 |
|
« April 2007 | Main | June 2007 »
OF Elijah Dukes is playing Wednesday for the Devil Rays but not talking. Team spokesman Chris Costello said Dukes would have no comment on the court ruling resulting in a restraining order. "It's a personal matter," Costello said. Dukes is leading off and playing center. He was in the clubhouse playing cards before batting practice as usual.
Elijah Dukes is in the Rays lineup again tonight but is not going to comment on today's court developments. Team spokesman Chris Costello said , "It's a personal matter."
As for the rest of the lineup:
Dukes, cf
Upton, 2b
Crawford, lf
Wigginton, 1b
Young, rf
Iwamura, 3b
Cantu, dh
Navarro, c
Harris, ss
[Times photo: Ken Helle]
PLANT CITY – A Hillsborough County judge granted a one-year restraining order to NiShea Gilbert, above left, the wife of Tampa Bay Devil Ray Elijah Dukes.
The order means Dukes, who waived his appearance and was not present in the Hillsborough Circuit Court in Plant City, cannot contact his wife for one year.
As part of the ruling handed down by Circuit Judge William Levens, Dukes is ordered to undergo psychological evaluation before he is allowed to see his children. Also under the order, Dukes is not allowed to possess weapons.
"I'm just happy that I've got it for a year, and I can move forward," Gilbert, 26, said outside the courtroom.
Gilbert said her life lately had been "hell" and that she hopes that the psychological evaluation will get Dukes the help she feels he needs.
"He just needs to get help so he can be a normal, functioning citizen," she said.
Gilbert said she wasn't surprised Dukes was absent.
"He never shows up to court," said Gilbert, accompanied by her mother Mary, who added that the past few weeks had been difficult
"I'm just glad it's all over," Mary said.
Gilbert's attorney, Dale Gabbard, said the next step will be arranging a hearing to determine child support and alimony.
-- By Carrie Weimar, Times staff writer
Previous stories:
- Elijah Dukes' troubled past
- Ballplayer's wife: He threatened me, kids
- Without cooperation, charges are unlikely
- Shelton column: Only we can stop cycle of violence
Elijah Dukes on Tuesday apologized to "family, teammates, the fans and the organization" for causing a distraction, though it took him two tries to get it done.
Dukes first stood on the field after batting practice, looking nervous in front of cameras and reporters and speaking without notes. "I feel like a movie star,'' he joked, and his words came out a bit jumbled.
About 90 minutes later, the team issued a written "clarification" in which Dukes said he was nervous and this is what he meant to say:
"I would like to apologize to my family, teammates, the fans and the organization for the distraction that this situation has caused. I would like to thank them for standing by me and hope that my family and I can move on and put this behind us.''
After the initial statement, Dukes answered some questions. Here is what was said:
Team spokesman Rick Vaughn: We’ll take any questions we have regarding baseball.
Q: How do you feel like you’ve played in this situation?
Dukes: Like I always play, 110 percent every day. And I play to win.
Q: Have you felt additional pressure?
Dukes: No pressure at all.
Q: What did you think of the reaction of the crowd (Monday) night?
Dukes: I don’t know if they’re saying “Dukes” or “Boo,” so it blends right in.
Q: Does it help to be out there (on the field) for 3 hours every night, is that what you look forward to?Dukes: I just look forward to winning, that’s it; just trying to win, and play hard every day. That’s all I look forward t
Q: You had the three-run homer the other night, the game-winner last night, have you been more focused on baseball in trying to put the other stuff out of your mind?
Dukes: The other stuff don’t ever weigh on my mind. When I step out on the field, that's all I concentrate on is just playing baseball. I’m always focused. When I step in between the lines, you have to be focused to play this game.
Q: Does baseball mean more to you now, even more?
Dukes: My family means the most to me. Baseball is a great love, but it’s always family first.
Elijah Dukes, who had the game-winning hit on Monday, is back in the Rays lineup on Tuesday, leading off and playing center. Dukes addressed the media following Monday's game, his first comments since the Times' report last week of allegations he threatened his wife and their children. Dukes apparently is going to address the media again today.
As for the rest of the lineup, Ty Wigginton has the night off. Here it is:
Dukes, cf
Upton, 2b
Crawford, lf
Norton, dh
Pena, 1b
Young, rf
Iwamura, 3b
Navarro, c
Harris, ss
When Devil Rays CF Elijah Dukes was introduced before his first at bat tonight, you couldn't quite tell if the fans here at Tropicana Field were booing him or chanting his last name, as they have in the past.
Dukes' first home game since his estranged wife accused him of threatening her and their kids' life didn't evoke a strong reaction from the Trop crowd either way. Fans around the seating bowl clapped, some cheered and others gave their version of the "Boooo/Duuukes" chant.
The fact of the matter is that the fan reaction wasn't strong either way.
Jonny Gomes was optioned to Triple-A Durham on Monday as the Rays activated 3B Akinori Iwamura from the DL, and Gomes was not happy about it, engaging in a loud argument with manager Joe Maddon.
"I'm pretty bummed out to tell you the truth,'' Gomes said. "I just thought there were at-bats for me here. So that was our disagreement. ... I'm the type of guy who is going to be real bitter outside the lines, but once I get back inside the lines it's game time.''
