Tampa Bay Rays Spring Training Thread

[Lets Go Rays]

Aki Iwamura, 2b
Upton(MAYBE), cf
Crawford, lf
Longoria, 3b
Pena, 1b
Burrell, dh
Joyce, rf
Navarro, c
Bartlett, ss

[Lets Go Rays]

And for the Pirates ....
McCutchen, cf
Wilson, ss
Vazquez, 3b
Adam LaRoche, 1b
Monroe, lf
Moss, rf
Pearce, dh
Diaz, c
Cruz, 2b
Karstens, p
No surprise, but Jose Tabata is not on the Pirates travel squad.

[Lets Go Rays]

Manager Joe Maddon indicated the Rays are making some cuts today, with an announcement likely after batting practice.

And reading between the lines of what he said, it won't be a surprise if LHP David Price is among them. Asked specifically about Price's status, Maddon said: "We're still working on everything. We're talking to some guys today, I'm going to continue to talk to some people we'll give you guys an announcement a little bit later.''

And asked again about Price, Maddon said: "Every player that's in this camp wants to stay here. You talk to different guys as you send them out and of course they all want to stay here. That's everybody's desire - you don't want to be a minor-league baseball player you want to be a big-league baseball player. And David is. David is going to be a big part of our future whenever it is going to begin. The clock already kind of started last year. I'm not worried about David Price. He's going to be a big cornerstone in regard to our success in the future.''

Also:

Matt Joyce is scheduled to make his first appearance of the spring in the outfield on Thursday, starting in centerfield against the Tigers, Maddon said.

2B Akinori Iwamura is expected to make his first appearance of the spring on Friday, and Maddon said he's planning to play the starting infield together - 1B Carlos Pena, Iwamura, SS Jason Bartlett and 3B Evan Longoria - for the first time on Saturday. "A nice little reunion,'' he said.

CF B.J. Upton will continue his rehab with another minor-league appearance on Thursday.

RHPs Matt Garza and Grant Balfour and LHP Brian Shouse threw in a minor-league intrasquad game Wednesday morning and all did well, Maddon said. Garza threw about 90 pitches.

Maddon will start using the regulars deeper into games this weekend, with the idea that they play eight or nine innings twice before the Rays head to Philadelphia for the final April 3-4 exhibitions.

[Lets Go Rays]

LHP David Price was among five players optioned to Triple-A Durham on Wednesday.

Also sent down were OF Justin Ruggiano, INFs Reid Brignac and Elliot Johnson, and C John Jaso.

The Ruggiano move is surprising since he was considered a top candidate to replace OF B.J. Upton for the week he is expected to be on the DL. This could mean they are more likely to keep INF Adam Kennedy.

[Lets Go Rays]

Adam Kennedy hit a massive two-run homer in the third as the Rays lead 2-0. Jeff Niemann has pitched well, but has allowed three hits.

[Lets Go Rays]

Niemann has given up back to back doubles and the score is now 2-1 in the fourth.

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Troy Percival just ripped through another impressive inning. It's 2-1 Rays going to the bottom of the fifth.

[Lets Go Rays]

Jason Isringhausen struggled a bit, allowing two hits and a run, and the score is tied 2-2 going to the bottom of the sixth.

[Lets Go Rays]

The Rays just went ahead in the eighth when they loaded the bases on a walk and two bunt singles, and Evan Longoria was hit by a pitch - glancing blow, don't worry - to force in a run, making it 3-2.

[Lets Go Rays]

Now it's 4-2 as Chris Richard just drew a bases loaded walk from Donnie Veal.

[love_that_reefer]

Who had the bunt singles?

[Lets Go Rays]

Ray Sadler and Omar Luna. Ray Olmedo got the walk. Longo got the HBP and Chris Richards got the other walk.

[Lets Go Rays]

B.J. Upton appears headed in the right direction with his rehab despite Saturday's setback when he got hit in the hand; Thursday he'll play in a Minor League game.

Meanwhile, Matt Joyce, who has missed much of the spring due to right-leg tendinitis, will make his first appearance of the spring in the outfield. Ironically, the start will come against the Tigers, Joyce's former team.

Finally, Akinori Iwamura is expected to be in camp Thursday and likely will see his first spring action with the Rays on Friday after playing the World Baseball Classic.

Rays Plays

[Lets Go Rays]

Top prospect David Price headed a list of five players optioned to Triple-A Durham Wednesday night.

Joining Price were Justin Ruggiano, Elliot Johnson, John Jaso, and Reid Brignac.

These cuts indicate that the No. 5 spot in the rotation is now a two-man competition between Jeff Niemann and Jason Hammel.

Meanwhile, Ruggiano was a surprise since the Rays will be without B.J. Upton at the beginning of the season and Ruggiano appeared to be a leading candidate to be the fifth outfielder.

Rays Plays

[Lets Go Rays]

The Rays loaded the bases off the bat against Porcello, with Kennedy walking, Navarro and Aybar picking up singles. Pena hit a fly ball to the warning track in center, for a sacrifice fly.