Dewon

Brazelton

Brazelton has a 1.92 ERA in two starts at Durham, but he’ll put in a few more starts there to build up arm strength. He’s not somebody you’ll want active when he does get called up, but it worth stashing away.

The Tampa Bay rotation is 1-8 with a 7.38 ERA, so it’s not like the rookie can hurt the team. Brazelton apparently will assume the No. 3 spot and Jorge Sosa will take over the fourth slot from Nick Bierbrodt, who is moving to long relief. Seth McClung will stay in the bullpen for now but will be considered for a start when there is another opening. Brazelton is worth a pickup, but you won’t want him active until he proves he belongs.

The Rays have changed their minds about this one several times already, so don’t count on Brazelton being called up until it actually happens.

It’s Brazelton’s job to win, but if he struggles a bit in his next two starts, it wouldn’t hurt to send him back to the minors.

Piniella clearly made most of his roster decisions before the team even arrived in camp. As of right now, it looks like the team’s rotation will include Victor Zambrano, Jeremi Gonzalez, Mark Hendrickson, Doug Waechter and Paul Abbott. Brazelton is capable of outpitching everyone in the group, but he’s probably going to begin the season in Triple-A.

“It gives us more time with the fifth starter, assuming it’s a young guy,” Rays manager Lou Piniella said. Perhaps he’s hinting that Brazelton has a shot? At this point, it appears that Damian Moss and probably Paul Abbott are the favorites for the two spots in the rotation. That leaves Doug Waechter, Brazelton, and Mark Hendrickson for the other spot. Brazelton would be a nice sleeper whenever he gets called up.

Manager Lou Piniella now says there’s a good chance Brazelton, 1-6 with a 6.46 ERA, will start Tuesday against the Yankees. Talk about reversing your field. Not that we haven’t come to expect this from the Rays, but two days ago they were so angry with Brazelton’s rookie mistakes and poor performance that they yanked him from the rotation and threatened demotion to Double-A. So all of a sudden they want him to beat the Yankees? We’ve said it a hundred times -- this is a horrible way to run a ball club.

Manager Lou Piniella said that Brazelton (2-2, 4.21 at Triple-A Durham) will get a long look. He, Jorge Sosa, and Joe Kennedy comprise three-fifths of the rotation, at least until the next time Piniella makes a change.

Unless Nick Bierbrodt pitches well today, he’ll likely lose his spot to Brazelton. Even if Bierbrodt does do well, it appears that Piniella has decided to drop someone to make room for the 2001 first-round pick. Brazelton has a great deal of long-term upside, but he’s not a very good short-term option in AL-only leagues.

It was a seven-inning game, but only the second perfect game in Southern League history. It was Gaudin’s debut performance for Orlando; he was promoted from Single-A Bakersfield Sunday.