Zobrist in, Gomes out, Crawford and Bartlett sitting, Baldelli waiting

The Rays are still without SS Jason Bartlett (right index finger) and LF Carl Crawford (left hamstring) for tonight's game with Cleveland, and manager Joe Maddon said there's a chance they won't be back until at least Thursday.

They got some help at short, however, bringing up Ben Zobrist from Triple-A and putting him in the lineup, a definite upgrade over Willy Aybar, who filled in on Monday. To make room for Zobrist, the Rays sent down OF Jonny Gomes, a move that seemed likely to happen when OF Rocco Baldelli was activated anyway so it gives the Rays a chance to field a better team, though Baldelli remains in limbo.

Maddon said the "imperfect storm" of injuries is playing a role on when Baldelli will be activated; he will accompany the team on their upcoming 10-game road trip, which starts Thursday in Seattle.

Crawford - who turned 27 today - is a key piece, and it's not clear yet when he will return to action. Eric Hinske will start in his place tonight, as the Rays are down to three healthy outfielders (though Zobrist could fill in out there too).

Bartlett said he feels a lot better, and actually took some batting practice pre-game today. He said the plan is for him to throw today and re-evaluate from there.

The lineup, as they try for the sixth time for their first win of the season against Cleveland:
Iwamura, 2b
Upton, cf
Pena, 1b
Longoria, 3b
Hinske, lf
Floyd, dh
Navarrro, c
Gross, rf
Zobrist, ss
Jackson, p

Comments

[MD]

Carl, "Bunting is not a good strategy EVER" are you kidding? The Rays have left a lot of stranded runners because of not advancing runners. Joe doesn't seem to like fundamental ball, which showed in the Rays record, until this year. At least Jonny can try to find a playing spot now.

[Andy]

20,000 full seats tonight. The most for a non-prime weeknight game in a very long time. The glass is half-full.

16,000 empty seats tonight.

[Dom]

Maybe he could be Don Zimmer's replacement.

[justin]

The owners finally did realize Gomes value on this tgeam and that is why, finally, he is where he belongs, in the minor leagues. Heart, Hustle, Comrade, cheerleader, etc etc., cannot make up for talent and production.

[Dom]

By the way, I love you Jonny. You were the guts on this team. I hope the owners realize your value.

[Dom]

Wow! 2 out of 3 ain't bad. Gross is in right field, Zobrist is finally back, but where is Ruggiano? Baldelli - shmaldelli! This wouldn't be his 2nd coming but more like the 4th or 5th. Get Ruggiano back on this team.

[dick]

Carl--I took a look at the site you provided and it really doesn't say much except that OWNERSHIP frowns on it and supposedly Weaver didn't like it. Ownership doesn't like it because they put meat in the seats when guys hit homers/doubles and triples and score lots of runs. That just isn't the case for the Rays as they normally have a really hard time scoring (ck the stats) and they have an alarming strikeout ratio (ck the stats). If it is "beneath" superstars like A-Rod, Manny and the like to bunt (Jeter still does) then so be it. After all, guys like A-Rod,Manny,Ortiz,Pena get paid to hit homers and A-Rod/Manny/Ortiz are much more successful than Pena--therefore the need to get guys in scoring position.
We could argue this forfever but I'm not going to--like I said, we agree to disagree, plain and simple.

[dick]

Carl--statistics will also show you the Rays have a very difficult time scoring runs. Also, I believe the A's are among the worst statistical teams playing the game. If someone who has played the game, as you say you have, can honestly say they don't believe in sacrifices, then we agree to disagree and I believe a preponderance of ANY current or ex ballplayer or manager will tell you the same thing. Why do people like Joe buck or tim McCarver or Joe Morgan continually groan how nobody knows how to bunt anymore and "it's a lost art?" Any stat you can come up with will show that runs come from people in scoring position and not single player success. Why do you think great managers instruct their players to "give themselves up" and hit the other way with a guy on 2nd, either by bunting or if the guy is incapable of bunting, by going to the right side so he can get to 3rd. You and I may see the same game but through much different visions.

[Carl]

Read this article regarding bunting:

http://www.nytimes.com/2003/08/17/sports/baseball/17BUNT.html?ex=1218081600&en=875e2ee468fabd29&ei=5070

a short excerpt:

Those general managers, like Oakland's Billy Beane, Toronto's J. P. Ricciardi and Boston's Theo Epstein, are the current equivalents of Earl Weaver, who despised using the bunt as manager of the Baltimore Orioles across 17 seasons. The general managers have statisticians who support their belief that they should resist it.

The Blue Jays had five sacrifice bunts this season through Friday, two on unsuccessful attempts for hits. The Athletics had 18 and the Red Sox 20.

