By MARC TOPKIN, Times Staff Writer
Published August 23, 2006
ST. PETERSBURG - Just when the Devil Rays looked like they were relatively healthy, third baseman B.J. Upton felt soreness in his left shoulder during batting practice Tuesday and was scratched from the lineup.
Upton strained the shoulder swinging at and missing a pitch Thursday and sat out the weekend series against Cleveland before returning Monday.
He said he felt "just a little soreness" and the Rays chose to be cautious. "They didn't want to push it," Upton said. "It's just precautionary."
Upton has had the problem with his shoulder previously and said he usually needs only a day or two before returning. He said he was ready to play Sunday, but the Rays wanted to give him an extra day and waited until Monday.
Manager Joe Maddon said that the Rays will watch Upton closely but that he is expected to return to the lineup tonight. "With him you want to be overly cautious," Maddon said. "If he feels anything, I'm going to say no. He's way too important to this organization to force him back into a game on Aug. 23. I don't really get that. Then again, it's important for him to get out there and play, too. As long as he's well he'll play. If he's not well, he's not going to play."
The Rays will wait until today to decide whether right-hander Jae Seo will be recovered enough from a sore left groin to make his next start Friday or if he will go on the disabled list.
"Too many times people hurt their legs and their arm gets hurt because of that compensation," Maddon said. "I've got to talk to him. I've got to brush up on my Korean to make it a little more emphatic."
Seo played long toss Tuesday and said he felt better and wants to pitch. If the Rays choose to be cautious, they will recall Jason Hammel (5-9, 4.23) from Triple-A Durham to take Seo's place.
Reliever Travis Harper, on the DL since Aug. 2 with a right shoulder impingement, has been playing catch and is pleased with his progress. Harper said he expects to return this season - "Hopefully pretty soon."
DIAMOND RAT: Going to the Arizona Fall League after spending the past two months in the major leagues might seem like a burden, but rookie shortstop Ben Zobrist said he couldn't be more thrilled by the opportunity.
"I'm really excited about it," Zobrist said. "From what I've heard, it's a great place to work on things. I think it will be really good for me."
The Rays would like to see Zobrist - who went into play Tuesday with a .197 average - improve his offense, specifically his situational hitting and bunting, as well as maintaining a line-drive approach and making consistent hard contact.
"There's definitely things he needs to work on," Maddon said. "For me, he could almost end up being perfect. I don't see a mistake in that guy's game when he's right."
GOOD FACE: Maddon was impressed not only with how Seth McClung got the final three outs for his first major-league save Monday, but how he looked doing it.
"He wasn't jovial," Maddon said. "He was just out there all business. There was a real determined look about him. I really thought he wanted to get this thing done. He was as focused as I've seen him all year. ... Sometimes he's out there and sometimes he's a little bit too happy-go-lucky, but (Monday) I thought he was really intent and I thought he did a great job with it."
ONE-SHOT WONDER: Infielder Luis Ordaz, who injured his left knee in the April 3 opener and has been working has way back from surgery, was recalled from his rehab assignment at Durham on Tuesday and was designated for assignment. The Rays have 10 days to trade, release or pass him through waivers.
NUMBERS GAME: Scott Kazmir will visit St. Petersburg's Bay Point Middle School today to help launch a national math education awareness program called MathMovesU. Kazmir will throw a few pitches in the school caf and show students how math is used in baseball. Other guests include St. Petersburg Mayor Rick Baker, Pinellas schools superintendent Clayton Wilcox and Rays President Matt Silverman.
MINOR MATTERS: Jeff Niemann continues his impressive return from injury, improving to 4-5 for Double-A Montgomery with seven shutout innings on Monday. Niemann has 77 strikeouts and 21 walks in 66 innings. ... Shortstop Reid Brignac was named California League MVP and top rookie after hitting .326 with 21 homers, 83 RBIs and 82 runs in 100 games before being promoted to Montgomery. ... Visalia's Joe Szekely was named the league's co-manager of the year.
MISCELLANY: Struggling second baseman Jorge Cantu got the second of two scheduled days off on Tuesday, a break designed to allow him to clear his head. ... Rocco Baldelli has been taking ground balls at third base and Jonny Gomes at first base but Maddon said, "That is just them playing around in pregame." ... Carl Crawford was among those who couldn't wait to get their copy of the new Madden NFL '07 video game released Tuesday: "I'll be playing this tonight." ... The Rays on Monday blew their 70th and 71st leads.
