Many shops are showing Mark starting on Tuesday.......this will not be the case. Take note posters if you are playing this game.
ST. PETERSBURG -- The last time Mark Hendrickson felt tightness in his throwing shoulder, he was scared. This time around, he said that he is more familiar about the feeling in his left arm.
Comfortable or otherwise, the end result is the same, as the Rays placed the starter on the disabled list just four days after the 31-year-old tossed a complete-game shutout against the Orioles. To take his place on Tuesday, the team has recalled right-hander Jason Hammel from Triple-A Durham.
Manager Joe Maddon was understandably frustrated when discussing Hendrickson missing his next two starts, but said that the 6-foot-9 lefty's honesty gave Maddon room to maneuver.
"I'm disappointed because of how well he pitched against [the Orioles] last time," said Maddon. "But I appreciate him telling us now because ... our bullpen will stay intact.
"History tells me he'll probably miss two starts and then be fine."
The history to which Maddon referred is just four days shy of one year ago, when Hendrickson had a stiff shoulder after a 12-7 win over Boston. Then, Hendrickson admitted being frightened of what the hitch in the shoulder meant. Now he expects to be back with a few days rest and maybe some time in the training room.
"I don't want to go on the disabled list ... but it's unfair to ask anyone else on short rest to come out of the bullpen," said Hendrickson. "Last year I was ready to go again in four days, but it's unfortunate because of the time frame of the season that no one's stretched out yet.
"As a result, we'll get a fresh arm up here, and I'll miss a couple of starts."
Hendrickson said that he felt fine through Thursday's 108-pitch outing but experienced what he described as "a little bit of tightness" later in the evening after completing a side session.
Evers returns: Monday night was a big night for bench coach Bill Evers.
Evers, who has spent 30 years in professional baseball, made his debut as a Major League coach after having an operation to remove a tumor from his colon 18 days earlier.
"I can't move quickly, but I can meander where I need to get," said Evers. "I need to be alive for balls being thrown, make sure I'm in a situation where I don't put myself in harm's way."
Evers, 51, had seven winning seasons as the manager of the Triple-A Durham Bulls, and his 613 career victories are the most by any manager in the Bulls' 103-year history. In addition, Evers' teams made six playoff appearances, won five division titles and won back-to-back International League championships in 2002 and 2003.
"Coming out of the surgery puts everything into light," he said. "I only had one bad moment after I got back from the hospital, missing Opening Day. But after 30 years waiting for it, Opening Day for me is today. That's something very special. What's nice about it is [that] my parents came down."
Bill and Jayne Evers made the trip from New York's Long Island to see their son's debut.
Though Evers has been on the mend, he has been staying in tune to the team's fortunes.
"I've seen all the games," he said. "I've spoken to [manager] Joe [Maddon] after every game and told him what I saw."
Asked if he was a couch coach, he smiled and said, "No, I was a Devil Rays fan, rooting hard."
Jonny Gomes could be counted among the many players who are happy to see Evers back in uniform.
"I played for him for three years," said Gomes. "He's the best manager I've ever had. Joe Maddon is giving him a run for his money, but he's my guy. We've got it down to where eye contact can mean 100 words. With all my shenanigans and all my strikeouts and stuff, he's the one guy who can keep me in check so I can do what I can do. ... He's always on an even keel, which made him a good manager."
On the mend: Julio Lugo underwent therapy in the swimming pool on Monday as he recovers from the strained abdomen that put him on the 15-day disabled list retroactive to April 4.
"Everything felt good," said the shortstop, turning to demonstrate. "The rotation. Everything felt good. I felt strong."
Lugo went out after two at-bats in the Rays' opener at Baltimore.
"Yeah, it's a little frustrating, because when the season starts, I just want to play," he said. "And happening Opening Day ... When the season starts, you're ready to start playing."
Lugo was 2-for-2 when he left the Opening Day game, leaving his batting average at 1.000, right?
"No, 2.000, baby," he said with his customary smile. "I got two hits."
Meanwhile, Jorge Cantu, who had to leave Friday night's game in Toronto after fouling a ball off his left foot, said that he would be available to pinch-hit but is still experiencing a lot of pain when he runs.
Up next: The Rays host the Orioles in the second game of the four-game series on Tuesday in a 7:15 p.m. ET contest at Tropicana Field. Hammel will start for the Rays, and the Orioles will send Kris Benson to the mound.
Bill Chastain is a reporter for MLB.com. Associate reporter Dawn Klemish contributed to this story. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.
