Scott Kazmir already possessed tremendous ability as a prospect. But the way Johnny Damon figures it, the Mets’ horrendous trade that sent Kazmir to Tampa Bay in July 2004 gave Kazmir that extra edge.
“From what I heard, he was a sure thing,” Damon said before yesterday’s workout. “Then you get traded and someone didn’t see him in that light.
“So he’s out there to prove something, and he’s doing a pretty darn good job at it – so far. He’s going out there and showing the world that he’s a No. 1, that he probably never should’ve got traded. A lot of people definitely opened their eyes.”
Kazmir will be popping some eyes with his 96-mph fastball this afternoon in The Bronx, when the 23-year-old southpaw takes the ball for the Devil Rays on Opening Day. Once a trade pawn for Victor Zambrano, Kazmir is now the unquestioned ace on a Devil Rays club that, to be nice, might be merely bad in 2007 and not dreadful.
Every one of Kazmir’s starts in New York has been an event unto itself, a notion he has now gotten used to. The former Mets first rounder spoke with The Post by phone just before the Devil Rays flew out for New York yesterday afternoon.
“It’s funny: the same topics keep on getting brought up,” Kazmir chuckled. “It’s all in fun.”
Already with two-plus seasons under his belt, Kazmir is 22-20 with a 3.73 career ERA. Not bad, especially considering he’s already made 15 career starts against the rough-and-tumble lineups of the Red Sox and Yankees. Alex Rodriguez gushed about Kazmir yesterday, calling him “great.
“I like the way he goes about his business,” A-Rod added.
Kazmir took Rodriguez’s assessment as a great honor.
“Just to hear anything like that from a player of his (caliber) [is great],” Kazmir said.
Against the Yanks, Kazmir is 1-3 with a 3.29 ERA in five games (four starts). Kazmir owns a 5-2 record and a 2.60 ERA in 11 starts versus Boston.
When asked for his scouting report, Yankees catcher Jorge Posada answered, “He’s got a tight slider. He’s got a 95 mile per hour fastball, and then you come with an 89-mile-per-hour slider, it’s pretty difficult.”