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Zobrist (2 HRs) Shows Off Newfound Power

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By MARC LANCASTER The Tampa Tribune

The Tampa Tribune

Published: September 26, 2008

DETROIT - Apparently, you can still learn something new, even in game 159 of the season.

Ben Zobrist did Thursday afternoon, admitting he didn't know he possessed the kind of power it took to launch a homer just over the fence in dead center at Comerica Park. The drive that took Curtis Granderson to the wall to no avail was estimated at 424 feet, and Zobrist just laughed when that information was passed along to him.

"I just was hoping it would get over his head, to be honest," said Zobrist. "I knew I hit it well, but I really did not know that I could hit a ball that way. Now I know. It's a big confidence booster."

The entire season falls under that heading for the 27-year-old, who despite opening the year on the disabled list and being optioned to Durham four times has become an impact bat off the bench for the Rays. Before Thursday's game, Manager Joe Maddon expressed confidence that Zobrist would come up big in a spot start for Akinori Iwamura at second base, and the switch-hitter merely produced his first career two-homer game.

"Zobrist, my goodness, this guy's really turning into an offensive player," Maddon said afterward. "I know his batting average .241 isn't good, but every time he goes up there to swing the bat you feel like he's going to hit the ball hard somewhere, and he's been doing that a lot."

Zobrist now has 10 home runs in 59 big-league games this season, quite a total considering he had just 22 homers in 423 professional games entering 2008. He said the uptick in production is part adjustments in his swing, part confidence, and the results have been impressive.

He has become a hitter Maddon is happy to call off the bench and a super-utility fielder the Rays will play just about anywhere on the field with few qualms. Those qualities could make him a useful part on the postseason roster, even if Zobrist doesn't quite seem to have wrapped his mind around realities like that.

"To be on this team with what's going on right now, it's a good feeling," he said. "Everybody's got great attitudes and I'm just fortunate to kind of be a part of it. I've hit a couple balls well, done some things that have helped the team, and I'm just really blessed."

HAPPY RETURN: Reviews were positive after Troy Percival returned to the mound Thursday for the first time since undergoing a second round of epidural injections in his lower back.

He pitched a scoreless eighth inning, reaching up to 94 mph on the radar gun as he tried to get settled back into his delivery and prove to the Rays he is healthy enough to be effective in the playoffs. Percival acknowledged his mechanics were "a little bit out of whack," but otherwise was relatively pleased with an outing in which he threw all of his pitches and came out feeling fine physically.

"I'd have liked to have thrown more quality strikes than I threw," he said, "but at least for the first time in a while I knew I could throw it in the zone when I had to."

The Rays want to see how Percival responds to pitching back-to-back days, so Maddon said he would prefer to get him right back into action tonight if circumstances permit.

UNHAPPY CAMPERS: Thursday was a beautiful day for baseball, but the Rays would have preferred to play under the lights. They were not pleased to have a day game for the series opener - courtesy of the Tigers' senior citizen day promotion - after arriving at their hotel here around 3 a.m.

"It's just pretty poor planning. You can't slice it any other way," said Maddon. "I'm not going to sit here and agree with what was done. I'm sure it was planned in advance based on the previous reputation of the organization - that's what I got. Because there's no way the Yankees would be sitting here right now. ... It's just inappropriate."

NOTEWORTHY: The Rays were still waiting to hear back from Carl Crawford's hand surgeon about whether the left fielder could be cleared for more intensive activity during the weekend. ... Edwin Jackson accomplished a rare feat Wednesday night in picking up a win after surrendering five first-inning runs. According to the Elias Sports Bureau, the last pitcher to give up at least five in the first and still notch a victory before Jackson was Oakland's Joe Blanton on July 22, 2006, at Detroit.

Marc Lancaster

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