Rays News

"Troy Percival is on bonus time and he knows it. "I definitely appreciate it a lot more. I don't ride the highs as high or the lows as low," the former Angel closer said Friday. "I didn't ever figure I'd play again." After blowing out his elbow with the Detroit Tigers then blowing it out again after trying to return, Percival retired to a life of coaching -- both his son's team and as a guest instructor for the Angels last spring. But then a funny thing happened -- his elbow got better. Completely better, in fact."

"In his past two starts, Jon Garland seems to have recaptured his form from the 2005 American League Championship Series. Unfortunately, so did the Angels' offense Friday night. The Angels were held to one hit by right-hander James Shields (Hart High of Newhall) and lost 2-0 when Evan Longoria broke up the scoreless duel with a two-run home run off Angels reliever Justin Speier in the bottom of the ninth. "

"The Angels' clubhouse was empty by the time Torii Hunter got out of the shower, making a long night a little bit longer. It was a night when Hunter saw 13 pitches from Tampa Bay's James Shields, yet managed to hit only one -- grounding it all the way to the shortstop. And that almost qualified as a rally. In fact, among the Angels, only Brandon Wood did better, with his third-inning bouncer up the middle the only thing that stood between Shields and a no-hitter in a 2-0 Rays win decided on rookie Evan Longoria's one-out walk-off home run in the ninth."

"LHP Scott Kazmir, above, makes his second start after coming off the disabled list (left elbow strain), hoping to fix some mechanical issues from his outing against Boston (four runs, four innings). Kazmir is 1-1 with a 4.72 ERA in two starts vs. the Angels."

"DH Cliff Floyd's "longest four weeks" are over. The Rays activated Floyd after Friday's game, four weeks to the day after surgery on his right knee. To make room, they designated for assignment OF Nathan Haynes, who had played sparingly since the acquisition of Gabe Gross."

"It was hard to pick the hero from Friday's 2-0 win over the Angels. There was Rays starter James Shields, who delivered the best performance of his big-league career with a complete-game one-hitter, his second shutout in his past three outings... But in the ninth, it was rookie Evan Longoria who stole the spotlight. He shook off a recent slump to hit a walk-off, two-run homer that brought the crowd of 12,039 to its feet and lift the Rays (19-16) to a win over one of the American League's best teams (22-15), starting a seven-game homestand with a bang."

"If these bats ever catch up with these arms and gloves ... "When it comes, look out," Rays pitcher James Shields said. You thought that as Evan Longoria circled the bases at Tropicana Field on Friday night after his first walk-off home run in the majors. He was on his way to that mob of teammates at home plate, not to mention a water-jug bath (supplied by Jonny Gomes) and a shaving cream pie in the face (Eric Hinske). You can't take your eyes off these guys. Not for a second."

"The celebratory scrum at Tropicana Field slid like a single, living entity from home plate to the pitcher's mound, with rookie Evan Longoria lost in a joyful heap of bouncing Rays. At some point during the mayhem, Longoria - whose two-run homer off Angels reliever Justin Speier had just given Tampa Bay a 2-0, walk-off victory - found Rays pitcher James Shields and wrapped him in a bear hug."

"Moments after 3B Evan Longoria's walk-off home run against the Angels, the Rays activated DH Cliff Floyd from the 15-day disabled list and designated for assignment OF Nathan Haynes. Floyd took batting practice Friday, after which Manager Joe Maddon met with the team's medical staff. Before the game, Floyd proclaimed himself ready to play."

" After rallying from a 3-0 deficit in their last at-bat to tie the Tampa Bay Rays, the Jays squandered a room-service opportunity to win the game an inning later, failing to cash a leadoff triple by Alex Rios. They allowed the Rays to hang around for three more innings and when their time came they blew Toronto's doors off, scoring five times in the 13th for an 8-3 victory. "

"The only word for it is excruciating. An 8-3 loss to Tampa Bay that would have been disappointing in the ninth seemed unbearable in the 13th after the Jays fought back, but then came up painfully short. The four-hour defeat set Toronto's travel plans back. It also sent the Jays on a 10-game road swing in something less than a positive frame of mind."

"James Shields, coming off a rough outing, is 2-1 with a 3.55 ERA in four starts against the Angels. But Vladimir Guererro is 6-for-12 off him and Chone Figgins 5-for-11."

"One of the concerns the Rays had about promoting 3B Evan Longoria to the majors was how he would handle the struggles that any 22-year-old faces. With Longoria in a 2-for-22 slump and his average at .221, manager Joe Maddon took him out of the starting lineup Thursday, figuring relaxing during batting practice and watching the game might help, even for part of what became a long night. Longoria, who came in in the seventh and went 1-for-3, agreed. "

"For now, it is just a slow start. Nothing more and nothing less. Carlos Pena is just another hitter in need of a few more line drives. Maybe when you're a kid, 10 strikeouts in 12 at-bats would be a sign to lace up those soccer cleats in the back of the closet. But, for a big-league first baseman coming off a 46-homer season, it's just a bad week at the office."

