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Zobrist Returns; Gomes Sent Down

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The Tampa Tribune

Published: August 6, 2008

Updated: 08/06/2008 12:11 am

ST. PETERSBURG - With SS Jason Bartlett and LF Carl Crawford each missing a second consecutive start Tuesday, the Rays recalled INF Ben Zobrist and optioned struggling OF/DH Jonny Gomes to Triple-A Durham.

Bartlett was hit by a pitch on the right index finger Sunday, and Crawford aggravated his troublesome left hamstring. Manager Joe Madden indicated both will miss today's afternoon game but could return for Thursday's road trip opener at Seattle.

Besides Bartlett and Crawford being out, Willy Aybar, who made his first major-league start at shortstop Monday, wasn't at full strength after suffering a leg cramp during at at-bat in Tampa Bay's 5-2 loss.

Zobrist, who drew the start, is on his fourth tour with the Rays this season. He was on a tear at Durham, hitting .541 with two doubles and two home runs in 11 games since being optioned there July 24.

He may be needed for only a few days. Bartlett said the swelling in his finger is way down and that he should be ready to go as soon as he can grip the ball and throw comfortably while wearing some type of protection..

There was a rumor going around Tuesday the Rays were going to place Crawford on the 15-day disabled list, but they didn't. With 10 straight games coming up on natural grass, a surface more suitable to Crawford's hamstrings, the Rays are hoping they'll be able to keep him healthy.

WANTS PLAYING TIME: Gomes, a popular Ray who became a major-league player after suffering a heart attack on Christmas Eve 2002, was batting only .182 with eight home runs and 19 RBIs in 69 games.

He attributed his low batting average to his role as a platoon outfielder and DH against left-handed pitchers.

"I know I'm a better player than my numbers are right now," Gomes said. "But I'm an everyday type of guy. When I play every day, my numbers speak for themselves. So I don't know if this is the right fit for me, because I can't play every day here, so we'll see how that works out in the offseason."

Maddon allowed that this is the first season in which Gomes has played infrequently and agreed that it probably did hurt his average.

"To his credit, he stayed ready and worked hard," Maddon said. "If we could have everybody play as hard as he does, run the bases as well as he does, pay attention to the game on the field as well as he does, I'd be very satisfied."

Gomes said the upside to being sent down is that he'll get to play every day and "sharpen my skills as a big-league ballplayer."

STILL ON HOLD: The Rays' immediate need for a shortstop took priority over adding OF Rocco Baldelli to the roster.

The onetime starter, still awaiting his first major-league at-bat of the season, rejoined the team Sunday after a 20-day rehab assignment at Double-A Montgomery and took batting practice the last two days.

"A lot of it is based on what's going on right now - the infield situation with J.B., having to get Zobrist up here, the move we had to make for right now was Zobrist for Gomes," Maddon said.

Maddon said Baldelli will travel with the team to Seattle, an indication he could be recalled when Bartlett returns.

Baldelli still was wearing the scraggly beard he returned from Montgomery with. He has promised to shave it off, in part because his parents don't like it.

Tony Fabrizio

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