Longoria joins Crawford on DL

If it wasn't bad enough to lose LF Carl Crawford, the Rays said Monday that rookie 3B Evan Longoria, their top home run and RBI producer, was also going on the 15-day disabled list because what they thought was a bruise on his right wrist turned out to be a fracture.

Executive VP Andrew Freidman said they expect Longoria to be out about three weeks, give or take a few days. The fracture is nondisplaced, which is a good thing, he said. There was no update on Crawford, who was examined Monday in St. Petersburg by team hand specialist Dr. Doug Carlan. Friedman said the Rays were still gathering information, and may send it to other doctors for their opinions, before deciding on a course of action.

That leaves the Rays, who hold a 4 1/2 game lead in the American League East heading into the final 44 games of the season without two of their best all-around players.

"Where we are in the standings isn't because of any one player, so this is certainly a challenge for us, but we have great confidence in the guys we do have,'' Friedman said.

OF Justin Ruggiano is being called up from Triple-A Durham, and will play at least part of the time in leftfield, as the Rays are planning to "mix and match" with Ruggiano, Eric Hinske, Gabe Gross and Rocco Baldelli in the corner outfield spots. Willy Aybar, and at times Ben Zobrist, will handle third base.

Though the Rays will continue to monitor the waiver wire (since players can only be traded after July 31 if they are claimed or clear waivers), Friedman downplayed the possibility of acquiring outside help. Essentially, he said the Rays are confident the players they have will step up.

Crawford was hurt in his last at-bat on Saturday and had what the Rays said was a  "tendon subluxation," a problem with the tendon being out of its normal groove. He was examined Monday in St. Petersburg by team hand specialist Dr. Doug Carlan.

Longoria was hit by a J.J. Putz pitch in Thursday's game, and missed the next three, but was expected to return to the lineup on Tuesday. Instead, he was put on the DL retroactive to Aug. 8. which means he will out until at least Aug. 23.

After Sunday's game in Seattle, Longoria - who is hitting .278 with 22 homers and 71 RBIs - said there was a "solid" chance he would be back in the lineup for the first game against Oakland and that he "felt a lot better.''

But the Rays decided they'd be more comfortable having him see their own doctor, and flew him back to Tampa on a red-eye flight from San Francisco, confident enough that he was okay that he had a return ticket. But a new exam determined what a Seattle doctor thought was an old fracture was actually a new one. Friedman said in a way it was good news, because if Longoria had kept playing there was a chance he could have sustained a serious injury.

Ruggiano, 26, has been up with the Rays three times already this season, hitting .290 in 15 games. He can play all three outfield positions, and gives the Rays more defense and versatility than if they had recalled Jonny Gomes. Ruggiano was hitting 315 with 11 home runs, 51 RBI, 18 doubles and 20 stolen bases in 66 games for Durham.

Comments

[Rocky]

Rays have the pitching and enought hitting to make the playoffs but will need Longoria (and hopefully Crawford) to win in the postseason.

Sheffield is an interesting possibility...his experience, local ties. I am sure the team would check with Floyd since they were on the same championship team on whether or not he would fit in this lockerroom.

[David]

No need to panic. We havent lost yet.

[Lockerroom Chemotherapy]

just say NO to Barroid

PLEASE say NO

[rob]

Barry Bonds anyone?

[Ray F]

I wonder how much the Red Sux paid the Mariners to take out 2 of our star players?!?!

It'd be a shame if JD Drew took a shot to the wrist and Fat-Boy David Ortiz choked on a chicken mcnugget.

Conspiracy I tells ya!!!

[David]

I guess the 10 runs on Sunday meant nothing. I mean I didn't see Longoria or Crawford on the field that day. We're getting Jason Bartlett back which improves our D. Scott Kazmir is back tonight which should be pretty interesting to see if adjustments were made to his mechanics. Him getting back on track and throwing that slider again would keep our worries on offense to about only having to contribute 3-4 runs per game. So from 1-10 where is my Panic Level? 1

Run down on options available in the OF:
Ibanez: Makes more than any player on our team as a rental player...we have enough lefties already.

Bonds: No problem with him, but Floyd is good enough anyways at DH.

Lofton: Next lol

Patterson: Next

Edwin Jackson: Had to do it.

