Crawford Collision Fires Up The Team

ST. PETERSBURG - Carl Crawford didn't intend to send a message, but the play he made in the fourth inning Wednesday had that effect.

Sprinting around from first in an attempt to score on a double to left by B.J. Upton, Crawford eschewed a slide and barreled into Astros catcher Humberto Quintero to score. The ball skidded away from Quintero and Upton was also able to come all the way around and touch home plate.

The play fired up a sparse crowd at Progress Energy Park, but Crawford said his decision to run into Quintero amounted to the less dangerous option. Upton had dropped his bat directly on the plate after making contact, and no one bothered to move it.

Crawford figured it was best to avoid sliding into the lumber.

"You really don't want to do that too often," said Crawford, "but in that situation it was just kind of a tough spot."

The unusual burst of intensity in a Grapefruit League game was well received in the Rays' dugout.

"It was nice to see Carl come at him hard," said Rays manager Joe Maddon. "I liked it a lot. ... It was a good, hard play."

It was the kind of play Maddon would like to see more often from his team. As would the players, apparently.

"We're just trying to set the tone early," Upton said. "We're trying to do some things different this year, and I think we're just kind of letting guys know that we're serious about the season."

As much as the Rays and their fans enjoyed the theater of the moment, they were most pleased Crawford emerged unscathed.

"That's our star," said Cliff Floyd, who was on deck at the time and motioned for Crawford to slide.

"You don't want him doing nothing that's going to hurt him for the season. But he's played football before, so he probably just wanted to get a good licking in."

STILL WAITING: The Rays have said all along that their plans regarding Rocco Baldelli this spring were subject to change on a daily basis.

It appears that will be the case, as Maddon said Wednesday that Baldelli will serve as the DH in his next game appearance, just as he has in his previous two. Maddon previously had said he hoped to get Baldelli in the outfield by the end of this week.

"The conversations up to this point, I'm just not comfortable getting him out there in the outfield," Maddon said. "We would like to do it, but it just does not seem it's appropriate right now."

Baldelli likely will DH on Friday at home against the Phillies. He is not scheduled to travel to Clearwater for today's game.

KAZMIR PROGRESSING: LHP Scott Kazmir's recovery from a strained elbow plowed ahead Wednesday morning.

He played catch with head trainer Ron Porterfield, making about 25 throws at 60 feet. Kazmir said he is to throw some more from 90 feet today, take Friday off and perhaps do some long-toss Saturday.

If all goes as planned, Maddon said Kazmir probably will be back on the mound for a bullpen session Monday or Tuesday.

And all is well so far.

"It feels great - fresh," Kazmir said. "What they're worried about is me being sore, just from being out that week. But it feels like all my strength is there.

"I don't feel any type of soreness where I have to recover."

NOTEWORTHY: RHP Scott Dohmann gave up four runs in the sixth inning, taking the loss as the Rays suffered their first official defeat of the spring, 8-4 to the Astros. ... Continuing his transition from shortstop to super-utility player, Ben Zobrist played first base in the final four innings of Wednesday's game. Maddon said Zobrist will play the outfield today and possibly Friday as well. ... LHP David Price threw to hitters at the Naimoli Complex in preparation for his first game in a Rays uniform Saturday against the Yankees at Legends Field. ... SS Reid Brignac saw his first action of the spring eight days after breaking the fifth toe on his right foot in an intrasquad game, playing the final four innings at shortstop. ... Maddon said the Rays probably won't make their first round of cuts for another five to seven days.