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Rest May Have Helped Percival's Velocity, Command

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The Tampa Tribune

Published: June 30, 2008

PITTSBURGH - PITTSBURGH - Closer Troy Percival hadn't pitched since the first day of the Rays' six-game road trip, so he had plenty of time to prepare himself for Sunday's save situation.

Percival was caught off-guard last week at Florida when his troublesome left hamstring flared up on him just before he entered the game, and his inability to put all of his weight on his front leg led to all sorts of mechanical problems - and four walks in an inning. He ended up throwing mostly change-ups because he didn't trust his fastball to go where he wanted it to.

Called upon Sunday to preserve a two-run lead, Percival altered his delivery a bit and had much better velocity and command. He repeatedly hit 92 mph on the radar gun and struck out the last two batters to nail down his 19th save.

"The last time I felt pretty good in the pen until right there at the end - I popped it a little bit and I didn't have time to really find a mechanical adjustment," he said. "Today, I shortened down my stride, got my arm up a little quicker. All I was telling myself was, 'Make good pitches,' because 88 mph, whatever it's going to be, in a good spot is much better than right down the middle."

REHAB WATCH: The latest leg of Rocco Baldelli's rehab tour wrapped up Sunday in Sarasota as he went 1-for-4 with a stolen base as the DH for Vero Beach. Baldelli will sit down with the Rays' trainers and baseball staff today to determine the next step, which he had earlier indicated would involve a higher level of competition.

But before he goes to Montgomery or Durham to settle in for a while, the Rays will have to figure out a way to extend the amount of time he can spend in the minors. Position players are limited to 20 days for rehab assignments, and Sunday was Baldelli's 14th day out with Vero Beach. Baldelli has minor-league options left, but the Rays aren't inclined to go that route. A more likely solution is officially pulling Baldelli off his rehab assignment, then sending him back out later.

The only certainty is Baldelli won't be activated from the 60-day DL in the near future.

"He's still not there yet," Manager Joe Maddon said. "We're cautiously optimistic that he's going to be able to get back at some point. We have no idea what that means yet."

Much nearer to a return is RHP Al Reyes (shoulder tendinitis), who on threw his second bullpen session in three days Sunday. Maddon described him as "real close" to being ready for game action, and he could be sent out for some minor-league rehab appearances this week.

ALMOST UNTOUCHABLE: The run Dan Wheeler allowed in the eighth inning Sunday after Jack Wilson reached on a perfectly placed bunt single was newsworthy in itself.

Wheeler hadn't surrendered a run in his previous nine appearances, and 14 of his last 15 outings had been scoreless. The single by pinch-hitter Ryan Doumit that drove home Wilson was only the second hit Wheeler has surrendered in 20 at-bats with runners in scoring position.

MARATHON MAN: Jonny Gomes' home run Saturday night on the 15th pitch of an at-bat against Damaso Marte marked the first time any player had gone that deep in an at-bat and homered since Montreal's Terrmel Sledge did it on the 16th pitch July 7, 2004, against Atlanta, according to Stats, Inc.

It was the longest at-bat resulting in a homer in Rays history, topping Jorge Cantu's 13-pitch effort against the White Sox on Aug. 29, 2006.

NOT BAD: Tampa Bay's starting pitchers reached base in six of the nine games the Rays played in National League parks. Andy Sonnanstine was responsible for half of that output, reaching base in all three of his starts in NL parks with a couple of singles May 16 at St. Louis, a walk Tuesday against the Marlins and another walk Sunday against Pittsburgh.

Scott Kazmir was the only starter not to reach base, going 0-for-2 Friday in his only at-bats of the interleague slate.

Marc Lancaster

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