (4-4, 7.28 ERA)
After spending time on the disabled list with a right quad strain, Kazmir returned to the Rays' rotation Saturday against the Marlins and allowed two runs on four hits and a walk in five innings to take a no-decision. Kazmir's struggle against his pitch count continues to be a concern. He used 23 pitches in the first inning alone and finished with 92 for the outing. Kazmir's fastball velocity appeared to have improved against the Marlins, but he needs to spot his fastball with his slider and changeup in order to be successful. Kazmir is 4-0 with a 2.09 ERA in seven career starts against the Rangers, and 2-0 with a 2.70 ERA in three career starts at Rangers Ballpark. TEX: RHP Tommy Hunter (0-1, 3.86 ERA)
Hunter has made two spot starts this season. He lost to the Padres, 2-0, on Sunday when he allowed two runs on seven hits in 6 1/3 innings. He struck out three and did not walk a batter. His other start was on May 29 in a 6-3 victory over Oakland. He went 5 1/3 innings in that game, allowed three runs and was not involved in the decision. He is 3-2 with a 3.83 ERA in eight starts at Triple-A Oklahoma City. He is 0-3 with a 9.93 ERA in five starts at the Major League level over the past two years. This will be his first start against the Rays. Tidbits
On Wednesday, center fielder B.J. Upton was picked off for the second game in a row. ... Carl Crawford hit a single in the seventh inning to extend his hitting streak to 10 games. He is hitting .439 with two home runs and eight RBIs over that span. ... James Shields dropped to 1-4 on the road with Wednesday's loss. The three home runs he gave up tied a career high, which had happened four times before. ... Through Tuesday, the Rays' bullpen has pitched to a Major League-best 3.19 ERA. Tickets
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• Saturday: Rays (David Price, 2-2, 3.93) at Rangers (Vicente Padilla, 6-4, 4.75), 8:05 p.m. ET
• Sunday: Rays (Jeff Niemann, 7-4, 3.95) at Rangers (Derek Holland, 1-5, 6.20), 8:05 p.m. ET
• Monday: Off-day
Erika Gilbert is an associate reporter for MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.
