Scott Kazmir

07/06/08

Kazmir, Navarro going to All-Star Game

ST. PETERSBURG -- Dioner Navarro and Scott Kazmir will represent the Rays at this summer's All-Star Game in New York. Navarro was selected by American League manager Terry Francona of the Red Sox, while Kazmir was selected by the players' ballot.

In addition, Rays rookie third baseman Evan Longoria is a Final Vote nominee for the AL, which means the Rays could have three players at the game.

"I'm just happy there's more than one," Kazmir said. "There's a lot of players in here who deserve to be on the team. Longoria is still up for the Final Vote and we're going to make a push for him."

Rest of the Story

07/02/08

With Rays on top, Scott Kazmir now considers trade from Mets a blessing

For a long time Scott Kazmir looked back on that July day in 2004 and considered it the worst of his professional career. No more. The day the Mets dealt him to Tampa Bay now ranks as one of his best.

"It turned out to be a blessing," said Kazmir, the first-round pick from 2002. "If that doesn't happen, I don't pitch in the majors as soon as I did. If that doesn't happen I'm not on this team, sitting in first place and hoping for October."

Rest of the story

07/11/05 

What was your welcome-to-the-big-leagues moment?

Coming up last August; going to Seattle; pitching against Ichiro, Edgar [Martinez]. Then, after winning the game, getting showered with beer by the team. I'll always remember that beer shower.

What was your most embarrassing moment?

In Oakland this year I threw a pitch, and one of my contacts shot out of my eye. I'm looking around, and I don't even know what to do. My vision's terrible without contacts. I told the ump, 'I've got one contact in, there's no way I'm going to see the strike zone. I don't think the hitter wants me to pitch like that.' They called time, and it took, like, 20 minutes to find my backups and put another one in.

If I weren't playing baseball, I'd be ...

in college, at UT [University of Texas]. Maybe just to play baseball. I'd be a junior right now.

If I were commissioner for a day, I would ...

give it up. I wouldn't ever want that job. I think we're doing all right right now.

Last Week

He allowed three runs in 13 1/3 innings, in starts against the Blue Jays and the Twins.

Sports Illustrated