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Newest Rays Enjoy Intensity Of Pennant Race

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By MARC LANCASTER | The Tampa Tribune

Published: September 3, 2008

ST. PETERSBURG - Being called to the majors for the first time is among the most thrilling moments in any player's career, but walking into a pennant race takes the excitement to another level.

That was the consensus from OF Fernando Perez and C John Jaso, who joined the Rays from Durham on Tuesday as rosters expanded past 25. They know it wasn't just a courtesy call, either; with Tampa Bay in the middle of its best season ever, this is hardly a case of just taking a closer look at some of the organization's better prospects.

"It makes you feel like it's not just a 40-man roster formality and you're actually somewhat needed to plug a hole or play a role, which I'm very, very excited to do," Perez said. "It's really special."

Neither call-up figures to get much playing time in the coming month, with Perez more likely to see action late in games as a pinch-runner or defensive replacement. Both are well aware of what's at stake, and they have been keeping tabs on the Rays from afar throughout the season.

Jaso admitted he didn't start following the major-league team closely until he moved from Montgomery to Durham at the All-Star break - "I wasn't really thinking that I'd be in this position right now, so I wasn't really following it too much" - but Perez said the Bulls' eyes have been glued to the Rays all year.

"It was my first year in Triple-A, with lots of guys that are older and have been all over," Perez said, "and they said that this is the first team they've ever seen that has so carefully and positively watched the big-league club, hoping that they win, hoping that guys do well."

Not to mention appreciating what the Rays have done to this point.

"They're making history every day that they're playing," Perez said. "They're legitimizing the organization - finally, it's happened, and it's really, really exciting. Everybody just has fan fever. We're fans all over again."

PERCY'S BACK: Ornery as ever, closer Troy Percival rejoined the active roster Tuesday to end his third stint on the disabled list this season.

"Oldest September call-up ever," the 39-year-old observed.

While Manager Joe Maddon indicated he might not necessarily give Percival the ball as frequently as he has most of the season - which is to say, in every save situation for which he has been healthy - the pitcher saw no reason not to carry his usual workload.

"I should be able to; I haven't had any problems with it," he said. "It's not an endurance issue. It's not like a muscle or anything like that. I haven't had any repercussions the day after doing anything.

"I'm going to be ready whenever he asks me to pitch. My arm doesn't have any problems."

There may be one change, though. Percival has used a knee brace at times during his rehab work and said he actually feels better with the apparatus when it comes to fielding bunts and covering bases, so he may stick with it now that he's active.

FARM FACTS: LHP David Price will get the start tonight as Durham opens the playoffs at Louisville. RHPs Mitch Talbot, Jeff Niemann and Wade Davis follow in the rotation. ... The Rays' low-A affiliate, which will move from Columbus, Ga., to Bowling Green, Ky., next season, also will be switching from the South Atlantic League to the Midwest League.

NOTEWORTHY: The Rays' game against the Twins on Sept. 20 has been picked up by Fox, with the start time moved up to 3:55 p.m. ... 1B Carlos Pena is the Rays' nominee for MLB's Roberto Clemente Award. He'll be recognized in an on-field ceremony tonight featuring Roberto Clemente Jr.

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