Rested Baldelli expected back today
By DAMIAN CRISTODERO
Published August 5, 2006
ST. PETERSBURG - Manager Joe Maddon said he expects Rocco Baldelli to play today after the centerfielder sat out his second straight game with a sore right hamstring.
Baldelli said the injury occurred Wednesday against the Tigers.
"It had been feeling pretty good," Baldelli said. "There's not really an explanation for it."
Baldelli missed the first two months of the season, officially, because of a sore left hamstring. He confirmed both hamstrings were sore during that time, though he said they had healed enough that they were not a worry despite not being 100 percent.
With that in mind, Maddon said he will be more cautious with Baldelli's playing time. Baldelli had played 19 straight games since the All-Star break. Maddon said day games after night games might be days of rest.
"He was doing fine," Maddon said. "I thought we had gone by something, but apparently we had not."
KAZMIR DELAYED: Maddon said Scott Kazmir's scheduled Tuesday start was pushed back to Friday against the A's. The left-hander (rotator cuff inflammation) is eligible to come off the 15-day disabled list Tuesday. Maddon said this is not a setback, simply a realization Kazmir needs a bit more work before he takes the mound.
"Just to get back throwing his breaking ball," Maddon said. "He has not done enough of that."
MORE LINEUP MOVES: No surprise Jonny Gomes got the day off. The designated hitter is batting .076 (5-for-66) since the All-Star break and is 1-for-18 with a home run against Red Sox starter Curt Schilling. . . . Maddon said he wants Dioner Navarro to catch the bulk of games. But because he has hit so poorly against left-handers (.133 since being acquired from the Dodgers), Josh Paul generally will get those starts.
LOPEZ ARRIVES: Javy Lopez joined the Red Sox hoping to turn around a "frustrating" season in which he caught just 21 games behind Orioles starter Ramon Hernandez.
"It was one of the reasons I was frustrated with the Orioles, with the fact that they signed Hernandez and I knew from the beginning of the season that I wouldn't catch," Lopez said. "Especially my last year of the contract, you really want to catch and do your best behind the plate."
Lopez, 35, acquired with cash for a player to be named, was supposed to be insurance after Jason Varitek's knee injury.
Red Sox manager Terry Francona said he wanted to give Lopez a day to acclimate. But when Doug Mirabelli left in the third inning with a twisted left ankle, Lopez had to play, going 0-for-4 with a strikeout.
"It is pressure, no doubt about it," Lopez said. "But it's something I have to erase from my head because it doesn't help you. It doesn't do any good having pressure on yourself."
How will he cope?
"I try to just focus on playing and forget about whatever comes from the outside."
RAYS EVENT: The players' wives are sponsoring a Back to School Supplies Drive during today's game. New items such as backpacks, binders, folders, lunch boxes and calculators are being collected at Gates 1, 4 and 5. Contributors will receive a voucher for a lower reserved seat to a game during upcoming series with either the Rangers or Twins.
MISCELLANY: Carl Crawford's 15th home run tied last season's career high. . . . Ben Zobrist's fifth-inning single was his first major-league hit. "Just an honor," he said of getting it off Schilling. "Hopefully, I'll get a chance to get him to sign the ball or something for me before they leave town." ... Navarro ran to the dugout and tossed a ball into the stands, thinking James Shields' strikeout of Kevin Youkilis was the third out of the fourth inning. Maddon said he showed Navarro two fingers, signalling two outs and that Navarro was fined two bottles of wine. ... Schilling's 14th win tied for the AL lead. ... Seth McClung's 11th loss also tied for the lead. ... Boston's Manny Ramirez has a career-high 20-game hitting streak, tied with Seattle's Ichiro Suzuki for the Al's longest this season. ... Jonathan Papelbon became the fifth major-league rookie with 30 saves