Vaughn to return with few regrets

ARLINGTON, Texas -- He hates sitting out for any reason, but Greg Vaughn grudgingly admits his extended stint on the 15-day disabled list with a bruised right shoulder probably was the smart move.

The 37-year-old injured himself July 22 while tracking down a fly ball at Coors Field. He ran full speed into the leftfield wall and hasn't played in 61 games.

"I wouldn't want to change because I feel like I have to give everything I have," Vaughn said. "I owe it to the guys on the mound. I owe it to myself. I got hurt going 100 percent."

When rosters expand Sunday, Vaughn will be activated, barring setbacks.

"It's s------," he said of his extended leave. "I love to play, love to compete. I didn't want to be on that list. But I think as I get older I know how to deal with it now. I wouldn't change it ... maybe I would."

Rookie Carl Crawford has taken over as the everyday leftfielder since being called up July 20, and with Jason Conti a speedy option in the outfield, Vaughn's only action likely will come as a designated hitter.

He has a .163 batting average with eight homers and 29 RBIs. He is hitting .129 as a DH and .207 as an outfielder.

"I don't worry about (the stats)," Vaughn said. "I went out there and did the best I could and I stunk it up from the start of the season. It wasn't because of a lack of effort. It just didn't work out. I didn't want to DH and I started off that way and never got going. Once I got into the outfield I started to come around."

WHO'S COMING?: The Rays likely would not go to a six-man rotation or move Victor Zambrano or Jorge Sosa back to the bullpen if a starting pitcher is recalled after rosters expand Sunday.

"I would probably lean toward not doing it because we've gone this far with the five (-man rotation)," manager Hal McRae said. "If you went to a six someone could lose a start. ... Your main concern (in September) is your bullpen, especially with the schedule we have coming up. You hope to have enough arms not to extend anyone and to get through the games comfortably. Adding a starter wouldn't aid you in that respect."

With Triple-A Durham on the verge of clinching a playoff spot Friday, any pitching help from there could be delayed at least a week. Double-A Orlando pitcher Dewon Brazelton, the Rays' 2001 first-round draft pick, could be a possibility. The right-hander is 5-9 with a 3.33 ERA but already has pitched 146 innings.

McRae said he called general manager Chuck LaMar on Friday but was awaiting a call back to talk about potential callups. Infielder Russ Johnson, working his way back from depression, could return after stints at Durham and Orlando.

EARLY MORNING ARRIVAL: After playing the final game in the majors Thursday, the Rays landed in Texas around 4:40 a.m. Friday.

McRae adjusted the lineup and pregame schedule to allow his players to get as much rest as they could. Conti started in centerfield for Randy Winn and Andy Sheets at shortstop in place of Chris Gomez.

"What we do is so mental, you just try to capture the mental edge any way you can," McRae said. "So you give the guys an afternoon off and hope that they realize we've got a game and our focus has to be on going out and winning a game rather than what time we got in or how tired you are."

MINOR MATTERS: Pitcher David Hawk was promoted from Class A Charleston to Double-A Orlando. ... Joey Gomes, who led the New York-Penn League with 15 homers for Hudson Valley, was promoted to Class A Bakersfield, where he'll be teammates with his brother, California League home run leader Jonny Gomes.

ODDS AND ENDS: Originally scheduled to start today, Joe Kennedy will throw a sideline session instead as he tries to rest his throwing arm. ... Sheets will play second in the final two games of the series.