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Longoria Eagerly Awaiting WBC Call From U.S. Team

The Associated Press

Longoria said even if he gets a call at the last possible minute, he'd be willing and able to hop on a plane to Los Angeles for this weekend's games.

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By MARC LANCASTER | The Tampa Tribune

Published: March 19, 2009

PORT CHARLOTTE - Tampa Bay Rays third baseman Evan Longoria said this morning he still has not heard from USA Baseball about the possibility of being called in as an injury replacement for this weekend's final round of the World Baseball Classic.

The United States lost one of its two third basemen when Chipper Jones had to leave the team with a strained muscle in his side, leaving David Wright to hold down the position. But the United States also lost first baseman Kevin Youkilis to an ankle injury and has a couple of holes in the infield.

Complicating matters, the prime choice to replace Youkilis, first baseman Derrek Lee, has been hampered by leg problems and his status is unclear.

"I still haven't heard anything," Longoria said. "With Youk going down now, and I guess they tried to call Derrek Lee, but he can't play, either. I don't know what's going on."

Longoria said even if he gets a call at the last possible minute, he'd be willing and able to hop on a plane to Los Angeles for this weekend's games.

"We're far enough along in our camp and I'm in good enough shape now that if they asked me to go tomorrow at some point, I'd probably still be ready, barring the club [Rays] saying they're not going to let me go," Longoria said.

Rays officials have given no indication they would stand in Longoria's way. All that's left now is a call, and Longoria's cell phone is waiting.

"Oh, yeah, it's on," Longoria said. "Believe me."

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