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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Troy Percival gets a pat from Carlos Pena before exiting with a sprained knee from chasing a runner after fielding a bunt.
OAKLAND, Calif. — Closer Troy Percival ran hard to make a play during Thursday's game and walked out afterward on crutches, his right knee in a compression brace, and appears headed to the disabled list.
He has what the Rays said is a right knee sprain, and he will be examined today in Texas. From the look and sound of things, he won't be pitching again anytime soon, with Grant Balfour likely taking over as closer.
As for possible replacements, the relievers at Triple-A Durham on the 40-man roster are Juan Salas, who has pitched well (4-5, 2.62 ERA, 53 strikeouts in 442/3 innings), and left-hander Kurt Birkins, who has not (2-2, 7.00, 24 walks in 36 innings). Another option is Scott Dohmann (0-2, 4.01, 18 saves), though the Rays would have to create a roster spot.
Percival, 39, was hurt tagging Mark Ellis after fielding a bunt in the ninth inning.
"I made the play and never felt anything pop, never felt anything," he said. "It was my knee. When I was walking back to the mound I felt some sharp pain going on in there and couldn't put weight on it. … It got worse and worse, and then I came in here, it got worse, and now I've got this brace on and I'm good."
He got off to a bad start, walking leadoff man Jack Hannahan. It got worse when Ellis bunted between first and the mound.
Percival's first bad decision was fielding it in front of charging first baseman Carlos Pena. "Natural instincts," Percival said. "And at that point I can't stop."
His second was making the tag instead of flipping the ball to Akinori Iwamura, who had covered first. The problem was that Ellis curled out of the baseline, and Percival ran harder to reach him. "When I looked I was like, 'No problem,' '' he said. ''I take two steps and get him, and then he bowed out about 6 feet and I tried to go after him, and I should have gone, 'Oh, he's out of the baseline anyway.' ''
Percival, who has been on the disabled list twice with left hamstring problems, said he didn't know how long he might be sidelined.
Marc Topkin can be reached attopkin@sptimes.com.
[Last modified: Aug 16, 2008 07:56 PM]
Comments on this article
by Troy
Aug 16, 2008 7:56 PM
Grandpa! You know you're not supposed to be running under your condition...
I have much respect for what Percy has done for this team but seriously, when you injury yourself running, your probably have no place playing professional sports....
by Ray
Aug 15, 2008 3:05 PM
Tomas, I couldn't agree with you more. Move Jackson to the pen, call up Price, and sit back and smile every time we have a lead in the 6th with Wheeler/Percy/Jackson/Howell/Balfour in the pen, WOW!
by Lori
Aug 15, 2008 1:59 PM
Guys, have a little respect for one of the main reasons we are we were are. LIke Ed said, he is 27-30 in SOP's, what other closer have we EVER had that has been that good? He is older, but his influence on the young guns in our pen demands respect.
by Ed
Aug 15, 2008 12:48 PM
Maybe a little slack for the guy? He's only 27-30 in save opps and was out of baseball a couple seasons ago. I agree Blafour should be the closer, but it's hard to argue with Maddon's when the team is playing .608 ball in the middle of August.
by David
Aug 15, 2008 12:46 PM
Such gratitude !!! At least give him respect for being one of the guys who got us this far. Thanks for the heart Percy. Good luck with the injury.
by Gene
Aug 15, 2008 12:44 PM
Mike, there is no substitute for experience at closer, that is why he is used there. Tomas, just when EJ is getting the hang of starting is not a good time to change him.
by Brian
Aug 15, 2008 11:54 AM
A million dollar gut and ten cent legs. Stay off the brews and get in the gym if you want to be a 39yr old pro.
by Tomas
Aug 15, 2008 11:54 AM
Have an idea, make Jackson our closer, and bring Price to the rotation.
by mike
Aug 15, 2008 11:54 AM
Why Maddon is using him as the closer is a big mistake in the first place. Ballfor should be the closer.
by wayne
Aug 15, 2008 11:54 AM
Maybe Percy will stay out till November. Ever since he got hurt the first time, he hasn't been the same. TOO MANY walks and blunders for a closer. Bring in Balfour for the rest of the season.
by Tim
Aug 15, 2008 11:54 AM
Ok, enough already. Lets make Balfour the releiver and put this injury plagued, overwieght reliever on the bench.
by Ron
Aug 15, 2008 11:53 AM
Maybe it's time for TP to pitch BP.
by great
Aug 15, 2008 11:53 AM
his dumb move is gonna cost us.
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