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Longoria will keep to regular routine

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The Tampa Tribune

The Tampa Tribune

Published: June 4, 2009

ST. PETERSBURG - 3B Evan Longoria says he won't alter his pregame preparation any more when he's the DH.

He said being the DH Sunday and Tuesday - Manager Joe Maddon wanted to rest Longoria's sore throwing arm - took him out of his routine and might have caused the hamstring strain that kept him out of the lineup Wednesday night.

An MRI ruled out anything serious. Longoria is expected back within a day or so.

The leading AL All-Star vote-getter said when he has been the DH, he has skipped a 15-minute warm-up on the field with strength and conditioning coordinator Kevin Barr in which he runs sprints and does calisthenics, and Barr stretches him.

"I don't know why I don't just stick to the same routine whether I'm DH-ing or not," he said. "I guess in the future I will, just to maybe prevent something like this or keep myself hitting or whatever it may do."

Maddon acknowledged Longoria is a "routine freak" and said young players are more susceptible to getting thrown off their regimen when something changes.

"Sometimes when you think you're doing something good, maybe you're not doing something good," he said of using Longoria at DH. "But Tuesday's rest was precipitated more by the arm than anything."

Tough job

A No. 1 pitcher often is matched up against the other team's ace, but RHP James Shields, who'll finish out the series against the Royals today, doesn't see that as a downside.

"It keeps me competitive and kind of allows me to do my thing and compete for a win," he said.

Being No. 1 hasn't been easy. Shields has pitched to a 3.14 ERA in his past eight starts, yet the Rays are 2-6 in those games because they've scored only 28 runs. Overall, the Rays have scored 4.14 runs per nine innings in his starts, seventh-lowest in the AL.

Burrell, Kazmir progressing

Maddon said DH Pat Burrell and LHP Scott Kazmir likely will need minor-league rehab assignments before returning from the DL

Burrell (neck) is hitting off the tee in the batting cage and will stay back this weekend and take batting practice when the Rays travel to New York. If that goes well, "we'll probably throw out a schedule for him to play some minor-league games," Maddon said.

Kazmir (right quad strain) threw a bullpen session Wednesday. He said his leg feels "stretched out and fine" and that the "long toss" work he has been doing has helped get his mechanics straightened out.

Although Kazmir maintains he has made major gains, Maddon said there's no target date for his return. He said Kazmir will "have to pitch somewhere" before he gets another Rays start.

Also notable

The Rays were supposed to avoid LHP CC Sabathia again in this weekend's four-game series at New York, but the Yankees changed their rotation, and Sabathia will start Friday night. ... The third Rays High School All-Star Classic between Hillsborough and Pinellas teams is Sunday at 6 p.m. at Tropicana Field. Bright House Sports Network will televise the game.

Tony Fabrizio

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