By sending down Gomes, the Rays made the decision to keep INF Jorge Cantu as a spare righthanded hitters and occasional DH.
Also, CF Elijah Dukes is starting Monday, marking his first appearance before the Tropicana Field crowd since Wednesday's Times report of allegations by his estranged wife that he threatened to kill her and their kids.
Devil Rays principal owner Stuart Sternberg said Sunday in Chicago that the team could still take disciplinary action and/or release OF Elijah Dukes, the subject of controversy since the Times last week reported allegations from his wife that he threatened to kill her and their children.
Sternberg said there was no time frame for a decision, and that it would be made as much, or more, based on what is in the best interests of Dukes and his family than the team's interests.
"No doors are closed at this point,'' Sternberg said in his first public comments on the situation. "But when we make whatever decision we will make, we are going to do it with the confidence that we're feeling it's in the best interests of the parties involved, and we will move on. We will move on with Elijah as a member of the Devil Rays organization that we will give as much assistance to as we possibly can and somebody to help him through whatever issues he has, or we will move on and he won't be part of the Devil Rays organization and we will do really fine and everything will be great. I'd like to think in a perfect world he can be part of all that and we can be part of helping him overcome and deal with the issues he's got and make him a good, productive citizen and father and husband and whatever it is he would like to do. That's a perfect world. That's what we're striving towards.''
Sternberg said when he first heard of the allegations in Wednesday's Times, "My immediate reaction was unprintable'''and that Dukes would have been let go. Sternberg considered the situation "deplorable'' but also said he believes that "life decisions" should not be made in snap judgment and that he was "glad" they didn't take immediate action.
Dukes sat out the first two games after the report, then returned to action Friday. The Rays were rained out Saturday and Dukes is in the lineup again Sunday.
Look for more on this in Monday's Times.
Saturday's game was postponed due to rain which had been falling much of the day. The game will be Aug. 27 at 1:05 p.m.
Officials here at U.S. Cellular Field haven't decided yet whether to start Saturday's game or postpone it due to rain. The rain has slowed, but the forecast does not look good for later in the evening. If there is no game, they are deciding between a doubleheader on Sunday or an Aug. 27 makeup.
The gates are open at U.S. Cellular Field but steady rain is falling and more is expected. A decision on whether to postpone the game is likely to be made around 6 p.m.
The gates are open at U.S. Cellular Field but steady rain is falling and more is expected. A decision on whether to postpone the game is likely to be made around 6 p.m.
The gates are open at U.S. Cellular Field but steady rain is falling and more is expected. A decision on whether to postpone the game is likely to be made around 6 p.m.
Elijah Dukes has not spoken to the media since Tuesday night, and that didn't change when he returned to the field Friday in dramatic fashion, hitting a three-run game-tying homer though the Rays lost. PR vice president Rick Vaughn asked Dukes if he wanted to answer questions, and Dukes told him no. Teammates were happy for Dukes, as Carl Crawford noted, "It's nice to see Elijah do something good after all that negative stuff.''
Dukes didn't appear to take much abuse from the Chicago fans, who obviously knew less about the controversy that has enveloped Dukes. He was heckled by a few fans in the outfield and appeared to take it well, flashing a smile to some. Some Rays said they did hear some fans making references to domestic violence, but there were no obvious incidents.
Manager Joe Maddon found some good in the loss, noting that Brian Stokes struck out Jermaine Dye in the ninth with a changeup, a pitch the Rays are trying to get him to have more confidence in. Even though Stokes has been on the mound for four game-winning homers and now a game-winning sacrifice fly, Maddon believes the rookie is making progress in the difficult on-the-job training of being a late-inning reliever.
Elijah Dukes returned to the Devil Rays lineup on Friday because manager Joe Maddon felt it was the right time. Dukes had not played since the report in Wednesday's Times in which Dukes' estranged wife claimed that he threatened to kill her and their kids.
After Dukes sat out the Wednesday and Thursday games, Maddon said he went back-and-forth on the decision before deciding to put Dukes in the lineup, playing centerfield and batting leadoff.
“I just want get back to playing baseball and put this thing behind us,'' Maddon said. "Believe me, a lot of thought has gone into this. I won’t deny that I’ve lost sleep over it – I have. It’s a very important decision, I think, and I did not take it lightly. But I felt today was the right day to move it along and have him start to participate again and see if we can get some normalcy.''
To keep Dukes - who has not been charged with a crime or disciplined by the team on the bench again, Maddon said, "then this could build into something a little more than it needs to be right now."
Maddon said that the team being on the road was a factor but not the prime one in his decision, that he made in consultation with executive VP Andrew Friedman. But Maddon also acknowledged that Dukes may get some tough treatment from what he described as a "very aware" Chicago fan base, but said Dukes would have to deal with it.
"Again, it’s getting back to normal, and he has to be able to handle the situation,'' Maddon said. "You can only hold hands so often and then it’s at the point where people have to deal with things on their own. So he’s going to have to go out there and deal with it too.''
Elijah Dukes is in the Devil Rays lineup for Friday's game, leading off and playing centerfield. It will be Dukes' first game action since Wednesday's report of allegations by his wife that he threatened to kill her and their kids. He was on the bench for that last two games at Tropicana Field.
