Anderson suffers setback in comeback

ROGER MOONEY
rmooney@bradenton.com

ST. PETERSBURG – Brian Anderson’s rehab from consecutive reconstructive surgeries on his left elbow hit a snag Wednesday when he removed himself from his outing against the New York Yankees after throwing just three pitches during the sixth inning.
Anderson, who was making his second appearance of the spring for the Rays, said he felt a strange sensation inside the elbow and didn’t want to risk further damage.
“I don’t know if it’s the scar tissue breaking up, but something felt like it came loose,” Anderson said. “I said I might as well get it looked at because it didn’t feel real good.”
He is expected to undergo an MRI on Thursday.
“He had been doing so well. He had been great,” Rays manager Joe Maddon said. “He fits into our program, so I’m eager to see how that works out.”
Anderson pitched an inning against the Yankees last Saturday and said he felt great. It was the first time he had pitched to major league hitters since 2005.
He is a non-roster invitee to camp this spring, and came here with the hope of pitching one inning in a game and then starting his comeback in the extended spring games. But he progressed quicker than he anticipated and found himself in the mix with the other candidates for a spot in the bullpen.
Those plans are on hold now, pending the outcome of the MRI.
:If you’re in my shoes you hope and pray it’s just scar tissue, because the guys who’ve had it before will tell you when the scar tissue tears, it scares the heck out of you,” Anderson said. “If it is the scar tissue, fine. If not, I’ll cross that bridge when I come to it. There’s no reason to get all bent out of shape right now. There’s nothing I can do about it.”

Cannizaro hospitalized briefly
Rays infielder Andy Cannizaro, suffering from inflammation in his back, was hospitalized briefly Tuesday so he could receive anti-inflammatory drugs intravenously.
Maddon said Cannizaro can not ingest anti-inflammatory pills.
The non-roster invitee had a chance to replace Ben Zobrist (hairline fracture in the tip of his right thumb) on the Opening Day roster. Maddon expects Cannizaro to return to the lineup Sunday.
Meanwhile, Reid Brignac has pushed himself into possibly replacing Zobrist on the opening Day roster since he is already on the 40-man roster and would likely only be needed for a week.
This way, the Rays wouldn’t have to clear a 40-man spot like they would if Cannizaro started the season in the major leagues.

J-Rod and Weber
Rocco Baldelli’s absence from the lineup has created more playing time in the outfield for John Rodriguez and Jon Weber, a pair of non-roster invitees.
Maddon said he likes what he’s seen out of both outfielders.
Weber brings more defense and has a better arm.
Rodriguez is a better hitter.
Both provided big hits in the Rays three-run eighth inning Wednesday when they rallied for a 7-6 win against the Yankees.
Rodriguez’s two-run double tied the score at 6-6.
Weber followed an RBI double for the winning run.

Kaz to pitch live BP Thursday
Scott Kazmir will try to clear the final hurdle Thursday morning in his comeback from a strained left elbow when he throws live batting practice at Al Lang Field.
Kazmir is scheduled to start throwing at 8:15 a.m. so Maddon can see some of it before taking the bus to Fort Myers for the game with the Red Sox.
If all goes well, Kazmir will pitch Sunday against Detroit at Al Lang.

This & That
Weber crashed into the center field wall during early outfield drills Wednesday morning. By the time the team returned to the field for batting practice someone had drawn an outline of Weber’s body on the wall with the words “RIP, Weber” and his number, which is 63 … Andy Sonnanstine, making his first start of the spring, threw three innings of one hit ball … Brian Dohmann and Troy Percival each followed with scoreless innings. They both struck out two hitters … Ronnie Merrill, a minor league called up for the game, homered to tie the score at 3-3 in the seventh inning … Carl Crawford, Akinori Iwamura, Cliff Floyd, Rodriguez and Weber each doubled for the Rays … Calvin Medlock pitched two innings and struck out four of the seven batters he faced … Gary glover pitched a perfect ninth to earn his first save of the spring … Thursday marks the only time the Rays will play the Red Sox this spring.