Vaughn expected to avoid surgery

© St. Petersburg Times
published July 8, 2002

ANAHEIM, Calif. -- Outfielder Greg Vaughn will be out at least two weeks and maybe a month but does not need surgery on his sore right shoulder.

Dr. Lewis Yocum told the Rays the MRI of Vaughn's shoulder was consistent with previous MRIs and continued treatment, rest and rehab should get him healthy enough to play by the end of July.

"I think it's good news-good news," Rays trainer Jamie Reed said. "It's good news the MRI is consistent with the other MRIs he's seen and it's good news he thinks he should do fine with rehabbing it."

Vaughn bruised his shoulder and irritated the rotator cuff crashing into a wall at Colorado on June 22. The Rays have been pleased with his progress and said Yocum agreed.

"As much progress as he's made the last 10 days (Yocum) thinks it's reasonable he could be back in two weeks," Reed said.

Reed said Yocum felt surgery was "the last option and at this point he thinks he'd be better just rehabbing it." Vaughn has had surgeries on the rotator cuff, which had the Rays concerned.

STARRY-EYED: Scheduled to leave after Sunday's game on an overnight flight to Chicago and then to Milwaukee, Randy Winn knew exactly what he wanted his first official All-Star activity to be.

"A nap," Winn said. "Hopefully I'll be able to get a couple hours sleep."

After that, Winn has a full day, with a media session, the AL team workout and a gala All-Star reception. "I'm just going to stay low-key and take it all in," Winn said. "Playing in the game will be secondary."

His parents, younger brother, an aunt, uncle and cousin will join him in Milwaukee.

BREAK DANCING: The Rays got to the break 28-56, second-worst in their five seasons. Only last season, when they were 27-61 and on their way to a franchise-worst 100 losses, was worse.

SOSA IMPRESSIVE: Rookie Jorge Sosa is probably headed back to the bullpen if Ryan Rupe comes off the disabled list as expected this weekend, but he gave the Rays a glimpse of his potential with a sterling effort in Saturday's 4-3 loss.

Sosa allowed two hits over seven innings, a two-run homer in the first and a single with two outs in the seventh, and was impressive in what he did and how he did it.

"What he did was he kept the ball down, he used all three of his pitches (fastball, changeup, slider) and he didn't overthrow," pitching coach Jackie Brown said. "That's pretty much it in a nutshell."

Brown said catcher John Flaherty deserved credit for the way he kept Sosa focused and made sure he kept throwing on a downhill plane.

Because the Rays don't plan on going to a six-man rotation and can't risk losing Sosa on waivers by trying to send the Rule 5 draft pick to the minors, they are likely to use him as a spot starter and reliever at the beginning of the second half.

HANDLE WITH CARE: Manager Hal McRae held a rare team meeting after Saturday's loss to deliver some encouragement.

"I didn't scream and holler," he said. "In a meeting when a manager rants and raves and curses and throws stuff, it's more for him and not for the players. I try to give the players something. I don't need to do that. I've done that. I know why I've done that. I've talked to other people who've done it, and that's what it's all about. It's only for you, so you sleep good.

"I gave a positive meeting, I pointed out some things mainly just trying to circle the wagons because we're getting attacked. We've got to pull ourselves up."

MISCELLANY: Joe Kennedy will represent the team at today's players union meeting in Chicago. ... Winn's leadoff homer was his third of the season and fourth of his career, matching Gerald Williams' team record. ... Steve Cox is hitless in 15 at-bats.