Elijah Dukes was not in the Rays lineup for a second straight game Thursday, but manager Joe Maddon said Dukes is expected to accompany the team on the weekend trip to Chicago and will play during the three-game series against the White Sox.
Dukes, who has been in the headlines since his wife alleged in Wednesday's Times that he threatened to kill her and their kids, was in uniform and went through pre-game workouts on Thursday.
Maddon said the decision to not play Dukes again was his, and was made for several reasons.
"I felt it was the right thing to do right now,'' he said.
Maddon said he was "not necessarily concerned" about the reaction from the Tropicana Field crowd, but indicated that primary issue may have been Dukes' ability to focus on baseball.
"Overall what's occurred over the last couple days, maybe the lack of concentration on his part during the course of the game, or focus, whether or not that may be true or not, I'm still considering that,'' Maddon said.
Maddon said Dukes, who had taken over as the primary centerfielder, would play in Chicago but when asked if Dukes would return to the starting lineup said only" "I expect him to play in Chicago.''
Also Thursday, Maddon said that backup catcher Josh Paul could be out for up to two months due to a sprain of a ligament in his left elbow. Shawn Riggans was promoted from Triple-A Durham and joined the team Thursday.
Elijah Dukes was held out of the Rays lineup again Thursday. Rays manager Joe Maddon had said Wednesday Dukes was expected to play today. His absence is notable since Seattle is pitching a lefty, Horacio Ramirez. He is at the stadium and in uniform.
-- Marc Topkin
The wife of Devil Rays outfielder Elijah Dukes said she doesn't want to see her estranged husband go to jail for the verbal threats that prompted her to file a domestic violence injunction against the 22-year-old rookie.
Asked why NiShea Gilbert hasn't gone to the police with the threats -- which included a confrontation at her middle school job, a profanity-laced phone message and a cell phone message with a picture of a gun -- she said she simply wants Dukes to get help for his anger management problem.
“He needs help," Gilbert said. "I just want to see him get help."
Gilbert said she has not received contact from the Devil Rays or any law enforcement branch about the threats. She was, however, so inundated with calls at her job at Shields Middle School from media that she left early.
The Devil Rays issued the following statement regarding Elijah Dukes late Wednesday afternoon:
"The Devil Rays organization takes these types of allegations very seriously, but at this point it remains a private matter between Elijah and his family. We will continue to monitor the situation and provide ongoing assistance to Elijah."
Rays outfielder Elijah Dukes was at Tropicana Field and working out but is not in the starting lineup for the game against the Mariners. The team said he would not be available to the media today. About 4 p.m. he went into a 5-minute meeting with manager Joe Maddon. The Rays had made no additional comment on his situation in which his wife said he threatened her and their children. B.J. Upton is starting in centerfield and batting leadoff in Dukes' place.
After Monday's day off, the Devil Rays began a three-game series against the Seattle Mariners that will close out a nine-game home stand that included three games at Disney's Wide World of Sports in Orlando. Scott Kazmir is pitching tonight after manager Joe Maddon decided before Sunday's game to tinker with the starting rotation. Casey Fossum will start Wednesday, and Jae Seo on Thursday. Jarrod Washburn is pitching tonight for Seattle. The rest of the Rays' starting lineup tonight:
Dukes, CF
Upton, 2B
Crawford, LF
Wigginton, 3B
Harris, SS
Young, RF
Pena, 1B
Navarro, C
Cantu, DH
The Rays finish a three-game set with the Marlins today, and will do so with a bit of a lineup switch. Carl Crawford and B.J. Upton are out, with manager Joe Maddon saying he wanted to combine with tomorrow's off day to give the two some extra rest.
Dukes CF
Harris SS
Pena 1B
Wigginton 2B
Norton DH
Young RF
Navarro C
Gomes LF
Wilson 3B
SP: Shields vs Mitre
-- JOE SMITH
Manager Joe Maddon is stacking the lineup with righthanders against Marlins ace Dontrelle Willis. It looks like this:
Dukes,cf
Upton, 2b
Crawford, lf
Wigginton, 3b
Young, rf
Harris, ss
Cantu, 1b
Gomes, dh
Paul, c
The Rays seemed happy to be back at Trop for Friday's game with the Marlins. Greg Norton will make his first start of the season at DH. The rest of the lineup is somewhat familiar: Dukes, cf Upton, 2b Crawford,lf Wigginton, 3b Pena, 1b Norton, dh Young, rf Navarro, c Harris, ss Also, injured players Akinori Iwamura and Shinji Mori visited the clubhouse.
The Rays were still playing the last innings of Thursday's finale to the Disney series with Texas, but team president Matt Silverman said it already was a success.
Thursday’s game drew the biggest crowd of the three games, an announced 9,635, despite afternoon rain that forced battng practice to be canceled and the tarp to be put on the field. The total for the three games was 26,917 - an average of 8,972.
“It was a very successful visit to Central Florida,’’ Silverman said. “I think the fans come away with a taste of our brand of baseball and the type of entertainment in the ballpark we’re striving for. It was great exposure, high visibility for the team, and these three games got the attention of the market, which was a big priority of ours.’’
