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Crawford Gets Positive Report On Sore Knee

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A fan running on the field avoids getting tackled during the eighth inning at Fenway Park in Boston.

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By CARTER GADDIS | The Tampa Tribune

Published: June 4, 2008

BOSTON - Rays LF Carl Crawford made a side trip to Birmingham, Ala., on his way to Boston on Tuesday to have his sore right knee evaluated by team medical director James Andrews.

After an MRI revealed no serious damage, Andrews declared Crawford capable of playing. The two-time All-Star flew on to Boston in the afternoon and was in uniform for the game against the Red Sox at Fenway Park.

He grounded into a pinch-hit fielder's choice in the eighth and played the ninth in left.

Afterward, Crawford said the knee began to bother him during the team's 10-game homestand at Tropicana Field, and the injury was exacerbated as he made a diving catch Sunday against the White Sox.

"Yeah, I can't bend my knee," he said. "So whenever I bend my knee, that's when I hurt. I'll have to shy away from the sliding catches for a little bit."

Crawford, who is eight stolen bases short of 300 for his career, also said the injury will affect him on the base paths.

"It's your leg, so obviously it's going to be part of when you're trying to run anytime," he said. "It takes away just a little bit of your explosiveness. It's just something I've got to build back up. I've got to build the muscle back up on my leg; 10 days on that turf kind of wore me out a little bit."

Still, hearing from Andrews that the injury was nothing more serious than a strain was a relief.

"It definitely makes you feel better," Crawford said. "You don't feel bad about running hard after a ball. You still keep your aggressive style without having to let up. It's definitely good for the mind."

With closer Troy Percival (sore left hamstring) already on the 15-day disabled list and with LHP Scott Kazmir (sore left elbow) having missed spring training and the first month of the regular season, the Rays already have experienced life without some of their most important players.

Crawford, who leads the team in runs scored and is the longest-tenured Rays player, might be even more difficult to replace over a long period of time.

"It's hard to evaluate, because his presence is so important," Manager Joe Maddon said. "Having Carl there improves your defense. It improves your offense. It causes much more concern for the other team on the bases. It provides confidence for the rest of the group that he's there. Listen, he's our All-Star. He plays the whole game. He plays it hard. If you don't have him out there, then the entire complexion of the team changes."

Tuesday, Eric Hinske played left field and C Dioner Navarro batted in Crawford's usual No. 2 spot in the order.

NO PAPI, NO BIGGIE: The Rays seemed to catch a break in the competition at the top of the American League East when the Red Sox lost the services of DH David Ortiz (torn tendon sheath, left wrist).

However, even though Tampa Bay is more than happy not to see Ortiz at the plate in this series and for the next few weeks (or longer), the Rays harbor no illusions about Boston's vulnerability.

"You can see a difference in their play when Ortiz is in the lineup," said Rays LHP Trever Miller, a left-handed specialist who has one fewer big left-handed bat to worry about this week. "He makes everyone relax. He's Mr. Clutch. When you lose that, I think the team says, 'We're going to have to pick it up to take over producing without David, or whoever, being gone.'

"That can also translate into some guys pressing a little bit, maybe getting out of their game plan, maybe not being as comfortable as they were. I don't see that happening over there. They've got veteran guys with a lot of young talent, and they're going to be tough to beat with or without him."

NOTEWORTHY: Rays 1B Carlos Pena was hit in the left hand by a pitch in the first inning but remained in the game to go 2-for-4 with a double, a home run and three RBIs. X-rays on the hand after the game were negative. ... The Giants signed former Rays minor-league RHP Scott Munter to a minor-league contract and assigned him to Triple-A Fresno. Munter, who pitched for San Francisco as a rookie in 2005, had been released by the Durham Bulls.

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