Rays Exploring Contingency Plans For Rocco

ST. PETERSBURG - As OF Rocco Baldelli's uncertain availability continues to be an issue for the Rays, the contingency plans they've explored since before spring training began are coming more and more into play.

That's not to say Baldelli's ability to contribute this season has been ruled out. He still is defensive option No. 1 in right field, hamstrings permitting, and is penciled in to split time there and at DH with Jonny Gomes and Cliff Floyd.

But Baldelli has made only two appearances (both at DH) this spring, the most recent coming Tuesday against the Twins. Manager Joe Maddon had hoped to play Baldelli in the field by the end of this week, but he was out of the lineup Wednesday-Friday and was not on the travel roster posted Friday for today's game against the Yankees in Tampa.

Baldelli sounded what, for him, has become the standard tone of lukewarm optimism Friday.

"Nothing's changed since spring training's started," he said. "My body's in the same condition it was when it started, and it's relatively good."

The Rays have made no secret of the fact that if Baldelli can't go, they'd consider going outside the organization for outfield help. Among their potential targets is free-agent Kenny Lofton, 41, who negotiated briefly last month with the Reds and is believed to be on the Mets' radar with LF Moises Alou out until mid-April following hernia surgery.

Meanwhile, the Rays are looking at 3B Joel Guzman and SS Ben Zobrist in the outfield. Guzman started in left and Zobrist in center Friday against the Phillies.

Maddon also spent part of Friday talking up non-roster invitees John Rodriguez and John Weber.

"I kind of like these guys," Maddon said. "I like their work a lot. I like their attitude a lot. And I like their bats a lot."

Justin Ruggiano and non-roster invitee Eric Hinske also are in the mix among current Rays.

There still was no firm date Friday for Baldelli's return to the lineup. Nor was a tentative date offered by Maddon, who seems to have given up that increasingly futile exercise for the time being.

"We're going to monitor the Rocco thing and see where this goes," Maddon said. "And if it's not so good, then one of these guys may get more of an opportunity at that point."

ANOTHER STEP CLOSER: LHP Scott Kazmir played long-toss from 120 feet with Rays athletic trainer Ron Porterfield on Friday, the latest step toward recovery from a left elbow strain that has sidelined him since Feb. 26.

The next step is a bullpen session Sunday or Monday, after which he could make his Grapefruit League debut as soon as Friday against the Blue Jays. As he has since the injury developed, Kazmir insisted he would be ready to make the Opening Day start on March 31 against the Orioles.

"I'm very confident" about starting on Opening Day, he said. "I feel like we're ahead of schedule. From the table we set from the time I got hurt, we gave it a two-week period to let the inflammation go down. And that only took five or six days."

NIEMANN IMPRESSES: Rays RHP Jeff Niemann, who threw 33 pitches in his one-inning spring debut, pitched three no-hit innings against the Phillies on Friday. He struck out two and walked two in his second spring outing.

The Rays' first-round draft pick from 2004 remains a relative long shot to begin the season in Tampa Bay's starting rotation, but he certainly didn't hurt his chances Friday. For his part, Niemann still believes he is in the hunt for a rotation spot behind Kazmir, RHP James Shields and RHP Matt Garza.

"I think so," he said. "But, you know, it's still really early in the spring and there's a lot of games to be played and there's a lot of guys that are in the running. There's no guarantees for any of us that are fighting for those two spots. I've just got to keep doing what I've been doing, keeping the ball down and be aggressive."

Niemann got the victory as the Rays won, 9-1, to improve to 6-1. It's Tampa Bay's best start in 11 spring trainings.

NOTABLE: Rays rotation candidate J.P. Howell also pitched well, allowing one run in three innings. ... RHP Andy Sonnanstine pitched his third scoreless inning of relief in three spring appearances. ... To make up for work lost due to rainouts, the Rays and Phillies played five extra innings after the nine-inning scheduled game was complete. ... Today's game against the Yankees in Tampa will be broadcast on WDAE, 620 AM. Sunday's game against the Reds will be broadcast on WHNZ, 1250 AM. ... In addition to Garza and LHP David Price, scheduled to pitch today are LHP Brian Anderson, LHP Kurt Birkins and RHP Scott Munter. Anderson, who has undergone two Tommy John elbow surgeries in two years, hasn't pitched in a major-league game in 17 months. ... RHP Chris Mason, who returned home to North Carolina on Wednesday to be with his ailing father, was expected to return to Florida on Friday night barring further complications. ... The starting outfield of LF Carl Crawford, CF B.J. Upton and Gomes was given the day off Friday. Maddon said all three will be in the lineup today as the Rays use a more "regular" lineup against the Yankees. ... Player's union head Don Fehr's annual tour of spring training sites brought him to the Rays on Friday. In addition to the standard update on union affairs, Fehr spoke to the players about the ramifications of the Mitchell Report. ... Former Rays GM Chuck LaMar, now director of professional scouting for the Phillies, watched the game from behind home plate with Phillies GM Pat Gillick.

Carter Gaddis