Disney vice president Reggie Williams said he considered the series “a big success’ and sounded interested in booking a return visit. “We welcome the conversation,’’ he said.
An afternoon rain came through, forcing the Rays and Rangers to cancel batting practice and hit in the cages beyond centerfield, but Thursday's game - the finale of the home-away-from-home series, is going to start just a few minutes late, and with no threat of further rain.
Scott Kazmir is on the hill for the Rays, who are looking for their first sweep of three or more games since last June 20-22, against Arizona.
With Rocco Baldelli officially placed on the disabled list, the Rays again have Elijah Dukes in centerfield, and have Greg Norton back on the bench. Manager Joe Maddon said Dukes will get most of the playing time in center, though he - somewhat reluctantly - will move B.J. Upton out there from second at times.
Josh Wilson got a start at third tonight, with Ty Wigginton getting something of a rest as the DH.
Norton is scheduled to be the DH on Friday against the Marlins, in a game that starts early - 6:40 p.m.
CF Rocco Baldelli was placed on the 15-day disabled list Thursday and replaced by Greg Norton, who has been sidelined since the end of spring training and right knee surgery. Baldelli, who strained his left hamstring, could be out as long as six weeks.
-- Marc Topkin
As homers go, it wasn't his most impressive, but Sammy Sosa moved a step closer to the milestone of 600 with a fourth-inning shot of Casey Fossum on Wedensday. The two-run blast also put the Rangers ahead 2-1.
Sosa now has 597 homers, three shy of becoming the fifth member of the 600 club. It was the second homer Sosa hit off Fossum. He also got number 585 on July 24, 2005.
LAKE BUENA VISTA -- It appears that Rays CF Rocco Baldelli is headed to the 15-day disabled list with a left hamstring strain after he was re-evaluated by team orthopedist Dr. Koco Eaton before Wednesday's game, but the team doesn't plan to place him on the DL Wednesday, choosing instead to wait for the outcome of an MRI to be conducted Thursday back in St. Pete, Rays executive vice president Andrew Friedman said.
Friedman said that Baldelli's injury is in the upper part of his hamstring, which takes less recovery time than the lower part, where Baldelli's past two hamstring strains have occured. Baldelli missed two months last season after straining the same hamstring during spring training and strained the other hamstring this spring training, but was ready for opening day. But the the lingering injury could still keep Baldelli out of action for weeks.
The Rays will play with 24 players today and if Baldelli heads to the DL, they will likely activate DH/1B Greg Norton for Thursday's game.
CF Rocco Baldelli appears headed to the 15-day disabled list according to manager Joe Maddon. Baldelli left Tuesday's game with a left hamstring strain. The Rays are likely to play shorthanded Wednesday and have a replacement, like Greg Norton, on hand Thursday. Baldelli was still sore on Wednesday and the Rays were waiting for final medical evaluation. Elijah Dukes and B.J. Upton will both see time in centerfield.
As of now, the Rays haven't made a roster move, which means they are still waiting to see how Rocco Baldelli feels after leaving Tuesday's game with a left hamstring strain. For tonight, Elijah Dukes will start in center and bat leadoff, and Jonny Gomes will get a chance to DH. Plus, B.J. Upton is moving up to second to get more protection. The lineup:
Dukes, cf
Upton, 2B
Crawford, lf
Wigginton, 3b
Pena, 1b
Harris, ss
Young, rf
Navarro, c
Gomes, dh
Crawford
There was a huge line of cars backed up and thousands of people streaming toward The Ballpark at Disney's Wide World of Sports complex a few hours before the second game of the Rays' home-away-from-home series.
But they were all headed to the Olympia High graduation on the Disney property. How many thousand show up for the 7:10 game will be a further barometer of whether this was a good idea for the Rays to come over.
At this time, there is no word yet on the status of CF Rocco Baldelli, who left Tuesday's game with a left hamstring strain. If he ends up on the DL, which seems most likely, expect Greg Norton to be activated, though he may be limited to DH and pinch-hitting duties.
The Orlando media gave the Rays a fair amount of play Wednesday morning, though with some interesting angles, such as columnist Mike Bianchi's observation on where the Rays' next stadium will be:
""In fact, you could say this is the best tactical move the Devil Rays have ever made. This is brilliant marketing strategy and shows that Sternberg is at least looking at the bigger picture. He's already gone on record as saying the Devils Rays want a new stadium in the next few years. And is there any question that stadium will be on the Tampa side of the Bay near the I-75/I-4 corridor -- within an hour's drive of Orlando?"
For more, check out: http://www.orlandosentinel.com/sports/columnists/orl-bianchi1607may16,0,3324216.column?coll=orl-sports-col
For a look at their main story, take a look at: http://www.orlandosentinel.com/sports/local/orl-devilrays1607may16,0,4732584.story?coll=orl-sports-headlines
Rays CF Rocco Baldelli left with a left hamstring strain after visibly favoring his left leg halfway up the first-base line during the Rays’ 4-3 10-inning win over the Rangers at the Ballpark at Disney’s Wide World of Sports Complex.
