Tampabay.com
MARCH 11, 2010

Gameday report: Rays vs. Jays and at Pirates

UPDATE, 10:48: Willy Aybar (sprained left wrist) is set for his first action of the spring today at DH, then likely will get Friday off and play some at third base on Saturday, manager Joe Maddon said. Also, Hank Blalock is likely to make his Rays debut on Saturday at first. ... RHP Rafael Soriano, the high-priced closer who was the Rays' main off-season addition, will throw his first live batting practice session this morning on a minor-league field. The Rays and Soriano hatched a plan in which he will make only 6-8 appearances in spring games in an effort, Maddon said, "to save his bullets."  ... OF Desmond Jennings is pretty much done in major-league camp because by the time he recovers from the sprained left wrist he'd likely have been optioned out anyway.

8:17: LHP David Price said his right hand, bruised on Wednesday when he was struck by a bat shard in a scary incident, feels fine today. Price hadn't removed the bandage or seen the trainers yet, but said he had no discomfort or limitations. "I'm good," Price said. "My thumb motion feels fine. I think it's fine. Yesterday I was just real sore from all the stuff they did to it, they put on that numbing stuff. But I played video games last night, I shot pool.''  

8:03: Here are the lineups posted in the clubhouse this morning:

Rays vs. Jays in Port Charlotte
Bartlett ss
Zobrist 2b
Longoria 3b
Pena 1b
Aybar dh
Joyce rf
Kapler lf
Jaso 2
Perez cf
Sonnanstine p

Rays vs. Pirates in Bradenton
Rodriguez ss
Crawford lf
Upton cf
Burrell rf
Navarro c
D. Johnson 1b
Shoppach dh
Brignac 2b
E. Johnson 3b
Davis p

7:57: The Rays have two games today, with one squad at home against the Jays and another on the road in Bradenton. But the biggest issue may be beating the weather as it's already dark and threatening here in Port Charlotte.

Join the discussion: Click to view comments, add yours

Advertisement


Meet the Rays

show linked image Joe Maddon, Johnny Damon and Evan Longoria are only some of the Rays you'll meet through our new video interview series. Don't see your favorite player yet? Check back often, as we'll add to the series as the season progresses.

Baseball Headlines from AP

Comment Policy

Please be sure your comments are appropriate before submitting them. Inappropriate comments include content that:
Is libelous
Is abusive, harassing, or threatening
Is obscene, vulgar, or profane
Is racially, ethnically or religiously offensive
Is illegal or encourages criminal acts
Is known to be inaccurate or contains a false attribution
Infringes copyrights, trademarks, publicity or any other rights of others
Impersonates anyone (actual or fictitious)
Solicits funds, goods or services, or advertises
The Tampa Bay Times does not edit posts but reserves the right to delete comments that violate our policy.