Percival could be headed to DL

Rays closer Troy Percival could be headed to the disabled list after falling down on the mound and leaving Wednesday's game as a result of tightness in his troublesome left hamstring.
Percival left the stadium immediately after the game to get an MRI, though the Rays don't plan to make any announcement until Thursday.
"We're just keeping our fingers crossed,'' reliever Dan Wheeler said. "He seemed in good spirits and he doesn't think it's too bad. Hopefully we'll be able to hold the fort down while he's gone and make sure we continue this winning baseball. He's a big part of what we've done.''
At the least, Percival seems likely to be sidelined a few days, so it would not be a surprise to see RHP Grant Balfour, who has been pitching extremely well at Triple-A Durham (1-0, 8 saves, 0.38 ERA, 1 run in 23 2/3 innings) in the clubhouse Thursday. (The Rays could send down INF Ben Zobrist to make room, then just wait a few extra days before activating INF Willy Aybar from the DL.)
Percival was one out from his 15th save when he fell on the mound after delivering a third strike to Brandon Boggs for the second out of the ninth inning, his eighth pitch of the inning. He tried throwing a warmup pitch to test the hamstring, but shook his head and walked directly to the clubhouse. Percival had tightness in his hamstring during a game in Oakland last week.
"Same spot, same thing, it just tightened up on him,'' manager Joe Maddon said.

[James Borchuck, Times]

Comments

[Bodog]

Gene - have ya ever attended a Bucs game at 1:00 or 4:00 in the evening, it's hot, humid, good CHANCE of thunderstorm, lighting, and the stands are full. Dude, I'm African American and hell even I got a tan. Ya'll need to get off the crap about the weather and the outdoor stadium. If you don't wanna watch a game in the outdoor stadium - stay home. I love the ideal of an outdoor stadium. I will vote YES in November. If the majority of the people vote NO, I'll be fine with that as well. But ya need to keep in mind that a No vote could start the process of my beloved Rays leaving our City. A new Stadium will get us an All Star game. Ya'll just need to look at the long term effects a new stadium will bring to our city. St. Petersburg is a MLB City and we need to start acting like one. We are one of thirty or so teams to carry that HONOR.

[Gene]

Bodog, Rocky is right. the Rays themselves published data showing that the Heat Index/Comfort level of Al Lang field throughout the summer is worse than every stadium except Arlington, and we would have more rain delays/outs than them. They have to spend the money for a fully retractable roof to make that work. In the mean time, let's hope for fast recovery for Percy and strong arm for Reyes!

[Al]

hey man, what about me?
I dont want to see no Grant Ball-Four up here again .... he good minor league player but tha is it!

[Brian]

I would like to say to our friends in Louisiana and California that we are ringing our cow bells up here in Maine. I have fought Red Sox Nation for a few years and have gotten little respect; this year has been a little different. Also, I recently paid the high cost of jet fuel, rental car, hotel, and gas to watch four games in St. Petersburg (my former home) while working in the social services (we don't get paid a lot). I hope the anger and pot shots in Tampa Bay end and the community can begin to realize how special this is.

[matt]

this is not good. wheeler is not a closer...anyone know of danny baez's whereabouts?

[raysfan]

bodog you have the right attitude.

[Bodog]

Rocky - Get off the heat thing, the majority starting time for Rays games are 7:05 p.m., of the 80 plus home games - maybe 10 or so are gonna be played during the day. Tell ya what, when the new stadium is built and the Rays play a day game, dress like you're going to the beach, slap on the old suntan oil, have a beer and witness history. Shitz!

[rocky]

get well percy, was at game today
with some of my friends. No way I
would have gone if it was outside,
93, hot, humid, sunny. It is obvious the
new outdoor stadium braintrusts don't live
here.

[Scot Rasnick]

I hope that Percy and Reyes both can get healthy soon and help the team out in what looks to be an exciting season for the Rays this year. I think we should bring Salas up with the club in the mean time he was great last year. Good luck this weekend against the white sox,GO RAYS!! And to you folks down in the Bay area go to the game root on the RAYS!!

[Bob]

Bet if the rays had that new field he would not have gotten hurt. Wow 12K at the game today, must have been giving away somthing free today.

[skp]

hoping for the best, but honestly i'll be surprised if percival and reyes make it to the end of the year healthy and pitching effectively...if you're pitching almost every night after the age of 37 or so, you're playing on borrowed time...ride the horses while we've got 'em, but we should be ready to win without those 2 guys or we're in trouble.

[Tanya]

Amen John in New Orleans. Ditto all that from California. And... I'm having a really good time hassling people in NYY and Red Sox caps.

Best of luck to Percy. Hurry back.

[yo]

dale thayer is a joke he has a whip of 1.48 and balfour has a high whip bring up salas he has the best reliever in the second half last year

[John]

C'mon Tampa/St. Pete...get behind this team and buy a ticket for goodness sakes! These boys are playing their hearts out and we can't seem to put butts in the seats to watch them "RULE THE AL EAST"!!! I was at my desk (I'm military...NAVY...in Louisiana) with my cowbell blangin' and my Rays hat on (it's still green) watching the Rays on the tube WIN AGAIN!

GEAUX RAYS!!! (Yeah, I'm in New Orleans)

[Edgar]

Call up Grant Balfour or Dale Thayer to take the roster spot and let Glover go; I have seen enough of him. If Percival goes on the DL
this is my bullpen

Howell
Hammel
Miller
Reyes
Wheeler
Balfour/Thayer

Dale Thayer is getting overlooked by the organization. Give him a shot. See what he can do.

I don't get the facination of Willy Aybar coming back. Put Aybar where he belongs as a backup infielder and leave Longoria at 3B and Barlett at SS.
Send Zobrist to AAA.

[yo]

i say bring up salas he has pitched 5 straight scoreless outing in aaa and did well last year birkins has a 9 era since being sent down also balfour has an .38 era in aaa but hes not on the 40 man roster and was incosistent last year whereas salas was pretty good

[Chris]

Amen to Paul's comments. Glover is fighting it and I don't want to see our bullpen backslide to last year's form. I'm still not sold that Reyes wasn't a one hit wonder last year either although he does provide closer experience at the big league level.

[raysfan]

get well percy...

[Paul]

Get well soon Percy!

If he is headed to the DL, which seems likely, I would like to see the Rays slide Wheeler to closer, bring back Kurt Birkins and take a chance on letting Glover clear waivers after DFA. (And then getting him to Durham to get things straightened out - I think we still need him long term). But, we're in an actual pennant race, and a game or two now are just as important as a game in Sept., hard to trust Glover in tight game situations right now.