Rays SPRING TRAINING

By MARC TOPKIN
Published February 20, 2008

EVAN LONGORIA

Quote of the day

"I had to let it go. At least for now."

LFCarl Crawford, on giving up Taco Bell as part of a new diet.

Number of the day

82 Projected wins by Baseball Prospectus' PECOTA projection system.

Did you know?

Bullpen coach Bobby Ramos, 52, was born in Calabazar de Sagua, Cuba, in 1955, four years before Fidel Castro began his half-century autocratic rule as president, a reign that ended Tuesday when Castro announced his resignation. Ramos moved to Miami when he was 13 and started a baseball career in its 35th year.

Who's on third?

A daily look at the Rays' biggest positional issue:

The competition starts today, and Evan Longoria remains the leader in the house as Joel Guzman, upper left, and Willy Aybar, upper right, haven't arrived and Eric Hinske, lower right, is a long shot.

The dish ...

Today's first full-squad workout will start around 10 a.m. and continue until about 1 p.m. at the Naimoli complex, 7901 30th Ave. N. After five days of pitching and catching, the pace will pick up with actual batting practice, starting around noon. It's off the coaches, so the balls should be flying. Admission and parking are free.

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

Random note

The most important word in manager Joe Maddon's welcoming speech to the full squad today won't be about bats or balls but about trust. "This whole thing can't work out without trust," he said. "This has been a low-trust organization and I think it is now turning into a high-trust organization."

List of the day

Rays reliever Trever Miller ranks among the major-league leaders in appearances by a left-hander over the past five years:

Pitcher, team Games

Ray King, Nats 377

Scott Eyre, Cubs 372

J.C. Romero, Phils 354

Steve Kline, Giants 352

Damaso Marte, Pirates 351

Jamie Walker, O's 351

Trever Miller, Rays 346

Source: Rays

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 19, 2008, 23:28:16]