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A look at the non-roster invitees
According to a Twitter post from his agent, C Mark Thomas has been added to the list of organization players invited to the Rays big-league spring camp. Thomas spent 2011 at Class A Charlotte, hitting .237-13-64 in 116 games.
The team has not announced the full list, but so far, it looks like this, with a few more additions possible before the Feb. 20 opening:
Catchers
Craig Albernaz
Nevin Ashley
Mark Thomas ... Read more
Saturday autograph signing: Joyce, Cobb
OF Matt Joyce and RHP Alex Cobb, plus former mate RHP Grant Balfour, will be at the UPS Store (7028 W. Waters Ave., Tampa) on Saturday signing autographs 11-12. Cost is $22 for Joyce, $15 for Cobb and Balfour.
Gomes to be limited at start of camp
Reliever Brandon Gomes will be limited at the start of spring training as he continues recovery from November surgery to clean up a disc in his back.
Gomes, who has an impressive rookie season, said the recovery has gone well and he is confident - "Absolutely" - he will be ready for the April 6 start of the season. ... Read more
Fuld on TV tonight, Herrera back on radio
Rays OF Sam Fuld will be featured on MLB Network's Hot Stove show at 6 tonight, the segment focusing on what it's like for him to play with diabetes.
In the piece, filmed during the camp he hosted last weekend at USF, Fuld talks about the challenges and frustrations he faces, and says: "I check myself 4 or 5 times just within a game and when I’m playing I’ll be out in the outfield and half the time I’ll be worrying about who’s hitting, what the count is and half the time I’m worried about what my blood sugar’s at.'' ... Read more
Friedman: Off-season upgrades "a dream scenario"
The Rays looked at "endless" scenarios of how to improve their team this off-season, and to get to this point, having bolstered the offense and improved the depth of the bullpen without diminishing their defense or disturbing their stash of starting pitching exceeded even their expectations. ... Read more
Video: Loading up the truck
Rays home clubhouse/equipment manager Chris Westmoreland talks Thursday about what goes into moving south for spring training, and about of the more interesting things that go on the 26-foot truck. The Rays open camp on Feb. 20 in Port Charlotte.
Here are a couple of still photos as well.
Photos and video by Marc Topkin. ... Read more
ESPN's Law: Moore No. 3 prospect, 6 Rays in top 100
ESPN's Keith Law has come out with his always interesting top 100 prospects list, which is available on the espn.com Insider site.
He ranked Rays LHP Matt Moore as the game's No. 3 prospect, behind Angels OF Mike Trout and Nats OF Bryce Harper, and overall has six Rays in his top 100:
3. LHP Matt Moore
12. SS Hak-Ju Lee
63. RHP Chris Archer
84. LHP Enny Romero
87. OF Mikie Mahtook
88. RHP Taylor Guerrieri ... Read more
Rays packing today, talking tonight
With the the opening of spring training less than two weeks away, the sights and sounds of baseball are getting more common.
This afternoon, home clubhouse manager Chris Westmoreland and staff will load the equipment truck for the "trip" south - though it's only 74 miles from Tropicana Field to the Charlotte Sports Park in Port Charlotte. ... Read more
About the bloggers
Follow Tampa Bay Rays baseball from spring training to the World Series with Marc Topkin, Joe Smith and the Tampa Bay Times sports staff. From Evan Longoria to B.J. Upton and James Shields, we're your source for Tampa Bay Rays scores and schedules.
E-mail Marc Topkin: topkin@tampabay.com
E-mail Joe Smith: joesmith@tampabay.com
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