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Floyd Has Mixed Feelings About Retirement

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The Tampa Tribune

Published: September 18, 2008

ST. PETERSBURG - It's fair to say that when Cliff Floyd reported to spring training in February, he expected 2008 to be his final season.

With the regular season winding down, Floyd admits that might still be the case. He is considering bringing his family to Detroit next weekend, just to be sure there won't be any regrets that they missed some of his final games as a player. But he has enjoyed his time with the Rays so much, he isn't sure he wants to give it up.

"If I was 100 percent sure, I would tell you, 'Listen, this is it,'" Floyd said Wednesday. "It is a thought and I think I was leaning towards going home, but these guys have made it so fun. You feel rejuvenated, feel good about coming to the park every single day.

"Now, it hasn't made leaving the family easier. When I see my kids, it changes who I am. There's no way else to explain it other than that's what it's been. When I see them and they're around, it makes me the happiest. This is unbelievable and surreal to me, but being at home is just something different for me."

Floyd's third child, a daughter, arrived July 26. His other children are 3 and 4 years old. As they get older, it gets more difficult for him to be away from their South Florida home.

But perhaps more pressing is the question of how much more his body will allow him to take after 15 years in the majors. He missed a month early this season after undergoing knee surgery, and physical discomfort is just part of his daily routine.

"I do feel like I've got something left in the tank, but I don't know how much," said Floyd, who turns 36 in December. "My gig is one of the best gigs you could possibly get. I don't know how long that can last, but if I hit, which I've been doing, I definitely feel like I can contribute."

Floyd hasn't spoken with Rays officials about his future because, as he said, this isn't the time to worry about those types of issues. The team does hold an option for next year that would pay at least $2.75 million, but it may decide to fill his spot with a more versatile player such as Eric Hinske or Dan Johnson or bring in someone from the outside.

If Floyd feels good after a winter to rest up, though, he just may be in the mix.

"If my body felt great, I promise you I would tell you I'm playing somewhere," said Floyd. "Going through all the surgeries and this and that has taken it's toll, but I'll tell you what, I couldn't ask for a better situation."

BIG SHOT: It already is a foregone conclusion that closer Troy Percival will have to undergo surgery this winter in an effort to clear up the disk problems in his back that have led to numerous injury problems this season.

In an effort to remain on the field for the final playoff push, though, Percival has begun a round of epidural injections in his back. He got the first dose Tuesday - under general anesthesia - and said the results were immediate.

"I feel 100 times better already," Percival said.

He should be cleared to pitch for five days beginning tonight before undergoing the next set of injections.

Percival isn't a big fan of the process - he refused to look at the needle before getting knocked out - but considers it a necessary evil.

"Anything to finish this out and get back to where I was at earlier in the year," he said.

DIFFERENT LOOK: Manager Joe Maddon changed things up against Tim Wakefield, leaving lefty-swinging veterans Floyd and Eric Hinske on the bench in favor of Willy Aybar and Justin Ruggiano - neither of whom had faced the knuckleballer before.

All things considered, Maddon preferred their 0-for-0 track record over that of Floyd (1-for-11) and the struggling Hinske (8-for-36), and his hunch was rewarded when Aybar cracked a two-run homer on the second pitch he saw from Wakefield.

NOTEWORTHY: Maddon said the training staff was "very pleased" with B.J. Upton's progress Wednesday and the outfielder is "getting closer" to returning to the lineup. ... Ceremonial first pitches were delivered by Hall of Famer Wade Boggs and Orlando Magic star Dwight Howard.

Marc Lancaster

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