"The biggest thing for me is I don't like giving up outs," Ricciardi said. "When you're in the American League, one run usually doesn't decide a game. You need to keep tacking on. And I'll be honest with you, who the heck can bunt today? We work on it and they still can't bunt. We don't want to be the ones wasting time on it."

enjoy!

[Carl]

Dick: First of all, I sincerely apologize for tellng you to shut up. It was out of line. However, I am dead serious. I understand it doesn't have an effect on batting averages. I also understand it's easier to score from 2nd and 3rd. But we aren't talking about how a batting average is calculated. It's immaterial. To me it makes sense to have a strategy which succeeds at a rate of 25% or better over a rate which succeeds 15% of the time regardless of the position of men on base. Does a hitter have a better chance of getting on base and prolonging an inning when he swings away or when he bunts? It's about prolonging the inning because once you have three outs, you're done. Why give away an out? Hit away and prolong the inning. Tire the other team's staff out by making them throw more pitches with all this pitch count nonsense. I know the game and by the way, it's a new game now, driven by statistics. Read Moneyball or any of the Bill James Baseball Abstracts. Baseball has changed and bunting is not considered a good strategy. The Red Sox and Athletics rarely bunt and they have been successful for years. They don't do it because it results in more outs regardless of how batting average is calculated. I played, watch, coach and am a constant student of the game. "EVERY" team does not bunt in that situation. I respect your knowledge of the game, my recent response notwithstanding, but I invite you to look at this with an open mind. Strategies change. So has the game. Go Rays!

[dick]

Carl--c'mon, you cannot be serious in that statement. You do the math--it is much easier to score from 2nd and 3rd than it is from 1st and 2nd, that is why it is called a SACRIFICE and it DOES NOT effect your batting average or the teams batting average. Learn the game before you make comments like that. You will note, if you have ever played the game or watched the game, EVERY team sacrifices in situations that call for a sacrifice but Maddon rarely does.

[Razzlegator]

Boy did you see BJ dogging it on that play?

[Carl]

Bunting is not a good strategy EVER as it results in an out 85% of the time. Do you want a .150 hitter or a .250 hitter? Do the math. It's very simple. Can you score with 3 outs? NO! Outs are finite. Teams should avoid making them at every turn. They need every at bat they can get and bunting would eliminate at bats. Now shut up and let people who get paid to make data-driven baseball decisions make them. AND WHAT THE HECK IS BJ UPTON BUNTING FOR WITH NO ONE OUT AN INNING OR TWO BACK?!?!?!?!?

[dick]

Will someone tell me when Maddon thinks it appropriate to sacrifice??? Here we are 2 runs down, men on 1st and 2nd, Hinske up and he whiffs. Just doesn't make any sense as this team has enough trouble putting runs across the plate not to do anything you can to get runners in scoring position with less than 2 outs. There, just to prove a point, a ground ball to first that would have scored Pena if Hinske had successfully sacrificed..Well, Navarro just bailed out Maddon as he guns one up the middle to drive in Pena and Longo--YOU LUCKED OUT MADDON !!

[david]

re: the buyout. are you guys not paying attention? the rays bought out next years option months ago. Baldelli is a FA next year.

[JeffC]

Who is the player listed as the 1B?

Penam??

[Kennedy]

Edgar,
Seriously? I hardly think that anyone has depended on him lately and quite frankly, it was refreshing to see that the Rays didn't buy him out.
As far as Ruggiano, I would like him to get a chance as well but I would rather see him play every day at Durham than sit in the bigs. I'm just happy Gomes is gone...fixing the batting gloves after every pitch (even without a swing) was getting old. I think Sunday's strikeout was the nail in the coffin.

[Edgar]

what is the deal with Baldelli? It is either he is going to play or he is not 100 percent. I am tired of this organization depending on this guy year in and year out. I wonder why this team did not pick up his buyout. I don't understand why Ruggiano is not up with the big leagues. With Crawford out, they can use Ruggiano in leftfield. he can play LF,CF, and RF. Maddon for some reason does not care for him. When he puts him in the lineup, he gets on base the majority of the time. YUK!

[mo]

they are going to wait til bartlett/crawford get healthy before activating baldelli, they dont want to put too much on rocco

Rocco will be activated when Bartlett is healthy

[Amanda]

Alex-
With the couple of health questions we have for the night, and a right-handed pitcher starting for Cleveland, it wouldn't make sense to activate Rocco today. Now tomorrow, when CC has another night to rest and they're putting a lefty on the mound against us? Perfect time to bring back Rocco.

[Alex]

Still no Baldelli? WHY?

[Harold]

Better than willy but worse than Jason. Jason must be hurt more than they are saying. Maybe Boo Boo can play outfield better than Gomes. Not that that is saying much.