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Strikeouts Concern Maddon

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The Tampa Tribune

Published: June 6, 2008

BOSTON - At about 3:30 p.m. Thursday, Rays position players filed out of the visiting clubhouse at Fenway Park and into Manager Joe Maddon's office, trailed by hitting coach Steve Henderson.

The meeting lasted about 15 minutes. There were two topics of discussion: approach at the plate with two strikes and arguing about balls and strikes.

The Rays struck out 19 times in the first two games of the series against the Red Sox, and went into Thursday's game second in the AL with 431 strikeouts.

Maddon said he wanted to remind the hitters of a few things the team emphasized during spring training.

"It's just primarily a better thought process throughout the entire at-bat," Maddon said. "And yeah, the strikeouts, I would like to see us cut back on that a bit."

Only the Rangers had more strikeouts (443) through Wednesday than the Rays.

The topic of arguments came up as a result of CF B.J. Upton arguing Wednesday with home-plate umpire Paul Emmel, who ejected Upton in the eighth inning.

"Umpires, if you look at the replays, are mostly right," Maddon said. "A lot of times, it's the heat of the moment. People think different things. Pitcher thought it was a strike, hitter thought it was a ball and vice versa. The one old saying I've always liked is that there's three strikes: one for the pitcher, one for the umpire and one for yourself. So, you've got to get yours when you see it."

Of course, the Rays were victimized almost right away by a close call Thursday when LF Carl Crawford was called out on strikes in the first inning by home-plate umpire Jeff Kellogg. Replays showed the third strike was low and inside, and Crawford chirped briefly at Kellogg.

PERCIVAL ON TRACK: Rays closer Troy Percival is scheduled for his second bullpen session in three days today at Texas. Percival (15-day DL, strained left hamstring) threw 26 pitches off the bullpen mound Wednesday at Fenway Park and came back Thursday feeling well.

At this point, Maddon said, the focus is on keeping Percival's arm in the shape it needs to be when he comes off the DL on June 13. Maddon indicated Percival won't need a rehabilitation appearance to work himself back into playing form.

CRAWFORD BATS THIRD: With 1B Carlos Pena (15-day DL, fractured left index finger) out for at least two weeks, Maddon has to get creative with his lineups. Thursday, that meant Upton returned to the cleanup role and Crawford batted third for the first time since July 2 last season at Cleveland.

Crawford, who spent the early part of his career as Tampa Bay's leadoff batter, had spent the entire season in the second spot in the order.

"Whatever he feels he needs to do to make the lineup better, I'm all for," Crawford said. "You're not going to hear me object to nothing. ... I ain't the complaining type."

BLOCKING THE BAG, REVISITED: Rays SS Jason Bartlett has a history of blocking second base with his knee, which was Red Sox CF Coco Crisp's bone of contention Wednesday. Turns out, Bartlett victimized the Rays twice last year with the bag-blocking tactic, and Maddon told his players at the time how to handle it.

"My recommendation to the players is to slide feet first and not head first," Maddon said, "and he won't do that."

- Carter Gaddis

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