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Bartlett, Crawford Are Day-To-Day

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The Tampa Tribune

Published: August 5, 2008

ST. PETERSBURG - SS Jason Bartlett and LF Carl Crawford missed the Rays' 5-2 loss to Cleveland on Monday night and don't look particularly likely for tonight's second game of the three-game series.

Bartlett took a pitch to his right (throwing) index finger in Sunday's victory against Detroit and had it heavily wrapped Monday. He was available only for pinch-running. Crawford has a strained left hamstring.

Bartlett, who was on the 15-day disabled list in July with a sprained knee, said his prognosis is day-to-day.

"They had to drill some holes in the nail to get the blood out," Bartlett said. "Once you get that swelling out of there, it's going to come back pretty fast."

Crawford suffered a flare-up of a problem he said bothered him throughout the first half of the season.

"It's basically the same thing," he said. "I can get on the field and play, but it'll be the same stuff I was doing the first half. But then like the last five games, that's the best I've felt all season. I just want to feel like that all the time. I think it would probably be better to rest it."

Willy Aybar got his first major-league start at shortstop, with Manager Joe Maddon opting to keep rookie sensation Evan Longoria at third rather than moving him over. Eric Hinske started in left and Gabe Gross, who had a spectacular catch in a victory against Detroit on Friday, started in right.

About Bartlett's status, Maddon said, "If I had to bet, I would say probably not tomorrow. But the difference between today and yesterday was significant, so we'll see what he feels like tomorrow before we say no."

Maddon said Crawford will get another day of rest if he needs it.

"The playing surface here does bother him to a certain extent," he said. "We have all grass coming up a 10-game road trip to Seattle, Oakland and Texas in the next couple of days."

BALDELLI STILL ON HOLD: Rocco Baldelli, hoping to join the major-league roster for the first time this year, took pregame batting practice and shagged fly balls, but the Rays delayed a decision on his status for at least another day.

He met with Maddon and Rays executive vice president Andrew Friedman earlier Monday, and they'll talk again today.

"I've been waiting for a long time to come back," Baldelli said. "It seems like it's something that's probably going to happen, and I'm pretty excited about it."

If Baldelli comes back, he'll probably get most of his defensive work as a part-time player in right field. He played right field during his recent 20-day rehab assignment at Double-A Montgomery, but he was a center fielder as an everyday player with the Rays.

RIGGANS UNDAUNTED: Other than using a little ice, backup C Shawn Riggans said he wasn't doing anything to treat the right side of his chest after getting nailed by a Fernando Rodney 93-mph fastball in Sunday's victory vs. Detroit.

Riggans not only stayed in the game after having the wind knocked out of him, but also scored the winning run. Monday night, he pinch-hit in the eighth inning and struck out on a foul tip.

"I talked to the trainers today and they're all confident he's fine," Maddon said. "That speaks to staying in shape, too."

MINOR-LEAGUERS SUSPENDED: The Rays had two more minor-league players suspended Monday.

Cesar Guillen and Victory Henriquez each received 50-game suspensions after testing positive for a performance-enhancing substance. Guillen, an outfielder, tested positive for ephedrine. Henriquez, an infielder, tested positive for metabolites of stanozolol.

Both players are with Tampa Bay's Dominican Summer League team.

Tony Fabrizio

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