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Longoria To Return To Lineup In Game 1 Today

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By MARC LANCASTER The Tampa Tribune

The Tampa Tribune

Published: September 13, 2008

NEW YORK - The Rays expect to have one of the key cogs that has been missing from their lineup the past five weeks back today, as 3B Evan Longoria is slated to start the first game of the doubleheader at Yankee Stadium.

Sidelined since he was hit in the right wrist with a pitch Aug. 7, Longoria felt good enough after another round of hitting in the batting cage Friday to give full-speed pitching a shot. He had hoped to get an at-bat as a pinch-hitter just to test how his wrist has healed, but Friday's rainout spoiled those plans and will force him to jump right in today.

"I'm as healthy as I can be, so that's all we've been looking for," Longoria said Friday night.

He's also pleased to get a chance to contribute again after spinning his wheels for more than a month.

"I'm excited. It's good to be back," he said. "It's good to feel healthy again and get back with the team. It's obviously not going to be probably the most comfortable feeling in the world, and I understand that, but there's got to be a time to get my feet back wet again. This is perfect, and I need to be ready for the postseason and down the road. There's only one way to start, and that's to throw myself in there."

Manager Joe Maddon said Longoria would start only one game today. Once he shows he's healthy, though, the rookie figures to be back in there on a regular basis. That means the Rays will have to find a way to squeeze in some at-bats for Willy Aybar, who has been outstanding in Longoria's absence. But they will be pleased to see one of their offensive and defensive cornerstones back on the field.

PERCY WATCH: Closer Troy Percival's status figures to be touch-and-go for the rest of the season, with Maddon and the pitcher determining on a daily basis what he can and can't do.

Percival had to leave Wednesday's game at Boston in the 14th inning after his back tightened up, the fourth time this season he has had to depart in the midst of a save situation with one injury or another.

The 39-year-old said Friday that he was feeling better after trying some different medications, including anti-inflammatories and a non-drowsy muscle relaxer. He'll pay another visit to a back specialist when the Rays return home in an effort to explore some "more aggressive" treatments to get him through the season.

"I want to get through this year, get in the playoffs, go as deep as we can get," said Percival, "and I'm really hoping that next year I can get all these issues handled so I'm not just chasing myself the whole year."

Maddon didn't rule out others such as Dan Wheeler getting save opportunities as the Rays go forward, but it appears that could be determined on a game-by-game basis.

As for suggestions that Maddon's close relationship with Percival might be impacting his judgment when it comes to the closer's usage, the manager had a one-word response: "False."

Along those lines, Percival was mystified when asked about conjecture that has circulated since Wednesday's game suggesting he was yelling at 1B Carlos Pena or a Red Sox player as he left the mound.

"I have no idea what you're talking about," he said initially. "Carlos is the last guy I would ever say that to, and I never talk to hitters on other teams for any reason."

A while later, Percival returned to clarify, saying he remembered he had used an expletive in yelling to his teammates that the runner on first - the tying run - shouldn't be allowed to score.

FLIPPED OUT: The Rays lost a Friday coin flip with the Red Sox to determine homefield advantage should the need for a one-game playoff arise.

Tampa Bay called tails - at principal owner Stuart Sternberg's insistence - and it came up heads. The flip would only come into play if the Rays and Red Sox finish the season tied for the AL East lead and another team has clinched the wild card. If that happens, they would meet Monday, Sept. 29 at Fenway Park to determine who goes to the playoffs.

NOTEWORTHY: Friday's game wasn't postponed until 8:30 p.m., even though it had been raining at Yankee Stadium since mid-afternoon. The delay irked the Rays, but it was Major League Baseball's call, not the Yankees', because this is Tampa Bay's final visit to New York this season. ... CF B.J. Upton (strained left quadriceps) remained sore Friday and is not expected to play today. ... SS Jason Bartlett was not in Friday's lineup; Maddon said he wanted to get Bartlett some extra rest.

Marc Lancaster

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