Ouch: Floyd to DL, too

The injuries just keep coming for the Rays, with the news Wednesday that DH Cliff Floyd will have surgery Friday to repair a tear in the medial meniscus in his right knee, was placed on the 15-day DL and replaced on the roster by OF Justin Ruggiano.
That follows Tuesday night's move to RHP Matt Garza on the DL with irritation of the radial nerve in his right arm.
Both could be out 4-6 weeks, according to manager Joe Maddon.
"Not a good news day for the Rays,'' he said.
Floyd was scratched from the lineup Monday in New York with the Rays said was right knee soreness, but was said to be available to pinch-hit the last two games. But the soreness apparently persisted, and he underwent an MRI on Wednesday that showed the tear. Though Maddon said Floyd, 35, is likely to miss 4-6 weeks, Floyd said he hoped to be back in about three. Floyd started four games and was hitting .333 with two homers and 5 RBIs.
Ruggiano was an early cut in spring training, but was the first option to be recalled since he is already on the 40-man roster. In six games at Durham, Ruggiano was hitting .304 with one homer and 6 RBIs. He wil start tonight in rightfield, and figures to be out there against lefthanded pitchers, with Jonny Gomes as the DH.
Againts righthanded starters, the Rays are planning to use Eric Hinske at DH and Nathan Haynes in rightfield, Maddon said.
The Rays now have eight players on the DL: starters Scott Kazmir and Garza, catcher Dioner Navarro, infielder Ben Zobrist, outfielders Rocco Baldelli and Floyd, and relievers Kurt Birkins and Chad Orvella. Three have been hurt since the season started nine days ago - Floyd, Garza and Navarro.

Also:

* Scott Kazmir will throw another batting practice session before advancing to minor-league games, which would seem to push his projected return back to the end of April. The Rays had talked about moving him next to an extended spring game but Maddon said made a "cumulative call" to have him throw another BP session.

* Garza had an MRI on his right arm that he said showed "everything's fine" but he won't throw for at least five days, and will be reevaluated in two weeks. He also said he plans to be cautious in his comeback after seeing how former Twins teammate Francisco Liriano was injured.

* Jae Kuk Ryu was called up from Triple-A Durham to help out the heavily used bullpen for the next several days, but the Rays are saying they are likely to have someone else take Garza's next start on Sunday. Maddon ruled out long reliever J.P. Howell, which sure makes it seem likely that Jeff Niemann will be called up from Triple-A to make his first major-league start on Sunday.

As for tonight's lineup:
Iwamura, 2b
Crawford, lf
Pena, 1b
Upton, cf
Gomes, dh
Aybar, 3b
Riggans, c
Ruggiano, rf
Bartlett, ss
Andy Sonnanstine is starting.

- MARC TOPKIN, Times staff writer

Comments

[raysfan]

good grief this is ridiculous.

[Josh]

Can we sign Bonds now please?

[DJ]

It's disappointing, but perhaps this will allow a player or two to step up and have an unexpected, positive impact. Here's hoping the team will weather this spate of injuries just fine.

[nick]

Juan Pierre is just rding the pine in LA right? lets make a play for him

[Jones]

Juan Pierre...that's a good one. Let's get the most overpaid player in the game. Pierre is a terrible baseball player, we'd be better off signing Ben Grieve

[PrimeTime]

A second for Bonds while he's still in hitting shape. Just put in a clause that says he gets paid as long as he's not in jail.

[Bodog]

The injuries to Kaz, Navi, Ben, and Garza are unfortunate and unexpected. But Floyd, we knew was gonna end up on the DL sometime this season. Let's hope the boys can stay in the hunt until those injured can come around. Navi was having a pretty good start to the season.

[Bodog]

Why is it that most folkzs on this blog are angry at Maddon for those couple of move he made with walking Ibenez to get oat Sexson. At some point this season, pitchers are going to realize that it takes three strikes to put a batter away or make a pitch to get the hitter to put the ball on the ground. These young pitchers and catchers are going to need to learn how to pitch to a batter in a given situation. Hell, I'd rather pitch to Sexson than Ibenez in those situations anytime of the year.

[Ben]

HAHAHAHAHA Are all you IDIOTS seeing the light now? Bunch of scrubs as usual. New stadium-WHY? Same old product.

[Brandon]

bring longoria to the show

[Jason]

T its on a boar are not useless. Express unreasonable disappointment in the D-Rays after 7 games all you want, but I will not stand by while you take shots at boar t its.

[C. Lamar]

I think Juan Guzman is available.

[Trzy]

Ruggiano is our option at right field? Jonny Gomes woulda caught that ball.

[Sammi]

Cliff Floyd to the DL? What a shock! He should have DL monogrammed on his bathrobe instead of CF since he's on it so much...

[kyle]

Dennis Springer is still throwing somewhere. Call him.

[Jesse]

Yeah Floyd has spent the better part of the past 2 seasons on the DL..When hes healthy he'll produce...Bring on Barry..Why not?? Have him DH, and give Gomes the start in RF for 3 games then throw Hinske in there for a game or 2 to rest gomes..Keep a good rotation like they did when Rocco was healthy (WHEN HE WAS HEALTHY) thats another sad story in itself..See yall at the trop Fri, Sat n Sunday!!

[JB]

Where are all the Devil Ray Fans.. Last night only 12000 showed up. Crawford is hitting .167.. Hey Carl worry about your Bat and not Delmon.

no Pitching No Hitting bad fielding, hey and they have lost 4 straight and are in Last Place.. we are in Mid-season Form

JB

[Same ole Shiite Muslim]

Paper-thin pitching (still)

Aki and CC both slow out of the gate

$6+ million investment in a broked!ck OF who isn't even a full-time player

move the team to TAMPA

[Brian]

Enough about holding down the fort, the guys that are playing need to get after it!