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Crawford Unlikely For ALDS

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By MARC LANCASTER The Tampa Tribune

The Tampa Tribune

Published: September 25, 2008

BALTIMORE - It was back to reality for Carl Crawford on Wednesday.

A day after expressing optimism about his chances of making the Division Series roster, he all but conceded defeat in that endeavor.

The specialist who performed the surgery on Crawford's right hand six weeks ago in Arizona, Donald Sheridan, isn't budging from his timetable that Crawford should wait eight weeks before resuming full activity.

"Right now the doctor's still saying eight weeks is when he wants me to do stuff, so we have to convince him," Crawford said. "Right now, it's looking pretty tough to convince him."

Crawford took swings off a tee again Wednesday and had hoped to move on to regular batting practice this weekend in Detroit in a last-ditch effort to demonstrate his readiness for the first round of the playoffs. But he said Wednesday the Rays' medical staff had vetoed that idea.

"If I'm not taking BP this week, the first round is looking a little iffy right now," Crawford said. "That's what I was really worried about and that's what I'm more disappointed about."

Rays manager Joe Maddon wasn't as forthcoming about Crawford's chances, saying the decision was entirely in the hands of the medical staff and he had yet to hear anything definitive as far as a schedule for Crawford's rehab work. Waiting eight weeks post-surgery would put Crawford's activation right around the beginning of the ALCS, if the Rays make it that far.

So the choice the team has to make essentially boils down to this: Take Crawford's word on how good he feels and turn him loose, with the risk that he might damage his hand further by coming back too soon, or continue to play without him through the first round and hope that he'll be as close to full readiness as possible for the remainder of October.

But it doesn't sound good for Crawford in the short-term.

"It's not about convincing," Maddon said. "I could be easily convinced - yeah, go play. It's about what the doctor says."

PERCY'S BACK: RHP Troy Percival said he expects the latest round of epidural injections in his back will allow him to pitch effectively over the next month. He'll have this weekend's series in Detroit to demonstrate to the Rays that he's right.

"This is an opportunity for the organization to go out and do something special," Percival said. "If I can go out and help the team, I want to be a part of it. If I can't go out there and help the team, then we need to have an arm in there that can."

Maddon said he would like to see Percival twice in the four games against the Tigers. The key indicator will be the veteran's command. His back problems have kept him from throwing the ball where he wants to, and he believes the second round of shots should help in that regard.

"I haven't been hurt by getting beat around," he said. "I've been walking guys and what have you, which is a direct result of not being able to throw with my back being the way it was."

QUICK TURN: The Rays aren't pleased about the unorthodox schedule that awaits them this weekend, with a 1:05 p.m. game to open the four-game series today. They sent today's starter, Scott Kazmir, to Detroit on a 5 p.m. flight Wednesday so he could get some extra rest.

Why start a series opener at that time on a weekday? It's a senior citizen special at Comerica Park.

"That makes so much sense," Maddon said.

CAN'T HOLD BACK: The Eye of the Ray? Doesn't quite have the same ring to it, but the band that rocked training montages the world over in the 1980s, Survivor, will be the star attraction at a Rays pep rally Monday at Straub Park in downtown St. Petersburg.

MLB mandates all of its playoff teams hold public rallies Monday, and the Rays' will begin at 5 p.m. Players and coaches will be on hand for the festivities, which are free and open to the public. Also free: Mohawk haircuts for fans.

Tuesday, the Rays will hold a free lunchtime event at Gaslight Park in Tampa - sans Survivor, sadly - where they'll be giving out hot dogs, peanuts and Cracker Jack. That party will run from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.

Marc Lancaster

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