Tampa Bay Devil Dogs (8 days until opening day)

DRG here again to get you through the weekend...

Yesterday: Tampa Bay Rays. Rained out.

DEVIL DOGS WEBTOPIA...

• Jeremy Guthrie will be the Orioles opening day starter against the Rays on March 31. The O's are yet to reveal the remaining rotation. [Baltimore Sun]
• Jeff Niemann was not happy about his demotion. Joe Maddon sounds as if a major league debut in the near future is no guarantee for Niemann. [Tampa Tribune]

If he can get a little consistent roll in Triple-A and there's a need, he could be very interesting."

• Rays of Light laments the decision to include Jason Hammel in the rotation, and wonders if the decision was based in part of the fear of seeing Hammel become a better pitcher somewhere else. [Rays of Light]
  
• Joe Maddon hinted that Grant Balfour might have overtaken Scott Dohmann for the final bullpen slot, although he won't make a decision until the end of the week. [Tampa Bay Rays]

"The location of the pitches have been much better," Maddon said. "[Balfour's] throwing a strike when he needs to, and he's been down [in the strike zone], and it's really nice to see."

• DRays Bay interviews Keith Law. [DRays Bay]
  
• Joe Maddon does not see any correlation between success in the spring and the regular season, although Carl Crawford says building a winning atmosphere has to start someplace. [Tampa Tribune]
  

"I'm just so cognizant of the regular season, how different it is from spring training," he said. "And then you also have to guard against this sense of 'We're so much better because we've had a good spring training.'

"It depends on who you ask," left fielder Carl Crawford said. "If you ask a team on the other side, they might say, 'It's just spring training, it don't mean nothing.' But a team like us, where we're trying to build some momentum going into the season, it's a good thing.

• When the Rays drafted Fernando Perez, they converted him to a switch-hitter. The team wanted him to bunt a lot from the left side to utilize his speed. Perez had other ideas. He refuse to bunt a lot preferring to become a good hitter from both sides of the plate. [Herald-Tribune]
  
• While the Rays have made significant efforts to reach out to fans in other markets, especially Orlando, little effort has been made in the Gainesville area. The Rays say they are waiting to see if their is demand for the Rays in the area before making an effort, which seems the opposite of other areas. [Gainesville Sun]

Tampa Bay Devil Dogs (9 days until opening day)

DRG here again to get you through the weekend...

Yesterday: Yankees 2, Tampa Bay Rays 1.

The Good: Andy Sonnanstine laid claim to one of the final rotation spots, but tossing 5 shutout innings, allowing only 3 hits and 2 walks against a Yankees lineup that featured all of their regulars. Evan Longoria's RBI double in the 9th scored the Rays only run.

The Bad: Evan Longoria commited his second error of the spring that would lead to the Yankees' second run. Scott Dohmann allowed both runs in his one inning of work.

The Telling: Eric Hinske started and played the entire game in right field. He should be the Rays 4th outfielder unless a player is brought in fro outside the organization.

DEVIL DOGS WEBTOPIA...

• The Orioles will decide today whether Jeremy Guthrie or Steve Trachsel will be the opening day starter against the Rays on March 31. [Baltimore Sun]
• Joe Maddon wants to have his rotation named by Sunday. From Maddon's quotes it sure sounds like Andy Sonnanstine sealed his spot yesterday. Was there ever any doubt? [Tampa Bay Rays]

"Sonnanstine looked really good," Maddon said. "Had all of his pitches working and made pitches when he had to -- a very, very impressive performance...Sonnie's a pro. He comes ready every day. A lot of lefties in that lineup today, he pitched very well against the lefties today. Yes, he made a very good case for himself."

• Willy Aybar is expected to start today. [Tampa Tribune]
• The backup outfield positions might be shaking themselves out without a need for outside help. Joe Maddon liked what he saw from Jonny Gomes in center and could fill the role in an emergency basis and Eric Hinske might have played himself into the 4th outfielder spot, with a big aid from having a left-handed bat. [St. Pete Times]
  
• Much like Troy Percival, Cliff Floyd is expected to have just as big an impact in the clubhouse as he is on the field. And when Joe Maddon says "He's a man's man...He says what he thinks, is very articulate. This guy is going to be a heck of a coach, maybe a manager someday. He's that impressive," you understand why we call him Dr. Huxtable. [St. Pete Times]

"We've been learning on our own the past six or seven years, the years I've been here," Crawford, 26, said. "It's been like, you bump your head real bad, and you have to learn from it. Now I'm glad I don't have to go through that anymore. We don't have to fall on our face anymore. We can get advice, and it'll save us from going through all the big trouble."