Long day's night for Rays

UPDATE, 7:56: Game two of tonight's doubleheader is scheduled to start at 8:25 p.m.

UPDATE, 5:40 LF Carl Crawford was glowing after his afternoon workout to test his surgically repaired right hand and said he thinks he could rejoin the lineup for next week's opening round of the playoffs.

"Definitely in my mind I want to be in the lineup by next week,'' Crawford said. "If I'm able to go out there and do the stuff I did today then I should be able to get in the lineup, whether it's good or bad.''

Crawford hit balls off a tee, and bunted a few times, and reported no pain; he has been sidelined following Aug. 14 surgery to repair the band that secures the tendon along his right middle finger.

"Just me being able to swing the bat with no pain is such a big step for me,'' he said. "I'm happy with that.'''

Manager Joe Maddon said before the first game of the doubleheader that he had not had a chance to get updated by head atheltic trainer Ron Porterfield.

Also, RHP Troy Percival will rejoin the team Wednesday, after getting another epidural injection in his back. He will be available to pitch starting Thursday, and Maddon made it sound like Percival's availability to pitch on consecutive days could be a key to deciding whether he is on the roster for the first round of the playoffs.

- - - - - 

The Rays are preparing for a long day and night at Camden Yards.

With lefty Garrett Olson on the mound in the opener, the Rays are looking righthanded for the opener.

Ben Zobrist, Fernando Perez and Evan Longoria are the only players scheduled to start both games.

Here is the first game lineup:
Iwamura, 2b
Upton, cf
Pena, 1b
Longoria, 3b
Baldelli, dh
Navarro, c
Zobrist, lf
Bartlett, ss
Perez. rf
Shields, p

Comments

[Amanda]

If I were a hottie, would I be on the computer blogging about baseball all the time? Come on, people, use your heads!

[Dreamin' of Amanda]

what would you wear to the party Amanda?
are you a hottie?

[Yankee Hater]

Where are all the Yankme fans now? Dont worry theres no need to play that hard its only the post season.. How do you like me now biatches.. Been a Rays fan since inception and 10 years was all worth it to break one off in the fans of a team that think they own the world and the world owes them. Happy Halloween head on back to the Bronx and pack up the spring training facility and all your cronies get the hell out..

[Rays Fan]

Amanda

I agree!! Not much to lose in that case. Rocco was our face of the franchise a few years ago before all the injuries and illnesses took place. Everyone I talk to says no way Rocco comes back next year. Like you said $390k plus incentives...seems like a no brainer....I know it will not be addressed until the season is over but I have not heard any mention of his situation after this year from TV, newspaper, announcers..

thanks for your input..you are very knowledgable..You are a true Rays fan!!I do not post much but I enjoy reading your posts..Keep them coming. GO RAYS!!!!

[Amanda]

I say sign Rocco for the league minimum ($390,000) and throw in some incentive bonuses. That way if he performs well, he's rewarded. If not, we're not out much.
Even if I didn't know his past (superstar-in-the-making he used to be, his struggle with the illness) I'd still want to resign him. .264 with 3 homers in 25 games? Solid - if average - numbers that warrant signing him, though not for much money.

[Rays Fan]

What is your opinion on Rocco Badelli.

Would the Rays even consider signing him to a minimum salary deal to use off the bench or is there too much downside!! The minimum can't be that much!! Is it worth it?? I almost think if you could sign him to the league minimum($350-$400k) would that not be worth it to have him as a bench player??? Maybe?? Reality is Rocco is not here next season probably but I would hate for him to make a comeback like Hamilton and it not be with the Rays!! Any thoughts?

[Richard]

I got the Champagne cooling, having frieds over tonight and we are ready to pary when they claim the pennant tonite. Can't see Cleveland losing to Byrd.

[Amanda]

Just got this emailed to me. Thought I'd pass it on.

"Friday night’s Rays-Tigers game will be shown on a giant screen in Cotanchobee Fort Brooke Park, adjacent to the Waterside Marriott in downtown Tampa, the city announced today.

