Navarro out of lineup, but available

Dioner Navarro is out of the lineup, but manager Joe Maddon said the All-Star catcher is available for late-inning duty (if necessary) and his status is day-to-day.

Navarro, who came out of Tuesday's game with cramps in both hamstrings, underwent an MRI Wednesday and everything was fine, Maddon said.

"We may even have to back off him tomorrow, I'm not sure yet, but he's available for duty if necessary," Maddon said.

*In other pre-game medical notes, 3B Evan Longoria (fractured right wrist) said he took some dry swings with a wiffle bat and everything went well. The Rays are still hoping for a return for the Yankees series next week, Sept 2-4 at the Trop

RAYS

Iwamura, 2b

Upton, cf

Pena, 1b

Baldelli, dh

Aybar, 3b

Zobrist, lf

Riggans, c

Ruggiano, rf

Bartlett, ss

Garza, RHP

JAYS

Inglett, 2b

Scutaro, 3b

Rios, rf

Wells, cf

Lind, lf

Overbay, 1b

Stairs, dh

Barajas, c

McDonald, ss

Purcey, LHP

-- JOE SMITH

joesmith@sptimes.com

Comments

[The Mayor of Durham, NC]

The last guy to leave the stadium and head to Tampa Bay please turn out the lights!

[Harold]

To all the posters that bash Joe M's manging and lineup and pitching choices.
Do any of you have any baseball coaching experiance? ANy playing experience beyond say little league?
I dont mind the intellectual pursuit of discussing baseball. It's fun to think about "what if" over a cold frosty.
But some of these statments are berift of any intellectual content. Joe Is 'Lucky" Do you mean Best record in baseball lucky or "lotto" lucky? TO
THe guys that are so sure they could have made better trades and are so sure they know what the teams needs: Apply for the job. Im sure your depth of basball knowledge will overwhelm the Front office and they will fire Joe on the spot and hire you!
Not so Much.

[Amanda]

I can't go tomorrow (and I couldn't go tonight), but I'd better see ALL you guys out there Friday! Go Rays!

[Greta]

I agree with "GO RAYS!" at 11:36. I was at the game. We need to fill the Trop. This doesn't happen every year. It is a magical summer of baseball. You will regret your failure to show up the rest of your life.
Your children will ask you why you missed these amazing games.
Your grandchildren will not believe you blogged instead of being at the most exciting ball games of he 21st century.
And I'm going tomorrow and Saturday and Sunday. Nothing is more important than supporting this wonderful team.
And to the young couple who got engaged tonight and showed up on the scoreboard...you are part of the magic.

So Rays fans don't stop.
Hurry to the Trop.
Heed Joe Maddon's call
It's a magical summer of baseball

[Andy]

Jack,

I disagree with your ideas on Upton. His baserunning gaffes aside, trading him for Bay would have simply patched one hole while creating another

[GO RAYS]

I got one comment,the guys need, not want more fans in the seats. It has to disappoint to look up and see only 12,000 fans, for a first place team.

[jack]

Yeah, I guess that "almost" trade for Jason Bay wasn't worth it anyway as we are still in first and Rocco is every bit as good a righthanded hitter as Bay..Check what Bay has done since the trade and you will see they don't miss Manny and they are probably a better "team" with Bay than Manny. Sure wish Jason Bay was wearing a Rays uni when we go head to head. Wonder what Pittsburgh would have done if we threw Upton in the pile with Niemann or Brignac for Bay?? Just thinking while thinking.

[9equals8.com]

Just wondering why all the people posting about attendance aren't at the game...? Quit typing and start showing up.

Rumor has it Saturday and Sunday are looking like they could be sellouts. Hopefully we won't be lamenting attenance after tomorrow and will focus on the amazing job these guys are doing. Hey, fans that are there, make some noise!