"Things didn't work out quite the way the Rays planned Thursday night, not with Troy Percival blowing his first save, with opportunities to retake the lead going unredeemed as extra innings mounted. But they eventually still worked out, with Dan Wheeler and J.P. Howell pitching in, and a 13th-inning rally capped by Dioner Navarro's grand slam, for a road-trip-capping, potentially inspiring 8-3 win over the Jays. "

"In neighborhoods across the city, the Rays stadium debate has spawned political-style campaigns for and against the project, causing residents to take sides and make decisions on where they stand - even before all the facts are in. Lines are being drawn well before key questions have been answered, such as how exactly do the Rays intend to pay for the ballpark, how much will taxpayers be asked to kick in, and what happens to marine life if part of Tampa Bay is filled in?"

"The ninth inning of Thursday night's game brought back some unpleasant bullpen memories for the Rays. Lucky for them, a pitcher who was responsible for a few of those forgettable moments in the past was around to help bail them out four innings later. After watching Troy Percival's perfect run closing games come to an abrupt halt when he allowed three Toronto runs to score in the bottom of the ninth, the Rays bided their time until the Blue Jays brought Shawn Camp to the mound for the 13th. Five runs later, they had themselves an 8-3 victory that took far longer than it should have."

"After going 0-for-3 with two strikeouts Wednesday night, Longoria was hitting .138 (4-for-29) with one RBI on the road trip that came to an end Thursday. So, for the first time in his major-league career, he remained on the bench when the game began. "I wanted to give him a day off," said Rays manager Joe Maddon. "Just thought he was pressing a bit and I wanted to back him off a little bit.""

"And that's when he decided the rocking chair would have to wait, choosing instead to anchor the bullpen and the clubhouse for the Tampa Bay Rays. So far neither side has been disappointed, with Percival holding opponents scoreless in 11 of his 12 appearances and notching seven saves to keep the surprising Rays in the thick of the American League East race heading into this weekend's three-game series with the Angels. "It's really been an unbelievable turn of events for Troy. And we couldn't be happier for him," said Angels Manager Mike Scioscia..."

" Shawn Marcum: K-Man of the Blue Jays staff. That is surprising given the fact Marcum doesn't throw the gas that either A.J. Burnett or Dustin McGowan can bring. Nor can he touch the heat or the stuff that Roy Halladay has mastered. But Marcum, who throws consistently in the upper 80s and whose best pitch is his changeup, finds himself as the team leader in strikeouts. Last night against the pesky Tampa Bay Rays, Marcum was doing his thing, racking up Ks and zeroes on the scoreboard in a 6-2 Jays victory. "

""Does this team have enough power to compete with the Bostons and New Yorks of this division?" he was asked after the Jays' comprehensive 6-2 victory over the Tampa Bay Rays. "No," Rolen said. Dead-eyed stare. Uncomfortable silence. Finally, a wry smile. "Did I shock ya?" Coming as it did on the night when Toronto's offence finally seemed to discover itself, it did. Toronto bid farewell to nearly a month of offensive impotence with an impressive 6-2 win over the Rays. Possibly the team's most complete victory of the season, it was, in Rolen's words, "a lot closer a game than it ended up.""

"Since coming out of retirement in June, RHP Troy Percival has kept things extremely simple. And as a result he has been remarkably successful. Between his 11 games for the Rays this season and 34 for the Cardinals last season, Percival has been among the most successful relievers in the game, and close to untouchable. His 1.41 ERA is the third best of all relievers with 50 or more innings; only J.C. Romero (1.08 going into Wednesday) and Joe Nathan (1.18) were better. "

"There weren't a lot of answers in the quiet Rays clubhouse after Wednesday's 6-2 loss to Toronto. Hitters talked about why they weren't able to do much against Jays starter Shaun Marcum. (He's good). Relievers talked about how they failed to keep the score close in the pivotal eighth inning. (They made mistakes.) "

"Pena was hardly alone Wednesday when it came to Rays hitters unable to get the job done. The Blue Jays' 6-2 victory at Rogers Centre was highlighted by the dominance of Toronto starter Shaun Marcum, who allowed only two Rays to reach base in the first eight innings before losing his grip on the cusp of victory."

"Dioner Navarro realizes there were times last season when he came to the plate in a key situation that even those in his own dugout didn't expect much from him. He also believes that perception has changed, as his strong second half at the plate has carried over into a torrid offensive run since he came off the disabled list last month. "I think now this year it's, 'If it's Navi's turn, he's going to pick us up,'" Navarro said. Among the categories in which Navarro is much improved so far this season is his .316 average with runners in scoring position. That number is in line with Navarro's work across the board. After going 1-for-3 Wednesday night, he has hit .357 (15-for-42) in 12 games since returning from the DL."

