Percival ok, no surgery needed
RHP Troy Percival does not need surgery on his right knee and expects to be pitching again in less than two weeks.
"The prognosis was basically that if I got it done it was going to be October (until he was recovered), and without it, it's very feasible that (he'll be back within) two weeks - I've just got to deal with pain and go. It's going to do any more damage,'' Percival said. "Once I'm good to go, I'll be out there. ... The pain is tolerable.''
Percival said he will be get back on the mound in four or five days and expects to be ready when eligible to come off the DL, on Aug. 30. He said he expected to have surgery when he went to see Dr. Koco Eaton this morning but was pleased with the outcome.
*In other pre-game injury news, rookie 3B Evan Longoria said his fractured right wrist is feeling better - though it's still in a splint - and he'll get re-evaluated on Friday when he undergoes another x-ray. Longoria said adrenaline got the better of him when he first got hurt - a reason why he, at the time, thought he could get back in the lineup right away. But Longoria said he's glad they are being cautious with the injury, giving him a chance to be 100-percent when he returns.
Longoria said the plan is to be back in two weeks, which falls along the same timeline (around Sept 1) the Rays outlined when they first placed him on the disabled list.
Tampa Bay Rays relief pitcher Troy Percival, center, is tended to by a trainer, at left, as teammates Carlos Pena, top center, and Akinori Iwamura, right, of Japan, look on in the ninth inning of a baseball game in Oakland, Calif., Thursday, Aug. 14, 2008. Percival left the game with an injury. (AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez)
Follow Tampa Bay Rays baseball from spring training to the World Series with Marc Topkin, Joe Smith and the St. Petersburg Times sports staff. From Evan Longoria to B.J. Upton and James Shields, we're your source for Tampa Bay Rays scores and schedules.
Cannot wait for another heart attack or blown save. I have a feeling that the Percy defenders are really Yankee and Sox fans.
Posted by: Tone | August 19, 2008 at 12:03 PM
As long as that bum knee allows him to throw a strike.
Posted by: Dave | August 18, 2008 at 07:07 PM
The guy is a bulldog, but that's part of the problem; he just needs to stay on the mound and let his defense do the work. Let's hope he can contribute down the stretch!
Posted by: Kennedy | August 18, 2008 at 05:39 PM
Percy will prolly come back on September 1st. We will need his veteran experience down the stretch and in the playoffs.
Posted by: Ryan Callahan | August 18, 2008 at 05:09 PM
I'll do the surgery.
Posted by: Ken | August 18, 2008 at 05:08 PM
Don't forget to look at
www.weekend4ryleigh.blogspot.com
Kenny Chesney tickets, 3 nights at the Tradewinds, Rays suite for 16 people, Brunch at the Vinoy, and more....$4000 package.
$5 entry. ALL proceeds benefit Ryleigh Russo fund and her fight with Leukemia.
Posted by: kyle | August 18, 2008 at 04:55 PM
maybe we need a 2nd opinion. Let's not jump to any conclusions here.
...no sense in rushing him back out there.
Posted by: Ray F | August 18, 2008 at 04:40 PM