Zobrist recalled; Gomes optioned

The Rays have recalled INF Ben Zobrist from Triple-A Durham, and optioned OF Jonny Gomes to the Bulls.

With SS Jason Bartlett out with a bruised right index finger and LF Carl Crawford hampered by a nagging left hamstring, the switch-hitting Zobrist (left) will start tonight at shortstop.

Gomes, primarily the DH against lefthanded pitchers and occasional starter in rightfield, hit .182 in 69 games with the Rays this season.

"It's definitely a bummer,'' Gomes said. "I went this last year but it's a little bit differnt this year; I've got 140 at-bats at this point so not a whole lot of upside to this season for me as of right now. I've always said no matter where I go, whatever, I just want to play baseball. Money's great and everything, but there's an upside to this, too, I can go play baseball everyday. And to tell you the truth I'm really excited about it.''

Gomes said he had an idea the move was coming with OF Rocco Baldelli returning, and figures he could be back in September when rosters expand. He also said he hopes to one day get the chance to play everyday in the big leagues, and that he thought he was going to get that chance this season.

"The first time it caught me by surprise that I wasn't going to be playing was opening day,'' Gomes said. "I was told I was going to spend a lot of time in rightfield, all the way to the last day of spring training on the flight to Baltimore, I was going to get the majority of the time in rightfield. I was real surprised since day one when I wasn't in the lineup opening day. So when it rains it pours.''

This will be Zobrist's fourth stint with the Rays this season; he's hit .230 with five homers and eight RBI in 23 games in Tampa Bay this season.

In Monday's game, Willy Aybar made his big league debut at shortstop, which manager Joe Maddon said was not an "optimal" situation. He was bothered during the game by cramps in his right leg, but said he was fine after the game. 

-- JOE SMITH

joesmith@sptimes.com

[Ben Zobrist watches as his ball goes over the wall for two-run home run against the Toronto Blue Jays on July 17th. Dirk Shadd, Times files]

Comments

[Cliff]

The funny thing about options, they are different than outrighting a guy to the minors. A player gets 3 option years where he can be on the roller coaster between the minors and majors as many times as the team desires, but once that 3 year curtain is gone........ He must pass waivers to go back to the minors. Waivers goes through the list from worst record to best in each league, and if no one wants the guy............he is free to join the minor league squad or ask for free agency if he signed a major league contract..........This is Jonny's last option year, then nhe will be in the same boat as Jason Hammel, Edwin Jackson, and a couple of other guys on the Rays 25-man roster.

Just wanted to give some insight here

[Rusty Steele]

I agree with those who say it's time to send Al Reyes to Gary Glover-land, and designate him for assignment. The guy can't get people out! I feel bad for Gomes, as you can tell he has a terrific heart, but he isn't producing. In fairness to Joe Maddon, you know this transaction wasn't too much fun. So Gomes goes down, Ben Z. comes up --- don't you get the real feeling that they need A BAT?

[Corey B]

I love Jonny's power and he's a great teammate, however he's a liability in the field. Jonny's best position is DH. He's going to have a good career in the big leagues eventually, just probably not in Tampa.

[Carl]

I will miss Gomes and some of the crazy things he said. I believe he is an every day player, which here means he plays better when he plays every day. He is not an every day player now because of the way he has been platooned. I couldn't understand the Nathan Haynes acquisition. Could it have been they didn't want a brawler? Here's to him getting hot in triple-a and coming back and helping the rays win the division. Go Rays!

[Mike W]

Apparently Dennis doesn't watch baseball. Jorge Cantu sucked and had a terrible attitude.

[Dennis]

Great move abandoning former mvp Cantu .292 average, 19 homers, 62 rbi's so far this year $500,000 salary and keeping Gomes-- 1,700,000 salary and a .180 average. And now we need a right handed hitter who can drive in runs. Cantu did have a mediocre 06 with the broken foot and no consistant at bats last year but he always had the quick bat. Apparantly Madden just didn't like him.

