Zobrist headed to DL; Orvella and Birkins too

INF Ben Zobrist appears headed to the disabled list - and thus Elliot Johnson to the opening day roster - after Monday's exam showed that Zobrist's fractured left thumb had not improved enough for him to resume playing.
"It's not fully healed yet,'' Zobrist said. "It's just a waiting game from here on out.''
There's been nothing official yet from the Rays, but Zobrist hasn't been able to swing a bat since the injury on March 9, and is going to need at least several days of at-bats to get ready, which means he'll likely have to make a minor-league rehab appearance. His next checkup isn't until next Monday - and it isn't in Baltimore.
"This type of thing, it just takes a while,'' Zobrist said. "And you don't want to rush it because if you do, there is a chance of displacing it, and then you have to get a pin put in it and everything else.''
With Zobrist out, it appears to clear a space for Johnson, whose strong play (.463 average, .511 on-base percentage, 1.145 OPS) has been one of the stories of the spring for the Rays.
Johnson, who hit .207 at Durham last season, would fill Zobrist's role as the "super utilityman,'' playing wherever needed in the infield and outfield.
Earlier manager Joe Maddon said it was "more than likely" that relievers Chad Orvella (right shoulder) and Kurt Birkins (left elbow) would also open the season on the DL. Neither figured to make the squad.
And that's in addition to LHP Scott Kazmir and OF Rocco Baldelli, who are also both expected to be placed on the DL. Teams can backdate a 15-day DL move to March 21 and players can be active by April 5.

Comments

[Roberta]

Ben Zobrist ended up being a fantastic player this year. Not many people expected him to do much of anything. Some callled him a "disruption" to the team. Some fans said, "why ruin a good thing, Bartlett is doing great." I knew Ben Zobrist would come back with vengence for the team. I had complete faith he would go beyond the target this season, and the Rays may have not gotten into the playoffs without him. I am glad that Joe Maddon FINALLY realized this, and let him play more near the end of the season and in the world series. I do believe that Maddon put him "in the box" too late in the last game they played against the Phillies with one out, and thier last chance to win. I think that put far too much pressure on him at the last moment. Although I did read that Maddon mensioned using Ben that night, but did Ben really hold his breath on a maybe?? He made an excellent hit, but was caught. Ben Zobrist has great potential, but can not be "just thrown out" at such a critical time unless he starts or has a few innings to "feel" the game. There have been a few times where he hit hard, but they were not games with such steam cooker pressure. Ben has it, just let him play more, and start more from the begining of the 2009 season.