Click on above images to be taken to full standings, boxscores or schedule...

THE GOOD: No doubt wins. Game 1 of the double-header was just one of those ho-hum never-in-doubt wins. Even when the Rays fell behind 2-0 the game never seemed in doubt. The Rays have had a few of those this season. Not a lot, but certainly more than the first 10 years combined. In the second game of the double-header the Rays struggled for the first 7 innings with a triple-A lineup. But then Joe Maddon went into the clubhouse and woke some of the regulars, and rallied to score 6 in the 8th for the first-ever sweep of a double-header in franchise history. It should be noted that baseball no longer schedules double-headers and rainouts at the Trop are rare. We are assuming that every double-header in franchise history has been on the road [Ed. note: See comments]...According to Baseball Prospectus the odds of winning the division are now 95.5%.

THE BAD: The Red Sox beat the Indians and Cliff Lee to clinch at least a wild card. Of course, the win also eliminate the New York Yankees.

THE TELLING: The Twins beat the White Sox last night in the first game of 3 head-to-head. The win pulls the Twins within 1.5 (2 in the loss column). The Twins most likely need to win the final 2 games to have a shot at winning the division and facing the Rays in the first round...The first two games of the ALDS have sold out. Somehow, some writer is still going to find a way to criticize Rays fans...If the Rays win their final 5 games, they will finish with 100 wins.

DEVIL DOGS WEBTOPIA...

• We have been told by the Rays that opening the Trop for road playoff games and broadcasting road playoff games on the jumbotron is "being considered."...We suspect that they are trying to first gauge fan interest. So if you would want to watch any of the road playoff games at the Trop, we suggest contacting the team.
• At this point it sounds like Joe Maddon is leaning towards keeping Troy Percival off the post-season roster, for at least the first round...Percival is expected to rejoin the club Thursday in Detroit. [Tampa Tribune]

"We'll just have to make sure that he is healthy," Maddon said. "The big thing with the role that he would play would be that he would be able to come back on back-to-back days, and he and I have already talked about that."...The manager also said he and Percival already have had a heart-to-heart discussion about the pitcher's status and Percival is well aware of the situation.

• David Price's position on the post-season roster may also depend on whether Joe Maddon believes he can pitch on back-to-back days. [St. Pete Times]
  
• Carl Crawford swung a bat for the first time since surgery on his finger, hitting off a tee. He reported no pain, but admitted he will be a "little nervous" the first time he tries to swing hard. Joe Maddon says he will wait to get a full report from the trainers before predicting when CC might return. [MLB]
  
• Marc Lancaster lays out a couple of scenarios for the playoff rotation that we had not previously considered...Our question: Is it really important to Joe Maddon that the pitchers stay on normal 4-days rest, or will Maddon take the opportunity to give his young arms an extra day or two before their first playoff start? [Rays Report]
• Brian Anderson came to Spring Training hoping to revive his pitching career. Instead he blew out his elbow and retired. Now, Joe Maddon says Anderson has been "invaluable" to the team this season and is going to make a good pitching coach someday. [USA Today]
  
• Evan Longoria made the Twins pitching staff his bitch, and Oh, it's THOSE GIRLS have t-shirts to prove it. [Oh. it's THOSE GIRLS]
  

Tampa Bay Rays (5 days until Opening Day)

Yesterday: Tampa Bay Rays 10, Jays 0.

The Good: Rays pitchers combined on a shutout without walking a batter and striking out 8. Jason Hammel was limited to 4 innings in the game so that the relievers could catch up on their work (Hammel continued to work in bullpen after his 4 innings), but was very effective. He did not allow a run and gave up only 3 hits and did not walk a batter. He struck out 2...Five relievers, that will all be on the opening day roster, combined for 5 shutout innings, with only 2 hits and no walks with 6 strikeouts...Another errorless game...Jonny Gomes was 3-4 with his 4th home run of the spring...Eric Hinske had a double and a RBI.

The Bad: Guess we could put Cliff Floyd here for going 0-3 and lowering his spring average to just north of the Mendoza Line (.205), but that is a stretch as spring numbers don't mean much, but they mean even less for veterans.

The Telling: Elliot Johnson started at short and played the first 8 innings. Right off the bat in the first he successfully turned a double play and later handled a ground ball cleanly. Johnson needed to show he could handle short if he is going to be a utility player off the bench while Ben Zobrist is on the DL.

DEVIL RAYS WEBTOPIA...

• Obligatory Public Service Announcement: We will be hosting the 2nd Annual Opening Day Tampa Bay Rays Live Blog here at RI. So feel free to stop by and join in on the shenanigans as participation is certainly welcome.
  
