Monday, February 28, 2011

Tampa Bay Rays news and notes

By Marc Topkin, Times Staff Writer
Friday, February 25, 2011

Rays vs. Pirates

When/where: 1:05 today; Charlotte Sports Park, 2300 El Jobean Road, Port Charlotte

Radio: 620-AM

Tickets: Reserved seats $19-$27, berm/boardwalk $10. Through raysbaseball.com and Ticketmaster, at Tropicana Field and Charlotte Sports Park box offices and Tampa team store.

Gates open: 11 a.m.

Directions: Driving time from the bay area is 1½-2 hours. Suggested route: I-75 south to Exit 179 (Toledo Blade Road), go west 6½ miles (crossing U.S. 41) to El Jobean Road (SR 776), go right 2 miles, complex is on the left.

Parking: $10, lots open at 10

Rays information: Toll-free 1-888-326-7297

Pitchers: Rays — David Price, Chris Archer, Matt Bush, Cesar Cabral, Rob Delaney, Dirk Hayhurst, Adam Russell. Pirates — Charlie Morton, Brad Lincoln, Chris Resop, Daniel Moskos, Daniel McCutchen, Justin Thomas, Cesar Valdez

Heads up

The battle for the three open bullpen spots officially begins with Delaney, Hayhurst and Cabral among the dozen or so candidates in action.

Who is this Ray?

He won an Oregon state high school championship — in snow skiing. He grew up on a tree farm. He was on the Rays 2010 opening-day roster. He was acquired via waivers.

On deck

Sunday: at Pirates (Bradenton), 1:05. Rays — RH James Shields; Pirates — RH Kevin Correia

Monday: Pirates (ss), 1:05. Rays — RH Jeff Niemann; Pirates — RH Bryan Morris

Tuesday: at Orioles (Sarasota), 1:05. Rays — TBA; Orioles — TBA

Remaining schedule

All games 1:05 unless noted

March

2: at Blue Jays

3: Yankees

4: at Twins

5: Twins

6: at Phillies (ss)

7: at Pirates

8: Blue Jays

9: (ss) vs. Blue Jays; (ss) vs. Netherlands at Al Lang

10: Red Sox

11: Pirates

12: at Phillies (ss)

13: at Blue Jays

14: Off

15: Marlins

16: at Marlins

17: at Yankees, 7:05

18: Red Sox (ss), 7:05

19: at Twins

20: Orioles

21: Yankees, 7:05

22: at Red Sox, 7:05

23: Phillies

24: at Astros

25: Pirates

26: Orioles

27: at Pirates

28: at Yankees, 7:05

29: at Red Sox

30: vs. Blue Jays at Tropicana Field, 4:10

Who is this Ray answer: RHP Mike Ekstrom

Marc Topkin, Times staff writer

T-shirt of the day

DH Manny Ramirez — most important — and other players Friday were sporting a new T-shirt designed by a group of bay area fans and available (for $18 plus shipping) from their website, mannyray.com. Ramirez said he liked the look of the shirt but didn't know where it came from. The idea was spawned a month ago from a conversation the guys had about a new nickname for Ramirez.

Historical context of the day

It's rare to see teammates, such as LF Johnny Damon and DH Manny Ramirez, with 2,500-plus hits. (Yankees SS Derek Jeter and 3B Alex Rodriguez are the only active others.) And it was even rarer Friday to see them playing in a 9 a.m. intrasquad game. "And," Damon said, "we're here to get better still."

Source: http://www.tampabay.com/sports/baseball/rays/tampa-bay-rays-news-and-notes/1154042

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