[Toby the Dog]

How about Mark Kotsay or Jeff Francouer from the Braves or Gary Sheffield from the Tigers,maybe Jeff Clement from the Mariners.....Can't hurt could help.Better then nothing! We'll be all right either way.This upgrade is Insurance,not a life saver.GO RAYS!

[Jim]

Everybody needs to calm down. We're in 1st place by 4 games, and we just took 3 of 4 on the road...without Longoria for most of those games and Crawford for one. Give Ruggiano a chance. He's done a decent job when he's been in there. It's the pitching and defense that has gotten us this far, anyway. It's not like Crawford was lighting it up, but Longoria will definitely be missed. On the bright side, they'll both be fresh when they return...and we'll still be in 1st place or at least in wild card contention. Stop the doom and gloom - this is a great season!!

[Ray F]

I turn it to Sportscenter to see if the Red Sux lose and it's right when they were running the story about Longo going on the DL. Talk about watching the sails die down...

We need our guys to come up big. I think Rocco coming back offsets CC sans the speed. Hopefully, Aybar canm hit a stretch. I like his range at 3rd and if Longo is only out 3 weeks, I think we'll still make the playoffs.

If CC is out for the season and we don't see Longo until the second week of September, start crossing the fingers.

[Joe Maddon]

Oh. And I forgot say. Have fun.

[Joe Maddon]

After reading it all, a big Ditto to Steve in Houston. 8:13 p.m.
This is a team -- a Team --that has been built patiently over three years. I love the fact that temporary setbacks, whether in a game, or in a season, don't phase us at all. The Rays are ahead in the East. Quit worrying. Play ball. (I say this to those of you who at least know how to get on the field and play. The rest of you should get a life -- and maybe a new field of work -- and quitcherbitchin.)

[Chuck Manson]

A devastating day for Rays fans. Without Longoria and Crawford, this is a mediocre team. Let's hope this works out from a rest perspective and we get them back, rejuvenated and ready, September 1ish. And call up David Price.

[joeh]

Carl and Paul nice work. You guys know your game.

[Paul]

Carl, nice observation.. Here's another:
CC's on base percentage was 11th on the team at .319... His inability to get on base this year really hurt the Ray's ability to score runs. Guess who's #1 on the Ray's this year in OB Percentage: B.J. Upton!
Despite his down year in HR's and Avg, BJ leads the team in stolen bases and On Base Percentage.
Don't you want the guy that gets on base the most and steals the most bases leading off?

[joeh]

Pitching and defense have got us where we are so let's not panic.
Madden has prepared the team to be able to adjust. What we might need is Price. The season is not over and those teams chasing us have their own problems. Granted a lot more money. Why panic before we see how we are going to play this out. One good thing is as fans we are not bored.

[dick]

For Slappy. If I were a betting man, (and I am) I would bet the pitchers in the AL would welcome the opportunity to pitch against Gomes every inning as their collective strikout ratio would go through the roof. In case you aren't aware of reality, here it is:
Jonny Gomes
games played 65
official at bats 143
hits 26
home runs 8
doubles 4
triples 1
strikeouts 40
batting average .182

If you cannot figure out that he strikes out almost every 3rd at bat and when he does make contact, it rarely amounts to anything, I can't help you. As for more playing time--we are in a pennant race and you can't afford to play him in the field so what are you gonna do. He proved he couldn't hit against lefties and there wasn't much left for Freidman & co. to do..They did the right thing...no doubt..

[carl]

Okay, we all know the standings can and did flip flop in one week. In my mind this was an aberration rather than a trend. This being said, for the Red Sox to tie the Rays by the end of the season, they would need to play at a .614 pace and the Yankees would need to play at a .681 pace while the Rays played at .500. If the Rays play at .550, the red sox and yankees would need to play .636 and .727 respectively. The former is a possibility, the latter is next to impossible. The Rays even without Longoria and Crawford are not a sub-.500 team. Avoid a losing streak and the division is theirs to win. Go Rays!

[Felicia]

Our team will be FINE. CC & Longo will be back in September in time for the playoffs. We have suffered injuries throughout the season and when one player is down, then someone else steps up. That is why we continue to win, not because one guy is holding the team together! Go Rays!

