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Rays players have mixed feelings about replay

By Marc Topkin, Times Staff Writer
In print: Wednesday, August 27, 2008

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ST. PETERSBURG — Rays players aren't sure exactly what to expect when instant replay is implemented for Friday's game against the Orioles.

Rookie 3B Evan Longoria, the team player rep, said he was both for and against the plan.

"I think it's a good thing because it's going to get some calls right that are going to change games," Longoria said. "But at the same time it's given the umpires something to gripe about, and it kind of puts a chip on their shoulders as far as we don't think they're doing as good of a job as they can."

Longoria, and others, were also concerned that the limited replay was just the start.

"I just don't want it to open up Pandora's box with calls at home and calls at the bases and eventually behind the plate," he said. "I just don't want it to get to that."

Veteran reliever Trever Miller's concern is that the scope will be broadened annually: "Ten years from now we're going to be reviewing everything that can possibly be reviewed in this game."

Cliff Floyd, conversely, said he doesn't like the current plan for limited use: "I think they should do it for everything."

NAVI CRAMPING: C Dioner Navarro asked out of the game in the sixth inning due to cramping in both hamstrings, and his status for tonight is uncertain. Navarro was receiving extensive treatment after the game, and through team spokesman Chris Costello said: "I don't know if I'll be able to play (tonight). This is a day-to-day thing. I felt a little tightness and I'd rather come out before making it worse.''

ORNERY PERCY: Closer Troy Percival (right knee) was impressive enough throwing 20 or so pitches off the bullpen mound Tuesday that he may be ready Saturday when eligible to be reinstated from the DL.

"He looked pretty good," manager Joe Maddon said. "All his pitches were working, he was hitting the glove, there was no hesitation, no anything different about his delivery. It looked good."

Longoria, still hopeful of returning next week from a fractured right wrist, is cleared to resume as much baseball activity as he can tolerate but said there is still too much pain to try swinging a bat, and he won't until it is "pain-free."

"I need to get it where it feels comfortable to swing," Longoria said. "It's definitely not pain-free. There's a lot less pain than there has been in the past week, and that's a big plus."

HELP COMING: Rosters can be expanded starting Monday, but the Rays plan to add only "minimal" help. Maddon said he'd be looking for "a couple-three pitchers maybe, a couple position players; you always try to augment, like maybe your outfield, your infield and your catching."

Possibilities include:

Pitchers: Scott Dohmann, Jeff Niemann, David Price, Mitch Talbot; catchers: Mike DiFelice, John Jaso; infielders: Joel Guzman, Dan Johnson, Elliot Johnson; outfielders: Jonny Gomes, Fernando Perez.

MINOR MATTERS: Durham clinched the International League South title with a 3-2 win over Indianapolis. … Top draft pick SS Tim Beckham, who hit .243 with two homers and 46 RBIs in 46 games, is moving up from rookie-level Princeton to short-season Class A Hudson Valley. So is No. 2 pick LHP Kyle Lobstein, who recently signed and likely won't pitch. Seven Rays will play for the Peoria Javelinas in the Arizona Fall League starting Oct. 7: Ps James Houser, Chris Mason, Ryan Reid and Mike Wlodarczyk, C Matt Spring, INF Rhyne Hughes and OF J.T. Hall.

MISCELLANY: Cal Ripken will throw out the first pitch tonight, coinciding with the announcement that his group has purchased and relocated the Rays' Class A team to Port Charlotte. … OF Rocco Baldelli got a nice ovation before his first Trop at-bat since May 6, 2007.