• In case you missed it late yesterday, we have a poll going to gauge the reaction of RAYSHEADS to the demotion of Evan Longoria and see what you think the Rays should have done. [Rays Index]
• Several Rays are not happy about the demotion of Evan Longoria including Jonny Gomes...They must not have asked Willy Aybar and Joel Guzman their thoughts. [St. Pete Times]
  

If I say I commit to winning, he's on my team for sure. I think everybody wearing a Tampa Bay hat and uniform wants that guy here. I don't think it's a good day on the players' end and for everybody in a uniform.

• Joe Maddon is taking a very a conservative approach with Scott Kazmir. Kid K will play catch the next few days and may throw from a mound some time next week. And yes, he was officially placed on the DL. [The Heater]
• Gary Shelton shows that the Rays will improve in 2008 and the biggest reason is the bullpen, especially considering the Rays in essence traded Shawn Camp, Ruddy Lugo and Brian Stokes for Troy Percival, Dan Wheeler and Trever Miller. [St. Pete Times]
  
• This is the extreme example of the uninformed bashing that some people are tossing at the Rays since the Evan Longoria demotion...And for the record, the Rays do not have the worst winning percentage in baseball history. There are 20 franchises in history with lower winning percentages. [Mike Responts]
  
• Drays Bay found a stat that shows that Dioner Navarro is one of the better catchers in baseball at blocking pitches in the dirt and preventing runs. [DRays Bay]
• Most previews should have this title. At least this blog is honest enough to admit it, and that earns points in our book. [The Ballclub]
• Willy Aybar is trying to put his troubled past behind and is relishing his fresh start. [St. Pete Times]
  
• Brian Anderson, who attempted a comeback from Tommy John surgery this spring with the Rays, has accepted a position with the team in which he will assist pitching coach Jim Hickey and the front office with scouting. [Rays Report]

Tampa Bay Rays (12 days until Opening Day)

Yesterday: Phillies 4, Tampa Bay Rays 2.

The Good: Matt Garza in the 2nd, 3rd and 6th innings. After a shaky first, he retired 9 of 10 and then the last 4 he faced. Evan Longoria hit his 3rd home run of the spring but more eye-opening was his 9th walk of the spring. Only 5 players in the majors have more and only one of those players (Willie Harris) has fewer than Longoria's 5 strikeouts.

The Bad: Matt Garza in the first inning: 1 throwing error, 1 wild pitch, 1 walk, 1 run. Reid Brignac committed his 3rd error of the spring. He only had 3 errors in the final 43 games last season. As a team the Rays only managed 3 hits, without a baserunner until 2 outs in the 5th, and committed 2 errors.

The Telling: JP Howell once again came on in a relief role and pitched a perfect 9th with 2 strikeouts. Howell is going to make the roster...as a relief pitcher.

DEVIL RAYS WEBTOPIA...

• USA Today takes a look at the importance, or lack thereof, of spring win-loss records. Andrew Friedman may have summed it best..."Generally, I think there's very little correlation," Friedman said, "but for us, and the collective mind-set of our organization, it sure can't hurt." [USA Today]
  
• Bad news for Elliot Johnson fans. Ben Zobrist had his cast removed a week earlier which gives the Rays newest utility guy a much better shot at being ready for opening day...Scott Kazmir is playing catch, and may be able to throw a bullpen session on Wednesday. [Rays Report]
• Joe Maddon is less optimistic about the chances of Ben Zobrist making the trip to Baltimore for opening day. If Zobrist is not on the field by the end of next week, we suspect Zobrist will start season on the DL with a stay in extended spring training. [Tampa Bay Rays]

"You have to take at-bats, all the other little things you have to do to get ready for the season," Maddon said. "I'm not sure about that yet, we'll see. He's been playing catch. I know his arm is still in shape. He's been doing anything he can possibly do to stay under the circumstances to stay ready, and that's typical Zobrist right there. Again, he just has not been able to hit, which would be a big factor."

• Scott Kazmir revealed that his recent switch to a cautionary tone with regards to his arm may have been fueled by the career-ending injury suffered by Brian Anderson. [Tampa Bay Rays]

"It kind of freaked me out a little bit, to be honest with you," Kazmir said. "You see him come in and the next thing you know he's talking about, 'Oh, I ripped my whatever' and what not. Then I'm like, maybe I should take a little more time...I see that going on. I'm thinking, 'Oh, man, I don't want to be in that boat.' And, plus, I've got the time no just to make sure that everything is strong and I'm ready to go."

