Rays' Percival fumes over catwalk-aided double

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Rays closer Troy Percival made his feelings about Tropicana Field very clear after a flyball off the B-ring catwalk was a key part of Boston's ninth-inning rally.

"It's frustrating to know that has a part in the game,'' Percival said. "That's just a joke. They've got to come up with something better than that. I'd hate to see something like that cost us. I haven't seen us benefit a whole lot from it. I throw a pretty good pitch, get a popup on a change-up, and the next thing you know you've got people running around the bases.''

"As much as I b---- about these stadiums, it almost helped us win a game,'' Francona said. "Its awkward. You're looking up and we're getting (pinch-hitter Sean) Casey ready to hit. All of a sudden the ball, nobody knows where it is, and we've got a chance to win the game. … A crazy play, and you'd rather not see balls hit things like that. But if it's going to help us we'll take it."

Percival, who was taken out in the ninth inning when his sore left groin was again affecting his delivery, will be reevaluated today.

EVAN ALMIGHTY: 3B Evan Longoria had a pretty good week, hitting .433 in the six games at Miami and Pittsburgh with three homers and 10 RBIs.

It was good enough to earn American League Player of the Week honors, the second Ray to do so this season, joining James Shields, and the first rookie winner in the team's 11-season history.

"It's exciting for me," Longoria said. "The American League is a tough enough league to play in, so it is exciting."

REHAB REPORT: OF Rocco Baldelli will spend the week working out with the Rays — putting his 20-day minor-league rehab assignment on temporary hold — as he allows a sore right groin to heal. Baldelli was 9-for-29 in nine games for Class A Vero Beach; the Rays will decide at the end of the week when and where he will go next. "It will be a good opportunity to let it rest,'' Baldelli said. … RHP Al Reyes said he felt good and would throw twice this week at the Trop, then likely start a minor-league rehab July 7.

LEADING OFF: B.J. Upton has been a good fit in the leadoff spot, especially after his first-pitch homer Monday, but Maddon said Akinori Iwamura will return to the top spot tonight as he completes his suspension. … It was the first leadoff homer of Upton's career.

STARRY EYES: With online voting coming to a close Wednesday night, Carl Crawford (665,461 votes) and Upton (563,472) were 14th and 15th among outfielders in the final update. Carlos Pena is fourth at first base at 545,628. Starters and reserves for the July 15 game will be announced Sunday.

MISCELLANY: LHP Jake McGee, one of the Rays' top prospects, will have Tommy John elbow surgery July 8 after Dr. James Andrews confirmed the diagnosis of a torn ligament. … The home team has won all 10 games between the Rays and Sox. … The Rays improved to 10-1 with home crowds of 30,000-plus and 12-2 with 25,000-plus. … DH Cliff Floyd rejoined the team after going to Chicago following the death of his grandmother. … The Rays finished interleague play 12-6, matching the fourth-best record among teams. … Radio broadcaster Andy Freed will return Wednesday, missing two games for a family matter.

Comments on this article

by bigdawg	Jul 2, 2008 6:43 PM
GO RAY!!!

by Gomer	Jul 2, 2008 6:33 PM
JeffC is right, what's the matter with you people, do you honestly think that Baldelli who is good enough to play anywhere really doesn't want to play with this team? He gets an unknown disease and you all are ready to write him off... way to support

by Vade	Jul 2, 2008 6:23 PM
The Trop is a menace.

by MLNFL	Jul 2, 2008 5:52 PM
Would have been a different story if Moss had scored from 3rd after his easy out pop fly hit the ring. What would you Trop lovers be saying then?

by JeffC	Jul 1, 2008 7:50 PM
To anyone who dislikes the Rocco updates, a question: "Is there really a need to insult him?" Personally, he's the reason I became interested in the Rays, before I even lived in Tampa. GO RAYS!!

by Aaron T	Jul 1, 2008 7:19 PM
Rays Are For Real! It's GREAT to finally be on the other side of the Win/Loss Stat. I agree Rocco should go away, we are winning without him. This IS NOT HIS TEAM. It's ST. Pete's Team and we deserve to win... we've paid our dues! Percy you'll be ok.

by Rodger	Jul 1, 2008 7:17 PM
WAAAAAAAAAA. I sure hope the rest of the team doesnt catch the cry's from this baby, their playing to good for this kinda crap.

by JT2	Jul 1, 2008 5:26 PM
Two Things: (1) Enough About Rocco, he is worthless and a mistake. Release him and let someone who WANTS TO PLAY IN ST. PETE Play, (2) Percy is a whiner, and I wish he'd just stop, he's hurt, he knows it, we know it, DL it and stop blowing games!

by Ernie	Jul 1, 2008 5:04 PM
Stop your whining, Percival. You knew you were going to play in a dome stadium when you joined the team. Go back on the DL and get that hamstring healed. By the way, do you think playing in the scorching heat is going to be any better than the dome?

by Gary	Jul 1, 2008 4:45 PM
Please give the daily Rocco rehab updates a rest. In the 4 years I have lived in the area..Rocco has been on constant rehab story and almost zero baseball. There is more to this story than the physical (??) ailments ...stop pretending otherwise.

by Todd	Jul 1, 2008 4:36 PM
Burn the Trop to the ground! That place stinks!

by Tom	Jul 1, 2008 4:35 PM
Yeah - it would've been a whole lot better for all 34,000 of us to get soaked by the thunderstorm that rolled in mid-game and had a 90 min rain delay. Yeah, that's much better than a flyball hitting a support wire twice in a season on-average.

by Dennis	Jul 1, 2008 4:31 PM
The irony about the ballpark is quite amusing, the folks at the game last night would have gotten an awesome light show if it had been somewhat open air.

by St, Pete Lou	Jul 1, 2008 4:25 PM
I agree about Fenway. I can't stand that stadium. If anyone needs a new stadium, it's Boston. That hideous monstrosity needs to come down.

by Max	Jul 1, 2008 4:22 PM
BUILD THE NEW STADIUM!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

by Bryan	Jul 1, 2008 4:16 PM
Great point. im a big fan of building a new park but we would have never been able to complete the victory last night if it hadnt have been for the trop. the storm was loud even inside the dome. the trop made it nailbiter but also made it a w.

by Shawn	Jul 1, 2008 1:53 PM
Just remember that last night's game would have been called if we didn't have the Trop. It can be a loud stadium we just need more fans there!

by Gary	Jul 1, 2008 1:53 PM
I get so tired of the complaints about the Tropicana rings, and now Percy joins in. No park is more screwed up than Fenway, where pop ups go for home runs. And consider this: Last night's game would have been a rain out anywhere else.

by Rich	Jul 1, 2008 1:52 PM
Please stop with the Rocco watch. He is done. Give me Hinkse, Gross or Gomes anyday. He is a vision of past mistakes made by previous management and a grossly too high a salary. Let's not forget.

by Mark	Jul 1, 2008 11:24 AM
LET's BUILD THE BALLPARK!