Rays/MLB

Rocco's hamstring woes crop up again

By MARK TOPKIN
Published August 4, 2006

ST. PETERSBURG - Rocco Baldelli has been playing well for the Devil Rays. Just as important, he has been playing every day without any limitations from the hamstring injuries that forced him to miss the first two months of the season.

Which made it even more concerning when he woke up Thursday with soreness in his right hamstring that forced him to miss the game against Detroit, seems likely to sideline him again tonight and, most troubling, could again make his availability to play a daily question.

"It doesn't feel good, so I guess it's concerning," Baldelli said. "As of right now it's going to be a small step back regardless, so I don't really know where it's going to go. I'll find out every morning when I wake up."

Baldelli, who is hitting .285 and moved into the leadoff spot, aggravated the hamstring when he beat out an infield single in the fifth inning Wednesday. By Thursday morning, he knew it might be a problem.

"I woke up (Thursday morning), and it was pretty sore and that was pretty much it," he said. "I went out there for batting practice and tried to see how it felt, and I thought it would be better to take a day and see how it felt (today)."

Manager Joe Maddon said he expects Baldelli may need tonight off but hopes it is just a minor problem. "Any time he has a problem, I worry," Maddon said. "There's nothing that's non-worrisome about him."

Baldelli's early season injury was described as a left hamstring problem, but that doesn't mean the latest injury is a new one. He said Thursday that both hamstrings were sore during the spring as he worked his way back into form after missing the entire 2005 season due to left knee and right elbow surgeries.

"Both of them were bothering me," he said. "Even though the left one was the initial one, neither one is really my good one or my bad one."

Baldelli said he had been through so many injuries, he didn't dare guess how long this would be an issue.

"I'd been feeling fine," he said. "I wouldn't say 100 percent, but good enough to get out there and play every day. ... I guess we're going to play it day by day and see how it feels every day when I show up and do treatment on it and do the regular racket."

Baldelli was in the original lineup Thursday, then scratched and replaced by Greg Norton, who went to rightfield, with Russell Branyan moving to left and Damon Hollins to center. Hollins batted in Baldelli's leadoff spot.

PROSPECTS PROMOTED: From a farm system immersed in controversy, there was good news. Third baseman Evan Longoria, the Rays' top pick in the June draft, and hard-hitting shortstop Reid Brignac were promoted from Class A Visalia to Double-A Montgomery.

Longoria has been moved up twice, after hitting .424 with four homers and 11 RBIs in eight games at Hudson Valley, then .327 with eight homers and 28 RBIs in 28 games for Visalia. "Evan has exceeded our expectations, no doubt," farm director Mitch Lukevics said.

Brignac, a second-round pick in 2004, hit .326 with 21 homers and 83 RBIs in 100 games for Visalia.

MEDICAL MATTERS: Starter Jae Seo, who pitched well after smoothing out his delivery, said his left groin was "a little sore" but expects to be able to make his next start. ... Travis Harper said he is confident the shoulder impingement that landed him on the 15-day disabled list will clear up with two weeks of rest and exercise.

DAY OF REST: Maddon was so committed to giving leftfielder Carl Crawford the night off, he didn't change plans even after Baldelli was scratched from the lineup.

"I just thought it was the right time to do it," Maddon said. "Watching him out there, he seems to be struggling a bit. We've done it a few other times and he has responded in a positive way, so why not?"

MISCELLANY: Jonny Gomes was 0-for-26 against the Tigers until doubling in the seventh. ... Montgomery pitcher Andy Sonnanstine was named the July minor-league pitcher of the month after going 6-0 with a 1.35 ERA, and Longoria was named the top player. ... Red Sox icon Johnny Pesky will sign autographs on Centerfield Street near the Ted Williams Museum for two hours before each game against Boston. Books and photos will be sold with proceeds going to the museum.

[Last modified August 4, 2006, 01:39:44]