• Yesterday Rays of Light rallied for the Rays to sign Todd Linden to be the 4th outfielder. Today DRays Bay tells us why he is not all his numbers are cracked up to be. [DRays Bay]
  
• Dayn Perry say the Rays are "capable of contending very soon". Of course this is the same guy that said the Rays were one of "ten teams that could surprise" in 2007 and a week later wrote a column in which he said the 2007 Rays were one of the teams "with no hope for success". [Fox Sports]
• USA Today interviews Joe Maddon. There is nothing here that we haven't been hearing in the local media all spring. [USA Today]
• Yahoo! Sports projects the Rays lineup. They have Scott Dohmann and JP Howell in the bullpen, which is how DRays Bay projects it and the way we figure it will shake down. Of course there is a good chance they just read one or both sites. [Yahoo! Sports]
• The Tampa Tribune has details on the three proposals submitted for the redevelopment of Tropicana Field. Officials will recommend one of the proposals to the City Council by May 1st. [Tampa Tribune]
  

Tampa Bay Rays (18 days until Opening Day)

Yesterday: Tampa Bay Rays 7, Spankees 6. Andy Sonnanstine got his first start of the spring and looked sharp going 3 scoreless and giving up only 1 hit. He did not walk a batter. Troy Percival pitched another perfect inning in the 5th. Both veteran non-roster invitee catchers saw playing time with Mike DiFelice getting the start. He went 0-2 with a strike out, while Josh Paul had a single in two at bats. The Yankees were 4-4 in steals against Paul. Reid Brignac who now has an outside shot at being on the roster for the first week or two as the Rays backup shortstop played late and went 2-2 with a walk. John Rodriguez played right for a while and went 1-2 with a double and 2 RBI. Jon Weber the other leading candidate for the 4th outfielder spot saw time at all three outfield positions going 1-4 with an RBI. Joe Maddon's decision is likely to be based on who can handle center better, which rules Eric Hinske out. Evan Longoria started at third and had a walk in 3 plate appearances. Hinske relieved Longoria while Willy Aybar received one plate appearance as a first baseman.

DEVIL RAYS WEBTOPIA...

• Oh It's Those Girls recreated yesterday's brouhaha with the aid of various toys and bobble heads. Excellent work, with our favorite detail being the use of AJ Pierzynski bobble-head to represent Shirley Duncan. [Oh, It's Those Girls]
• You remember Shirley Duncan, don't you? He's is the little bitch that thinks a second baseman keeps his glove near his groin. [The Heater]
  
• Jonny Gomes hopes everything is "under the rug" but doubts it. While Joe Maddon called the play "borderline criminal". [New York Times]
• Marc Lancaster has several quotes from the Rays in regards to the Shirley Duncan slide. BJ Upton called it a "dirty play" and Troy Percival noted that this play was not typical of the way the Yankees play the game, which might be the biggest insult anybody can lob at Shirley. It is one thing to play for the Yankees. It is something else entirely to be a Yankee. [Rays Report]
• Big League Stew says yesterday is "The day the Rays finally became a real MLB franchise". [Big League Stew]
  
• This past weekend we linked to this Yankees blog for their idiotic rant after the home plate collision. Now they are back at it. This time they make fun of Jonny Gomes for being so foolish for attacking somebody as big as Shirley Duncan...I can forgive Yankees fans for not knowing about baseball players that makes less than $12 million a year and isn't a future hall-of-famer (re: future Yankee), but Gomes is not a small man and he did not grow up attending private schools the way Shirley did. We'll take Gomes and we'll take our chances. [Joblog Chamberlain]
• Another Yankees blog blames Yesterday's fracas on Joe Maddon...and goes on a long-winded non-sensical ignorant rant against Maddon citing the incident last year when Joe Torre checked Akinori Iwamura's bat as another example as to why Maddon is "a pompous, sarcastic wise ass" and he should "Lay off the beer for a little while, so you stop bursting blood vessels around your nose and so you can reduce the size of the unsightly gut". [The Analytical Typical Yankees Fan]
• Brian Anderson had to be pulled after facing only three batters after feeling "something strange" in his left elbow. Anderson is attempting a come-back after two Tommy John surgeries. [Tampa Bay Rays]
  
• Chris Mason was reassigned to minor league camp. [Herald-Tribune]
  
