Crawford still out, Harris moved to second

All-Star LF Carl Crawford said the MRI on his sore right wrist didn't show any serious injuries, but he was still in pain and would miss at least one more game. Crawford was in the batting cage on the field at around 3:30 taking a few somewhat controlled swings and said he didn't feel right: "It still hurts a little.''
Crawford said he hopes to return to the lineup on Tuesday (when the Rays face former batboy Jesse Litsch), and that watching games from the bench is "just as bad as standing out in leftfield when we're losing 17-4.''

Meanwhile, Brandon Harris has been moved from shortstop, where he started for the last 3 1/2 month, to second base. Ben Zobrist gets his first start since coming back tonight at SS, and manager Joe Maddon said he will use Zobrist and Josh Wilson at shortstop, splitting time based on that day's pitching matchup. "Shortstop by committee,'' Maddon said.

RHP Dan Wheeler, the Rays new reliever, is here and ready for action as well. And, for those who like reading into things, he was given the number he wores in Houston - 35, which earlier this seaon was used by none other than troubled OF Elijah Dukes.

No word yet on additional trades, but exec VP Andrew Friedman will addess the media soon. He was to do so during Rays batting practice, then asked for a delay untl around 6:15, which could mean he has news.

The lineup, which includes three hitters at the bottom with a combined average of .541 (Navarro .193, Norton .189, Zobrist .159) :

Iwamura,3b
Harris, 2b
Upton, cf
Pena, 1b
Young, rf
Gomes, lf
Norton, dh
Navarro, c
Zobrist, ss

 

Comments

[Bill]

Why move Harris? He's been a stud at SS.

[Richard Ventresca]

Haris is a stud with the bat; defensively he hasn't been that great. His range factor is 3rd worst in MLB, his zone rating is worst in MLB, and his fielding percentage is 18th out of 25 possible leaders in MLB. We need his bat in there, but realistically he should be allowed some time to develop at SS as the alternatives haven't shown much promise at bat or otherwise.