Rough year likely over for Zobrist

The opening day shortstop has a serious muscle pull that probably will keep him on the disabled list for the rest of the season.

By MARC TOPKIN
Published August 20, 2007

ADVERTISEMENT [Brian Cassella | Times] en Zobrist began the season as the starting shortstop and No. 2 hitter. He seems likely to finish it on the disabled list.

ST. PETERSBURG - Ben Zobrist began the season as the starting shortstop and No. 2 hitter. He seems likely to finish it on the disabled list.

An MRI exam Sunday confirmed that Zobrist had a serious pull of his right oblique muscle and manager Joe Maddon conceded "it's definitely possible" the injury is season-ending, making a bad year even worse.

"It's been a tough year," Zobrist said. "I don't want to forget it, though. I don't want to have to learn the lesson twice. Whatever I needed to learn this year, I want to learn it now, that way when things come in the future I'll be more prepared."

Zobrist started 13 of the Rays' first 17 games but was benched then demoted to Triple A on May 11 after hitting .159. He was recalled July 29 and struggled again, hitting .147.

KNUCKLEBALLING NEMESIS: The last person the Rays want to see on the mound tonight is Boston starter Tim Wakefield, who torments them on a regular basis, most recently last Monday in Boston (two hits over eight shutout innings).

Wakefield is 18-2 with a 2.83 ERA against the Rays (the 18 wins a major-league most) and is a remarkable 8-0, 2.33 ERA in the climate-controlled Trop, and the Sox juggled their rotation so he could pitch tonight.

Ex-Ray Kevin Cash, just called up by Boston, will take injured Doug Mirabelli's place as Wakefield's personal catcher.

ROCCO'S ROAD: CF Rocco Baldelli, out since mid May with a left hamstring strain, joins Class A Vero Beach tonight to start a rehab assignment with hopes of rejoining the Rays around Sept. 1. Baldelli will be handled cautiously, scheduled to get two at-bats as the DH tonight and three Tuesday, take Wednesday off, play three to four innings in centerfield Thursday, then get three DH at-bats Friday. If that goes well, he is expected to move up to Triple-A Durham.

TARGET PRACTICE: RHP James Shields allowed only six hits over six solid innings, but it was Grady Sizemore's line drive that left the most telling mark, a red welt on Shields' right calf. It was the second straight start he was hit by a batted ball, but he didn't consider leaving the game.

"You're going to need a wheelchair or a stretcher to get me off the mound," he said.

REHAB REPORT: RHP Jay Witasick (right elbow strain) has thrown well on rehab at Durham (21/3 hitless innings) and could be back before the Sept. 1 roster expansion. "It's not etched in stone we'll wait until the call-ups because he's making some nice progress right now," Maddon said.

MISCELLANY: Top team officials will be in Port Charlotte today for 11 a.m. groundbreaking ceremonies at the soon-to-be-renovated spring training facility. ... CF B.J. Upton's homer ended a streak of 291 team at-bats without one. ... 1B Carlos Pena matched his 2004 career best with his 27th homer. ... The Rays snapped a seven-game losing streak to Cleveland. ... Communications coordinator Jason Latimer is leaving for a job with the Yankees. ... RHP Doug Waechter pitched six no-hit innings for Class A Vero on Sunday.

[Last modified August 19, 2007, 22:44:10]