" They may have taken the devil out of the Tampa Bay Rays but they still seem to wield a strange kind of voodoo power over the Blue Jays. Bad enough that the Rays, coming off three losses in Boston, waltzed into Rogers Centre and took the opener of this three-gamer by a score of 5-4, ending Toronto's five-game win streak. Worse, the Jays emerged from this loss with both their shortstops injured, one of them perhaps seriously. "

"An end to their five-game winning streak is the least of Toronto's worries this morning. The Blue Jays' brain trust will be trying to reorganize the infield after losing both of their shortstops to injury during last night's 5-4 loss to Tampa."

"By the time the Yankees come to Tropicana Field next week, the Rays could have a significantly different look. DH Cliff Floyd, INF Ben Zobrist and RHPs Gary Glover and Al Reyes could all be off the disabled list, manager Joe Maddon said in his most positive medical report of the season. "They're all coming together at the same point almost," he said. "We'll have to (do) a whole bunch of things all at once possibly." "

"Rays starter Matt Garza hasn't faced the Jays since his August 2006 major-league debut, allowing seven runs on eight hits."

"The Rays needed something Tuesday, and they got plenty. Another home run from Eric Hinske, the ex-Jay who was booed lustily. A pair of run-scoring hits from suddenly surging Akinori Iwamura. Six good-enough innings from Andy Sonnanstine. More dazzling defense. Splendid relief from Dan Wheeler and Troy Percival. And a win they badly needed, 5-4 over Toronto, putting the lost weekend in Boston behind them and moving them back to two games over .500 at 17-15, the fourth-best record in the AL. "

"He didn't pop off about the Blue Jays in public and he didn't leave the team in a lurch by spurning them for free agency. In fact, it was the Jays who got rid of him, trading him to Boston in August 2006 for cash. So he wasn't quite sure why he was booed by many of those in attendance at Rogers Centre on Tuesday night even before he launched a towering home run to dead center for what proved to be the decisive run in a 5-4 Rays victory."

"Reinforcements apparently are on the way for Tampa Bay, and they might all arrive around the same time. Manager Joe Maddon ran down the list of rehabbing Rays before Tuesday's game and it seemed there was progress on nearly every front, to the point that the roster could look a bit different at this time next week. "Pretty much back to what we thought it was going to look like originally," he said."

"Andy Sonnanstine has pitched so well that manager Joe Maddon said what he does is "beyond the point of surprise." But the company Sonnanstine has put himself in might be. Already the first Ray to win four games in April, Sonnanstine will be the quickest to five wins in franchise history if he earns a victory over Toronto tonight in the team's 32nd game. (Scott Kazmir got his fifth win in the Rays' 35th game in 2006). "

"The Rays have won 11 of the past 17 games against Toronto and have been .500 or better in three of the past four seasons."

"There are a number of unexpected explanations for how the Rays have gotten to this point, hovering above .500 one-fifth of the way through the schedule even after a weekend sweep, such as the contributions of Eric Hinske and overall impressive pitching, specifically from the bullpen. But there are some legitimate reasons to think they might be able to do better. "

""We're seeing so many injuries, particularly in high school and younger baseball players where we're having to do Tommy John surgery on them in epidemic proportions compared to where we were with that some years ago," said renowned orthopedist James Andrews. "It's become a major, major problem. These kids are getting hurt and having major surgery before they really get to be baseball players.""

"No one has to explain to the Rays how fragile pitchers' arms can be. Already this season, Tampa Bay has seen two of its top three starters spend time on the disabled list - Scott Kazmir missing a month with a left elbow strain and Matt Garza more than two weeks with radial nerve irritation. Both of them are healthy now, but key relievers Al Reyes and Gary Glover currently are on the DL with shoulder problems. It can be a never-ending cycle, but that's no surprise to those tasked with keeping pitchers healthy and on the field. "

"In detailing how the Rays went from sweeping the Red Sox last weekend to being swept this weekend, it's best to start with the starting pitching. At Tropicana Field, the Rays got an okay outing from Matt Garza and stellar work from Edwin Jackson and James Shields, a combined 21 innings with a 1.33 ERA, and won all three. At Fenway Park, they got poor performances from Jackson, Shields and Scott Kazmir, a combined 112/3 innings and a 12.34 ERA, and lost all three."

"The good news was that Scott Kazmir felt fine, the spring training elbow strain that delayed his season debut until Sunday not the slightest issue. But it was how he pitched that was the problem, with poor mechanics resulting in a lack of command and velocity, leading to an erratic, and abbreviated, effort in a 7-3 loss. A week after sweeping the Red Sox, the Rays were swept and headed to Toronto for a welcomed day off, just a game over .500 at 16-15."

