overdue call

Finally, Tampa Bay has recalled Desmond Jennings to the big leagues. The former Itawamba Community College standout was hitting .278 with 12 home runs and 17 stolen bases at Triple-A Durham this season, his third tour at that level. He got a 17-game trial with the Rays last year and was penciled in as the opening day left fielder for 2011 when Carl Crawford departed as a free agent. But a bad spring and the signing of Johnny Damon and Manny Ramirez pushed Jennings back to Triple-A. He’s certainly made his case for another shot, possibly in left field, possibly in center. Scuffling B.J. Upton, the regular center fielder, was pulled early from Friday night’s game and might be traded very soon. Jennings has center-field speed and could also help the Rays as a leadoff batter.
P.S. Marcus Thames, recently cut loose by the Los Angeles Dodgers, has signed a minor league contract with the New York Yankees. The Louisville native hit 12 homers for the Yanks in 2010. He never got it going with the Dodgers, hitting just two home runs while battling injuries. Don’t know what he’s got left at this point.