• Would the Dodgers want Joel Guzman back? They are suddenly short on third baseman and if Guzman does not make the 25-man roster, he must be traded or released as he is out of options. [Mike Scioscia's Tragic Illness]
• Baseball Happenings has a personal affinity for Rocco Baldelli and they will be rooting hard for him to get back on the baseball field...We will too...We will too. [Baseball Happenings]
• Members of the Columbus Catfish and the Montgomery Biscuits received their championship rings yesterday. [Montgomery Advertiser]
• The Montgomery Biscuits extended their Player Development Contract with the Rays for the 2009 and 2010 seasons. [Montgomery Advertiser]
  

Tampa Bay Rays (21 days until Opening Day)

Yesterday: Reds 6, Tampa Bay Rays 4. Edwin Jacskon allowed all 6 runs in the second inning on 6 hits, 2 walks and 2 errors. Jackson retired the last 6 batters he faced in the 3rd and 4th and 5 other pitchers did not allow a hit in the final 5 frames including Troy Percival and Dan Wheeler who each pitched perfect innings. The Rays committed four errors on Sunday after committing only two in the first eight games. Dioner Navarro was 1-2 throwing out base stealers. Elliot Johnson started and led off, going 1-4 with a walk. He is now 6-13 (.462) with 3 walks (.563 OBP). Ben Zobrist started in left field and later played one inning in right field. He fielded two base hits, but made no put outs. Evan Longoria had a pinch hit double. Willy Aybar started at third going 0-2 with a walk. Reid Brignac started at short, batted 9th and went 1-3 with an RBI single.

DEVIL RAYS WEBTOPIA...

• Edwin Jackson may have lost his firm grip on one of the open spots in the rotation. Even though he was strong in the third and fourth inning, Joe Maddon says that Jackson must stay away from innings like the second and needs to find the strike zone better. This was classic Edwin Jackson. He looked dominating most of the game, but when things unravel for Jackson that unravel in a big way and he is bad enough in just one inning to lose a game. [St. Pete Times]

"Edwin Jackson today, really not sharp," Maddon said. "That's the kind of performance he's got to stay away from. Better strike throwing, better quality pitches - we need to get that out of him. More like he did in that six- or seven-game stretch last year during the season. ... I just want to see a little bit more direction within the strike zone."

• JP Howell and Andy Sonnanstine are both expected to start games in the near future...Despite looking so well so early, Brian Anderson will start season in the minors with hopes of being in the majors within a month or two. [Herald Tribune]
• Scott Kazmir will throw a bullpen session today and is expected to make his spring debut on Saturday against the Yankees. Joe Maddon noted that it was still possible for Kazmir to be ready to throw on opening day, but that they need to remain flexible and consider what is best for Kaz and for the team. [Tampa Bay Rays]
  
• Hidden behind the "Insider" wall of ESPN.com, Peter Gammons names Evan Longoria as #3 on the list of the "Grapefruit League's eight to watch". [ESPN]

Maybe the Rays will send him down to Triple-A to start the season because of concerns of him being a "Super Two" player after the 2009 season, but Longoria should open the season and be an instant impact star. His hands are remarkable, and scouts believe he can hit 30 home runs as a rookie, in the middle of a lineup with B.J. Upton, Carl Crawford and Carlos Pena. Think of that Long Beach State shortstop succession, from Bobby Crosby to Troy Tulowitzki to Longoria, who will play third for the Rays.

• Brittany Ghiroli takes a look at Jason Bartlett's adjustments to his new team and new environment. In addition to learning Japanese to help the communication between himself and his new double play partner, Akinori Iwamura, and tinkering with his swing Bartlett has been a calming influence on the emotional Matt Garza. [MLB]
• Great line from Joe Maddon about David Price...After making a recent joke at Troy Percival's expense, the closer responded by sticking large pictures of himself to Price's BMW. When asked if Price had the "inner fortitude" to respond, Maddon stated that "he has the inner intelligence to not". [Tampa Bay Rays]
  
• Yankees Chick has a poll going on the morality of playing hard in spring training...On a Yankees blog...two days after one of their players is hurt by a completely legal and regular occurring baseball play...Let's just say it is not the most scientific poll ever. [Yankees Chick]
• In an effort to ease our stress levels this morning, we will not be posting links to every Yankees blog that is crying over a play in which Yankees fans would be the first to laugh it had happened to another team. Instead, we gave you the silly poll above and now for balance and sense of Fen Shui we will now give you the point of view of Red Sox Chick, which we can sum up in three sentences..."Does new Joe realize that he’s making the Yankees look like whiny babies and the Rays look like tough guys? Is this the direction he wants to take the team? Or is he just enjoying being a hypocrite this early in his new job?" Couldn't have written it better ourselves. [Red Sox Chick]
• Sports Indeed takes Rays Anatomy to task for backing Joe Girardi's comments...An outsider might raise an eyebrow or think a writer is trying to take an unbiased point of view. Neither are true. The lead writer for Rays Anatomy writes through pinstripe-tinted glasses. He is a Yankees fan. [Sports Indeed]
  