Baldelli, who has battled hamstring injuries in the past, will see team orthopedic physician Dr. Koco Eaton today and be re-evaluated.
“It’s tough,” Baldelli said. “Sometimes it doesn’t feel so bad. I give it a couple days and it improves and other times it doesn’t. … I’ll probably know more when I wake up in the morning.”
Baldelli missed the first two months of last season after straining the same hamstring in spring training. He also strained his right hamstring this spring, but Rays manager Joe Maddon has been able to give Baldelli more days off from CF duties this season with the emergence of fourth OF Elijah Dukes. Baldelli made 20 starts in CF and 15 at DH this season.
... 8443.
That was the announced attendance for Tuesday's first-ever game at The Ballpark at Disney's Wide World of Sports, far short of a sellout (the stadium holds 9,500 plus there's room for several thousand more on the berm and in standing room) but enough to please Rays principal owner Stuart Sternberg, who said it was "perfect.''
Slumping CF Rocco Baldelli left Tuesday game's after pulling up running to first base in the first inning with what the Rays said was a left hamstring strain. Baldelli has been bothered by hamstring problems over the last few seasons, missing more than two months at the start of the 2006 season with a left hamstring strain. With Tuesday's groundout, he has one hit in his last 40 atbats and his average is down to .204. With Elijah Dukes in the lineup as DH, manager Joe Maddon moved B.J. Upton from second to center. His only other option would have been to put Jonny Gomes in left or right and move Carl Crawford or Delmon Young to center, or to lose the DH.
There is a little more activity as game time approaches, with some short lines at the ticket windowns and about half the stands full. Principal owner Stuart Sternberg said around 4:30 that he expected every seat to be filled by the time the game starts. The Rays got their first look at the facility during batting practice and the feeling was that the infield was fast and the ball carried well.
Sammy Sosa is not in the Rangers lineup, a supposed regular day of rest. Sitting out Tuesday's game obviously reduces the changes he could hit the four homers he needs to reach 600 during this series.
The Rays have their somewhat normal lineup, though manager Joe Maddon waited a long time to post it:
Baldelli, cf
Dukes, dh
Crawford, lf
Wigginton, 3B
Upton, 2b
Pena, 1B
Young, rf
Navarro, c
Harris, ss
There are some Devil Rays in the dugout and some Rangers on the field getting ready for early batting practice, but otherwise it's pretty quiet here at The Ballpark at Disney's Wide World of Sports at around 2:30. There is a temporary electronic sign on Victory Way (the road that leads to the stadium) and a few small indicators as you get closer, but there is not much visible - yet anyway - that makes it seem like a special event, which the Rays certainly hope it is as they open a three-game series tonight with Texas.
The Disney crew worked hard over the weekend, hanging all kinds of new signage to the ballpark, replacing those of their own sponsors with those of the Rays, such as Tropicana, Checkers, Bud and Kane's - though no sign of the furniture showcase.
(Pictured: Rays owner Stuart Sternberg and president Matt Silverman share a laugh before the game between Tampa Bay and Texas Tuesday at the Wide World of Sports complex in Orlando. Times photo - Brian Cassella. Click to enlarge.)
more later ... .
Jesse Litsch, a former Devil Rays batboy and star at St. Petersburg's Dixie Hollins High, is being called up the Toronto Blue Jays and will make his major-league debut on Tuesday against Baltimore. Litsch has been pitching at Double-A New Hampshire, where he was 5-1 with an 0.96 ERA.
They've just opened up the roof here at Rogers Center as the sunlight and cool breeze quickly bustled into the dome.
The Rays hope to avoid back-to-back sweeps today in the series finale in Toronto. But they will likely need a solid effort from struggling RHP Jae Seo to get that victory.
An interesting side note: When the team flies home after today's game on the team charter, alcohol will not be served -- and the practice will continue on return flights for the rest of the season. In the wake of Cardinals pitcher Josh Hancock's death, major league teams have made adjustments to their policies on serving beer and alcohol and the Rays' decision is the latest.
Back to the game, in today's lineup, Carlos Pena, who homered Saturday, remains in the six spot behind B.J. Upton and Delmon Young down at seventh. Jonny Gomes will start at DH and hit ninth.
Today's full lineup
Baldelli, CF
Harris, SS
Crawford, LF
Wigginton, 3B
Upton, 2B
Pena, 1B
Young, RF
Navarro, C
Gomes, DH
It's 11 a.m. Saturday and the Rays have a quick turnaround in today's 1:07 game after last night's 5-1 loss to the Jays.
The Jays came into Friday's game 0-for-May and hobbling. A few more games like theyve been playing and people here are going to start counting the days until Argonauts season. On Friday, the Rays ran the bases well and had runners in scoring position but were 0-for-8 with RISP, giving starter Scott Kazmir little help.
Meanwhile, we had little help here in the press box. The wireless here at Rogers Center was as unstable as the Blue Jays' injury-riddled roster, so The Heater was chillin'. But we'd like to welcome the Rogers Center into the 21st century because the internet is cruising, finally proving to us -- as the ads onf the centerfield walls here say -- that Rogers is, indeed, Canada's most reliable wireless network.
