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Percival Opts Not To Have Knee Surgery

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By TONY FABRIZIO The Tampa Tribune

The Tampa Tribune

Published: August 19, 2008

ST. PETERSBURG - Closer Troy Percival learned from Rays orthopedist Koco Eaton on Monday that he can forgo arthroscopic surgery for the loose cartilage in his right knee if he can tolerate the pain.

"I said, 'OK, I'm going to lunch,' and I left," Percival said.

The soon-to-be 39-year-old right-hander said he will not have the surgery until after the season, "if I have it at all."

The determination was good news for the Rays, who have Percival, OF Carl Crawford and 3B Evan Longoria on the 15-day disabled list. Crawford is not expected back until late September at the earliest.

Percival, who was seventh in the AL with 27 saves entering Monday, is scheduled to come off the disabled list Aug. 30 and said he expects to pitch soon after.

"It gets better and better every day," he said. "If it continues getting better at the same rate it is now, I don't see any problems."

Percival said he will continue to treat the swelling with ice and anti-inflammatory medication.

LONGO UPDATE: Longoria, wearing a splint on his fractured right wrist, said he will know more about his prognosis after he gets another X-ray on Friday. He was placed on the DL Aug. 11, retroactive to Aug. 8, and is eligible to return Saturday.

"I think it's basically based on how it heals," he said. "They say probably two more weeks. I'd like to think sooner. But bones heal differently. So I don't know the time frame."

TRIP THAT WON'T END: The Rays are coming off their longest road trip of the year. It's nothing like the road trip RHP Chad Bradford is coming off of - or in a sense, is still on.

Bradford was at the end of a long trip with Baltimore to New York, Seattle and Anaheim, Calif., when he was traded to the Rays on Aug. 7. The Rays were just starting their 10-game tour of Seattle, Oakland and Texas, and Bradford was added to the roster Aug. 9.

Monday, Bradford arrived in his new city to news that a tropical storm is on the way.

"We're only here for three days and then we're back out for a weekend series against the White Sox," Bradford said. "I'm ready to get to Chicago and get that over with and get back here and get settled in."

ADJUSTMENTS HELPING: In Sunday night's 7-4 victory at Texas, LHP Scott Kazmir had his second consecutive encouraging start since altering his delivery and mental approach.

He completed six innings (four hits, two earned runs, seven strikeouts, 114 pitches) and won for the first time since July 21.

"I think that just by maybe shortening my stride a little bit and not trying to do too much - just staying within myself - that really helped out," Kazmir said Monday. "I tried to stay relaxed. It was good."

Kazmir got a loss in his previous start against Oakland, but he allowed only two hits and two runs in five innings.

ETC.: RHP Al Reyes, who was designated for assignment Aug. 9 to make room for Bradford, rejected an outright assignment to Durham and was released. ... Montgomery 3B Chris Nowak, who ranks among the Southern League leaders in several categories, was promoted to Triple-A Durham. Nowak was the 2007 Southern League Championship Series MVP. He was hitting .295 with 15 home runs and 77 RBIs in 118 games.

Tony Fabrizio

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