• When asked if he would still brush a batter back in spring training if the situation called for it, Joba Chamberlain said "You have to. If you don't, that's the time you get hurt, when you're not doing .everything you would normally do."...Sounds like Joe Girardi needs to have a talk with his own players. [Newsday]
  
• Oh yeah, and in case you missed it, DRG came down pretty hard on the Evil Empire yesterday. [Rays Index]
• River Ave. Blues ranks the best skills in the AL East. [River Ave. Blues]
  

Tampa Bay Rays (25 days until Opening Day)

Yesterday: Houston 8, Tampa Bay Rays 4. Jason Hammel started. He worked three innings, allowing 2 runs (1 earned) on 4 hits, but did not walk a batter. Reid Brignac made his first spring appearance going 0-2. Scott Dohmann's shot at a bullpen spot took a hit after allowing 4 runs in 1 inning on 4 hits and a walk. Ben Zobrist started at shot and moved to first base later in the game. He was 2-4 with a walk and a stolen base. Willy Aybar started at third base, with Evan Longoria and Eric Hinske pinch-hitting.

DEVIL RAYS WEBTOPIA...

• In an unusual move for a spring training game, Carl Crawford plowed through the Astros catcher yesterday rather than slide into home where BJ Upton's bat was still laying. The move was well received in the dugout and the team's response goes a long ways towards showing that their is a different attitude in the Rays' dugout these days. Joe Maddon said "It was nice to see Carl come at him hard...I liked it a lot. ... It was a good, hard play." BJ Upton added "We're just trying to set the tone early...We're trying to do some things different this year, and I think we're just kind of letting guys know that we're serious about the season." [Tampa Tribune]
  
• Yesterday we mentioned that Ben Zobrist was being groomed to be the Rays' Swiss Army Knife (AKA super-utility player). Yesterday, Zobrist received playing time at first base. He has already played every infield position this spring and will see time in the outfield today. All of the extra work in the field has not hurt his bat so far. In 5 games, Zobrist is 6-14 (.429) with 3 walks (.529 OBP). [St. Pete Times]

As strictly a shortstop, Zobrist, wouldn't make the team with Jason Bartlett aboard. But with the versatility of playing seven positions (and being a switch-hitter), Zobrist appears the odds-on favorite for a spot..."Zoey's looked good," Maddon said. "He's working his butt off. Zoey wants to be on this team, and I've really been paying attention to that. He's going about it right. He's done a nice job."

• Scott Kazmir has begun throwing and Joe Maddon said he does not know when Rocco Baldelli will make an appearance in the outfield. [Rays Report]
• Troy Percival will make his spring debut today. Apparently his role as team leader also includes team "policeman". [Tampa Bay Rays]

"Troy, he's going to get on guys," said Brian Anderson, who refers to Percival as the club policeman. "A lot of these guys haven't pitched through the grind of a [Major League] season."

• Brian Anderson is not nervous about making his second comeback from Tommy John surgery even though he has not pitched in the majors since 2005. Anderson says if he is not in the majors by July he will retire. But his comeback has progressed faster than anybody thought and Joe Maddon would not rule out Anderson making the roster out of spring training as a reliever or in the rotation...Huh, wha? That seems like a bit of a stretch. [Bradenton Herald]
  
• Joe Maddon discusses Dioner Navarro's base running skills...Seriously...Isn't base"running" a bit of a misnomer with Navi? Shouldn't it be "Base-Rumbling"? [Tampa Bay Rays]

"He's a good baserunner, I'm telling you," said Maddon. "He's aggressive and he's not afraid to take the chance."

• The Bradenton Herald profiles Edwin Jackson. A bowler, Jackson bowls left-handed to save his pitching arm. [Bradenton Herald]
  
• Rays Anatomy projects the Rays 25-man roster. Only differences from ours is they have Willy Aybar at third and Eric Hinske on the bench (no sign of Joel Guzman). In the 'pen they give the last spot to Grant Balfour. [Rays Anatomy]
  
• Troy Tulowitzki, last years runner-up for NL Rookie-of-the-Year is a former teammate of Evan Longoria at Long Beach State. Tulowitzki was so impressed with Longoria, that he is now a big fan, and speculates on how his fellow Dirtbag will adjust to the big leagues. [Denver Post]

“He has a amazing baseball knowledge and maturity, even at a young age,’’ Tulowitzki said today. “He won’t get caught up in the hype.’’ Tulowitzki and Longoria, a third baseman, were teammates for one season at Long Beach State. The Rockies nearly selected Longoria two years ago, but decided the night before the draft to take pitcher Greg Reynolds. Longoria is known for his offensive prowess, impressing scouts with his ability to turn on an inside pitch. “He has some of the quickest hands I’ve ever seen. I have no doubt that he will hit (in the big leagues),’’ Tulowitzki said.