Enough of that. Joe Maddon moved B.J. Upton to CF for today's game, giving Elijah Dukes a day off (Rocco Baldelli will be DH). SS Brendan Harris moves up to second in the lineup while Ty Wigginton moves from 3B to 2B, officially beginning the Josh Wilson era. Wilson will make his first Rays start today at 3B and bat ninth.
The full lineup:
Baldelli, DH
Harris, SS
Wigginton, 2B
Upton, CF
Pena, 1B
Young, RF
Navarro, C
Wilson, 3B
Did you know? The Rays and Blue Jays combined for 11 homers in a three-game series
last month at Tropicana Field, accounting for 20 of the 33 runs in the
series. Did you know? Camden curse edition: The Rays' 1-0 loss Wednesday marked the first time they were shut
out on the road since Aug. 25, also at Camden Yards. And Thursday's
loss left them 4-17 in Baltimore over the past two seasons. What to watch for tonight ...
A.J. okay: Blue Jays starter A.J. Burnett is 5-1 with a 2.79 ERA in nine starts against the Devil Rays.
C.C. vs. A.J.: Few Rays have hit well against Burnett. The exception is Carl Crawford at .353 (6-for-17).
Before the Rays' series finale here in Baltimore, the team claimed infielder Josh Wilson off waivers from the Nationals. The Rays will make a corresponding move after tonight's game, but more than likely that move would be to send SS Ben Zobrist down to Triple-A Durham because it's unlikely the team would carry three players who play shortstop.
Wilson, a former third-round selection of the Marlins in 1999, was 1-for-19 and five errors in 15 games with the Nats this season, but manager Joe Maddon said before today's game that Wilson was a player who the Rays brass liked given his past hitting -- He hit 18 doubles and 10 homers in 89 games last season in Triple-A.
The Josh Wilson era in Tampa Bay will begin tonight, when he is scheduled to arrive in Baltimore in time for the team's postgame flight to Toronto.
In the meantime, here's tonight's lineup:
Baldelli, CF
Dukes, DH
Crawford, LF
Wigginton, 3B
Upton, 2B
Young, RF
Pena, 1B
Navarro, C
Harris, SS
Yes, Devil Rays fans, Aubrey Huff got the best of you tonight.
When Huff stepped to the plate in the bottom of the 10th inning against struggling Rays reliever Brian Stokes, I have to admit I had the feeling Huff might hit a walkoff. We've all seen it from Huff in the past when he was wearing a Devil Rays uniform. And veteran hitters -- which Huff is -- can smell a lack of confidence in a pitcher when they enter the batter's box.
And Huff went the other way on Stokes' 1-1 delivery, an pitch -- definitely elevated -- that caught just too much of the outside half of the plate.
"That's all I had when I hit it," Huff said. "I didn't know I had gotten enough of it. The ball hasn't been carrying well that much this year. I was hoping I got enough."
Huff had some kind words for Rays RHP James Shields, who pitched the best game of his career Wednesday night, saying that the 25-year-old was "dealing" all night.
"I've seen him come up in Tampa and it seems to me he's throwing his changeup for a strike more," Huff said. "He's not throwing his fastball down the middle like he did as he was younger. It seems like with him, he's painting the outside, inside, outside changeup. He's got a plus changeup. Honestly, it's probably one of the best 10 percent in the league, I think. When he's throwing that for strikes and working both sides of the plate, he's real tough."
Ironically enough both Shields and Rays manager Joe Maddon said Shields didn't throw his changeup as much Wednesday, relying heavily on his low-90s fastball. Shields said he threw maybe less than 10 changeups all game. Maybe that made the pitch even more valuable.
Rays pitcher Juan Salas just released his first statement after testing positive for a performance-enhancing substance and receiving a 50-game suspension at part of MLB's joint drug prevention and treatment program.
The statement was just released through the Devil Rays.
"I deeply regret that this situation occured and appreciate the outpouring of support around me. I also regret any distraction or embarrassment that I have caused to my family, my teammates, the Devil Rays organization and the fans. I remain fully committed to the Devil Rays organization and to the game I love."
The Devil Rays hope to end their recent struggles at Camden Yards tonight with RHP James Shields on the mound. Tonight's lineup looks a lot like the one we've grown to seen, but with Jorge Cantu in the game at 1B hitting seventh against LHP Erik Bedard. Elijah Dukes will be in CF and Rocco Baldelli will be the DH because Dukes seems to hit better when he's playing in the field.
Pregame talk focused around Carl Crawford's ball last night that bounced off the top of the right-center field fence, back off a second fence beyond it out of play and back onto the playing field. Second-base umpire Jerry Crawford, a 30-year-old veteran who is one of the most respected umpires in the game, ruled the hit a double. Replays showed otherwise very clearly, raising the question of instant replays.
Crawford was still talking about the hit before Rays batting practice on Wednesday.
"If they were watching the centerfielder they would have seen it," Crawford said. "He didn't even try to make a play. ... I know this is a useless cause. Why argue? It's like, why give myself a headache? You just already know with our team. We never get anything reversed."
