Upbeat Fossum gains strength
Coming back from left shoulder surgery this spring, Rays LHP Casey Fossum's goal was to break camp with the team.
By EDUARDO A. ENCINA
Published March 28, 2007
DUNEDIN - Coming back from left shoulder surgery this spring, Rays LHP Casey Fossum's goal was to break camp with the team.
Fossum is on his way, having pitched five scoreless innings in the Rays' 1-0 win over the Blue Jays on Tuesday at Knology Park. Fossum scattered five hits and had three strikeouts with one walk. He threw 75 pitches, 45 of them strikes. Manager Joe Maddon said Fossum will receive one more start before the season, likely six innings in a minor-league game Sunday. He's slated to start the team's home opener April 6.
"I thought I finally had good fastball command," Fossum said. "My two-seamer was moving a lot, and I just kept throwing it. The slider was there again. I threw some changeups there today. I felt like everything kind of came together today. I've had my breaking ball, but my fastball command was just a lot better than it has been."
Fossum said his arm felt strong throughout his longest outing of the spring. The Blue Jays hit the ball hard on occasion, hitting a few to the warning track, but they did little damage to Fossum, who was content to pitch to contact.
"I kept going out there warming up in between innings, and my arm felt like I had just gotten off the mound for the previous inning," Fossum said. "Last year, I found myself the later and later I got into ballgames it was harder and harder to loosen up."
INJURY REPORT: OF Carl Crawford left groin tightness returned to the lineup, batting leadoff, after an four-day layoff.
CF Rocco Baldelli (right hamstring tightness) was scheduled to participate in a minor-league game Tuesday, but Maddon said he was pushed back a day.
So after playing in a minor-league game as a DH today, Baldelli is slated to have a day off and return to the lineup Friday and for Saturday's spring finale.
"I'm going to get a bunch of at-bats, as many as I feel that I need," Baldelli said. "We'll see how it goes (today). I plan on doing well, and we'll go from there."
C Josh Paul (bruised right hand) hit off a tee Monday but wasn't in the lineup Tuesday. Maddon said he expects Paul back Thursday.
BACK-TO-BACK: RHP Al Reyes pitched in a game on back-to-back days for the first time since Tommy John surgery on his right elbow, allowing a Reed Johnson single but striking out Lyle Overbay looking in a scoreless fifth inning.
"It feels good," Reyes said. "I was thinking that my fastball was going to drop down, but it was live today. I felt normal today."
Reyes pitched Monday in a minor-league game, and the effort gave Maddon the confidence to use Reyes on consecutive days going into the season.
"It was a good mental hurdle for Al to get through two in a row," Maddon said. "I could see it in his face. He's got a confidence. I think he's fine. Of course, you wouldn't want to do it too often in the beginning of the season, but you can do it. You know that."
TRIMMING AT THE TROP: Maddon said he planned to meet with his staff and front-office personnel at the Trop after Tuesday's game to decide the next round of cuts.
"We're probably going to move a couple things around by tomorrow, but I don't think it's going to be entirely done by tomorrow," Maddon said.
Among the decisions being made was the selection of the fifth starter - a choice between RHP Edwin Jackson and LHP J.P. Howell.
MISCELLANY: Maddon officially announced that LHP Scott Kazmir, RHP Jae Seo and RHP James Shields will start the opening three games at Yankee Stadium in that order. ... RHPs Juan Salas and Ruddy Lugo pitched in a minor-league game Tuesday. ... Special adviser Fred McGriff served as first-base coach in George Hendrick's absence. ... C Dioner Navarro was away from the team to be with his 1 1/2-year-old son, Dioner Jr., who was having surgery. ... Crawford wore No. 98 because his game jersey was not packed.