Bartlett's back; Percival's out 2-4 weeks

UPDATE, 7:10: It's still not clear exactly what's wrong with closer Troy Percival's right knee, but exec VP Andrew Friedman said he is expected to be out 2-4 weeks.

Friedman said there is "cartilage involvement" that is "not a tear,'' and that a decision will be made, probably not until Monday, on whether Percvial should have surgery, or go through rehab and get a cortisone shot. The decision will be made after the Rays doctor, Koco Eaton, confers with the Rangers doctor, Keith Meister, who did Friday's exam and MRI. Either way, Friedman said it will be a 2-4 week absence, which could sideline Percival into mid-September.

Juan Salas, fittingly, was late showing up on Friday, though due to a flight delay. He was to arrive at the stadium by gametime.

UPDATE, 6:38: Percival says he might need arthroscopic surgery to repair the cartilage problem, but in the worst case scenario would still be out only about three weeks, which would put him back in the bullpen for most of the September run. He said there is also a chance he could get a shot to manage the pain and not need to have it repaired.

Rays executive VP Andrew Friedman is expected to provide a more detailed update later today.

Also, manager Joe Maddon was rather emphatic that Grant Balfour will NOT just assume the closer's job, and that the Rays will use several relievers to finish games, including Balfour, Dan Wheeler, J.P. Howell and Chad Bradford.

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With RHP Troy Percival on the DL and RHP Juan Salas joining the bullpen, the Rays will try to guarantee a winning roadtrip tonight with the first of three games against the Rangers, who hit well and pitch poorly.

Jason Bartlett is back in the Rays starting lineup for the first time since Aug. 3, when he was hit by a pitch and sustained a bruised right index finger. As a result, Ben Zobrist is off.

So is C Dioner Navarro, who went 3-for-12 on the Oakland series and saw his average drop below .300 (.299) for the first time this season. Shawn Riggans is catching.

Also, major-league RBI leader Josh Hamilton did return to the Rangers after missing Thursday's game to be with his wife for the birth of their daughter, and is in the lineup.

The lineup:
Iwamura, 2b
Upton, cf
Pena, 1b
Floyd, dh
Aybar, 3b
Hinske, lf
Gross, rf
Riggans, c
Bartlett, ss
Garza, p

Comments

riggans caught bc maddon wants to rest navis arm and give riggans some playing time

[Jason]

Trade him for what? Trade him when?
We will end up on the loosing side of any trade involving upton. Our weakness is RF, and we would be creating another weakness in CF. Like him or not, Upton is one of the best young CF's in the game, and he plays for peanuts. So, he doesn't run out ground balls every now and then. I hate to break this to everyone, but a lot of guys on our team don't run out balls.

[dick]

Finally, the egotistic lazy UPTON has done it. Maddon saw enough and he is on the bench, where he belongs. After seeing old man Floyd busting butt, you would think Upton would get the message. Send a real message and send him down to Durham...OR TRADE HIM..

[Bill]

Brian Anderson is BORING! Where's Magrane?

[dick]

Ah yes, there is Mr. anonymous who throws out the "morality" issue and not much else. Why don't you just tuck yourself into your own mediocre abyss and leave this blog to those who have a clue. By the way, what does "quite" mean and why capitalize the word boring?? Get a life gloom & doom...

[George]

Some here can't appreciate what they have. The Rays' pitching staff is without equal in the AL. Garza is pitching lights out tonight, so far on his way to a no-hitter and a long outing deep into the game.

[Rod]

Is Shawn Riggans catching because of the dust-up between Garza and Navarro?

[anderson]

Brian Anderson is boring. Not a fan. How typical for this blog's Mr. Boring, Dick, the man who has a quite, moral, and long-winded problem with something new every day to be the one who supports him.

[george]

Aybar has been quite the revelation for the Rays. Another homer to put the Rays in front.

[dick]

After listening to last night's game and the pre game and 1st inning of tonight's game, does anyone out there miss Joe Magrane?? For my ears, Brian Anderson is much more professional and involved in the action. This guy, also being an ex-pro pitcher has a future, hopefully with the RAYS!!

[9equals8.com]

I am so glad to see Bartlett back in the lineup. I really hope he'll be able to dodge pitches better this time around. We really need this spark plug in the lineup each and every game from here on out. Ben has done an excellent job while Jason has been out (see my blog post at www.9equals8.com), but Jason gives this lineup a little something extra and serves as a strong 2nd leadoff man for this lineup.