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Floyd Quickly Back In The Swing

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By MARC LANCASTER The Tampa Tribune

The Tampa Tribune

Published: May 12, 2008

ST. PETERSBURG - Just getting back in the Rays' lineup after more than a month on the shelf might have been enough for Cliff Floyd, but collecting RBI singles in his first two at-bats was something else entirely.

"That's huge," Floyd said after going 2-for-4 Sunday. "You work hard, and if I'm an exclusive DH, that's my job: to hit the ball and get hits. ... With the way our guys can get on base and the way I think we're going to get on base, I just feel like I'm going to be in position to drive in guys."

In his first appearance for the Rays since April 6, Floyd did his job Sunday. Falling right back into a groove after a layoff necessitated by surgery on his right knee, he touched up Angels starter Ervin Santana for a pair of big hits - the second of which nearly took the pitcher's head off as it screamed toward center field.

"It was very nice to see Cliff Floyd bring his two-iron out there to the field today - he can hit some vicious line drives," Rays manager Joe Maddon said. "He makes a huge difference for us."

As a true RBI bat down in the lineup, Floyd should be able to do some damage for the Rays. Through five games this season, the 35-year-old has driven in seven runs and is hitting .368. And he hasn't even had a chance to settle into his home park yet.

Nonetheless, Floyd's work Sunday was enough to move his career average at Tropicana Field to .388 (31-for-80), the best of any player with at least 75 at-bats. Suffice to say, the Rays would prefer Floyd stick around for a while this time.

"I just want to get in where I fit in," he said. "Skip believes in me, I believe in myself and my teammates believe in me, and I feel like that's the most important thing."

MORE MOVES: The Rays' roster continues to inch back to its intended form, with RHP Gary Glover (shoulder tendinitis) activated from the 15-day disabled list following Sunday's game and IF/OF Ben Zobrist (fractured left thumb) possibly joining him today.

Glover said the combination of rest and a cortisone shot he received last week has him throwing pain-free and he felt good playing catch Sunday after throwing a bullpen session the previous day.

"I feel 100 percent ready to go," he said.

Zobrist will have the pins that have helped stabilize his thumb removed this morning, and he said doctors have told him he should be feeling fine within a couple of hours. The Rays want to check Zobrist out before making a move, though, so while Maddon said "there's a chance" the utilityman could be activated today, they also might decide to give him another day or two.

Zobrist said Sunday he has felt fine swinging the bat for a while now, but it wasn't until near the end of his four-game rehab assignment with Vero Beach that wrapped up Saturday that his thumb felt normal when catching the ball.

Either way, you can bet he's ready to go after a long wait since he broke his thumb while sliding into a base way back on March 9.

"It's been a test of patience," Zobrist said.

When he returns, IF Andy Cannizaro is expected to be optioned back to Durham. LHP Kurt Birkins was optioned out to make room for Glover after allowing one run in 10 innings over six relief appearances.

RHP Al Reyes (biceps tendinitis) is slated for an inning in an extended spring training game and he could be activated as soon as Tuesday. The most likely candidate to depart when Reyes returns would seem to be RHP Scott Dohmann, though the Rays would prefer not to lose him through waivers.

SHOW OF SUPPORT: The Rays and Angels participated in the customary MLB Mother's Day tribute Sunday, with players, coaches and umpires wearing pink wristbands and many hitters using pink bats to raise awareness for breast cancer.

The bats will be auctioned off at a later date to benefit the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation.

Marc Lancaster

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