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

• 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
• Connors holds serve in autobiography
• Allergies might be behind Price’s poor start
• Holy Names’ Martin picks TCU
• Rays v BoSox: Jennings returns, Rays looking for 6th straight W
• CDS’ Lewis signs with Kentucky Christian

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

Maddon: Upton Won’t Make Opener

Posted Mar 22, 2009 by Tribune Sports

Updated Mar 22, 2009 at 01:11 PM

PORT CHARLOTTE – Rays manager Joe Maddon this morning all but ruled out the possibility center fielder B.J. Upton will be ready for the season opener April 6 at Boston.

“I doubt that,” Maddon said as his team was getting ready to play the Yankees in a sold-out Grapefruit League game at Charlotte Sports Park. “Yeah, I would say no.”

Upton has been making steady progress in his recovery from off-season shoulder surgery, and the fact he was starting to getting on the field and was projected to play in a Grapefruit League game this week offered hope he might make the opener.

But he suffered a minor setback yesterday when he was hit by a pitch on his lefty pinky finger while batting in a minor league game, sustaining a bruised bone.

Upton said this morning that while he expects to miss only a day or two on the field, the setback probably clinches the fact he won’t return before the home opener April 13 against the Yankees. The Rays play at Boston and Baltimore April 6-12.

“Obviously, I was pushing,” Upton said. “But I think they’re definitely going to take it a lot slower now.”

Maddon said there’s no specific projected date for Upton’s return but rather a general plan to plan to proceed cautiously. That was the Rays’ plan, anyway, and yesterday’s setback helps remove any temptation to accelerate the timetable.

“I want no rushing with this,” Maddon said. “You saw what it was like last year when he was injured and played, and then what it was like when we backed off and how good he was in the playoffs.

“So you want to see that on a more consistent basis. We want to give him every chance to be that guy.”

Upton played with a torn labrum in his left (non-throwing) shoulder all of last year. His power numbers increased dramatically in the postseason after the Rays starting giving him more rest. After hitting nine home runs in the regular season, Upton hit seven in the postseason.

The 2008 team leader in on-base percentage (.383) and American League’s No. 2 base stealer (44), Upton was batting against right-hander Stephen Fife of Boston’s Triple-A team when he was struck in the left hand. He yelled in pain, dropped his bat and threw down his helmet, according to a report.

X-rays established that it was mainly a scare.

“It was just in so much pain, and my finger wouldn’t stop spasming,” Upton said. “So I was a little nervous, but I calmed down rather quickly [when] I could make a fist.”

Upton said team Dr. Koco Eaton was due at the Rays’ training complex today and apparently will look at the finger.