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As A Favor, Zimmer Throws Out 1st Pitch

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By MARC LANCASTER and TONY FABRIZIO

The Tampa Tribune

Published: October 20, 2008

Updated: 10/20/2008 01:11 am

ST. PETERSBURG - Don Zimmer wasn't sure what to think when Rays principal owner Stu Sternberg called him around 2 p.m. Sunday.

"He said, 'I would like for you to do me a favor,' and I'm stunned," Zimmer said. "I said, 'What can I do for Stu Sternberg?' He said, 'I know you're gonna say no, but I want you to do this.' And when he said, 'I want you to throw out the first ball tonight,' I said, 'Oh, God. If that's what you want me to do, I'll try it.'"

Zimmer, the Rays' 77-year-old senior adviser - and former manager of the Red Sox - wasn't terribly enthused about the request. He fretted before the game he might have to get a running start to get the ball to the plate.

"And to think that that's the best thing I had, was a good arm," Zimmer mused of a playing career that ended in 1965.

As it turned out, Zimmer's fears about his arm strength were unfounded. He didn't deliver a strike to third base coach Tom Foley, but he did keep the ball in the air all the way. The effort earned Zimmer a huge ovation that included those in the visitors' dugout. Boston manager Terry Francona tipped his cap to Zimmer before he walked off the mound.

So it wasn't too bad, and it was pointed out to Zimmer that it could have been worse. Sternberg could have asked him to sing the national anthem.

"That would be a 'No,'" he said. "That would definitely be a 'No.'"

Rocco Gets Nod

With lefty Jon Lester on the mound for the Red Sox, Rocco Baldelli made his second start of the series in RF.

Manager Joe Maddon said he considered also starting Baldelli in Game 6 against righty Josh Beckett but decided against it to assure his availability for Game 7. Baldelli has mitochondrial disorder, which causes muscle fatigue, and cannot play every day.

"There's a whole bunch of different variables involved in the way he's used," Maddon said.

Other than from Baldelli, who had an RBI single in the fifth inning Sunday to give the Rays a 2-1 lead, the Rays had gotten little production from their right fielders in the series entering Sunday's game. Gabe Gross, with four starts, was 0-for-10 and had a ball hit over his head in Game 6, and Fernando Perez, with one start, was 0-for-5.

Baldelli made his presence known in the top of the first inning Sunday, running down a deep fly ball to the corner to take extra bases from Kevin Youkilis.

Lineup Change For The Third Team

Umpire Derryl Cousins, who had to leave Saturday's game before the fourth inning with a bruised collarbone, did not return for Game 7. His absence forced some shuffling among the six-man crew for the series finale.

Crew chief Tim McClelland, who replaced Cousins behind the plate in Game 6, did not serve as the home plate umpire Sunday as originally scheduled. He was at third base with Brian Gorman calling balls and strikes.

MLB brought in Angel Hernandez to serve as the sixth umpire, working down the right-field line.

This And That

Troy Percival had been expected to rejoin the Rays in time for Sunday's game but had not materialized as of game time and team officials didn't know if he was on his way. Percival has been in California with his family since being told he wouldn't make the ALCS roster. ... TBS said its broadcast of Game 6 drew a 5.4 rating across the country, making it the network's most-watched playoff game to date this fall. The game drew a 34.5 rating in the Boston market and a 22.4 in the Tampa-St. Petersburg market.

Marc Lancaster, Tony Fabrizio

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