Rocco's back, Cantu too
Rocco Baldelli's bruised right knee felt good enough for him to return to the Rays lineup on Sunday. Baldelli, assuming he gets through pre-game drills with no problem, will bat leadoff as the DH in his first action since colliding with the outfield wall in Anaheim Thursday. Baldelli could be limited somewhat on the bases but manager Joe Maddon wanted to get his bat back in the lineup.
With Oakland starting a lefthander, the Rays are also giving Jorge Cantu his first start at first base. Cantu, the Rays starting second baseman much of the last two seasons, played seven games at first at Triple-A Durham and said he felt comfortable there.
Maddon also moved B.J. Upton up in the lineup (to sixth) and stuck with Ty Wigginton at third despite an 0-for-16 road trip.
The full lineup:
Baldelli, dh
Dukes, cf
Carwford, lf
Wigginton, 3b
Young, rf
Upton, 2b
Cantu, 1b
Harris, ss
Paul, c
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RAYS LINEUP IS OK BUT TOO BAD GOMES WAS NOT LISTED. HE NEEDED 2 BACK TO BACK GAMES. WELL HERE ARE MY APRIL STARS: ****FOR BJ UPTON [MVP]MAN. AND **** GOES TO REYES & SHEILDS. ***GO TO THE ALL-PURPOSE PLAYER CRAWFORD. *** TO IWAMURA WHO JUMP STARTED US. **GOES TO DEL & WIGGS. ONE EACH FOR ROCCO AND PENA. 1/2 STAR TO HARRIS & PAUL. WE ARE ABOUT TEN TO ONE FROM 2006. [HA]
Posted by: RICHIE RICARDO | April 30, 2007 at 09:26 AM
MARC ... WHERE ARE THE RAYS FANS ? FOR THOSE WHO LOVE THE YANKEES THEY WERE [9-14]IN APRIL. OUR TAMPA TWO [TONY AND LOU ] WERE [10-14]. THAT IS THREE WORLD SERIES WINNING MANAGERS. LET THEM COUNT THE MONEY. JUST GIVE ME JOE... NOT JOE TORRE BUT JOE MADDON & THE YOUNG RAYS. HEY, BJ UPTON MAY LEAD THE LG IN BA JUST FOR ONE DAY ? WE CAN'T FIGURE THIS KID YET ! THANKS MARC
Posted by: richie ricardo | May 01, 2007 at 08:53 AM