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Mother's Day musings ....

Rays slugger Jonny Gomes hit the B-ring catwalk (second highest) on Friday night at Tropicana Field and was out when John McDonald caught the ball - 11.5 seconds after it left his bat. Saturday, Gomes hit the C-ring catwalk (second lowest) and got a home run even though Vernon Wells caught it. So naturally Gomes was asked if he could hit all four. The D-ring (the lowest) would take a monster shot since it hangs above, and in some places a bit beyond, the leftfield wall, though Gomes is certainly capable. The real challeneg, he said, could be the A-ring (the highest) because it can't be hit with a normal game swing. Gomes said he has done it when fooling around in batting practice, but that he doubts he could hit a ball that high and straight up off live pitching. If he does complete the grand slam and hit all four, the Rays should do something to mark it. Or maybe they could just give him a piece of the ring?

Manager Joe Maddon remains steadfast in his belief that the Rays will come out of a batting slump that has dropped their overall average to a major-league worst .232, including .200 over their last 23 games. Maddon said he doesn't believe in changing the batting practice routine or shaking up the lineup, but prefers to remain consistent - and confident - that things will improve.

Ty Wiggington, immersed in a 4-for-23 slump, returned to the lineup Sunday at second base. A half-dozen Rays are swinging pink bats as part of an MLB-wide effort to raise awareness of and funding for the fight against breast cancer.



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