Rays: News and notes

By Marc Topkin, Times Staff Writer
Published February 18, 2008

Quote of the day

"No, it's not a stretch. At some point this year, that is not a stretch."

Manager Joe Maddon on the possibility of first-round draft pick David Price making it to the majors this season

Number of the day

0 Professional innings Price has pitched since being drafted out of Vanderbilt.

Did you know?

Outfield prospect Fernando Perez has a degree in American studies and creative writing from New York's Columbia University and considers Hermann Hesse's 1927 novel Steppenwolf his favorite book.

Who's on third?

A daily look at the Rays' biggest positional issue:

Evan Longoria has been in camp, but the competition should start this week as Joel Guzman and Willy Aybar arrive.

The dish ...

Today's workout for pitchers and catchers start around 10 a.m. and continue until about 12:30 p.m. at the Naimoli complex, 7901 30th Ave. N. Pitchers scheduled to throw bullpen sessions, starting around 10:55, include Scott Kazmir, David Price and Troy Percival. Admission and parking are free.

Info: 1-888-326-7297 (FAN-RAYS)

List of the day

2B Akinori Iwamura did all right as a left-handed hitter against left-handed pitchers, ranking third in the majors:

Hitter, team Avg.

Ichiro Suzuki, M's .331

Robinson Cano, Yanks .328

Akinori Iwamura, Rays .323

Carl Crawford, Rays .318

Chase Utley, Phillies .318

Source: Rays

Random note

So what goes into a uniform change? For equipment manager Chris Westmoreland, quite a lot. He essentially had to get rid of everything green (a lot went to the team facilities in the Dominican Republic and Venezuela), then replace it with the new blue stuff. "It was a process," Westmoreland said.

For example, just in each player's spring locker the team provides:

1 jersey 4 pairs of pants

4 pairs of socks 2 T-shirts

2 long-sleeve shirts

1 pair of shorts 1 belt

1 pair of underwear 1 hat

1 equipment bag 1 helmet

1 pullover top

Rays exhibition schedule

Games at Progress Energy Park, St. Petersburg

Tickets: Field box ($20), loge box ($17), grandstand ($15), general admission berm ($7). Available at raysbaseball.com, through Ticketmaster and at Tropicana Field box office. All games 1:05 p.m. unless noted.

February

29 - at Reds

March

1 - Blue Jays

2 - at Pirates

3 - at Tigers

4 - Twins

5 - Astros

6 - at Phillies

7 - Phillies

8 - at Yankees, 1:15

9 - Reds

10 - Indians

11 - at Twins

12 - Yankees

13 - at Red Sox

14 - Blue Jays

15 - at Braves (ss)

15 - at Yankees (ss), 1:15

16 - Tigers

18 - at Phillies

19 - Phillies

20 - at Indians

21 - at Yankees, 7:15

22 - Pirates

23 - at Reds

24 - Pirates

25 - at Blue Jays

26 - at Twins

27 - at Indians

28 - Reds

29 - at Reds

[Last modified February 17, 2008, 23:33:17]