Posted by Michael Street on Thursday, July 24, 2008 at 4:49 pm

There’s nothing like the feeling of homering and getting the game-winning RBI—and then being sent to the minors. That happened to Ben Zobrist today, as the Tampa Bay Rays activated shortstop Jason Bartlett from the DL and needed the roster space.

You’d think they might have let the guy enjoy himself for a day longer, or even kept him around as insurance in case Bartlett isn’t recovered from a knee sprain. After all, Bartlett reportedly felt about 80 percent after a Monday workout, and Tampa Bay manager Joe Maddon is concerned that an upcoming trip to Kansas City might be interrupted by rain, meaning Maddon would play both ends of the potential double-header that would result.

There’s always Willy Aybar to fill in, of course, and Zobrist isn’t much more than a utility middle infielder. And he’ll likely be back up again when rosters expand—still, it’s gotta sting for Zobrist, who’s got to wonder what it takes to stick at the major-league level.