OPINION

By Ryan Fagan

updated 9:12 p.m. ET May 27, 2008

Troy Percival knows exactly why he was brought to Tampa Bay.

So, as he sits in the clubhouse at Busch Stadium during a recent Rays-Cardinals series, his ears perk up at the slightest sign of a brewing incident. The veteran of 13 big league seasons snaps to attention as he hears budding superstar outfielder B.J. Upton call out from across the hall, "Hey, Perc!"

Seems a certain young starting pitcher has been talking a little trash about how he is going to mimic his position-playing teammates and smack out a few base hits during interleague play. Upton strolls into the open area, big smile on his face, and wants to know what Percival is going to do about such brashness. "He ain't gonna get a hit," the 38-year-old closer says with a grin, looking across the clubhouse to make sure ace left-hander Scott Kazmir hears him loud and clear. "He ain't gonna get a hit."

The guys in the clubhouse share a laugh, then get back to the business of continuing their stunning success of 2008 — this franchise, which has never won more than 70 games in a season, is contending for the A.L. East lead, is even atop the division. Percival sits down, leans in and divulges a secret. "Everybody tries to make a big deal of me being a leader in here," he says, his voice lowering, "but I haven't had to do a whole lot, to be honest with you. I just kind of stay out of the way and throw my ninth inning."

Last November, Percival agreed to join third-year Rays manager Joe Maddon, his longtime buddy and former coach with the Angels, and become Tampa Bay's closer. He expected his role to be about 40 percent pitching, 60 percent clubhouse presence for a young team that had, put kindly, severe chemistry issues in recent seasons.

As it turns out, a few key offseason moves by Management — trading talented malcontents Delmon Young and Elijah Dukes and bringing in veterans Percival and outfielder/DH Cliff Floyd — solved most of the chemistry problems. The talent has been there; it finally had room to develop free from the strains of tension.

No matter how much Percival says he's just showing up and pitching the ninth inning — which he's doing very well, converting 14 of his first 16 save opportunities — don't believe his shtick about not doing a whole lot in the clubhouse. "It's been a really radical departure from what it's been the past two years," Maddon says. "He is exactly what we needed. Cliff Floyd is exactly what we needed. Those are the kind of guys who have been to the World Series and are willing to share what they believe about the game."

Percival has the knack of drawing on his experiences in a manner that's beneficial to anyone who's listening. He might not have the fires of Tampa's yesteryears to douse, but his impact on the team — especially the pitching staff — has been immediate. "It's hard to explain," Kazmir says. "He'll point out things to the team that not many people would say. If we make mistakes in the game, he'll point them out, and we'll go about our business. It's not like he's calling anybody out or anything like that; he's just motivating us to do better and letting us know things that are not accepted around here."

Percival's take on the young starters ...

• LHP Scott Kazmir, 24; 4-1 record, 1.50 ERA.

"There's no secret about his stuff. From the left side, there's not many better in the game. To me, right now he's still a work in progress because he was on the D.L. for a while. He'll get those pitch counts down and start getting into the seventh inning regularly soon enough."

• RHP James Shields, 26; 4-3, 3.20.

"He's got one of the best changeups I've ever seen. He doesn't ever want to come out of the game, and I like that. It reminds me of Chuck Finley back in the day. He wants to be out there in the ninth inning."

• RHP Matt Garza, 24; 3-1, 4.06.

"Probably of all of them, he has the most electric stuff — throwing 94 with heavy sink. Now he's learning to throw strikes, and he's going right after hitters. He's not out there throwing 18 off-speed pitches every inning. He's just using his fastball and pitching."

• RHP Edwin Jackson, 24; 3-3, 3.47.

"Just electric stuff. He's got 96 in the bag if he wants it, maybe more, but I'm getting to sit back and watch him learn that 92 located is better than 97 all over the place. He's pitching 92, 92 and then, bam — here comes the 97. He's learning to locate, and that's been fun to watch."

• RHP Andy Sonnanstine, 25; 6-2, 5.09.

"Sonny is so competitive when he's out there. He doesn't give in, and he throws all 18 pitches he's got from whatever angle he's throwing them from. It's good to have a guy like that, to sit there and watch him battle at 87 or 88, locating and changing speeds."

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