Injury bug bites Tampa Bay Rays
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Somebody get an ambulance over to Tropicana Field, the injury bug has bitten the Tampa Bay Rays. Oh, it started simple enough. CF B.J. Upton rolls this ankle in the outfield and misses a few days. Then, super utility man Ben Zobrist misses some games with back problems. He has missed both games against the Yankees and I don’t expect to see him on Sunday.
Then in what can only be called, the stupidest non sports related injury for the Rays in some time, RP Grant Balfour is now expected to miss 4-6 weeks. He has a strained rib injury. How did this happen you ask? Balfour was wrestling in the outfield with pitching coach Jim Hickey. Say what? This now makes a bit more sense of why the Rays acquired RP Chad Qualls, in what was a curious move at the time. Well, it’s still curious as Qualls brings a nice big fat ERA of 8.29 and an opponent batting average of .370 with him from Arizona. The Rays front office has made some unconventional moves in the past which have panned out, so you get a pass……………for now. But the first time he puts a fastball right down the heart of the plate, serving up a three run home run, the civility towards the move disappears.
So, if that wasn’t enough for you, Rays 1B, Carlos Pena left last nights game in the 7th inning which what is being called a foot injury. He is currently listed day to day. This comes just as Carlos was starting to get his groove back at the plate. Over the past 7 games, Pena hit at a .292 clip, had 3 home runs, 8 RBI’s and scored 4 runs. With the lack of the Rays acquiring another bat for the lineup at the trade deadline, the Rays cannot afford to field a lineup without Pena for an extended period of time.
Speaking of another bat, the attempted comeback by Rays OF Rocco Baldelli continues. Rocco, playing with the Rays A affiliate, the Port Charlotte Stone Crabs went 1-4 last night against Dunedin.
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Rays fans, the future is now. And in case you missed pitching phenom Jeremy Hellickson in the Futures All-Star game a few weeks ago, you will get a chance to see him with the Rays this week. Since the Rays are in the middle of a schedule that forces them to play twenty games in twenty days, the club has decided to recall Jeremy to make a start against the Minnesota Twins on Monday squaring off against Carlos Pavano. Hellickson brings with him a 12-3 record and the International leagues best ERA at 2.43. He has recorded 123 K’s in just 117.2 IP giving up just 5 homers and walking 35. It’s not expected that Hellickson will remain with the club, but he should give Rays fans a taste of the future on Monday night.
Since Hellickson is making the trip from Durham, something else he might bring with him, Dan Johnson. If Penas’ foot injury does indeed become an issue, the Rays might want to give him a look. Johnson is batting .303 with a International league leading 30 home runs and 95 RBI’s. Speaking of Durham, the Rays AAA club is simply ripping the International league apart. They are currently riding a 10 game win streak and has the leagues best overall record at 67-40 15 games ahead of second place Charlotte.
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