Back to the Rays Report

Roger Mooney

Roger Mooney covers the Tampa Bay Rays for The Tampa Tribune, TBO.com and News Channel 8. He has covered the Rays since their first season in 1998, including 11 years for the Bradenton Herald. Roger has also covered Florida, South Florida and Florida State football, the Bucs and the Lightning.

 @RMooneyTrib
 TBO_Rays
Send us your questions

More Links:

• Schedule/Results
• Player Stats
• Team Stats

Most Recent Entries

• Green seeking funds for trip
• Area Athletes Shine at Golden South Classic
• Rays @ O’s: Moore looking to go 8-0, Rays looking for sweep
• Collect call: 2013 Bowman baseball
• Rays @ O’s: Rays on FOX game of the week
• Seffner Christian’s Hanson picks Liberty
• Current Baseball America prospect list boasts five locals
• Rays @ O’s: Hellickson returns to mound to start trip
• Former Newsome tennis standout, Hersh, named POY
• Bishop McLaughlin sophomore OH Alyssa Mathis commits to San Diego State
• Rays v BoSox: Price looks for 2nd win, Escobar moved to 5th in order
• Area athletes sign and commit to colleges
• Steinbrenner announces athletic signings
• Mitchell P/INF Chris McCormick commits to PHCC
• Three Hudson girls soccer players, including first the Division I scholarship, to sign Friday

More

• Bucs Report -Tribune staff
• Rays Report - Roger Mooney
• Bolts Report - Erik Erlendsson
• Bulls Report
• Prep Report - Hillsborough
• Prep Report - Pasco
• Prep Report - Region
• Prep Report - Recruiting Updates
• Prep Report - Football
• Go Fishing: On The Waterfront
• The Sports Bookie - Bob D'Angelo
• Gators Report - Tribune staff
• Youth Sports Report
• NFL Draft Report
• Go Ask: Frank's Tacklebox
• Bucified Bert Blog
• BUK Power - Bucs Fan Blog
• Pigskin Preacher - NFL Fan Blog
• Breakfast Bonus - Tom McEwen
• Highlands Sports

Monthly Archives

• May 2013
• April 2013
• March 2013
• February 2013
• January 2013
• December 2012

Crawford takes another step toward return

Posted Sep 29, 2008 by Tribune Sports

Updated Sep 29, 2008 at 04:10 PM

It wasn’t Carl Crawford at his best, but it was Carl Crawford pain free, and that was good news for the Rays on Monday.

The two-time All-Star played five innings in left field and batted five times in a fall instructional league game that was moved from the Naimoli Complex to Tropicana Field. Though he went 0-for-4 at the plate, Crawford had no apparent difficulty with the hand injury that has limited him to only a couple of recent defensive appearances since Aug. 9.

Afterward, Crawford submitted that he’s proven he’s ready to be in the lineup for Thursday’s opening Division League Series playoff game.

“I think I did enough today,” he said. “I mean, I didn’t get hits, but I showed that the bat speed [is fine], and tomorrow, I’ll probably do the same thing. So if it’s a tough decision after that, then I don’t really know what to say. I’m trying to make it as easy as possible for them.”

In his first four at-bats, the left-handed-hitting Crawford popped out to short, flew out to the warning track in right center, struck out swinging on an off-speed pitch and popped out to second. In his fifth at-bat, he was hit by a pitch between the shoulder blades. He took first base, stole second base easily and scored a run.

Defensively, Crawford made a nice running catch on a line drive early in the game.

He said his troublesome hamstrings feel good - encouraging news for the Rays, since hamstring problems had cut Crawford’s base stealing production this season.

“I think that’s the one good thing that’s happened out of this whole thing,” Crawford said. “I got a chance to rest my legs. I felt good running today. Hopefully, I’ll be able to run in the playoffs.”

Rays manager Joe Maddon, dressed casually, arrived to watch Crawford after his first at-bat. He disappeared into the clubhouse while Crawford was working out, then dashed to a scouting meeting.

Hitting coach Steve Henderson watched Crawford’s at-bats and said that other than needing to get his timing back, he looked good.

Crawford underwent surgery Aug. 14 for a subluxation of his right middle finger tendon. At the time, he was hitting .273 with eight home runs and 57 RBIs and was in the midst of an 11-game hitting streak.