Evan Longoria ~ 3B [R]

[Lets Go Rays]

Longoria added to Team USA roster | raysbaseball.com: News

PORT CHARLOTTE, Fla. -- Evan Longoria will be added to Team USA for the semifinal round of the World Baseball Classic, the Rays announced Thursday night.

Longoria has been one of the names bantered about all week as a likely addition to the team after Chipper Jones was injured, but Longoria remained in the dark as late as Thursday afternoon about whether he would be asked to join the team in Los Angeles.

Team USA's only options for replacements were players who were listed on the provisional roster. In addition to Longoria, catchers A.J. Pierzynski and Brian Schnieder, first baseman Derrek Lee and outfielders Grady Sizemore, Vernon Wells, Carlos Quentin and Ryan Ludwick were also on the roster.

You know if the WBC played EVERY DAY like spring training. We might not have as many damn injuries. Just a thought.

I heard someone say Longoria might be used at first. USA needed someone because they are dropping like flies, a WBC nightmare.

Im pretty sure they have to add an OF as well. Which one i'm not sure of.

[Lets Go Rays]

Evan Longoria was scratched from Friday's lineup. Instead of facing the Blue Jays in Dunedin, Fla., the Rays third baseman faced a cross-country flight from Tampa to Los Angeles after being added to Team USA's roster on Thursday night.

"I'm excited," Longoria said. "It will be fun. Any time you get to put on the USA colors and play for your country it's an honor."

Longoria excited to play for Team USA | raysbaseball.com: News

[Lets Go Rays]

Longoria and Howell are here. Howell said it was "a good experience" and he's happy to be back.

[Porter]

Threads were merged. That should work out.

[Lets Go Rays]

Threads were merged. That should work out.

Thanks man

[Lets Go Rays]

Evan Longoria now leads the league in Home Runs with four.

[love_that_reefer]

The Rays are expecting to be without slugging 3B Evan Longoria for the next two games. Longoria was headed to California this morning for what a team official described as a family matter. Longoria leads the majors with five homers and has a .441 average and hits in each of the first eight games, a career-best streak. Willy Aybar is likely to take his place at third base.

One of the hottest hitters will be missed.

[cjkalt]

You can only wonder if Longoria made a huge mistake by signing that 7 year deal the way he's been hitting the baseball

[love_that_reefer]

Why? He is getting paid right now instead of waiting a couple of years on one year deals.

[love_that_reefer]

Evan Longoria's RBI production through 29 games is among the best of the past 10 years:

38 -- Manny Ramirez, '99 Indians

37 -- Alex Rodriguez, '07 Yanks

36 -- Lance Berkman, '06 Astros

35 -- Evan Longoria, '09 Rays

Very nice company to be with. Too bad the Rays have been so inconsistent this year but all is not lost for them. They can still make a run for the playoffs. David Price is needed though.

[DirtyKash]

*'s for the first two guys on that list.

[DirtyKash]

They're saying 473 feet on the Longoria home run tonight. Dang.

[Tobywan]

Yep! Went right over our seats in section 141, I was there with several people. I am so happy the season has finally started, I got to post more and support my guys! I can't believe you are still here Kash!