Durham Bulls support Rays' effort

The World Series Tampa Bay Rays are doing it with youth.

And not just any youth: There are 14 former Durham Bulls players on the Rays' World Series roster.

Bulls general manager Mike Birling isn't surprised so many Bulls have contributed to the Rays' run.

"We've had so much success since we've moved up to Triple-A in 1998 [the Rays' inaugural season]," Birling said. "Everybody knew the talent was there. It was just a matter of mixing in the young talent with some veterans. It's all come together."

But the Bulls' relationship with the Rays hasn't always been easy. Until this season, they seemed like franchises going in different directions.

For 10 seasons, the Rays struggled, while the Bulls generally thrived. Not only is this the Rays' first World Series appearance, it's their first winning season. The Bulls have missed the playoffs only three times during their decade together.

It was hard to imagine the Bulls helping to fuel a World Series appearance during their 2006 season, with its toxic mix of talent and trouble.

Delmon Young struck an umpire with a bat and drew a 50-game suspension. Elijah Dukes was suspended five times. B.J. Upton, the only one of the three playing with the Rays in the Series, was charged with a DWI. Manager John Tamargo was suspended for a confrontation with an umpire.

"I think it shocked all of us, both the Bulls and the Rays," Birling said. "It caught us all off guard. That was the low point of the relationship."

But Birling said the Rays assured the Bulls in a meeting after the season that they would put character before talent.

The Rays replaced Tamargo with Charlie Montoyo. They traded away Dukes and Young.

"At the time, we believed what they said, but to see them do it just strengthened their promises," Birling said.

The Bulls renewed their ties with the Rays before the start of this season, committing to Tampa Bay through 2010. They plan to play up the Rays' playoff run next season in their marketing.

Birling said Bulls fans have gradually warmed to the Rays. It's easy to find fans wearing Rays caps at Durham Bulls Athletic Park.

At a September game between the Rays and Baltimore Orioles at Camden Yards, a handful of Bulls fans made the trek.

"We're going to focus more on the players that have come through here," said Birling, noting that he expects more interest from hardcore baseball fans. "It legitimizes the product on the field."

The Rays' emphasis on character started with bringing in Montoyo, who by all accounts has been a positive role model in the clubhouse. He's coached in the Rays' farm system since 1996.

"It seems like the season is still going because a lot of those kids are still playing," Montoyo said in a telephone interview from his home in Arizona. "All of these kids, at one time or another, they came to my office to talk baseball. ...

"I love that I'm at that level that I get to tell guys that they're going to the big leagues. That's just a beautiful feeling. At the same time, I want to win at this level. We want to teach winning."

Though the Rays have made some key trades, they have continued to draft top talent, most notably third baseman Evan Longoria and pitcher David Price.

This year, Longoria hit .272 with 27 home runs and 85 RBIs. He made the All-Star team as a reserve.

And Price, last year's first overall draft pick who joined the Bulls late in their season, overpowered the Boston Red Sox in Game 7 of the ALCS. He got the series-winning save (it was his first big league save).

"Nobody expects us to win. Everybody expected us to lose 90 games this year," Price told The Associated Press.

Price and Longoria, both 23, are the youngest Rays, but none of the former Bulls on the team are older than 30. Other notable former Bulls are outfielder Carl Crawford and starting pitcher James Shields.

"The great thing is the Rays have done a great job of locking them in to long-term deals," Birling said.

This year, the Bulls fell only one win short of winning the Governor's Cup Championship even though the Rays promoted many of the team's best players to the major leagues.

When players were promoted, Rays general manager Andrew Friedman would call and apologize to Birling.

"He still had the concern of trying to keep our team intact," Birling said. "That just shows what kind of respect we have for each other. But the ultimate goal is to help them win."

Birling has attended many of the Rays' playoff games and plans to watch the World Series in St. Petersburg, Fla., and in Philadelphia.

For Birling, if the Rays win a title, the Bulls win, too.