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Rays/MLB

Crawford sits out but hopes to return tonight

By DAVID MURPHY
Published June 3, 2006

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ST. PETERSBURG - How confident is Carl Crawford that he'll play tonight?

"Confident," the Devil Rays leftfielder said before Friday's game against the Blue Jays. "I'm going to try to make every effort to get in the lineup."

That prognosis is excellent considering his initial thoughts.

Moments after he landed awkwardly on his left leg while protesting a play at the plate during Thursday's win over the Orioles, Crawford believed he might have torn ligaments in his knee.

Those fears subsided by the time he returned to the dugout - the official diagnosis was a strain - but Crawford, called out after trying to stretch a triple into a homer, sat out Friday because of soreness.

"Going out there on the turf, I can just imagine how it would have felt had I tried to run hard on it," said Crawford, whose replacement, Damon Hollins went 0-for-3 with two strikeouts.

Though the Elias Sports Bureau doesn't keep track of players injured while protesting a play at the plate, it's safe to say the figure is low.

Still, anecdotal evidence suggests Crawford's mishap might not even make a list of the top bizarre injuries by bay area athletes.

Who can forget ex-USF kicker Bill Gramatica tearing an ACL while celebrating a field goal while with the Cardinals in 2001? Or ex-Bucs quarterback Brian Griese saying he sprained his ankle by tripping over his dog?

Even Devil Rays centerfielder Joey Gathright has a wacky story.

He said he injured his shoulder while celebrating a walkoff home run by a teammate earlier this season.

"I came in and jumped in the pile, and somebody hit me," Gathright said. "My shoulder (popped) out."

Gathright, who has a history of shoulder problems, didn't miss any time.

"I'm used to it," he said.

EARLY RETURN?:

A tinge of eagerness trickled into Scott Kazmir's voice when a visitor to his locker informed him manager Joe Maddon was considering juggling the rotation in order to get him back on the mound earlier.

"What did he say?" said Kazmir, who pitched just two innings Thursday against the Orioles before a 92-minute rain delay ended his evening.

Well, Maddon said he'd likely settle on his plans today.

For now, Kazmir isn't scheduled to start again until Tuesday. Mark Hendrickson (tonight), Doug Waechter (Sunday) and James Shields (Monday) are slated to start before him.

If Maddon does decide to put Kazmir, 22, back on the mound early, he'll make at least one person happy.

"I'm ready to go right now," Kazmir said.

Against the Orioles, Kazmir allowed three runs on two hits, striking out two and walking three. Entering Friday, he ranked second in the American League in strikeouts (75), seventh in ERA (3.15) and tied for second with seven victories.

SUMMER HALLADAY:

Few teams have had success against Roy Halladay this season, and the Devil Rays certainly haven't been one. At least not lately.

The Rays have faced Halladay three times this season. They scored five runs on him in a 5-2 win April 9 but have since been stymied by the Toronto ace. Halladay has pitched 172/3 in his past two starts against the Rays, pitching a complete-game, three-hit shutout May 13 then going 82/3 on May23.

Halladay, who is scheduled to start tonight, is 2-1 with a 2.52 ERA against the Rays this year.

"He's got great stuff," Rays designated hitter Jonny Gomes said. "He just doesn't make a lot of mistakes."

MADDON'S MOM:

Albina "Beanie" Maddon is in her 70s, but according to her son, the Rays manager, she has never been to Florida. That changed this weekend. Beanie is in town and will be at the games tonight and Sunday.

- , Times staff writer

[Last modified June 3, 2006, 01:29:10]

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