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Kazmir's return creates logjam

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The Tampa Tribune

Published: June 25, 2009

ST. PETERSBURG - There didn't appear to be any doubts Wednesday about Scott Kazmir's readiness to move back into the Rays' rotation.

But there also weren't any clear answers from the team's brain trust about how they would fit the lefty back in during the next few days - perhaps because even they don't yet know what they will do.

"We've had some discussions, and we're trying to narrow it down and figure out the best way to do this," Manager Joe Maddon said. "They all can count, everybody can add up - you've got five starters and you understand and realize that in order to get Kaz out there you've got to do something."

The Rays choices in clearing a rotation spot for Kazmir appear to be as follows:

• Option Andy Sonnanstine, a big leaguer the last two years, back to Durham.

• Option David Price, who has found some sort of trouble in all but one of his six starts, back to Durham.

• Shift Sonnanstine or Jeff Niemann to the bullpen and clear a roster spot for Kazmir by cutting loose a different player.

None of those avenues is particularly appealing for the Rays, but most of the variables don't bode well for Sonnanstine. Though the Rays have continually expressed confidence in his ability to get the job done, his numbers (5-7, 6.60 ERA) are the worst of the group.

It doesn't appear likely they will send him back to Durham, but the bullpen always has loomed as a possibility for him and the time to make that switch may have arrived.

"I've always felt that I'm more than willing to do whatever's necessary to help this ballclub win," said Sonnanstine, who starts tonight against the Phillies. "If that's what happens, we'll have to cross that bridge when we get to it."

Price's ugly outing Tuesday night at the very least gave the Rays pause about where he stands in his development, but they have said repeatedly they would prefer he stay in the majors now that he's here. And Niemann, despite some inconsistency, has been more effective than Sonnanstine if the two are placed head-to-head.

Maddon did say the Rays don't plan to go with six starters, though they discussed it briefly.

Hamstring redux

Evan Longoria left the game after the seventh inning with some slight soreness in his left hamstring, but he said afterward he doesn't think he'll miss any additional playing time.

The All-Star 3B missed six starts early this month with tightness in the same hamstring. He said he felt a twinge in it Wednesday night while legging out a double in the sixth inning.

"It was a couple of steps before I hit the bag," he said. "It's something different than what I was feeling before. It hasn't really felt 100 percent since I've been back, and so ... I've been playing through it."

Longoria said he wouldn't play in tonight's series finale against the Phillies if he felt he couldn't "help the team 100 percent," noting Willy Aybar "can go in there and do the same job I can."

Odds and ends

Rehabbing RHP Chad Bradford pitched a scoreless inning of relief Wednesday for Durham, appearing on consecutive days for the first time. ... Durham manager Charlie Montoyo was selected as a coach for the World team in the All-Star Futures Game, which will be played July 12 in St. Louis.

Marc Lancaster,

Tony Fabrizio

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