Tampa Bay Rays news and notes

By Marc Topkin, Times Staff Writer
Friday, February 18, 2011

Hairstyle of the day

There's DH Manny Ramirez's dreadlocks, 3B Evan Longoria's bushy mullet and now OF Johnny Damon's faux hawk. Damon, right, 37, has had it since April and plans to keep it. "People keep saying I'm getting old and all that stuff," he said. "Well, I want to show them that I'm not, so I'm keeping my hair like I had it when I was 15." Damon said the cut doesn't have a special name: "I just know it makes me look good."

New jersey of the day

Growing up in the St. Petersburg area and starring at Seminole High, 1B Casey Kotchman, above, went to as many Rays games as he could. He picked up a few Fred McGriff wristbands along the way but never had a Rays jersey until now, having signed a minor-league contract. "I always loved watching them," said Kotchman, who turns 28 Tuesday. "It was my hometown team, and I got to watch a lot of games in the stands. And it was always fun."

Prank of the day

OF Johnny Damon hadn't been in the clubhouse 10 minutes when he made his presence known. Seeing DH Manny Ramirez and 3B Evan Longoria, above, walk in together from the batting cage, Damon yelled, "Did you find his cap?" Ramirez, who joked at their news conference about Longoria's often-seen New Era caps commercial, replied: "We were looking outside."

List of the day: Men at work

Most games played among active players:

Player Team No.

Omar Vizquel CWS2,850

Ivan Rodriguez Was.2,499

Jim Thome Min.2,392

Alex Rodriguez NYY2,303

Manny RamirezTB2,297

Derek Jeter NYY2,295

Johnny Damon TB2,276

Who is this Ray?

He is a native of Vancouver. He pitched in the 2008 Olympics. He has appeared in nine big-league games over a seven-year pro career and allowed a home run to the first batter he faced.

The dish

Today's workout for pitchers and catchers starts at 9 a.m. at the Charlotte Sports Park (2300 El Jobean Road) and lasts two hours. Admission and parking are free. Driving time from the bay area is 1½-2 hours. Suggested route: I-75 south to Toledo Blade Road, go west 6½ miles to El Jobean Road (S.R. 776), go right 2 miles, stadium complex is on left. For more information: (941) 235-5025.

Heads up

Pitchers scheduled for their second bullpen sessions today include Wade Davis, Jeff Niemann, Andy Sonnanstine and Jake McGee.

Who is this Ray answer: LHP R.J. Swindle

Marc Topkin, Times staff writer

Source: http://www.tampabay.com/sports/baseball/rays/tampa-bay-rays-news-and-notes/1152546

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