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Percival Says He Won't Be On Roster

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The Tampa Tribune

Published: October 2, 2008

ST. PETERSBURG - Troy Percival made the best argument he could under the circumstances, but his two scoreless appearances in Detroit last weekend were too little, too late.

The veteran closer, who has battled injuries most of the last four months, said he will not be on the Rays' roster for the Division Series. The Rays wouldn't confirm that - nor any of their other final decisions to pare the team to 25 active players - but Percival is resigned to not being on the list the team submits to Major League Baseball by today's 10 a.m. deadline.

He didn't necessarily agree with the decision, but had no arguments once it was made.

"I didn't particularly earn the right to be there over the last two months," Percival said. "Early on in the year I threw well and I think that right now I'm capable of throwing well, but I think that's a chance they weren't ready to take yet. Yeah, sure, I'd love to be on there. It's just not going to work out."

Percival will remain with the team and continue to work out - he threw a bullpen session Wednesday - in hopes he will be added to the roster should the Rays advance to the ALCS.

Facing a short best-of-five series that includes a pair of off days for travel, the Rays will carry only 10 pitchers - two fewer than during most of the regular season. Percival's absence means rookie LHP David Price will be the final piece in the bullpen, giving the Rays an even split between lefties (also J.P. Howell and Trever Miller) and right-handers (Dan Wheeler, Grant Balfour and Chad Bradford).

The trio of southpaws should come in handy for Manager Joe Maddon as he tries to match up against Jim Thome, Ken Griffey Jr. and A.J. Pierzynski.

Going with 15 position players will keep OF Fernando Perez on the roster even after Carl Crawford was cleared to participate, a move that will give the Rays maximum flexibility when it comes to late-inning maneuvering.

"If you have a static lineup, if you really know you're not going to pinch-hit for somebody, and the fact that if somebody gets hurt you can bring somebody on the roster, then you go with 11 pitchers, I would think," Maddon said. "But we do things, and we do pinch-run and we do pinch-hit, so having enough guys there kind of made more sense for right now."

The Rays' roster will not become official until MLB signs off on two members who weren't with the team before the midnight Aug. 31 deadline to set rosters but are replacing injured players - Price and backup C Michel Hernandez. They can take the place of players who were active or on the major-league disabled list at that time but are now hurt - Chad Orvella and Shawn Riggans, for instance.

FIVE SPOT: Crawford obviously is pleased to be back in the lineup for the first time since early August, but not as much about being dropped from his customary No. 2 spot in the batting order. Maddon said Crawford will bat fifth today after originally slotting him into the No. 6 hole.

"Joe, he's been making the right calls all year long, and this shouldn't be different," Crawford said. "I'm pretty sure he has some smart reason why I'm hitting in the five hole, and it always works. We'll just roll with it for right now."

Maddon left open the possibility of Crawford moving back up after a couple of games, saying he likes the way Akinori Iwamura and B.J. Upton set the table for Carlos Pena and Evan Longoria for the time being. He'd like Crawford to do the same for Cliff Floyd and Dioner Navarro.

CROWDED BOOTH: Rays TV voices Dewayne Staats and Joe Magrane will call a few innings of action on the radio during home playoff games. With national networks holding exclusivity over postseason TV, splitting time with Dave Wills and Andy Freed will be their only chance to get behind the mic in October.

TICKET WATCH: Online registration for a chance to buy possible ALCS home game tickets will close tonight at 11:59. Those who already have registered for ALDS tickets don't need to do so again, as long as they agreed to receive future notifications from the Rays when they signed up.

NOTEWORTHY: Along with Percival, inactive players expected to remain with the team for the ALDS include Edwin Jackson, Jason Hammel, Jonny Gomes and John Jaso. ... Navarro is slated to start every postseason game behind the plate, with Hernandez likely to see action only in the event of an injury or if the Rays need to pinch-run for their starter late in a game. ... Ben Zobrist will be the emergency catcher.

Marc Lancaster

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