Loss of the day
Troy Percival found out someone broke into his Riverside, Calif., home and stole the TVs, his golf clubs and a 1955 Ford truck he spent three years restoring. "They're going to have to sell it for pieces because everyone knows what it looks like," he said.
Fan-friendly move of the day
When fan Larry Simeone was plunked by a ball during a popup drill in swirling winds, manager Joe Maddon made him feel better by giving him a signed Evan Longoria bat. Maddon also offered $100 to any fan who caught a ball cleanly: "When it was so windy I knew they had no chance."
Quick work of the day
Along the Welcome to Charlotte County parade route, fans were already holding signs with Maddon's new motivational slogan '09 > '08.
The dish …
Today's full-squad workout starts at 9:30 a.m. at the Charlotte Sports Park, 2300 El Jobean Road, Port Charlotte. Driving time from the Tampa Bay area is 1½-2 hours. The suggested route: Take I-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; stadium complex will be on your left. Workouts usually last 2½-3 hours. Admission and parking are free.
List of the day
LHP J.P. Howell had quite a fan club last season, ranking first among AL relievers in strikeouts:
Pitcher, teamKs
J.P. Howell, Rays92
Octavio Dotel, W. Sox92
Rafael Perez, Indians86
F. Francisco, Rangers82
Grant Balfour, Rays82
Source: Rays
Rays exhibition schedule
Home games at Charlotte Sports Park, 2300 El Jobean Road, Port Charlotte
TICKETS: All reserved seats sold out, berm seating available for $9 except for Red Sox, Yankees and Phillies games (sold out). Available through raysbaseball.com, at Tropicana Field and Charlotte Sports Park box offices, Tampa team store, and through Ticketmaster.
For information: 1-888-FAN-RAYS (326-7297)
Games at 1:05 unless noted
February
25: Reds
26: at Yankees, 1:15
27: Boston
28: at Phillies
March
1: Blue Jays
2: at Cardinals
3: Astros
4: Puerto Rico, 7:05
5: off
6: at Pirates
7: Red Sox
8: at Red Sox
9: Twins
10: Blue Jays
11: off
12 :Phillies
13: at Blue Jays
14: at Reds
15: Pirates
16: at Pirates, 7:05
17: off
18: Reds
19: Cardinals
20: at Jays
21: at Orioles
22: Yankees
23: at Pirates
24: off
25: Pirates, 7:05
26: at Tigers
27: at Twins
28: Reds
29: at Reds
30: at Twins
31: at Red Sox
April
1: Twins
Marc Topkin, Times staff writer
Find of the day
LF Carl Crawford thought he'd lost his diamond earrings during the workout. Turns out the $10,000 rocks, which he'd put in his pocket when taping a TV spot, fell out in the batting cage, and he found them there a few hours later. "I got lucky," he said.
Quote of the day
"I said, 'Hello, Mr. Jackson.' He called me 'Mr. Longoria.' That was pretty cool."
3B Evan Longoria, left, on meeting Bo Jackson at an offseason golf tournament
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