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Rays tales

By MARC TOPKIN

© St. Petersburg Times, published March 4, 2001

FAMILIAR FACES: Catcher Pat Borders and catching instructor Darren Daulton have shared a field before -- as opponents in the 1993 World Series. Daulton hit .217 with a homer and four RBI for the Phillies, but Borders got the better of him, hitting .304 and helping the Blue Jays to consecutive world championships. Daulton, who retired after the 1997 season and, at age 39, is in his first coaching job, and Borders, who is 37 and entering his 20th pro season, are making sure to enjoy the reunion. "Now I have to call him Coach Daulton," Borders said. "Due respect for the coach." And what does Daulton think of the current arrangement? "I'm smart and he's an old man."

GIMME A V: The Rays have a pitching prospect with, if nothing else, a lot of patience. Ronni Seberino has been pitching in the Rays' minor-league system since March 1996, advancing slowly his first four seasons, then working his way from Class A St. Petersburg to Triple-A Durham last season and earning his first invitation to big-league camp. But it wasn't until last week that anyone knew his name was really Severino, with a v. "My first couple years I tried to tell people but they didn't listen," said Severino, a 25-year-old from the Dominican Republic. Eventually, he just dropped the matter. But seeing his name on the back of his uniform each day this spring apparently got him fired up. Offering his passport as proof, he told equipment manager Carlos Ledezma of the problem on Tuesday. The next morning, Ledezma had a corrected nameplate on Severino's locker and a revised spelling on his jersey.

CAP THE DAY: Bounding into the clubhouse before Thursday's exhibition against Notre Dame, Dan Wheeler took a comment about his hat in stride -- until he realized he was wearing the one with the shamrock on the front and the Fighting Irish logo on the back. "Good day to wear this, huh?" Wheeler said. "I didn't even know I had this one on."

Survivors

There are only 14 players, two coaches and a manager left from the opening of the Rays' first major-league spring training camp in 1998. A look at the survivors:

MANAGER: Larry Rothschild

COACHES: Wade Boggs*

Billy Hatcher

PLAYERS: Wilson Alvarez, P

Steve Cox, 1B

Mike DiFelice, C

Mike Duvall, P

John Flaherty, C

Sant. Hernandez, P

Albie Lopez, P

Fred McGriff, 1B

Bryan Rekar, P

Bobby Seay, P

Bobby Smith, INF

Esteban Yan, P

Matt White, P

Randy Winn, OF

* was in camp as a player in 1998

What they're saying

James Bailey, writing for Baseball America Online: "If Tampa Bay finds better fortune on the injury front this season, they might escape the basement in the AL East for the first time in team history. They've got enough talent to make a run at .500 but the bullpen could prove costly."

Quote of the week

"How about this weather? You could get Babe Ruth in shape with this weather." -- BILL FISCHER, Rays pitching coach, after another warm workout

By the numbers

4: Times reliever Paul Spoljaric was traded in a 28-month period.

55: Stolen bases by outfielder Carl Crawford at Class A Charleston last season.

55: Stolen bases by the returning members of the Rays' 2000 team.

Roster report

Here is the second of our weekly guesses at what the 25-man opening day roster will look like:

PITCHERS (11): Albie Lopez, Paul Wilson, Juan Guzman, Ryan Rupe, Bryan Rekar, Tanyon Sturtze, Esteban Yan, Doug Creek, Ken Hill, Bobby Seay, Jesus Colome.

CATCHERS (2): John Flaherty, Mike DiFelice.

INFIELDERS (7): Vinny Castilla, Felix Martinez, Brent Abernathy, Fred McGriff, Steve Cox, Russ Johnson, Ozzie Guillen.

OUTFIELDERS (5): Greg Vaughn, Gerald Williams, Ben Grieve, Jose Guillen, Jason Tyner.

DL: Wilson Alvarez. -- Compiled by Marc Topkin.

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