Salas coming?

Nothing official from the Rays yet on the examination of closer Troy Percival's sprained right knee, but there's word that Juan Salas is headed to Texas in case a replacement is needed.

Salas, who missed spring training due to lengthy visa issues, has been pitching well at Triple-A Durham.

Given that Percival was on crutches and his knee was in a brace leaving Oakland on Thursday, and that he's 39 and already been sidelined twice with other leg problems, it seems likely he will be headed back to the DL.

Comments

[Toby the Dog]

I want to to hear Rays Win! Rays win! as offen, as possible all the way through October. Go Rays! Bring home the gold.

[Dave]

Isn't it fun to be even Talking baseball in August, and worrying about if the Rays are going to make the playoffs? Ahhhhh feels good!

[Wally Pipp]

A lot of great players have been discovered when others have been injured, just ask me!

jeff ur an idiot

[Jeff's mom]

Don't listen to what Jeff has to say, hasn't everyone read his other idiotic posts?

Last time I looked Mariano Rivera ONLY has one pitch and might just go down as the best relief pitcher of all time.

If you only have one pitch, you need to have good location, change speeds from time to time and have movement on your ball. In case Jeff hasn't noticed, Balfor has ALL those atributes and his BA against and ERA are amonst the lowest in the league.

Jeff, back to the basement!!!

[Re: Mike]

Thank you, Mike. There's a lot of whiners, some real negative nancies, that are dominating this blog.

[Mike Creyton]

Jeff said "he is strictly one dimensional and good hitters will get to the point where they time his fastball, as they have started to do, resulting in long ball homers"

Balfour has allowed 1 HR all year and only 15 total hits in 37 innings. He has been one of the most dominant relief pitchers in all of MLB. He has 55K's in 37 innings. I am sorry. But I don't see where people are catching up to him and hitting "long ball homers" off of the guy. 1 per year is a pretty good ratio if you ask me.

[Re: Andy]

When did everyone become so moral? I know for a fact that if Andy's biggest mistake was taking steroids, he would have been a lot better off.

[skp]

as good as percy has been in his career, he's been a liability going into the second half of the season as often as an asset....i'm not saying he shouldn't be pitching, just that it won't be an impossible task to replace him...i hope we can tear off some wins here and really cement our playoff chances...then we can think about resting a lot of players as the expanded rosters kick in, and not rush anyone back from injury....if 1 month off gives us back the percy that started the season, i hope we can stay in the position that we're in without him...it'll make his replacements better and give us a guy breathing 100% fire as the playoffs come around...wins us a world series, retire, and join maddon's coaching staff!

[9equals8.com]

I thought that, too, when he first started pitching this year, but time has proven me wrong. After giving up 4 runs in his first 16 games, he's really turned it on and only given up 1 run in his next 15. The key to him remaining successful is his location. If he can spot a 96+ MPH fastball (which he has done all year), he doesn't need another pitch. The only two guys that have hit him hard lately are two potential HOF guys in Frank Thomas and Gary Sheffield. A hit to those guys doesn't relaly dent my confidence in Grant. It's still early, but he looks to have the make-up of something special.

[Andy]

So there goes the moral high ground on steroids if they decide not to sign Bonds.

[jeff]

Balfour is indeed impressive with his 92-99 MPH fastball but just remember, he is strictly one dimensional and good hitters will get to the point where they time his fastball, as they have started to do, resulting in long ball homers..He needs to develop an alternative pitch that he trusts, such as a change up or decent slider/curve or he will get tagged.

[9equals8.com]

Percy's issues could be a blessing in disguise. I love Percy and want to see him ride this out, but it will be tough to count on him in late Sept/October. We already "discovered" how good Grant Balfour can be from an earlier Percy trip to the DL. Perhaps this will give the Rays an opportunity to groom a new closer (or at least get a good look at someone that can take on this role if Percy gets hurt late in the year. Imagine the stress we'd all feel if the Rays are closing in on a playoff berth (or in the midst of the playoffs) and Percy gets hurt in late September or even October? That's not the best time to be breaking in a new closer even if Grant Balfour is freaking AWESOME!