Friedman receives a warm welcome
ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — Andrew Friedman might face a skeptical fan base in Los Angeles, but he was greeted as something of a conquering hero here Tuesday.
For the first time since 2014, when he left the Tampa Bay Rays to become the Dodgers’ president of baseball operations, Friedman returned to Tropicana Field. He roamed the f ield during batting practice, stopping every few feet for a hug or a handshake, then held court in a pregame news conference. The Rays saluted him between innings.
He was the general manager who hired as his manager an anonymous Angels coach, Joe Maddon, and who transformed the Rays from a perpetual last- place team to one that won 90 games in f ive of six years. That might qualify as success in Tampa Bay, but Friedman is aware that the standard for success is higher in L. A.
“Having not won a championship since 1988, it’s an incredibly passionate fan base,” he said. “I love how passionate the fans are. They want to win yesterday, which I appreciate and respect. With that comes that mentality of we want to win the World Series. That’s great.”
Friedman rejected overtures from the Angels and Houston Astros before agreeing to run the Dodgers. He could have been king for as long as he liked under the Rays’ current ownership.
He said he cherishes the relationships he built here and said similar interpersonal relationships have taken longer than he would have liked to build in Los Angeles. However, he said he has never had a day of regret about taking the Dodgers’ job.
“I definitely had a very good thing in Tampa Bay,” he said, “but I’m excited and invigorated for this chapter of my life.”
True confessions
J. P. Howell said he hopes fellow Dodgers reliever Josh Ravin will explain his failed drug test to the team. Ravin was suspended for 80 games Monday after testing positive for a performance- enhancing drug designed to trigger the body’s production of human growth hormone.
“You want your name to be clean with your teammates f irst,” Howell said. “In this day and age, players aren’t happy with failed tests. It has no part in the game.”
In a statement, Ravin said the banned substance was included in a supplement he took to try to accelerate his recovery from what he called “a severe case of intestinal f lu and strep throat.” Players are encouraged to clear all supplements with a team athletic trainer or the players’ union before use.
“No excuses,” Howell said. “If you’re honest, I respect it. I know what I’m putting in my body at all times.”
Howell said he likes Ravin and hopes he can return. Ravin is on the disabled list as he recovers from a broken arm. Ravin, 28, made his major league debut last year.
Short hops
Carl Crawford, one of the finest players in Rays history, did not start Tuesday and will not start in Wednesday’s series f inale. He did hear cheers when he appeared as a pinch- hitter Tuesday. … Enrique Hernandez was the designated hitter Tuesday. Roberts said Justin Turner probably would be the DH on Wednesday and Adrian Gonzalez would DH in one of the games this weekend in Toronto. … Jose DeLeon, the Dodgers’ top righthanded pitching prospect, made his season debut Tuesday, pitching f ive scoreless innings and striking out nine for triple- A Oklahoma City. … The Dodgers and AM/ PM announced that Dodger Dogs would be sold at AM/ PM stores in Southern California at an introductory price of two for $ 3. The price at Dodger Stadium remains one for $ 6.