Happy anniversary
It was 20 years ago Monday — March 9, 1995, at the Breakers Hotel in Palm Beach — that the Tampa Bay expansion franchise was awarded to the ownership group led by Vince Naimoli.
Another fish story
Bench coach Tom Foley offered to make the trip to Fort Myers for today's split-squad games so that Kevin Cash could manage at home in Port Charlotte. But Cash quickly realized it wasn't out of the kindness of Foley's heart. "Don't let him fool you," Cash said. "There's Bass Pro Shops and Blu Sushi. He's dying to go down there."
The dish
Rays (ss) vs. Pirates
When/where: 1:05 today; Charlotte Sports Park, 2300 El Jobean Road, Port Charlotte
Radio: raysbaseball.com, signup required
Tickets: Reserved seats $19-29, berm/boardwalk $10. Available through raysbaseball.com and Ticketmaster, at Tropicana Field and Charlotte Sports Park box offices, Tampa team store, via phone (toll-free 1-800-745-3000).
Gates open: 11 a.m.
Directions: Driving time from the bay area is 1½-2 hours. Suggested route: I-75 south to Exit 179 (Toledo Blade Road), go west 6½ miles (crossing U.S. 41) to El Jobean Road (SR 776), go right 2 miles, complex is on the left.
Parking: $10, lots open at 10.
Rays information: Toll-free 1-888-326-7297 (FAN-RAYS)
Pitchers: Rays — Burch Smith, Enny Romero, Everett Teaford, Jhan Marinez, Grayson Garvin; Pirates — Francisco Liriano, relievers TBA
Rays (ss) vs. Red Sox
When/where: 1:05 today; JetBlue Park, 11500 Fenway South Drive, Fort Myers
Tickets: Reserved seats $15-48. Available through redsox.com, 1-888-REDSOX6.
Pitchers: Rays — Matt Andriese, Andrew Bellatti, Bryce Stowell, Dylan Floro, Mike Montgomery; Red Sox — Justin Masterson, relievers TBA
Heads up
With two games today, most of the veterans — Asdrubal Cabrera, David DeJesus, John Jaso, Desmond Jennings, James Loney, Evan Longoria and Rene Rivera — will play in Port Charlotte.
On deck
Wednesday: at Twins (Fort Myers), 1:05. Rays — Jake Odorizzi; Twins — Tommy Milone
Thursday: vs. Blue Jays, 1:06. Rays — Alex Cobb; Jays — TBA
Friday: at Phillies (Clearwater), 1:05. Rays — Chris Archer; Phillies — TBA
Exhibition schedule
All games 1:05 p.m. unless noted.
March
14 at Orioles
15 vs. Mets
17 at Phillies
18 at Blue Jays, 1:07
19 vs. Twins *
20 vs. Blue Jays
21 vs. Twins
22 at Blue Jays, 12:37
23 vs. Pirates
25 at Twins
26 vs. Yankees *
27 at Orioles
28 vs. Red Sox *
29 at Red Sox **
30 vs. Orioles
31 at Orioles (ss) vs. Red Sox (ss)
April
1 at Yankees
2 at Phillies
3 at Tigers **
4 vs. Tigers at Tropicana Field, 12:35
* Televised on Sun Sports
** Televised on MLB Network
Marc Topkin, Times staff writer