Crawford will hit third tonight. Here's the full lineup:
Baldelli, DH
Dukes, CF
Crawford, LF
Wigginton, 3B
Upton, 2B
Young, RF
Cantu,1B
Navarro, C
Harris, SS
The Rays take on the Orioles here at Camden Yards for a 7:05 start without pitcher Juan Salas, who will serve first of a 50-game suspension for failing a drug test tonight. Players were shocked when they heard the news of Salas' suspension when they arrived at the Trop Monday evening, but the consensus was that if he broke the rules of MLB's joint drug prevention and treatment program, he has to serve the time. Manager Joe Maddon said Salas is in the Dominican Republic now before returning to workout at the Naimoli Complex, but no once has talked to him individually.
Tonight's full lineup:
Badelli, CF
Dukes, DH
Crawford, LF
Wigginton, 3B
Upton, 2B
Young, RF
Pena, 1B
Navarro, C
Harris, SS
Seo, RHP
The Devil Rays eventually will need a new stadium to replace Tropicana Field.
But they're not expecting one anytime soon.
Principal owner Stuart Sternberg on Tuesday clarified comments in a New York Times story, saying there is no deadline for a new ballpark and he will stick to his promise to never demand one. But he also said he doesn't think the Trop, which opened in 1990, can be the team's home for the remaining 20 years on its lease.
"I know we have to be here at least five years and I know we can't be here for 20,'' Sternberg said. "It does not have a shelf life of 20. ... Now that we've been in here a little bit longer and done all the improvements, we can really see the issues structurally within the building. It's not an option that it will last another 15 or 20 years.''
Sternberg and his group have invested about $18-million in stadium related upgrades over the last two years with the idea the team would be at the Trop for awhile. "We didn't do that to amortize it over a five-year period,'' he said.
Sternberg said the idea of a new stadium is not a priority issue, but more something he and his top officials talk about on occasion. With the recent - and thus far unsuccessful - efforts to get state funding for a new south Florida stadium for the Marlins, as well as the renovations to the Rays' new spring training home in Port Charlotte, he acknowledged that the subject has been more topical.
"We'll focus on it more as time goes by,'' Sternberg said. "Something of this magnitude, it really isn't anything I've spent a lot of time on. I have thought about it. Nothing can be done overnight. It's in the background. We know it's there. We chat about it - how and what.''
When Sternberg took over the team in October 2005 he pledged he would never demand a new stadium, and Tuesday he reiterated that promise. "Absolutely,'' he said. "I was extra clear a year and a half ago, and nothing has changed.''
He did say Tuesday that he might initiate the conversation, but that any effort would have to have the support of the Tampa Bay area and the state.
"I might present ideas to other people but it's in conjunction with the region,'' he said. "Given the scope of the project it's got to make economic sense and it's got to make civic sense. If we do our job right as an organization (in improving the franchise), I would expect that it would make it that much easier and that much clearer that it would be the right thing for the municipalities and the Devil Rays.''
The Rays are in their 10th season at the downtown St. Petersburg stadium.
Comments made by Rays principal owner Stuart Sternberg in a New York Times story published today raised questions about the future of the Rays at Tropicana Field. Although he made no threats to move the team or suggestions for a new stadium, Sternberg said,“We recognize (the Trop) has a shelf life of five years.”
"How do we make the best of this thing?'' Sternberg said in the article, which appeared one week before the Rays are scheduled to play three games against the Texas Rangers at Disney's Wide World of Sports complex in Orlando. "It wasn't built to last 30 to 40 years'
Sternberg added, "Baseball does not feel right indoors.''
Check out the story here, and tell us what you think:
Not many details have come out yet about the 50-game suspension of reliever Juan Salas for testing positive for a performance-enhancing substance. Under rules of the drug program, neither MLB nor players union officials are allowed to discuss specifics, and neither can the team. The only people who can speak up are Salas and agent Myles Kahn, and they apparently are not returning calls. Until they do, no one will know Salas' side of the story.
As it is now, he is suspended immediately and would be eligible to return July 2. He'll lose about one-third of his $382,200 salary. The Rays will add Tim Corcoran to the roster on Tuesday to take his space. They already were bringing up Chad Orvella to replace Ruddy Lugo.
All major-league players are subject to a test within the first five days of spring training, and then at least one additional random test. Under the program, a player's opportunity to appeal comes before the punishment is announced so Salas has no recourse. He is expected to spend much of his time off at the team's minor-league complex in St. Petersburg so he can continue working out to be in shape for his return.
The suspension was announced shortly before the Rays met at Tropicana Field for the trip to Baltimore. Veteran reliever Al Reyes, speaking to the Times' Eduardo Encina in the lobby of the team's hotel, said he and others found out when the arrived at the ballpark. "I'm surprised,'' he said.
Rays pitcher Juan Salas has been suspended 50 games for testing positive for a performance- enhancing substance, Major League Baseball announced today. The suspensions will take effect beginning with Tuesday's game at Baltimore.
"The Tampa Bay Devil Rays fully support Major League Baseball's drug-testing policy ,''the Rays said in a statement. "We will do all we can to help Juan get his career headed back on a positive course. ''
Stay tuned for more updates.