ST. PETERSBURG -- The last time Mark Hendrickson felt tightness in his throwing shoulder, he was scared. This time around, he said that he is more familiar about the feeling in his left arm.
Comfortable or otherwise, the end result is the same, as the Rays placed the starter on the disabled list just four days after the 31-year-old tossed a complete-game shutout against the Orioles. To take his place on Tuesday, the team has recalled right-hander Jason Hammel from Triple-A Durham.
Manager Joe Maddon was understandably frustrated when discussing Hendrickson missing his next two starts, but said that the 6-foot-9 lefty's honesty gave Maddon room to maneuver.
"I'm disappointed because of how well he pitched against [the Orioles] last time," said Maddon. "But I appreciate him telling us now because ... our bullpen will stay intact.
"History tells me he'll probably miss two starts and then be fine."
The history to which Maddon referred is just four days shy of one year ago, when Hendrickson had a stiff shoulder after a 12-7 win over Boston. Then, Hendrickson admitted being frightened of what the hitch in the shoulder meant. Now he expects to be back with a few days rest and maybe some time in the training room.
"I don't want to go on the disabled list ... but it's unfair to ask anyone else on short rest to come out of the bullpen," said Hendrickson. "Last year I was ready to go again in four days, but it's unfortunate because of the time frame of the season that no one's stretched out yet.
"As a result, we'll get a fresh arm up here, and I'll miss a couple of starts."
Hendrickson said that he felt fine through Thursday's 108-pitch outing but experienced what he described as "a little bit of tightness" later in the evening after completing a side session.
Evers returns: Monday night was a big night for bench coach Bill Evers.
Evers, who has spent 30 years in professional baseball, made his debut as a Major League coach after having an operation to remove a tumor from his colon 18 days earlier.
"I can't move quickly, but I can meander where I need to get," said Evers. "I need to be alive for balls being thrown, make sure I'm in a situation where I don't put myself in harm's way."
Evers, 51, had seven winning seasons as the manager of the Triple-A Durham Bulls, and his 613 career victories are the most by any manager in the Bulls' 103-year history. In addition, Evers' teams made six playoff appearances, won five division titles and won back-to-back International League championships in 2002 and 2003.
"Coming out of the surgery puts everything into light," he said. "I only had one bad moment after I got back from the hospital, missing Opening Day. But after 30 years waiting for it, Opening Day for me is today. That's something very special. What's nice about it is [that] my parents came down."
Bill and Jayne Evers made the trip from New York's Long Island to see their son's debut.
Though Evers has been on the mend, he has been staying in tune to the team's fortunes.
"I've seen all the games," he said. "I've spoken to [manager] Joe [Maddon] after every game and told him what I saw."
Asked if he was a couch coach, he smiled and said, "No, I was a Devil Rays fan, rooting hard."
Jonny Gomes could be counted among the many players who are happy to see Evers back in uniform.
"I played for him for three years," said Gomes. "He's the best manager I've ever had. Joe Maddon is giving him a run for his money, but he's my guy. We've got it down to where eye contact can mean 100 words. With all my shenanigans and all my strikeouts and stuff, he's the one guy who can keep me in check so I can do what I can do. ... He's always on an even keel, which made him a good manager."
On the mend: Julio Lugo underwent therapy in the swimming pool on Monday as he recovers from the strained abdomen that put him on the 15-day disabled list retroactive to April 4.
"Everything felt good," said the shortstop, turning to demonstrate. "The rotation. Everything felt good. I felt strong."
Lugo went out after two at-bats in the Rays' opener at Baltimore.
"Yeah, it's a little frustrating, because when the season starts, I just want to play," he said. "And happening Opening Day ... When the season starts, you're ready to start playing."
Lugo was 2-for-2 when he left the Opening Day game, leaving his batting average at 1.000, right?
"No, 2.000, baby," he said with his customary smile. "I got two hits."
Meanwhile, Jorge Cantu, who had to leave Friday night's game in Toronto after fouling a ball off his left foot, said that he would be available to pinch-hit but is still experiencing a lot of pain when he runs.
Up next: The Rays host the Orioles in the second game of the four-game series on Tuesday in a 7:15 p.m. ET contest at Tropicana Field. Hammel will start for the Rays, and the Orioles will send Kris Benson to the mound.
Bill Chastain is a reporter for MLB.com. Associate reporter Dawn Klemish contributed to this story. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.
