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Cannizaro Joins Excitement

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By MARC LANCASTER

The Tampa Tribune

Published: April 28, 2008

ST. PETERSBURG - Durham manager Charlie Montoyo had Andy Cannizaro squirming Saturday night.

About 10 minutes before the Bulls' Triple-A game at Charlotte, Montoyo scratched Cannizaro from the starting lineup and told him to sit tight because something might be happening in Tampa Bay.

"So I'm sitting there all night going, 'Come on, man. Come on,'" Cannizaro said.

It wasn't until after the Bulls' 3-2 victory that Montoyo called Cannizaro into his office and informed the 29-year-old infielder he was headed to Tropicana Field to replace Elliot Johnson on the Rays' roster.

"It was quick after the game," Cannizaro said, "but that was a long nine innings sitting there, just hoping."

Though his flight into Tampa on Sunday morning was delayed, Cannizaro arrived by game time and stepped into the middle of some of the best baseball the Rays have ever played.

"It's an exciting time to be here," he said. "There's a lot of energy, a lot of excitement here - you can feel it. I'm really excited to be here."

Cannizaro doesn't figure to get too many starts but could be slotted in at second base, third base or shortstop. He would have had a good chance to make the team out of spring training if nagging back problems hadn't sidelined him for a few weeks, but he's getting his chance now after hitting .289 in 13 games with the Bulls.

Cannizaro likely will remain with the Rays until Ben Zobrist returns from the fractured thumb that has kept him out for six weeks. Zobrist is scheduled to have the pins removed from his thumb today and perhaps see action in extended spring training games later this week.

BULLPEN SHUFFLE: When RHP Al Reyes rejoins the Rays on Thursday after finishing a stint on the disabled list with a shoulder impingement, he won't necessarily slide back into the eighth-inning spot he had held before. Maddon indicated Sunday he was inclined to keep RHP Dan Wheeler in the primary setup role, though he has done plenty of mixing and matching over the past week.

"The way things are going right now, Danny's done such a great job," Maddon said. "And there's also something to be said about the heat of the moment. If the heat of the moment's the seventh inning and you like the matchup with Dan there, you could flip Wheeler and Reyes. They're all kind of versatile in that regard. It gives us more flexibility in how we pick and choose."

REHAB WATCH: LHP Scott Kazmir will be limited to 85 pitches tonight at Durham in his final rehab start, according to Maddon. The Rays apparently are planning to announce on Tuesday which day Kazmir will start. It is expected to be Sunday, to better keep the rest of the rotation in line.

ON THE MEND: Minor soreness in his upper back has kept RHP Jeff Niemann from making a start for Durham since being optioned down a week ago today. He has thrown a bullpen session in Durham with no problems and is expected to start this week, possibly Thursday.

FARM FACTS: Vero Beach RHP Jeremy Hellickson had another outstanding start Sunday, striking out 11 in six innings against Brevard County. He did allow a run, though, sending his ERA from 0.78 to 0.93 in five starts. Hellickson has walked two batters and struck out 41 in 29 innings this season.

NOTEWORTHY: Committed to giving Troy Percival Sunday off, Maddon told Wheeler before the game that he had the ninth inning if the Rays needed a closer. ... Boston's Manny Ramirez swiped second base in the fifth inning, his first stolen base since April 10, 2005.

Marc Lancaster

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