The viewing party, which is free and open to the public, is part of the previously announced “Tampa Bay Rays Day” declared by Mayor Pam Iorio.

The game starts at 7:05 p.m., and Rays mascot Raymond will be on hand beginning at 6:30. Fans are welcome to bring folding chairs, blankets, picnic baskets and coolers, according to the city. Vendors will be on hand to sell food and soft drinks. Parking will be available for a fee in the South Regional Garage."

[Helene]

Gah! I really wish I could travel to these games. I have friends in Baltimore and family in Detroit, and I love both Camden and Comerica. Would've been perfect.

Awesome comeback in the 2nd game (I stayed up!) Whoo hoo.

gayyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyy

[what]

you really are dumb zeke obviously if they thought upton with a torn labrum was not better than perez in cf everyday he would not be there. if you ask any scout or and player in the game how much of a skill set he has its unbelievable. honestly you need to get over upton and realize he is a top 3 player on this team whether if you can admit or not. last year has 24 home runs and 25 doubles. this year his doubles are up and home runs are down ever think they might have something to do with he has a torn labrum in his shoulder and you know what he is still batting over .270.

9=4

[Richard]

Boy it's going to be great seeing that LC pennant flying at the Trop. They have two poles in front of the Trop that don't have anything on them. They will soon.

[Amanda]

Harold,
You know, you might have a point... might be better NOT to put faces with names!

[Harold]

Amanda
Love the Idea
But I wonder If we could stand each other In the flesh?
You would probably be so disappointed to actually see me in the flesh. You know what I'm sayin?. To actually put a face with the post? I probalby seem so , whats the word, Shallow? but to see me, you know, live? And not be able to touch? Well.... I think you can smell what I'm cookin.
LOL
LMAO
Just Kiddin
love ya
Keep bloggin Babe

[Harold]

I hate haters. Does that make me a hater?
do I hate myself?
I know that Joe knows more than Zeke
And I dont know Phillip but he must be a doper to bust on Gross. The "Duk" was bustin on Jason Bartlett for being MVP and the spineless puke removed my non-conformist post from his half as-s-ed blog (see Big League Stew on Yahoo blogs) he is a hater too) so I posted again and called him out but I bet he removes it again. I noticed that the national media was talkin smack that the Rays were "over celebrating" after clinching a playoff spot but I bet the Bosux dont get the same noise when they clinched a playoff spot tonight. Why does it seem the media hates on the Rays so much? Am I Just a paranoid schizo?Is it just me? Or do they Just love to hate on a great story? I was watching in a sports bar in Orlando and had to listen to the Boston contingent carry on about clinching a playoff spot like it was the World series But MAN did it get quiet when the Rays made that awesome come from behind win in the second game of the double header. It smelled like,,,VICTORY

[zeke]

For "What"--I've forgot more bout baseball than you'll ever know. so Upton comes in and gets a hit, GREAT!! Just wish he would do it more often and his torn labrum has nothing to do with his lack of hustle as this blog has clearly shown, the fans have shown and his coach has shown. One freakin hit does not a ballplayer make and if Maddon/Sternberg & Co. thought that his injury was that serious and he was that much of a star, do you think he'd be playing?

[Amanda]

Thinking these message board regulars should get together either pre-game for a home playoff game, or for a road playoff watch party. Any thoughts?

[9equals8.com]

I'm sitting in my hotel after being at the Rays double header today. What a tremendous win in the second game. The boys were really into it (come the 7th-8th inning or so) and Longo led the pack. There was a lot of fun being had in the dugout all day along with tremendous energy. This team is fired up for the playoffs and it should be fun. GO Rays!

[Bradley]

Way to Go RAYS! I sense a win and a hugh celebration afterwards,tomorrow.To much at stake to let it go now. WE are gonna be Champions! I can't wait!!

[Richard]

What's that song, Tommorrow? Tommorrow It's over Tommorrow. I think we will be watching another celebration tommorrow. Rays sweep and The Indians pluck Byrd.

