Tampa Bay Rays news and notes

Husbandly duty of the day

When there is a split squad, Joe Maddon usually takes the road trip. But he's sending bench coach Dave Martinez to manage in Bradenton today for good reason: "My wife's in town."

The dish

Rays (ss) at Pirates

When/where: 1:05; McKechnie Field, 1611 Ninth St. W, Bradenton

Tickets: $10-19, available at stadium, via pirates.com or by calling 1-877-893-2827

Pitchers: Rays — Wade Davis, Heath Rollins, Jeff Bennett, Joe Bateman; Pirates — Kevin Hart, Jeff Karstens, Jack Taschner, Javier Lopez, Donnie Veal, Jean Machi, Evan Meek.

Rays (ss) vs. Jays

When/where: 1:05, Charlotte Sports Park, 2300 El Jobean Road, Port Charlotte

Tickets: Available in all categories, see info below.

Gates open: 11 a.m.

Directions: Driving time from the bay area is 1½-2 hours. Suggested route: 1-75 south to Exit 179 (North Port/Port Charlotte). Turn right (west) on Toledo Blade Road. Go about 6½ miles (crossing U.S. 41) to El Jobean Road (SR 776). Turn right. Go about 2 miles, complex will be on the left.

Parking: $10, lots open at 10.

Rays information: 1-888-326-7297 (FAN-RAYS)

Pitchers: Rays — Andy Sonnanstine, Dan Wheeler, Alex Torres, Jake McGee; Jays — Shaun Marcum, Brad Mills, Steven Register, Shawn Camp

Heads-up

Look for Carl Crawford, Pat Burrell and Sean Rodriguez in Bradenton today and Evan Longoria, Ben Zobrist and Carlos Peña in Port Charlotte.

On deck

Friday: vs. Phillies, Port Charlotte, 1:05. Rays: James Shields; Phillies: J.A. Happ

Rays schedule

Tickets: Reserved seats $18-25, berm/boardwalk $8 Monday-Thursday/$10 Friday-Sunday available for all games but March 19 vs. Yankees. Available through raysbaseball.com and Ticketmaster, at Tropicana Field and Charlotte Sports Park box offices and Tampa team store.

MARCH

13: Marlins

14: at Tigers

16: Red Sox, 7:05

17: Twins

18: at Yankees, 7:05

19: Yankees, 7:05

20: Twins

21: at Twins (ss)

21: at Pirates (ss)

22: at Red Sox

23: at Phillies

24: Blue Jays

25: Twins

26: at Blue Jays

27: at Astros

28: Pirates

29: at Red Sox, 7:05

30: Red Sox

31: at Twins

April

1: Orioles

2: Mets at Tropicana Field, 6:10

Quote of the day

"The maple bat is turning into the Claymore mine of baseball."

Rays manager Joe Maddon, referencing what's defined as an "antipersonnel land mine" that fires shrapnel more than 300 feet

Winning streak of the day

7 Rays spring training record; the regular-season mark is 12 set in 2004.

Follow the Rays

Most of the Rays' spring training games aren't on TV, so follow along as the Times' Marc Topkin and Joe Smith blog live from each game at rays.tampabay.com.