[MikeyA]

The time has come to cut Al Reyes loose and activate Rocco to face LHP Sowers tomorrow. When Bartlett is ready to come back, Send Zobrist down and bring up Salas or Thayer. I'd almost rather see Zobrist here than No hit Willy Aybar, we gave up nothing to get him (ridgeway) so it's not like he's a hot commodity if we Designate for assignment or option (if left) him down. Let Price get seasoned at AAA in august and bring him up in some role for September, would be a nice fireball lefty in the pen if not for the rotation.

[Woody]

Gomes is right about opening day and the opening month or 2. Maddon decided we needed Nathan Haynes and Gross to bat against righties-instead of Gomes. Any stooge knows Gomes has only been productive when he plays everyday. This would have been the perfect opportunity to see if Gomes could be a productive force in the daily lineup. Sink or swim. Instead we get Nathan Haynes and more importantly - we lose any chance of having a productive Gomes. He will never be a bench player. He will either be a powerhitting, productive, everyday player or will be out of baseball. We learned this over the last several years - WE DID NOT NEED TO RELEARN IT THIS YEAR.
I have incorrectly assumed that Gomes was out of options. Since he apparently isn't out of options, why wasn't this move made months ago? We could have let him get a rhythym at AAA and we could have had Ruggiano up here. Ruggiano can produce while playing part time, is better defensively, and can even be a late inning pinch runner/basestealer (which we haven't had since Gathright was traded.)

[joey]

thank god gomes is gone... for now
z will do fine until bartlett is ready to go. and rocco will be great. i heard him mention shaving the beard i kinda like the look for him

[mo]

while you never wanna see anyone get hurt, how big would it be if joba's shoulder injury and david ortiz reinjured his wrist... espn reported both had problems last night

[mario]

let's get a win tonight !!! lose sox/yanks!!

[CP]

I like when Gomes pinch hit on Sunday and did not even swing at one pitch and was called out on strikes. At that moment I realized it was time for him to go. It's hard to get a hit when you don't even swing the bat.

[Jim M.]

Hey, say what you will about Gomes and his ability at the plate, but everything I've heard about him being the ultimate cheerleader and a good clubhouse presence seems to bear out with his parting comments about his demotion. Best of luck, Johnny. Get some good ABs down there and maybe we'll see you again soon.

[Dave]

Nice comment Bill way publicly display your 'jerk skills'.

Zobrist's D has a lot top be desired but is a upgrade over Aybar.

Bartlett will be gone for a week but no DL.

[tampabaysportsblog]

Thank god!!!! This is the best move they've made all year!

[mumbles]

whatever it takes to beat the 2nd worst team in the AL for the first time this year...sheesh

[Andrew]

How long is Bartlett out?

[Razzlegator]

Something's been up with CC since that Monday game when Maddon ambushed him and put him in centerfield.

[Jim]

Welcome back "Z".

Gomer had his chance, the last one being the called 3rd strike.

Big question to me is this: Are we being told everything about Carl??

Jim

[Razzlegator]

Actually JG said he was looking forward to playing everyday at AAA.

[Jason]

I am not going to the Trop until Rocco is activated.

[Bill]

Great move.......FINALLY! I bet Jonny will cry about not being given a chance to play.............you've had a ton of at bats......deal with it.

[Razzlegator]

The next time we get a brawl with the Bosox/NY whose gonna take care of bidness? Hopefully Benny Boo Boo is tougher than he looks.

[Slappy]

Yes, but what position will Brett Favre play? Is he only going to DH?

[dick]

100% happy with this decision as Z does give us many more options, both offensively and defensively. Gomes a good guy with hustle, heart and determination but he didn't produce and hopefully he will wherever he lands. Of course, we all realize this is a temporary band-aid and is not the answer for RF and pitching but both of those problems may be addressed with Rocco/Hinske and Price/Davis..

[mario]

makes the team better, zobrist has been raking in the minors since his demotion a couple weeks ago, now play some D!!!

[Mike]

Yeyyyy! It's about time!!!

[Jeff Gilbert]

I miss our version of Andre Roy already. End of the day, this makes the team and Gomes better. He needs a couple hundred more ABs to either turn it around or show that he won't. Looking forward to Rocco's triumphant return.

[Justin]

WOOOOOOOOOO, it's about freaking time!