When it comes to Michael Chavis the Rays weren't caught off guard. And they feel like they won't be this time either.
It was the infielder's first major league at-bat last Saturday night that Chavis supplied one of the biggest hits of the Red Sox' win over Tampa Bay, lining a ninth-inning double off a 99 mph fastball from closer Jose Alvarado.
Since then Chavis has added a pair of home runs, heading into the series opener against the Rays with five starts (including Friday night).
Will the success alter the way Tampa Bay approaches the rookie? Nope, according to Rays manager Kevin Cash.
"His results over the last week don't necessarily change the thought process," Cash said. "Saying that we thought he was good when they called him up. It wasn't like we thought he was not good."
While Cash admitted his familiarity with Chavis extended only to the scouting reports heading into last weekend's series, he noted the fact that drastic adjustments won't be made when facing him for a second time isn't all that unusual.
"To be honest, with a lot of guys it takes some time to change your thoughts on somebody," Cash said. "But he did do some good things. It was impressive.
"He was comfortable at the plate," added the manager. "He certainly looked comfortable at the plate. He had good swings even when he didn't get hits. Obviously, the Alvarado at-bat was huge but even his swings and misses at times, he looked like he was comfortable at the plate and had a pretty good sense what he was trying to accomplish."
