Friday, Oct. 03, 2008

Blurred vision leads Peņa to leave Game 1

First baseman Carlos Peña pulled himself from Thursday's Game 1 of the ALDS after the second inning because of blurred vision in his left eye.

Peña said he scratched the cornea around 6 p.m. Wednesday while trying to rub something out of his eye. He called trainer Ron Porterfield a half-hour later when his eye sight became blurry then made a trip to Dr. Mark Sibley's office, the Rays team optometrist.

Sibley told Peña his vision would clear up within 24 hours. Peña reminded Sibley Game 1 was scheduled to start at 2:37 p.m. Thursday.

"It does heal quick, but I don't know if it's going to be that quick," is what Sibley told Peña.

Peña visited Dr. Sibley on his way to Tropicana Field. Peña said his vision was about 90 percent, so he decided to play.

His first-inning at-bat resulted in an inning-ending strikeout, which didn't surprised Peña because he was basically playing with one eye.

"(I said) you know what, this might be fun," Peña said. "I can't really see, but what if I get a hold of one right here even though I'm blind. It didn't work out that way. Of course, I can still strike out with two good eyes, but it doesn't make it any easier with one bad eye."

An inning later Peña told Porterfield he couldn't play.

"This is getting boarder line dangerous right here, not only for myself, but for the team," Peña said.

Willy Aybar replaced Peña. Aybar drove home the tying run with a sacrifice fly in the third inning and singled and scored the Rays final run of the game in the fifth.

Peña said he expects to be in the lineup tonight for Game 2.

Price in, Percy out

Troy Percival is not on the ALDS roster. The Rays opted on keeping rookie David Price over the reliever who had a team-high 28 saves.

"I still have a question over healthy," manager Joe Maddon said.

Percival, who injured his back Sept. 10, will pitch in an Instructional League game Saturday. Maddon didn't rule out the possibility of Percival being added to the roster should the Rays advance to the ALCS or World Series.

Price, the Rays' No. 1 draft pick in the 2007 draft out of Vanderbilt University, will work out of the bullpen, from where he made is major league debut in New York. He could be used to work a couple of innings if a starter struggles to make it to the fifth.

"I'm not opposed to popping him there for an inning and a third," Maddon said.

Price will not be used to get out a tough lefty, like Jim Thome or Ken Griffey Jr.

Maddon said he has J.P. Howell, Trever Miller and Chad Bradford for those occasions.

Perez makes it, too

Maddon said outfielder Fernando Perez, who was recalled from Triple-A Durham on Aug. 31, played his way onto the postseason roster.

Perez had three home runs, eight RBIs and five stolen bases in 23 games. Plus, he's been solid in the outfield.

But Maddon said it is Perez's mental makeup that impressed him more than the rookie's physical skills.

"The thing that impressed me more than anything else is how calm he has been in the moment," Maddon said.