• FoxSports.com has their Rays preview up. [Fox Sports]
  
• Bugs & Cranks continues their team previews by comparing every team to the Devil Rays in their "Your Team Ain't $#!t Compared To The Devil Rays" series. They are up to #10 (Nationals; starting with the worst teams) and so far the arguments are believable. How much longer can they keep it up? [Bugs & Cranks]
• Chuck LaMar will attend his first Rays game since being fired by the Rays in 2005, as a scout for the Phillies. LaMar feels that people will start to notice in the next year or two the kind of players that he put together for the Rays and reminisces about giving his "heart and soul" to the Rays for ten years. [Philadelphia Daily News]
• Fantasy Scope Baseball takes a look at recent teams that have shown a significant increase in win-totals from one season to the next and doubts that the Rays can join that group. [Fantasy Scope Baseball]
  

Tampa Bay Rays (26 days until Opening Day)

Yesterday: Tampa Bay Rays vs Twins. Canceled due to rain. Prior to being called, Edwin Jackson pitched three scoreless innings, allowing 3 hits, striking out 1 and walking none. Jackson has now pitched 5 scoreless innings and has yet to walk a batter. Rocco Baldelli DH's (again) going 0-2 with two flyouts.

DEVIL RAYS WEBTOPIA...

• Joe Maddon admits that good starts in the spring are not unusual for Edwin Jackson, but he feels that Jackson is different this time. At this point it is going to take a lot for anybody to wrestle the rotation openings from Jackson and Andy Sonnanstine. [USA Today]

"Edwin's normally had good springs. I just think the difference for me is just his demeanor on the mound. The word 'composed' stands out right now," Maddon said. "We talk a lot about when a guy feels he belongs somewhere. I think he's arriving at that point. Even the way he's carrying himself in the clubhouse, to me, has gotten better. ... I'd like to see him continue to mature in that way because this guy's got a very, very good arm."

• Reid Brignac was scheduled to make his spring debut yesterday. David Price and Brian Anderson are scheduled to make their first appearances on Saturday. [Rays Report]
• Andy Sonnanstine is battling an ear infection. [The Heater]
  
• When the Rays traded for Willy Aybar, the local media thought he was the super-utility player the Rays were seeking. At the time we questioned that assumption as Aybar, a third baseman, had only limited experience at second base and had never played elsewhere. Well, it turns out the Rays super-duper-utility guy was in-house all along. Joe Maddon thinks Ben Zobrist can be that guy. [Tampa Bay Rays]

"We're kind of breeding one with Zoey," Maddon said. "He likes it and has embraced it. We'll see how that goes."

• Shawn Riggans is hungry to get back to the big leagues. Joe Maddon sees a different more confident Riggans this spring. [Bradenton Herald]

"He's a lot more comfortable in his own skin," Maddon said. "He's calmed down a little bit. I think he's arriving at the stage where he thinks he belongs. I don't know if he would admit this, but I think last year he was just happy to be here and in that survival mode."

• Jason Hammel will make the start today. Evan Longoria and Rocco Baldelli are both not in the lineup. [Rays Report]
  

Tampa Bay Rays (28 days until Opening Day)

Yesterday: Tampa Bay Rays 7, Pirates 5. The Rays are now 3-0 after starting the 2007 spring schedule 1-14.

DEVIL RAYS WEBTOPIA...

• Jeff Niemann did not allow a run yesterday in his first spring appearance, but it took him 33 pitches to get through the first inning, which meant he could not go out for the second inning. [MiLB]
• Joe Maddon reemphasized that as soon as Jeff Niemann can start consistently pounding the strike zone, he will be in the majors. [Bradenton Herald]

"If we can get this guy throwing the ball consistently in the strike zone, he's going to come up very quickly," Maddon said, "regardless of experience."

• Wade Davis' first spring appearance was a "learning experience" after he allowed 4 runs in 1+ innings, failing to record an out in his second inning of work. Joe Maddon is not worried. [The Ledger]

"He came out of his delivery in his second inning," Maddon said. "He just wasn't as in sync. The first inning, everything was together. It's just one of those first-time-around things...He's fine," Maddon added. "He's got great stuff, and it's a learning experience."

