Injured slugger Carlos Peña believes disappointing season can be learning experience for Tampa Bay Rays

ST. PETERSBURG — The pain in Carlos Peña's two surgically repaired left fingers has subsided quite a bit, so much so that he's able to do some everyday things, such as driving and holding a phone.

Though the splint will come off Monday, when he starts exercises in a rehab program that should have him swinging a bat by November and fully recovered for spring training, he said the "thing that hurts the most is not being able to play."

Peña said it was really rough having to watch Friday's game from the dugout, knowing there would likely be no postseason for the defending AL champs. But Peña, a team leader, had a different perspective on the Rays' disappointing season, from their slow start to their late slide.

"It's part of our growth and we need to learn from all this," he said. "Because I think we can become better because of all of this."

Many have speculated there was a World Series hangover that led to a slow start in April, one from which they could never recover. Peña said he thought it was actually the players putting too much pressure on themselves and "demanding" a repeat as opposed to letting last season go and merely focusing on playing like they knew they could.

"I attribute that slow start to that confusion like, 'We need to let go, because in time we know we're good, we know we can be champions again,' and then, 'I'm demanding that of myself,' " Peña said.

"But we can't put pressure on ourselves, we've got to relax. That confusion really took us a month and a half before we actually got it going a little bit and started playing better baseball.

"We need to learn how to play knowing that we've got what we've got, without putting pressure on ourselves with all the expectations, and just being excited about the fact that you just want to keep getting better. It's as simple as that."

NO foul: When LF Carl Crawford was hit in the right elbow with a pitch in the first inning by LHP Ricky Romero, he appeared upset,mand some wondered whether it was retaliation for Crawford stealing second with a five-run lead in the eighth on Friday. But Romero said that wasn't the case, and Crawford didn't think so, either.

"I think it probably got away from him, I don't think he tried to hit me on purpose," Crawford said. "The only reason why I reacted like that is because it hurt."

STEPPING UP: C Gregg Zaun has joked that the Rays didn't bring him in "to be Babe Ruth."

The 14-year veteran, a .251 career hitter, takes pride in his offense but makes a lot of his contributions defensively, calling games and handling a pitching staff. But since joining the Rays Aug. 8, Zaun has held his own at the plate, hitting .304 — .311 vs. right-handers — with three homers and 13 RBIs.

"I feel good up there, I feel comfortable with my swing right now," Zaun said. "I'm not trying to do a whole lot out there, just put the good part of the bat on the ball, and good things will happen."

LEANING LEFT: Manager Joe Maddon said that CF B.J. Upton, out of the lineup Saturday, is physically fine; he just wanted to leave in a couple of left-handed hitters against Romero, as lefties have a higher slugging percentage against him and are hitting .311 vs. Romero.

WADING IN: Maddon said that rookie RHP Wade Davis will make his next start Wednesday on regular rest against the Mariners. There was some discussion about pushing Davis back after he threw 124 pitches in a complete game Thursday.

MISCELLANY: LHP Randy Choate has made 13 appearances in the Rays' 17 games against the Blue Jays.

Joe Smith can be reached at joesmith@sptimes.com