[mariano]

12,000????? Our boys deserve better than that

I didn't notice the Rays making Purcey look like a Hall of Famer. I was too focused on Matt Garza looking like a Hall of Famer

Hip Hip Hooray, Hip Hip Hooray the Rays almost made 13 K. Another woeful night of empty seats. On the whole this community could care less. Yes it is a nice story going from worst to first but if it falls apart there still is Bucs,USF,UF,FSU,UCF,FAU,FAMU,BCC and any high school. Wonder if Plant, Armwood is going to draw more than tonight's Rays game. Rays are great but their fans are junk!

[Brandon Chong]

12,000 people. We as a community suck right now.

[Go Rays!!]

Go RAYS!!!!

[Shut up Bill]

Good point Bill. You are so baseball smart, man. Maybe you should send Joe a letter - there is no way he was thinking about match-ups or anything. Fire Joe and hire Bill. Bill would have benched Carlos Pena and would call up David Price ... to play first base! Do you do this every night? Go kick your dog and stop trying to play coach like you actuially know what you're talking about. Idiot.

[Bill]

Zobrist played a great left field tonight. He cut off two balls to keep hitters at singles that Hinske would not have gotten to. However, Zobrist bat has slowed down quite a bit. The move that most puzzled me was why Wheeler started the 9th vs. a lefty.....why not Miller to get the first lefty then bring in Wheeler. It worked out alright but a simple move I think Maddon missed.

[Jesse]

Well all the Ruggiano bashers after his error a few games ago will be riding his you know what now...Cmon fair weathers lets hear it...or bash Bj...actually, why not bash attendance...

GO RAYS
PLAYOFF TIME
WE CANT BE STOPPED IN A SERIES
LETS ALL BE POSITIVE AND SUPPORT!!!!!

[zeke]

You can quote me on this--Maddon is one lucky SOB!! Why did he use Wheeler in the 9th and can Balfour only be used in the 8th and only for one freakin batter. It makes no sense and almost bit him in the butt again tonight. His reluctance to use anyone in a closer role except Percy or Wheeler is playing with fire. Perhaps Maddon read this blog concerning why he had Zobrist in left field the other day when Ruggiano was available and Ben's throw bounced coming into Navarro. Regardless, a WIN is a win and I couldn't be happier but just hink what how this blog would be all lit up if Barajhas ball goes 1 foot further. that's all, one more foot...

[Amanda]

I think Ruggiano just made up for that ball that dropped in front of him the other day. Nice.

[CJ]

What a catch, wow!!!

[tbird]

Another case of us making a nobody lefty look like a future Hall of Famer. Striking out 11 times in 6 innings is embarassing to say the least. Going into this game, Purcey's line looked like this:
34 innings pitched
32 hits
25 earned runs
7 home runs
21 base on balls
25 strikeouts
6.35 Earned Run Average

Thankfully, Garza is pitching his butt off and lts hope he can throw a complete game. Where we are is fantastic but it makes you wonder just how we are doing it with the meager offense we have--nobody hitting 300 and doubtful if anyone will hit in the 290's as Navarro and Longoria are probably the only ones that have a shot. Guess it is pitching and defense that got us to this point but it is scary going into post-season play knowing that other teams know that we cannot hit a lefty, whether they are good or bad..

[john]

The Ray's have too many automatic outs in the lineup tonight

[Amanda]

Jeff/Tony-
Not "rest" as in sleep/relaxation. "Rest" as in for his hamstrings, which were acting up last night. I'm going to go out on a limb and say whatever's bothering his legs didn't start last night.

[Tony]

How much rest can a 24 year old catcher need? He needs rest? Right? Maddon is being TOO careful with his players. Navarro has played TWO days in one week. Maybe he hasn't played ENOUGH.

[Ryan]

Well that linup looks ugly, but we usually get lucky with an ugly linup. And with Riggans catching today, Garza is almost guaranteed a gem.

[jeff]

More rest? Get him a room.

[Alex]

They have tees in MLB? That tee doesn't stand a chance!