Rolen's coming back

LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. – Okay, this looks like a more reasonable lineup than the one 24 hours earlier - the one that had all three catchers in there,  Robinzon Diaz going 0-for-4 in his major-league debut, and also minus Alex Rios (flu) and Lyle Overbay (ankle) taking a sit.

To wit:

SS David Eckstein
2B Aaron Hill
RF Alex Rios
CF Vernon Wells
DH Matt Stairs
LF Shannon Stewart
1B Lyle Overbay
C Gregg Zaun
3B Marco Scutaro

It’ll get even more normal looking tomorrow night in Kansas City, when Scott Rolen makes his debut as a Blue Jay – as an American Leaguer, in fact.

The big guy turned up in the Jays’ clubhouse about three hours before the series finale against the Rays in Disney World.

His much-awaited (much-needed) return comes 33 days – same as his jersey number – since taking that freak liner off the tip of his right middle finger during spring fielding practice. That’s a little over the mid-point of the original recovery prognosis of four-to-six weeks.

“There’s probably always a little more recovery time you can give it but I’ve convinced myself it’s time to play,” he said.

“I still have a pretty significant bone bruise on the end of (the finger). I feel it when I throw, I feel it when I hit, but I think my options were to sit and wait for it to heal or go out and play.”

Rolen also jokingly suggested the Class-A Dunedin Blue Jays would be better off without him. "An 0-for-9 with an error and the (scorer) could’ve given be two that inning," he said.

“It was a pretty exciting rehab stint, actually. “I’m thinking if they’re in a Florida State League pennant race, they were happy to see me go. I was killing them.”  .

Any chance Rolen might’ve got himself inserted in the lineup for tonight’s series finale? Nope. At least that’s the idea.

“I think the plan is to take some BP (last night), get some ground-balls, watch a game, settle in a little bit,” Rolen said. “Not that I couldn’t go but, just the fact that I’ve played the last five, six days … well, I’m a little sore.”

Rolen also gets to make his debut in his favourite park – at least, stats-wise. During those annual  Cardinals/Royals  interleague games over the years, he’s a career .436 hitter at Kauffman Stadium (17-for-39), with three homers and a dozen RBIs.

Not official yet, but, in the post-game roster move to accommodate Rolen, Jays seemed likely to return catcher Diaz to Triple-A Syracuse.

Into last night, the Tampa Rays were an all-time 5-0 at Disney’s Wide World of Sports, having swept the Texas Rangers here last May. In the five games, they’ve hit .346 and scored almost seven runs a game (34).

Just heard the new Tampa ballpark back in St. Pete – scheduled to open in 2012 – is nowhere near a sure thing. City citizens have a referendum on the matter in November and early polls suggest they’re very opposed to letting the Rays build on prime waterfront land. Which is why, the suggestion continues, is the team is going to continue fostering this relationship with the Disney folks in Orlando.

Allan Ryan

Comments

[Jason C]

I certainly hope that Rolen boosts the club's morale...they seem to be falling into the same trap they have in the past-- playing, with the exception perhaps of Zaun, Stairs, and Hallady, like this is all a bore leading up to who knows what. Even when they win they don't look excited...not like winning teams do.I have vowed to stop watching the Jays until Gibbons and Riccardi are fired. Also, I hope Rolen supplants "inning-killer Wells" in the order -- I wish someone would pay me millions of dollars to strike out or pop up with men on base. The Jays are simply frustrating.

[M.Fox]

Great Rolens back. But hey why aren't people in the Toronto Media and more fans starting to call for Gibbons head. It's time to make a change.

[Mark Hillard]

With Reed Johnson performing very well at the Cubs (and Stewart doing nothingfo the Jays), starters struggling, and the Jays RISP being the worst in the majors, do you think Ricciardi will be letting his skipper go soon? It seems to me he will have to make that move, since his position will be on the line, its his last chance to save his job.

[Mark]

Hey Richard,

when is the media going to start calling for Gibbon's to be fired? This has got to stop! I love them, but man o man I am really starting to hate them! Thanks.

Mark

[Ryan]

You guys don't really update the blog much. Is there just not as much to talk about? I'd visit daily (think ad revenue!) if only there were daily updates in the morning...