[Bill]

NO GOMES!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Razzlegator]

Navi better get to CoCo first. If you were at the Mar.12 Yankees Spring Training game, then you saw it was Jonny G that was there first when Smelly Duncan cheap shotted (sic) Aki at 2nd. I'd be willing to bet that JG doesn't need anyone to hold anyone down. Hero status notwithstanding.

[Bill Filippone]

It's time to put up with the media circus for 6-weeks and sign Barry Bonds. Major League Minimum wage, instant offense, and most important: no loss of prospects necessary, and at the end of the season he's gone. I think Bonds would keep his ego in check in order to go out with a pennant winner. Again, it's not forever, just for a month or so. Desparate times call for desparate measures.

[Slappy]

Dick; you're wrong about Gomes. When he's allowed to DH or play every day, he hits. Nobody is going to hit for average when he plays every 4th game. Just ask the pitchers in the NL.

[dick]

Tks for the info on the Bradley situation Texas Dave. Still wish we could get him. For those who still think that Gomes would get better with more playing time, you are looking through Mrs Gomes' glasses. This guy is not a major leader, he is a liability in the outfield, a liability at the plate in that he is one dimensional--IF he makes contact, it normally is for distance. However, he strikes out at an alarmingly high rate and is what most know him to be, a high paid cheerleader. Also, someone brought up how he has your back--if you play back that episode with Crisp/Shields, you will see Navarro had tackled Crisp and had him pinned to the ground when "big bad Jonny" jumped on Navarro's back and tried to make contact with a helpless Crisp on the ground. What a hero !!

[Joe Maddon]

We need to go and get Raul Ibanez from the Mariners, rent him for the rest of the year

[Slappy]

Patrick, you're absolutely right about Gomes. His BA was awful because he played in all of 66 games, and in probably a third of those he was pulled for a defensive replacement (i.e. Gabe Gross) if we had a lead after 6.

The Gomer Haters have no clue what they're talking about.

[John]

Before we get all doom and gloom let's remember why we are in first place..pitching!! and the big four on relief Balfour..Howell..Wheeler and Percy..The pitching can sustain us through mediocre hitting

[Patrick]

bring up Joel Guzman to fill in and bring back Gomes as an everyday guy. Gomes sub par average was from not playing. with them and Pena hitting better the team should be fine.

[JeffC]

This is a great time for the "no name players on the Rays bench," as the idiots on NESN (Red Sox broadcasts) essentially just called them, to step up.

Ruggiano's bat may not play for a lot of pop, but if he can keep the average at .290 with more ABs, that would be great, and he deserves a chance.

Hopefully, Rocco can provide 6 innings or so each night, and some quality ABs.

Gotta worry about Longo being out from the defensive side too - gonna miss the glove and the bat.

Let's wait and see, but I believe this team isn't quite done surprising people.

GO RAYS!

[Slappy]

Anne, I tend to not be a big ol' homer, but I'm gonna side with you here. Injuries are part of ALL sports - including baseball. Just ask Joe Girardi if he thinks the Yankees are deep in third place if he has, say, half the injuries he's had to deal with. The Rays have been very fortunate; but the "injury bug" bites every team at some point. It's just the law of averages.

Let's say we only go .500 the rest of the road trip, we're still over .500 for the whole road trip. That's huge! Then, if we go even no better than .500 on the Anaheim and Chicago series, we still come out better than .500 during a stretch that includes 10 consecutive road games followed by home series with the best team in baseball and the AL Central-leading team.

Anyone who thinks that's not good enough is brain dead.

[Fred]

These injuries hurt more on defense than on offense. Maybe they can leave their gloves on the field while on DL

[Anne]

Give me a break. Where is the confidence in this team? We are not about to just sit down & let anyone roll over us. we have come to far. Bring on the red Sox or whoever you choose our Tampa Bay Rays are not going to lose. GO RAYS!!!!

[steve in houston]

Let's see if I've got this straight. The Rays just won 3 out of 4 from Seattle without Crawford and Longoria, and now that both are officially on the DL, the season is over?! Chicken Little is not a Rays fan! And Bonds? He would destroy any team chemistry we have, and team chemistry is why we just set the franchise record for wins IN THE MIDDLE OF AUGUST! The Rays are 25 games over .500, last time I looked. We are four and a half games up in the A.L. East, a division, you'll remember, that just last year we were wishing we could get out of because we supposedly couldn't compete with the Red Sox and Yankees. If we can't keep it going in Oakland and Texas, then I would consider a move. Until then, I'm good with what we've got.

