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Roger Mooney

Roger Mooney covers the Tampa Bay Rays for The Tampa Tribune, TBO.com and News Channel 8. He has covered the Rays since their first season in 1998, including 11 years for the Bradenton Herald. Roger has also covered Florida, South Florida and Florida State football, the Bucs and the Lightning.

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Stu Sees ‘Lots Of Wins’ This Year

Posted Apr 30, 2008 by Aaron Knox

Updated Apr 30, 2008 at 09:21 PM

Here’s a sneak peak at tomorrow’s notebook, with comments from principal owner Stuart Sternberg:

BALTIMORE – Rays principal owner Stuart Sternberg took the train down from his home in New York Wednesday to get an up-close look at his team. He would have come down Tuesday, he said, but he didn’t want to jinx his first-place club.

He’s still getting used to the whole idea of winning, let alone hanging around the top of the American League East heading into May.

“We haven’t been in sniffing distance of it before,” Sternberg said. “I think we’re probably in the ballpark now. I’m not saying we’re sitting in the box seats and can really touch it and feel it, but we’re in the ballpark.”

But what if they’re still “in the ballpark” as the season progresses? Would Sternberg be willing to shore up areas of weakness to make a run at the post-season?

“We said it before the season,” he said. “If we identify a need and it’s there, we’ll do what’s necessary to fill a gap.”

That said, Sternberg is pleased with the team as it is and doesn’t foresee making a change for change’s sake if the Rays are still in it at the July 31 non-waiver trade deadline.

“I’ve got to tell you, I think we’ve got all the parts out there,” he said. “I’m pretty happy with all the parts.
“The cohesiveness is certainly there, which is nice to see. And we’re poised to win lots of ball games.”

Sternberg said he’s eager to see how the team plays when injured players like LHP Scott Kazmir and DH Cliff Floyd return from the DL over the next few days and weeks.
“I think it’s unfortunate we only have 25 slots,” he said. “When these guys come back, it’s like two pounds of bologna in a one-pound bag.”