Rays' Garza won't take backseat to Yankees

Matt Garza and the Rays came to town yesterday for the first time this season, and he would like a little respect for his first-place team.

Asked if the Rays, who brought baseball's best record (28-11) to Yankee Stadium, are trying to compare themselves to the defending world champs, Garza bristled.

"Looking at the standings, they should be comparing [themselves] to us," Garza said. "We're three games up [on them]. Our numbers, staff-wise, are better than theirs. We've done our jobs, so why is there a need for a comparison? They should be trying to compare to us, trying to do what we do. Because right now, we have found a winning formula."

Garza is in his fifth season in the majors despite being only 26, and he's one of the "veterans" among a rotation whose oldest pitcher, James Shields, is 28. The Rays' starters were 21-6 with a 2.58 ERA coming into last night's game, with rookie Wade Davis on the mound. Their 2.69 ERA was tied for best in the majors and a run better than the Yankees' 3.69.

"You could throw up a handful of cards that say ace on them and each one of us would grab one," said Shields, who starts Thursday night. "I think it's kind of understood by now. One through five, I think people know we've got a pretty good staff. We're not trying to prove anything to anybody."

Garza, a fiery guy, got worked up when a reporter mentioned how young the Rays' starters are compared to other staffs of top-flight teams around the majors. The Yankees have only Phil Hughes who's younger than 28; the Giants and Padres each have three starters under 28.

"Who cares if we're young? Who cares if we're old? We're just pitching!" Garza said. "It just -- me off when people say, 'You guys are so young.' Who cares? We're doing our jobs, we're getting outs. It's not even a question, the young issue."

Garza knows it's different in New York, where young pitchers don't always get the same time to develop as they have in Tampa.

"It's a totally different atmosphere up here, they're more used to the veteran guys," he said. "I guess we're just a breath of fresh air for everybody, opening eyes and maybe making people say, 'You know what, maybe we don't need to get the older guys. Maybe give the other guys a shot.' "

Howell's season over.Rays reliever J.P. Howell had season-ending surgery on his left shoulder Wednesday.