[m]

The Longoria injury hurts but Pena is actually hitting a bit better than Longoria in August and not quite as good, though comporable, since the break. So, if we could win in the first half of the season with Longoria hitting well and Pena not (and Longoria had a fairly lousy May), we certainly have a chance of getting by for a few weeks without the rookie if Pena remains in 2007 form. No Bonds, please.

[Ray]

The sky is falling, the sky is falling!

Jeeeeez! Pitching is what wins championships..... and that is still A-OK.

We don't know about CC yet and Evan is three weeks.... just in time for the September push. Longoria was whiffing alot anyway.. gives him a chance to get his head straight.

[Slappy]

Yeah, OK, Steve. The Red Sox aren't going to SNIFF the WS this year.

[Slappy]

Are all you Chicken Littles done squawking about the end of the world? The schedule is not bad coming up - September it gets rough again. Oakland is mailing in the rest of the seaon, then we have three with Texas. The Rangers can still hit, but they give up runs in chunks (18 to Baltimore over two games last week!). If the pitching can keep the Rangers' bats in check, we should take that series, too. So, we Longo out on a 15er retroactive back to the 8th, so he's out at most until the 23rd. The good news is that we're at home against Anaheim and the White Sox. We're NOT going to get swept in both series. No way.
So an acceptable run is to win the Oakland and Texas series on the road, then win at least the Anaheim or ChiSox series, if not both. By that time Longo is back and we have a better idea of how we replace CC, who very well could be done for the regular season.

[steve]

here come the Red Sox, winning the world series AGAIN!!!

[Dave (TX)]

Dick - I live in the suburbs of Dallas and can assure you Bradley is far form unhappy in Texas. In fact, rumor has it, his future is tied to that of Ron Washington, the Rangers manager. If Washington stays, so does Bradley.

Razzlegator - for what it's worth, I completely agree with your reasoning on the hatred of the DH, and it's why I get so mad when punks like Papelbon run their mouths.

[Jason]

I would not rule out the talent of what we have on the team. It looks like the Rays are coming out of the hitting slummp. Look for the other players to pick up the pace. It was a start with getting rid of Johny Gomes and now aquiring Ruggiano and having a hot at bat with Ben. Plus if Pena is hot he will be able to keep us going for a few weeks till we get our key players back.

The only players I hope will step up is our Starting Pitchers. Kaz needs to relax and clear his mind of the past and pitch the way he has before his inuury. Sonny has shown he can get it done and Garza will be a up and down player as long as he lets his emotions get to him. He has the highest potental on the team. Jackson is not a person I like personally, but he gets the job done. Look to see Price to help in the bullpen at the end of this month. They want him in post season.

[Razzlegator]

Ibanez?

[scott]

What about getting the OF from the Mariners that is on a hot streak right noe, their LF, forgot his name

[hernando_wildcats]

If the Rays are for real they will have to deal with these challenges. I think they are for real and will work through this.

I hope Crawford and Longoria heal quickly.

[dick]

Still think we HAVE to make a trade or aquire someone through creative measures. One of your offensive weapons is out may be ok but when two of them are out and they are both standouts on both sides of the ball, IT HURTS..What about Milton Bradley?? It has been rumored he is not a happy camper in Texas and he will be a free agent. For sure, he comes with some baggage and is expensive but is an exceptional talent.

[Cat]

Look at it this way...Aybar replaces Longoria, Zobrist replaces Aybar...for about 3 weeks.

[Razzlegator]

I said the other day I didn't like the DH for the simple reason that the pitcher doesn't have to face the music for hitting people. I was called an idiot by some moron. Looks like my thesis was right on target. A pitch that "just got away" could end Dirtbag's season. as well as ours. The next guy of ours that gets HBP better cause a riot. Now you know why we need Jonny G.

[BARRY BONDS]

OR IF YOU STILL WANNA WIN THE DIVISION

[BARRY BONDS]

SIGN ME IF YOU WANT A GUY WITH A 400 ON BASE PERCENTAGE

[Mark]

It's like what Jon Gruden said last year...

We need to work on not getting hurt.

[rolo]

DO NOT PANIC YET CALM DOWN

[mo]

Longo will be back in early september, and we are rumored to be after gary sheffield.. we'll be fine if we can survive August