• According to Marc Lancaster, Scott Kazmir can begin playing catch in the next 2-3 days...David Price threw in the bullpen and could get into a game later this week...Brian Anderson threw a 45-pitch bullpen session and could get into a game later this week...Rocco Baldelli will not play again until Tuesday when he will DH and then play in the field later this week. [Rays Report]
  
• Troy Percival is expected to see his first action on Wednesday. [Tampa Tribune]
• Dan Wheeler wonders allowed what it would be like to walk around the Tampa-St. Pete area wearing a World Series ring. Joe Maddon thinks he can get the best out of Wheeler by not working him more than two days in a row. [Tampa Tribune]

"I really want to avoid trying to abuse this guy," Maddon said. "I think if we get him back on pace, throwing the appropriate number of pitches and innings, I think we're going to see a very successful year out of him. He's in great shape, he had a great offseason, he's highly motivated - I see him having a really good year, actually."

• Bill Chastain interviews Joe Maddon. Most of the questions and answers are topics that Maddon has covered earlier this spring. [Tampa Bay Rays]
• The Bradenton Herald profiles Carlos Pena...the Rays' DH? [Bradenton Herald]
  
• MiLB profiles the Rays' farm system, including their list of "Ten prospects to watch out for in 2008", four players that are "Under the Radar" and a list of predictions for 2008 players of the year in the organization. [MiLB]

Organizational Player of the Year: Desmond Jennings
As long as he's healthy, Jennings will get a full season in the Minors and a chance to show what he can do with his prodigious across-the-board tools.

Organizational Pitcher of the Year: David Price
Though he could land in the big leagues as early as midseason, at this point the Rays are being cautious with the polished product's pro debut and won't rush him. In fact, Price should see enough time to show why he was the undisputed top pick.

• Armchair GM previews the AL and project the Rays to finish 4th in the East at 82-80, with the 5th best offense and the 10th ranked pitching staff. [ArmchairGM]
  
• Rays Anatomy interviews John Manuel of Baseball America. They touch on a number of solid topics like Evan Longoria's status, the 2008 Draft and the 2009 rotation. [Rays Anatomy]
  
• Freeze Fire provides the latest 2008 Rays preview and bring up a good point about the Rays spring training move to Charlotte County: At less than 30 miles from Ft. Myers, spring games versus the Red Sox will be filled with pink hats of Red Sox Nation. It is hard to imagine that the Rays will make much of a dent in what is Red Sox country right now. [Freeze Fire]
  

Tampa Bay Rays (35 days until Opening Day)

Over the weekend, Marc Topkin of the St. Pete Times explored the Evan Longoria situation and asked whether he is ready for to be on the Rays opening day roster.

"I worked hard in the offseason, and I really do feel I have a legit chance of breaking with the club," Longoria said. "I'm not there yet, but I'm definitely ready."

The Rays don't know. Not yet anyway.

They expect him to be in the majors at some point this season and are confident that - eventually - he's going to be really good.

Topkin is correct in saying that this is the biggest decision for the Rays this off-season. But where we get lost is when the Andrew Friedman and Joe Maddon list what they are looking for from Longoria and the main reason that they are hesitant to name The Dirtbag the opening day third baseman.

Friedman and manager Joe Maddon say they'll consider a series of factors beyond actual performance and results, everything from how Longoria carries himself and interacts in the clubhouse; his thought process at the plate and how he makes adjustments during, and between, at-bats; his preparation, work ethic and knowledge of the game; how he plays defense and does the "little" things. And they'll try to gauge other things more subjective such as how he'd handle the frustrations of what would be his first extended slump as a pro.

This is not the first time that the team has stated their concern over the fact that Longoria has yet to experience a slump as a professional. Let's gloss over the fact that Longoria actually did struggle a bit when he was first promoted to AAA Durham last year.

If this is the biggest concern the Rays have with Longoria, then they have no concerns. "He has never slumped" is not a reason to keep somebody in the minors. "He can't handle curveballs" or "He smokes too much weed" are reasons to keep somebody in the minors. "He is too good" is not.

Don't get us wrong. This is something to care about. You want to know that the player will be able to fight his way out of a slump. But it is asinine to think that this is the main reason to keep from promoting your best prospect. Longoria is too good of a hitter. He was born to hit a baseball. At some point he is going to slump. He will be fine.

Longoria: Read? Or Not? [St. Pete Times]

DEVIL RAYS WEBTOPIA...

