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Bartlett: I'm Ready To Play SS

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By MARC LANCASTER | The Tampa Tribune

Published: August 14, 2008

OAKLAND, Calif. - Wednesday marked a significant milestone in SS Jason Bartlett's longer-than-expected return from a bruised right index finger.

After an afternoon throwing session with infield coach Tom Foley, Bartlett said he believes he's ready to get back in the field even though he continues to feel pain in his finger when he throws.

"I could go out there and play right now," said Bartlett. "It's just a matter of being close to 100 percent. Obviously I don't need to be 100 percent, but I want to be able to make that throw in the hole and make a double-play throw. ... Ben Zobrist has done a great job. If I'm not going to be able to perform like I know I can, I'm going to try to get it better before returning."

It's a tough spot for both Bartlett and the Rays. They don't want him to do any further damage by compensating for the pain he feels when he releases the ball. But they also don't want to see him limited to DH duties much longer.

The consensus seems to be no one expected Bartlett to be sidelined as long as he has been; he was injured Aug. 3 when he was hit by a pitch while attempting to bunt.

"When they said it wasn't broken, I figured once the swelling went down it would be all right," said Bartlett. "But there's a bone bruise in there and no matter how much treatment we do, it seems like it won't get out of there."

At least Bartlett has progressed to the point where the Rays believe they could use him in a pinch. Manager Joe Maddon said he felt comfortable using Bartlett as an in-game defensive replacement beginning Wednesday night, and he would consider giving him a start today "if he comes and he feels great and he's adamant that he's fine."

ROCCO REFRESHED: Don't look for the Rays to push Rocco Baldelli up to a nine-inning stint in the outfield in the near future. The team and the player alike were pleased with Baldelli's seven-inning showing in right Tuesday, his longest stretch in the field at any level this year.

"I came out feeling good and I feel good today, so I'm really pleased with how my body's doing and recovering," said Baldelli. "It's an encouraging sign; it's what I was hoping for."

The perfect weather here - game-time temperature was 66 degrees - undoubtedly helped.

"It's good to just say he went seven," said Maddon. "I think maybe at home under the right circumstances as he continues to get out there, you might see him be able to go all nine. We'll see. But I don't want to lay that out there - it's still open-door on a daily basis."

FARM FACTS: LHP David Price's first Triple-A start resulted in his first professional loss.

Price fell to 11-1 overall after allowing seven hits and three runs in four innings for Durham against Norfolk in a 7-6 Bulls loss. He threw 80 pitches but didn't walk a batter while striking out six.

"I felt good," Price told the Herald-Sun of Durham. "They were hitting everything tonight. This is Triple-A - they were hitting good pitches and bad pitches. The hitters are just better, period. I feel good that I didn't walk anybody. I threw strikes, just not enough strikes. At least I made them put the ball in play. You can't have your best stuff every night."

NOTEWORTHY: Reports out of Seattle said OF Raul Ibanez was claimed off waivers, giving the Mariners until today to work out a deal with the claiming team. The Rays likely would be interested in Ibanez, but they wouldn't get a chance at a trade unless no AL team with a worse record than them put in a claim on Ibanez. ... Wednesday's series finale against the Angels will be televised by ESPN2, giving the Rays four national broadcasts in 11 days.

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