Rays/MLB

Strained back to keep Wigginton out

By MARC TOPKIN
Published July 16, 2006

ANAHEIM, Calif. - The Devil Rays moved Ty Wigginton back to third base after Aubrey Huff was traded last week. Now they may have to go at least a few days without Wigginton, who strained his back late in Friday's game and likely won't play again until Monday or Tuesday in Minnesota.

Wigginton, one of the Rays' most productive and versatile players, said he has not had previous back trouble and does not consider this strain to be an indication of more extensive problems.

"I feel I'll be ready in a couple of days," Wigginton said. "It's kind of disappointing because you get in and you want to help the squad get off to a good start and then you have a little bang-up. But it's nothing I think will be serious."

The injury occurred on the final play of the eighth inning, when he fielded Orlando Cabrera's grounder and threw to first for the out.

"He came in on that slow roller, that chopper, and picked it up, and as he picked it up, something in his lower back kind of tightened up on him," manager Joe Maddon said. "He threw it and then basically waddled off the field. He was hurting from the time he threw it until the time he got to the dugout. He came in here, and he was having a hard time."

Wigginton, second on the team with 16 homers and 50 RBIs, had been playing first base before Huff was traded but said he didn't think the move back to third contributed to the strain.

"It's pretty much the same," he said. "You're at an angle. Obviously, you go at balls a little bit different ... but I don't think that had anything to do with it."

Veteran utilityman Tomas Perez, who went into play Saturday hitting .172, started Saturday and is likely to do so until Wigginton is ready. Russell Branyan, who has started one game at third this season, is another option.

KAZ BETTER: Scott Kazmir's stiff neck felt better Saturday, but he said the decision to push his next start back from Saturday to Tuesday was a good one.

Kazmir's neck stiffened during Friday's game, possibly from sleeping on the flights from Tuesday's All-Star Game in Pittsburgh, and the Rays decided afterward to not take any chances and replaced him with James Shields.

"You have to be cautious," Kazmir said. "I think it was a good idea to have a couple days. That way, you wouldn't be changing your mechanics or something like that so that you don't feel anything. That's what I was worried about. So we're just making sure it's gone so I don't have anything that bothers me."

Maddon said Kazmir probably could have pitched today but he didn't want to take any chances with the ace left-hander.

SOMETHING IN THE AIR: Shortstop Julio Lugo burst into the clubhouse Saturday afternoon announcing, "I'm still here," but admitted it's hard for him not to wonder if he will be after the July 31 nonwaiver trade deadline.

"When there's something in the air and you don't know what's going on, whether you want it or not, you're going to think about it," Lugo said. "The less things you have on your mind, it's easier."

MINOR MATTERS: Doug Waechter had another rough outing for Triple-A Durham on Saturday, allowing five runs (four earned) on seven hits and four walks in 22/3 innings, raising his ERA to 9.09. ... Catching prospect Shawn Riggans left the game in the second inning with an injured wrist. No details were available. ... Josh Hamilton went 3-for-3 Saturday for short-season Class-A Hudson Valley and increased his average to .296. ... Left-hander Chuck Tiffany, acquired from the Dodgers in the Danys Baez trade, is out until spring training after rotator cuff surgery last week.

MISCELLANY: Centerfielder Rocco Baldelli usually doesn't play in day games after night games to rest his legs but told Maddon he feels he can play today. ... Friday's shutout was the Rays' second in their past four games. They'd been blanked once in their first 86. ... Maddon said he was touched by the affection and attention he was shown during his first visit to Anaheim since taking over the Rays. ... Cabrera's grounder off Wigginton's glove in the first Friday was changed from an error to a hit after the game.

[Last modified July 16, 2006, 01:46:30]