• Joe Maddon has made it clear: The right field/DH triangle is not going to be divided equally. Cliff Floyd will be the primary DH. And depending on his health, Maddon would prefer that Rocco Baldelli be the right fielder on most days. Whatever is left over will go to Jonny Gomes. [Tampa Tribune]

"They're all tied together," said Rays manager Joe Maddon. "First of all, we have to determine how many games Rocco can play out there. Rocco would be the dominant defensive player if you have the choice. Once you find out what Rocco can do, you go with Jon, defensively, for me. ... Cliff, I really don't want to get him out there too often. I think that would be unwise. He's going to play some outfield, but the least we do of that, the better off he's going to be and we're going to be.

• We are a little confused. First Joe Maddon stated that Brian Anderson "threw really well today...[he] may be a little ahead of what we thought". But then Maddon followed up that comment by saying that Anderson "is on task according to what we set up”. Seems contradictory. If Anderson is healthy, and throwing well, he is a wildcard that could present the Rays with a pleasant problem in the bullpen. As of now, Trever Miller is the lefty specialist. JP Howell also has a very strong chance of making the bullpen as a long/middle reliever. It will be interesting to see how the team handles the situation if they deem Anderson major league-ready. [Herald-Tribune]
• The Bradenton Herald takes a look at the unorthodox route taken by Fernando Perez in his quest to become a major league baseball player. [Bradenton Herald]
• The Bradenton Herald thinks that Carl Crawford and the rest of the Rays should just ignore Delmon Young. We agree that Young is full of hot air and that it was inevitable that he would say something and that nothing further should be said. However, we are glad that Crawford said what he said and glad he said it in the manner in which he said it. When you are a franchise that gets zero respect in baseball circles, Crawford's comments sent a message that no longer are the Rays going to all others to disrespect them. [Bradenton Herald]
• David Chalk of Bugs & Cranks continues his preview of each team by comparing them to the Devil Rays. These are must-reads. [Bugs & Cranks]
  
• Baseball Mastermind ranks the AL clubs. The Rays come in 9th, saying they are "here to stay" but with legitimate concerns about the bullpen. [Baseball Mastermind]
  

Tampa Bay Devil Dogs (12 days until pitchers and catchers report)

Please allow myself to introduce...myself. The name is DEVIL RAY GUEVARA. You can call me DRG for short. I will be manning the ship on most weekends from now on and if I behave myself, the Prof says I might be able to post during the week every now and then. So I guess I will be seeing you on the weekends.

I have been involved with RI behind the scenes for a while now. I like to think of myself as the Prof's consigliare. The problem is, The Prof has all these rules that I am supposed to follow. The first post of the day must include a "webtopia", minimize the vulgarity, player names in bold type, don't pick apart every single post written by Marc Topkin and try not to include pictures of Joe Maddon in a thong. Blah, Blah, Blah. Horseshit. I am so sick of Maddon and his Pollyanna-speak, that the next time he praises a relief pitcher after he blows a 4-run lead in the 7th inning, that picture of him in a thong is going up.

DEVIL RAYS WEBTOPIA...

• The Devil Dogs continue their quest to bring back every mediocre catcher in the franchise history. The latest to sign is Josh Paul whom the Rays inked to a minor league deal. Paul played 35 games for the Rays in 2007 posting an OPS+ of 29. Wait...*speaking to copy editor*...29? Is that correct? Isn't 100 an average OPS+? I did not even know it was possible to have an OPS+ that low...Paul joins Mike DiFelice in the battle for the back up catchers position. No word yet on how negotiations are proceeding with John Flaherty...Is it just me, or is anybody else worried about what happens if Dioner Navarro is injured or slumps like he did in the first half of 2007? [TBO.com]
• The Rays also continued their fascination with pitchers that have not pitched since Tommy John surgery by signing left handed pitcher Brian Anderson. Anderson has not pitched since 2005. A starting pitcher most of his career, Anderson is expected to compete for a spot in the Rays bullpen. As scary as it sounds, if Anderson still has a left arm, he may have the best chance right now of being the Rays left-handed specialist out of the 'pen. [TampaBay.com]
• Kevin Gengler rolls on with his profiles of the Rays top prospects. He is up to #16 Nick Barnese and #15 Will Kline. [DRays Bay]
  
• One believes that Akinori Iwamura is the key to the Rays 2008 infield. [365 Days of Dough, Rays and Me]
• The Mets and Johan Santana finally reached an agreement on a contract extension and our own Cork Gaines appears to have been the first to report it on the internet. [MLB Trade Rumors]