The surrogate
It begins with a woman who yearns for a baby and another who is willing and able to give her one. You can imagine the motives of the prospective parents. But what about the woman willing to carry a baby, give birth and then walk away?
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CLEVELAND — The last two games before the four-day All-Star break might seem like an odd time to rest two of your best young players, even if they are struggling.
But manager Joe Maddon put CF B.J. Upton, hitting .216 since June 15, on the bench Saturday and will decide this morning whether to play LF Carl Crawford, who went 0-for-5 Saturday to extend his career-worst slump to 0-for-25.
With Upton, it was a matter of a mechanical flaw in his swing, which had been an issue before, that Maddon and hitting coach Steve Henderson noticed.
"I just wanted to give him a day off. I know there's not many days left, but I just feel like he's been pressing a bit," Maddon said.
Upton sounded okay with the move, saying Maddon was "definitely" right about the flaw without saying what it was and he was willing to go along with whatever worked best for the team. He will be in the lineup today.
"It's a situation where we need runs and I haven't been getting the job done, so maybe it's time for me to take a little breather," Upton said.
Crawford said his problems are physical, the result of making an unexpected, and unwanted, start in centerfield Monday. He said he agitated his left hamstring trying to make a play on a ball over his head, and it has made him uncomfortable at the plate since, unable to set up properly or get any drive off his back leg.
His hitless streak started with his second at-bat of that game, and he said he can only hope rest during the break helps.
"I'm just trying to do what I can," Crawford said. "I know it looks bad, but I'm in a no-win situation. You don't play and people say you're not helping the team; you play and you look like I'm looking now and people say you look terrible. So I just have to go through it, take the bad and know it will get better."
DIFFERENT VIEW: Maddon didn't agree with LHP Scott Kazmir's premise that their struggles were the result of players being more focused on what other contenders are doing during games than their own play. "I really don't think that's an issue at all," he said. "I haven't really gotten that out of the group."
REHAB REPORT: RHP Troy Percival, on the DL since July 1 with a left hamstring strain, threw 26 pitches off the mound, felt good and said that under a "best-case" scenario he could throw to hitters during Thursday's workout at the Trop and be activated Saturday. "It's the first time I've pitched without having my leg taped up in six weeks, and it felt great," he said.
But Maddon said they'll be cautious, wanting medical evidence that Percival, who was on the DL earlier with a similar problem, is indeed better.
"He's gonna wanna push it, and I know that and I appreciate that, but I really don't want to have any other setbacks for the rest of the season if that's possible," Maddon said.
FOR STARTERS: It's still considered tentative, but the planned rotation for the second half starts with RHP James Shields, followed by Kazmir, RHP Matt Garza, RHP Edwin Jackson and RHP Andy Sonnanstine.
CLEVELAND DOESN'T ROCK: The Rays have lost 12 straight at Progressive Field, their longest skid at an opponent's ballpark. They'd lost 11 at Yankee Stadium and Oakland.
MISCELLANY: Maddon's ESPN "Sunday Conversation" is on today, starting with the 10:30 a.m. SportsCenter. … Montgomery reliever Eduardo Morlan is a member of the World squad in today's All-Star Futures Game (ESPN2, 12:30 p.m.). … Top 2007 pick LHP David Price improved to 4-0, 1.38 for Montgomery with a seven-inning complete game in a 2-1 win over Mobile. RHP Jeremy Hellickson fell to 0-2, 6.53 in a 4-3 loss in the nightcap, allowing all four runs on 10 hits in six innings.
[Last modified: Jul 13, 2008 08:11 PM]
Comments on this article
by keith
Jul 13, 2008 8:11 PM
i wrote to the St.Petersburg times earlier this year to try and snap a four game losing streak. Now i'm doing the same thing but for a 7 game. After writing the letter they won a lot and lost a little i hoping this letter does the same thing.07-13-08
by joe
Jul 13, 2008 8:11 PM
terrible job to sit key players in a race. i do not want to hear about slumps. they are being paid and most figure it out. maddon is resorting to his wimp ways in difficult times.
by TOM
Jul 13, 2008 8:11 PM
I'M AFRAID CC HAS BEEN AFFLICTED WITH THE JEFF FRANCEOUR SYNDROME. (HE NEVER MET A PITCH HE DIDN'T LIKE!) HE SWINGS AT EVERYTHING, NEVER PATIENT. UPTON TAKES A STRIKE, HALF-HEARTEDLY SWINGS AT A BALL A FOOT OUTSIDE, TAKES ONE DOWN THE MIDDLE & SITS
by Russ
Jul 13, 2008 8:11 PM
You people are getting ridiculous.These guys aren't struggling due to a lack of hustle.How many guys has Upton thrown out trying to get an extra base?Upton is struggling because he is young & CC needs to go back to bunting for hits til he gets itgoin
by mike
Jul 13, 2008 8:10 PM
It's obvious that anyone bashing CC is just jumping on the bandwagon this year. He has been consistently great for us over the past half decade and has been clearly hampered by a hammy this year as evidenced by his inability to run. CC is the man.
by Phillip
Jul 13, 2008 8:10 PM
I agree, Tom. I've heard enough about how he doesn't want to hit in the leadoff spot. He doesn't want to play centerfield. He doesn't want to learn how to bunt better. With his skills, he should be doing all three.
by Jon
Jul 13, 2008 9:56 AM
Crawford needs to get over himself and play where he's needed. If Upton - a converted infielder - can make a go of it, why not Crawford? CC needs to worry less about how he looks out there and more about what the team needs.
by RAH
Jul 13, 2008 9:55 AM
Tom is right about Crawford he was 1 for 22 then got hot for 3 games and now is 0 for 25 again I say Crawford is, was and probably will continue to be overrated ? Against KC Monday he looked like a little leaguer going back on the ball he is referring to and he played like one when he let the guy score the winning run from 1st on a single. As an outfielder he is 88th in assist, 12th in errors with an ordinary to below fielding % - with no hustle in his system Carl Crawford at the best is an run of the mill major leaguer
by JeffC
Jul 13, 2008 9:54 AM
Why don't Rays ship Crawford out. He's horrible!! NOT!! CC was the only player worth going to the Trop to see for a loooong time, and now he's in a slump, so we bash him?? He always gets hot for 2-3 weeks, and that time is coming soon. GO RAYS!!
by Tom
Jul 13, 2008 12:18 AM
I'm getting sick of Carl. His slump is because he had to play center one game? He hurt his hammy because of it? Come on Carl. It is because you are swinging at almost every pitch you see. Period. Your excuses and whining are a joke.
by JB
Jul 12, 2008 11:33 PM
Have they also notice a lack of hustle in Upton's game? Has anyone else noticed that no Ray or Devil Ray for that matter has ever robbed an opposing team's hitter of a home run? C'mon, does anyone ever remember that happening?
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