"As the season unfolds, the Rays undoubtedly will benefit from having Scott Kazmir in their rotation, but getting him back didn't prove to be a quick fix. Showing some expected signs of rust, the left-hander left plenty of room for improvement in his first start of the season Sunday. Fighting himself and a tough Red Sox lineup simultaneously, Kazmir lasted just four lengthy innings and took the loss in a 7-3 Rays defeat."

"B.J. Upton was back in the Rays' lineup Sunday, but he wasn't quite himself. For a guy who generates much of his power with incredible bat speed, Upton's cuts weren't terribly enthusiastic as he went 0-for-3 with a walk, two groundouts to second base and a strikeout. "Probably in the back of his mind he really didn't want to turn it loose," Rays manager Joe Maddon said."

"Who needs Ortiz? OK, this team does, over the long haul. But for one afternoon, a series-sweeping 7-3 win over the Rays at Fenway Park in front of 37,091, there was no need to put even more weight on Ortiz's balky right knee. ("It's all right," he said as he exited the clubhouse yesterday. "It's feeling better.") Not with his career numbers against Scott Kazmir (7 for 37, .189). Not with Youkilis around."

"The Red Sox’ 7-3 victory yesterday swapped sweep for sweep and established a little more realistic gap between the teams. While the 2008 Rays are a viable, talented and balanced team, the 2008 Red Sox played to their own level this weekend. After managing just five runs and 17 hits last weekend, the Red Sox offense sliced and diced its way to 26 runs and 39 hits in these three games, lifting their team batting average eight points to .286. Take that, Rays."

"The Pirates are not necessarily through with reliever Evan Meek. Although there are plenty of unusual circumstances related to Rule 5 draft picks, there is a palpable feeling among management that he could remain in the system, provided a few elements play out. When a Rule 5 claim is designated for assignment, as Meek was yesterday morning, he must clear 48-hour waivers. If that happens in this case, the Pirates can offer Meek back to Tampa Bay for half the original claiming price of $50,000 or work out a trade to keep him. The latter scenario sounded most likely yesterday."

"There's no greater balancing act than sweeping a rival that's already swept you. more stories like this This afternoon - weather permitting - the Red Sox have the opportunity to return the slap in the face Tampa Bay served them last weekend when the Rays took a three-game series. They could add double insult to the Rays if they can beat comebacking Scott Kazmir, who will be making his first start of the season, after they squashed James Shields last night in a 12-4 win before 37,700."

"The success the Rays have experienced thus far has been brand new to an organization that has known nothing but losing. And a big part of it has been the addition of some older, more experienced, players. "Veterans do matter," manager Joe Maddon said. "Proven veterans that can still play and are good guys in the clubhouse can have a great impact on a group of youngsters. That's always theoretical, but we're proving that to be true right now." Closer Troy Percival's impact, on more than just the relievers it should be noted, is obvious, just as clear as seeing him work the clubhouse, as Maddon says, like a maitre d'."

"Next piece the Rays might seek: a leadoff-hitting rightfielder, allowing 2B Akinori Iwamura to slide toward the bottom of the order. … Scott Kazmir did the proper big-league thing during his rehab, springing for postgame steaks for the Durham team. … LHP Chuck Tiffany, the other pitcher acquired with Edwin Jackson from the Dodgers (for Danys Baez and Lance Carter), is pitching for Class A Vero after missing nearly two years with shoulder problems."

"In completing his recovery from a spring training elbow strain, Scott Kazmir has gone through extensive hours of treatment, repeated mundane drills and exercises, played catch at assorted distances and degrees of effort and made rehab starts in three minor-league cities. But to get back on the mound today as scheduled at Fenway Park, he's going to have to beat the rain, which is forecast to fall heavily most of the day. "It's like it's been forever," he said. "One month feels like the entire season. I'm just excited to contribute to the team.""

"James Shields saw no reason to mess with success, so he took the same plan that worked so well last week into Saturday's rematch with the Red Sox at Fenway Park. The approach was similar, but the results couldn't have been more different. The followup to his two-hit complete-game shutout gem was a dud, as Shields failed to get through the fourth inning of a 12-4 loss on another cold (game-time temperature 45 degrees) and damp New England night."

"It has been a long time since Scott Kazmir walked off the mound at the Naimoli Complex after feeling something in his left elbow while warming up for an intrasquad game, initiating a saga that will finally come to an end today. From Feb. 26 to May 4 - assuming rain doesn't push his season debut back a couple more days - that's a slow nine weeks. "It feels like it's been forever," Kazmir said Saturday. At last, it's time for his season to begin."