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| Gooden |
ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. -- If Dwight Gooden learned anything
during a six-week stay with the Tampa Bay Devil Rays, it's that he
still wants to pitch.
The 35-year-old right-hander was considering retirement before
the Devil Rays acquired him from the Houston Astros on April 13.
However, the opportunity to pitch before family and friends in his
hometown rejuvenated his passion for the game.
So when the Devil Rays offered him a chance to retire and work
as a roving minor-league instructor's position instead of being
released along with shortstop Kevin Stocker, the one-time Cy Young
Award winner balked Thursday.
Despite an 0-3 record and 8.33 ERA in May, Gooden still feels he
can still be an effective starter.
"I don't want to get caught making the wrong decision," he
said. "If I retire and three or four months later I find that fire
still burning in my belly, I'll be in trouble because I can't take
three or four months off at my age. Whether I'm fooling myself or
not, I don't know."
The four-time All-Star can no longer rely on a once-overpowering
fastball, but the Devil Rays were hoping his competitiveness and
experience would bring stability to a pitching rotation weakened by
injuries to Wilson Alvarez and Juan Guzman.
Gooden won his first two decisions, but struggled in six other
starts to finish 2-3 with a 6.63 ERA. He allowed a team-high 14
homers to rank among the league leaders in a category that doesn't
make pitchers proud.
"Especially at this time of your career, you hate to see
that," he said after giving up a three-run homer to Matt Stairs in
Wednesday night's 9-2 loss to Oakland. "You get to a certain age
when that situation is going on, and that's when the questions
start: `Do you still have it?' There's no doubt in my mind I still
have it. I just have to keep battling."
Gooden, who's 10 wins shy of 200, was called into manager Larry
Rothschild's office to discuss his future after the game. General
manager Chuck LaMar suggested it might be time to retire, and
offered him an opportunity to remain with the team in another
capacity.
The right-hander talked with LaMar again Thursday and expressed
a desire to continue playing.
"This is just a bump in the road," he said. "I believe all
things happen for a reason. I still feel like I can pitch and help
someone win."
Gooden is still owed about $350,000 of his $500,000 salary for
this season. And while things didn't turn out the way he planned,
the Tampa native is thankful he was able to realize a dream of
pitching in the area where he grew up.
"There are no hard feelings. The Devil Rays did what they felt
they had to do," he said. "What upsets me is that I didn't do
better for my family and the fans around here. That's what really
bothers me because I wanted to do well for them."
LaMar said there could be more moves if the team continues to
struggle. At 15-30, Tampa Bay took the worst record in the majors
into Friday night's game against Seattle.
Stocker had two errors in Gooden's last game, giving him seven
in three games at Tropicana Field, and 11 in 40 games overall.
"If there is a message, then so be it," LaMar said.
Players left behind to try to salvage the season said it's time
for everyone in the clubhouse to assess themselves and figure out
what they can do to improve.
"It shouldn't take players getting released to get you to have
love for the game," said outfielder Greg Vaughn, who leads the
team with a .299 batting average, 13 homers and 35 RBIs. "It's not
Doc's or Stock's fault. They're just the two who came under the
hammer."
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Astros trade Gooden to Devil Rays for cash
Strawberry's troubles sadden Gooden
AUDIO/VIDEO
 GM Chuck Lamar is a little frustrated by the teams effort.
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