[Hinske Fan]

Caleb, you must be asleep at the wheel. Hinske fields well, hits with regularity, and steals bases. He is all around terrific. Rays are the envy of Baltimore, that's for sure...just today Peter Schmuck wrote about the Rays' wining ways being due in part to: "key acquisitions such as starting pitcher Matt Garza, shortstop Jason Bartlett and Eric Hinske." Eric doubled to right tonight.
He has been solid and consistent.
I look forward to wearing my Hinske gear at the playoffs.

[McLovin]

First ever doubleheader sweep for the Rays. Not something I expected to hear from Mr. Todd Kalas tonight...

It's hard for me to believe the Rays won't win one more game out of the next five, and for the Red Sox to lose one of their next five, so I don't want to say that the Rays have the division on lock now, but I can't say that I think they won't win it after tonight. If they didn't win it, it would be worse than the Mets' collapse last year in my opinion.

[Mark]

RAYS WIN!

RAYS WIN!

RAYS WIN!

MAGIC NUMBER: 2!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[bAiL oUt TiMe]

SO GLAD that Maddon put the big boys in to take care of bidness in the 8th ... let's close this out in the 9th because I never thought I'd see Lee blow a 2 run lead late against the deadsux

[Go Rays!!]

It seems when the game is on the line, Maddon puts the A Team in. You know what I really am enjoying about this run to the postseason, we didn't give up anyone to be here. We still have our minor league system intact. We didn't make any marquee moves and here we are...in the playoffs and on the edge of history.

[what]

Zeke you are just plain stupid and dont understand talent from a baseball perspective you should never be allowed to talk again about baseball. you try to swing a damn bat with a torn labrum. mpst guys would not be playing baseball right now. please shut up and learn something about baseball before you speak again

[Mark]

that rally was great. once the game got close, maddon put in bartlett, upton, navarro and rocco to take the lead, very well done and hopefully the rays can hold this lead

[Go Rays!!]

Feel the HEAT!! I'm barely awake

[Brian J]

Is anybody up and watching this game? Unbelievable. I think I called this rally, actually.

[Brian J]

How long would it take for an American League East title to sink in? Need a rally here.

[Amanda]

Brian- I *am* happy! I can't even imagine what it will feel like when it actually sinks in that we're going to the playoffs. Still not real yet...

[Brian J]

The magic number is three people, get happy already!

[mo]

Gross is too important as a defensive replacement to keep off .. he's been here all year.. no way they keep him off the roster

[Caleb]

Good lord, the second game lineup is awful.

[Caleb]

Phillip, you are crazy. Gross provides good defense and hits. If anything, Hinske has been awful. He's slow, doesn't fill a need for the team, and has been dead cold the last month with no signs of improvement.

[philip]

when Crawford gets back we should keep Rocco, and Perez on the playoff roster and nock off Gross.

[Jonny Gomes]

Put me in coach ... I'm ready to play!!!

Center Field!!!

[zeke]

I'll say it once more..Upton sux..ok, one more time, Upton sux..Strikeouts aplenty, mediocre attempts to run out close ground balls that Perez would easily have beat and probably Zobrist, Aki and Bartlett would beat out. His swing doesn't appear as if his shoulder is bothering him -- he just can't hit. Granted he is pretty good at bases on balls and getting on base but is that really what you want out of a starting centerfielder. He, even after the time he missed, isn't that far behind Pena in the strikeout category and that says volumes for a non-power hitter. I'm also not saying that Perez is the answer but Upton isn't going to help this team.

[Gus]

Mark: If CC comes back, does that mean Rocco is off the post-season roster. How about Perez? He is outplaying Upton since he was called up and seems like he should be on the roster also, even if he doesn't start.

[Jim]

Retire Percy already! Now is not the time for sentimental journeys with your old buddy from Anaheim Joe.

6,7,8, 9 (Navi, Zobrist, Bartlett and Pereez) really putting the top of the order to shame, same as last night. Top of the order needs to step up in the 7th.