Reliever Ruddy Lugo didn't get better quickly enough to save his job. Lugo seemed to emerge from a season-long slump on Saturday and pitched well again on Sunday, but the Rays after the game optioned him to Triple-A Durham. A corresponding move will be announced on Monday, with RHPs Tim Corcoran and Chad Orvella the most likely candidates. Lugo was 2-0 with a 9.28 ERA.
Carl Crawford won't be in leftfield today as manager Joe Maddon is giving him a day off his feet, using Crawford as his DH. Elijah Dukes will make his first start in leftfield with Rocco Baldelli going back to centerfield. Crawford said he welcomed the break, though his career numbers as a DH aren't particularly good - a .150 average by going 6-for-40.
Saturday's win was the 12th time the Rays have come from behind to come out on top, the most in the majors. It was also the third time this season they came from behind in the ninth inning to win, matching the Tigers, Mets and A's for most in the majors and matching their total such wins from last year.
The Rays have a similar lineup planned for Friday as they seek their first three-game winning streak.
B.J. Upton begins play as the leading hitter in the AL.
The lineup:
Baldelli, dh
Dukes, cf
Crawford, lf
Wigginton, 3b
Upton, 2b
Young, rf
Pena, 1b
Navarro, C
Harris, ss
Twins manager Ron Gardenhire talks a lot about the "baseball gods." He joked following his team's 9-1 loss at the Trop that his players were still waiting for the ball that Carlos Pena planted in the catwalk above home plate to come down. The classic photo in the paper today was befuddled Twins catcher Joe Mauer looking up for the ball.
And sure enough, when the Twins came out for their pregame stretch moments ago, most players were still looking to the sky, pointing to the spot where they thought Pena's ball disappeared. Having played years in the Metrodome with the giant baggy in right field, the Twins have had their share of home-dome bounces, but this time they're still waiting for an answer from up above.
On to game three of this series. In Rays are in third place for the first time since August, 2004 and can take a series from the Twins for just the second time in the past six years.
Today's lineup will look slightly differet, with Joe Maddon giving Delmon Young his first day off of the season and rewarding Jonny Gomes' early work with a start in RF. Also, Elijah Dukes will be in center, giving Rocco Baldelli DH duties.
The full lineup:
Baldelli, DH
Dukes, CF
Crawford, LF
Wigginton, 3B
Upton, 2B
Pena, 1B
Gomes, RF
Navarro, C
Harris, SS
Big surprise in Thursday's lineup - Jonny Gomes makes his first start in the outfield, playing rightfield with Delmon Young getting his first day off.
The happiest person in the ballpark after the Devil Rays win on Wedensday had to be SS Ben Zobrist. It's been a tough week for Zobrist, losing his starting shortstop job to Brendan Harris and having an uncharecteristically poor game in the field on Sunday. And there he was Wednesday, pinch-running in the 10th inning, when he flat out trips going around third.
But Zobrist got a break when pinch-hitter Dioner Navarro hit a just slow enough grounder to shortstop and Zobrist alertly broke on contact and slid in ahead of the throw to score the winning run.
"I would have felt terrible,'' Zobrist said. "That was the first time, and you guys got to see it.''
Manager Joe Maddon's take: "The sniper got him coming around third and he just went down.''
The Rays improved to 12-15 and moved into third place in the AL East, the latest into a season they've been that high in the standings since 2004.
Rays 2B B.J. Upton might have made a pair of costly mistakes in the field in Tuesday's 9-1 loss to the Twins, but it seems like he's found a home in the No. 6 spot. Upton will make his third straight start in the sixth hole tonight. C Josh Paul also makes a spot start for Dioner Navarro, hitting in the ninth spot.
The full lineup:
Baldelli, CF
Dukes, DH
Crawford, LF
Wigginton, 3B
Young, RF
Upton, 2B
Pena, 1B
Harris, SS
Paul, C
A few things of note:
-- Tonight will feature the two leaders in AL batting average -- a pair that are separated by the slimmest of margins. Minnesota's Joe Mauer is batting .378 and Upton .377.
-- Injured Rays DH/IB Greg Norton, recovering from right knee surgery, will report to Double-A Montgotmery for a rehab assignment and will be in the lineup for the Biscuits game Friday. Rays manager Joe Maddon said he will have about 27 to 30 at bats there while playing 1B and being the DH.
-- Despite being on the DL with an left oblique strain, Rays 3B Akinori Iwamura finished a close second in AL Rookie of the Month voting. Red Sox reliever Hideki Okajima won the award.
-- Reds outfielder and former Rays first-round draft pick Josh Hamilton was voted the NL Rookie of the Month for April. His .609 slugging percentage led all rookies, as did his six homers. His 13 RBIs tied for the major league lead among rookies.
The Rays will try to get back to solid baseball Wednesday.
Rocco Baldelli is back in centerfield, which means Elijah Dukes will try the DH role again. Brendan Harris is at SS and red-hot B.J. Upton stays in the No. 6 hole.
The full lineup:
Baldelli, cf
Dukes, dh
Crawford, lf
Wigginton, 3b
Young, rf
Upton, 2b
Pena, 1b
Harris, ss
Paul, c
 Follow the Rays through spring training and the season with Marc Topkin, Joe Smith and the Times sports staff. We invite your participation in the comments area.
E-mail Marc: topkin@sptimes.com |
Recent Comments