Gomes: D-Rays will build on success

03/01/2006
We're going to take our second-half success into the 2006 season. The guys on the Devil Rays really stuck together and turned things around last year after a difficult start and we feel that strength of character is something we can build on.
What I noticed about this club after coming up to the Majors last season was that after a 10-0 win or a 10-0 loss, everyone came to the park straight-faced, as if nothing had happened at all the previous night. The guys in our clubhouse knew how to go about their business.
We have a talented nucleus of players here. There's no doubt about that. But we also have a lot of strong leaders on this team, even though some of them may not have been around the big leagues for very long. We have a few veteran guys like Travis Lee, but some of the younger players are taking on some of those responsibilities, too. It's good to see.
Coming in as a second-year player myself, I can't be using "rookie mistake" as an excuse any more. We just have to be ready to play because we have the skill and the desire.
We have a bunch of weapons. A few of the guys in this clubhouse can really hit the long ball, we got some guys who can run. No matter what kind of game we get involved in -- a pitcher's duel or a slugfest -- we have the tools to come out ahead.
We're a confident team. That's because we have a lot of guys who have great skills and confidence in their ability. Whether it's Carl Crawford stealing a base or Kaz's [Scott Kazmir] pitching from the left side, that confidence comes through in the way everyone approaches their roles.
I was just glad to get time in the big leagues last season and ride the wave of success that I had. But it was just half of a season. Putting aside the stats, I don't have a lot of time in the Majors and I still have plenty to learn every day I step out on the field.
So I just want to try and continue from where I left off, playing whatever my role is on the club, whether it's in the outfield or as a DH hitting in the middle of the lineup.
The lesson I learned in the big leagues last year was that it's way more than a nine-on-nine game. There are scouts and video and reports. You can't slip through any cracks in the big leagues. If you have a weakness, everyone sees it all over the country and the other team is going to exploit it. Whoever makes their adjustments the fastest is going to be the winner in the long run.
There are some things in my game that I like, but there's always room for improvement. I'm never totally happy with what I'm doing. You can always go North in this game, whether it's with your speed, your power, your arm, your outfield routes or your strength. There's always room for improvement.
So I'm just going keep on pushing and working as hard as I did to get here.

Source: http://tampabay.devilrays.mlb.com/