ST. PETERSBURG — The offseason, and next season, can't come soon enough for OF Wil Myers, whose second year in the big leagues has turned out to be nothing like he or the Rays had hoped.
"It's been a frustrating season, the most frustrating season I've ever had," Myers said. "Just trying to adjust every single day with something, it's been tough."
After winning the 2013 American League Rookie of the Year Award following his mid June promotion, Myers got off to a slow start, got hurt in late May, missed 70 games with a right wrist fracture and has not gotten back to form since returning in late August.
The biggest issue has been a lack of power, obvious not only by his reduced numbers (six homers and 13 doubles in 297 at-bats this year, 13 and 23 in 335 last year) but even in his batting-practice swings.
"I feel like I've lost some power this year," he said. "I don't feel like I'm any less strong. I feel like there's something in the swing that's not translating to what it did last year and throughout my whole career. … I'm not used to not hitting the ball hard a lot of the time."
The issue seems to be with his contact point. Myers said he and hitting coach Derek Shelton in the past week noticed a slight movement in his hands that could have made him just a tick late in getting the bat to the ball, and he hopes to get that corrected going into the offseason.
Manager Joe Maddon said he thinks Myers' struggles are the combination of increased expectations leading to the slow start, trouble getting his timing back after the injury and an overall absence of confidence, all of which can be addressed.
"Coming back next year, you're going to see him hopefully back to where he had been as rookie of the year," Maddon said.
JEREMY QUEST: RHP Jeremy Hellickson starts tonight against the White Sox, making one more bid for his first win at Tropicana Field since last beating the White Sox on July 5, 2013. "That's a long time ago," he said. "It would be nice to get a win at home before the season's over. I just have to go out there and just execute. Man, that's a long time. I didn't know that."
Hellickson was winless over his final six home starts last year, plus Game 4 of the AL Division Series, and is 0-3 with a 4.94 ERA in six home starts this season since returning in July from January elbow surgery.
"It'll be nice to finish strong these last few starts," Hellickson said. "Just to go into the offseason healthy and feeling good is going to be nice."
Hellickson could be making his last start at the Trop with the Rays. His future with the team is uncertain because his arbitration-driven salary will exceed $4 million next season.
THE 'E' WORD: With their next loss, or the next wins by the A's and Royals, the Rays will be officially eliminated from the playoff race. Since getting good in 2008, they have played only 13 "meaningless" games, getting the x- by their names with 11 games to go in 2009 and two in 2012.
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Explore all your optionsNICK OF TIME: Maddon has been impressed with what he's seen from INF Nick Franklin, 3-for-8 with a stolen base in his first two games. "I like what he does out there," Maddon said. "He looks like he's very much in tune to the game. You can talk to him during the game very easily. He seems to have aptitude."
CROWD CONTROL: With three home games left, the Rays are headed to their lowest attendance since 2007, having drawn a major-league-low 1,385,824. They drew 1,510,300 last year, 1,387,603 in 2007.
MISCELLANY: The team MVP, outstanding rookie and Champion Award winners, as voted by the Tampa Bay chapter of the Baseball Writers' Association of America, will be announced today at the Clutch Hitters' banquet and on the field pregame. … The Rays' minor-league award winners also will be announced, and they will sign autographs from 5:45-6:30 p.m. … Maddon planned to talk with rookie RHP Steve Geltz to make sure he knew he didn't do anything wrong in hitting Derek Jeter with a pitch Tuesday, given the criticism from Yankees manager Joe Girardi. … Commissioner Bud Selig apparently won't make it to the Trop this weekend as part of his farewell tour but is expected to visit the stadiums/organizations he missed in November/December. … OF Desmond Jennings, sidelined since late August with a sore left knee, continues to work out but is unlikely to play.
Contact Marc Topkin at mtopkin@tampabay.com. Follow @TBTimes_Rays.