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Rays' Archer, Jays' Price ready for a friendly faceoff (w/ video)

 
Chris Archer, left, has some fun as he gains control of a microphone and interviews former Rays teammate David Price, far right. Archer says when he met Price in 2008, it was enough just to shake his hand.
Chris Archer, left, has some fun as he gains control of a microphone and interviews former Rays teammate David Price, far right. Archer says when he met Price in 2008, it was enough just to shake his hand.
Published Sept. 26, 2015

TORONTO — Chris Archer couldn't help himself.

Knowing the reason David Price was standing by his Blue Jays dugout surrounded by a pack of reporters was to talk up their marquee matinee matchup today, Archer borrowed Todd Kalas' Fox Sports microphone and, in his best, well, nerdy voice, asked a question of his own:

"David, how does it feel knowing you're going to face your protege, Chris Archer, tomorrow?"

"I'm terrified," Price deadpanned back. "It's going to be nerve-wracking."

Joking aside, it's going to be cool and memorable as the former and current Rays aces square off for the first time, with the added incentive of Price pitching to clinch the first playoff berth for the Blue Jays — who beat the Rays 5-3 Friday — since 1993. Also, it is Archer's 27th birthday.

"It'll be fun," Price, 30, said. "I don't ever view any games any different than any other game, but (today) definitely be special."

Special not just because they are two of the best pitchers in the game, who had adjoining lockers at the All-Star Game in July. Special not just because of their similar backgrounds, raised biracial in southern homes.

Special because of the bond they share.

Archer felt that way from the first time he met Price in January 2008. Archer and another young minor-leaguer (who happened to be current Blue Jays star Josh Donaldson) got hooked up through their agent to work out at Vanderbilt, where Price was also throwing, having starred for the Commodores before the Rays made him the top pick in the 2007 draft.

"I just wanted to shake his hand," Archer said. "We had similar upbringings. Plus, he was everything I wanted to be."

They kept in touch, and a few years and a couple of Archer trades later, they were teammates with the Rays. Price developed into a Cy Young award-winning ace and staff leader. Archer learned everything he could about what to do right on and off the field, knowing Price was watching and wanting to impress him.

"His spirit, his aura is infectious," Archer said. "You can see everybody who play with him knows — he's been on three teams — and he's made the people around him significantly better.

"I'm happy and fortunate that I got to learn so much from him. I try to watch him pitch every single time he goes out there, because the passion he carries on the field and the trust he has in himself is one of a kind, and that comes from hard work. And I've seen the hard work."

Price, similarly, will watch Archer's starts and text him afterward, not with tips or suggestions but to challenge and motivate him to be even better.

Together or separate, they couldn't say enough good about each other Friday. Archer insisted it's obvious Price — who is 8-1, 1.95 in 10 starts since being traded from Detroit and loving the vibe in Toronto — should win another Cy Young Award. And Price — who popped into the Rays clubhouse before batting practice to visit with the staff and players — maintained that Archer's slider is the best pitch in baseball and that he has "just kind of scratched the surface of what he could be."

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Archer said he is also looking forward to today, but he claimed he won't be focused on Price — at least after what he hopes to be a quick visit as they warm up.

After Price talked for a couple of minutes by the dugout Friday, Archer held up the mic and said he had a few more questions.

One was essentially rhetorical, about who influenced Price to be a mentor, as they both knew the answer was former Ray James Shields.

But the other seemed genuine. "Any advice to a young, new leader on a staff to kind of help navigate the younger generation?''

"Be a good example," Price said.

"Lead by example?" Archer asked.

"Believe it," Price said. "Like you do."

Contact Marc Topkin at mtopkin@tampabay.com. Follow @TBTimes_Rays.