Longoria “50-50 to 60-40;” Navarro practices

Posted Jul 16, 2009 by Tribune Sports

Updated Jul 16, 2009 at 11:39 PM

KANSAS CITY—The Rays resume play tomorrow night against the Royals following the All-Star break, so let’s get caught up on a few things.

The team worked out for about 90 minutes tonight in shorts at beautifully manicured Kauffman Stadium. The five players who made the All-Star team were excused. Third baseman Evan Longoria, who missed the game because of an infected finger, had not returned from Wednesday’s ESPY Awards program in Los Angeles as of Thursday.

Manager Joe Maddon said he’s confident Longoria will be back in the lineup this weekend but his chances of playing tomorrow night at “a solid 50-50, maybe 60-40.”

Catcher Dioner Navarro, who took a foul ball to the facemask last Saturday night and missed Sunday’s game, practiced and proclaimed himself ready to play. Medical clearance was pending.

Navarro joked that one hit on the head wasn’t going to keep him out, adding that he didn’t even want to take a neurological test because of what the results might show.

“I feel pretty pretty good,” he said. “A little sore on my jaw, but that’s about it.”

Relief pitcher Grant Balfour left the team Sunday for his native Australia after his grandfather died and is due back tomorrow. Because it’s such a long trip and because the bullpen is well-rested, he probably won’t pitch tomorrow.

The Rays won’t see Royals ace Zack Greinke until Saturday night. Kansas City’s Web site originally listed him as tomorrow’s starter, but the Royals made the change because Greinke, who is 10-5 with a ridiculously good 2.12 ERA, pitched an inning in the All-Star game.

Opening-day starter James Shields - having pitched at least six innings in his last 11 starts—goes for the Rays against Brian Bannister.

Carl Crawford and David Price also attended the ESPY Awards program.