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Caution The Watchword Over Return Of Upton, Iwamura

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The Tampa Tribune

Published: March 22, 2008

TAMPA - Caution once again will be the guiding force for the Rays when it comes to determining how quickly CF B.J. Upton and 2B Akinori Iwamura will return to the field.

Both players left Thursday's game with injuries and said Friday they would be ready to play today. Rays manager Joe Maddon, however, said both would get today off and be back in the lineup Sunday.

At least everyone agrees that Upton's bruised triceps and Iwamura's stiff lower back aren't serious injuries.

"If it was the regular season, no problem," Iwamura said - in English - of his back, while admitting it was "a little bit tight."

The area around Upton's left elbow was sore and a bit stiff Friday after he took a Paul Byrd fastball square just above his elbow.

"It stung a little bit, but it calmed down as the night went on," Upton said. "I had a lot more movement in it Thursday night and Friday morning it felt good."

Upton said he hoped to play today against the Pirates if management would let him, and Maddon said he might be persuaded in Upton's case.

"He could talk himself into it," Maddon said. "I mean, that's a bruise. We'll do the 'Boston Legal' thing tomorrow, we'll do the closing argument. If he's that convincing, if he plays the role of Alan Shaw James Spader's character on the TV show very convincingly, then I will be very willing to listen."

As for the other high-profile injury in camp, LHP Scott Kazmir's status remained murky.

He played catch Friday, making about 25 throws from 60 feet or so, and Maddon reported head athletic trainer Ron Porterfield felt "really good" about what he saw.

Before that session, Kazmir was asked if he was experiencing any pain in his elbow.

"Nothing," he said. "We're good. Just cautious."

CASE CLOSED: The Rays will officially set their starting rotation this weekend, but there's no need for RHP Andy Sonnanstine to sweat between now and then.

He probably already had secured a rotation spot, but his five shutout innings against the Yankees on Friday night were as compelling a closing argument as he could have offered. The 68-pitch outing lowered Sonnanstine's ERA to 0.64 in six appearances.

"Sonnanstine looked really good today," Maddon said. "Very sharp, had all his pitches working and made good pitches when he had to. A very, very impressive performance."

Sonnanstine's first regular-season start should come at Yankee Stadium the first weekend of the season, a return to the scene of his best performance last year - eight innings of two-hit ball Aug. 31.

OTHER INJURY UPDATES: C Shawn Riggans (bruised left hand) hit in a minor-league game Friday and is expected to start behind the plate today. ... IF Willy Aybar (tight left hamstring) also is expected to start today, probably at third base. ... IF Andy Cannizaro (back pain) probably will play today.

NOTEWORTHY: 3B Evan Longoria's RBI double in the ninth inning provided the Rays' only run in Friday's loss. Longoria should know before the weekend is out whether he'll make the team. ... Friday night's game at Legends Field drew a record crowd of 11,079, breaking the previous mark of 11,036 established at Monday's Yankees-Red Sox game. ... RHP James Shields started for Durham on Friday against the Yankees' top affiliate and was dominant, allowing just one hit and one unearned run in seven innings.

Marc Lancaster

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