Exhibition schedule
Tickets: $10-27, available at raysbaseball.com, Charlotte Sports Park and Trop box offices, Tampa team store, through Ticketmaster.
Info: Toll-free 1-888-326-7297 (FAN-RAYS)
All games 1:05 unless noted
February
23: vs. Pirates, at Red Sox, 1:35
24: at Twins
25: vs. Red Sox (ss)
26: vs. Astros
27: at Pirates
28: vs. Tigers
March
1: at Jays
2: vs. Orioles
3: vs. Twins
4: at Red Sox, 1:35
5: at Twins
6: Off
7: at Pirates
8: vs. Phillies
9: at Phillies
10: vs. Red Sox
11: vs. Twins, 7:05
12: vs. Yankees
13: Off
14: at Orioles
15: vs. Phillies
16: vs. Red Sox
17: at Red Sox, 1:35
18: Off
19: at Tigers
20: at Twins, 7:05
21: vs. Jays
22: vs. Orioles, at Pirates
23: vs. Twins
24: at Yankees
25: vs. Pirates, 7:05
26: at Phillies
27: vs. Jays
28: at Orioles, 7:05
29: at Tigers
30: vs. Tigers at Trop, 1:10
Who is this Ray: OF Rich Thompson
On the Web
Follow our coverage all spring on The Heater blog (tampabay.com/blogs/rays) and on Twitter @TBTimes_Rays.
Command performance
C Chris Gimenez has been getting national attention for his singing. Taping a segment for the Trop video board, Gimenez admitted to a "hidden talent" of being good at karaoke: "I have been called the songbird of my generation." With a bat as his "microphone," he unleashed a rendition of Crossfade's Cold, and the Rays released the video online, leading to more attention (on Twitter, @ChrisGimenez5). See the video at tampabay.rays.mlb.com/cutfour.
Every action …
In return for his grand Valentine's Day gestures (painted window greeting, flowers, bracelet), manager Joe Maddon got a cool present from his wife, Jaye: a rock carved to serve as a tap dispenser for a liquor bottle. "A pretty neat gift," Maddon said. By Friday afternoon he already had the Jameson's loaded.
Number of the day
5 Players yet to report to camp: RHP Dane De La Rosa, OF Shelley Duncan, SS Yunel Escobar, INF Hak-Ju Lee, DH Luke Scott.
Who is this Ray?
He was a sixth-round pick by Toronto in 2000. Hadn't played in the majors since 2004 before being acquired by the Rays last season. Got his first big-league hit at age 33 years, 24 days.
The dish
Today's workout for pitchers and catchers starts at 8:45 a.m. at the Charlotte Sports Park (2300 El Jobean Road, Port Charlotte) and lasts less than two hours. Admission and parking free. Driving time from the bay area is 1½-2 hours. Suggested route: Interstate 75 South to Toledo Blade Road, go west 6½ miles to El Jobean Road (SR 776), go right 2 miles, stadium complex is on left. Information: (941) 235-5025.
Heads-up
RHPs Jeremy Hellickson, Alex Cobb, Chris Archer, Jake Odorizzi and LHP Matt Moore are among the scheduled throwers in what will be an abbreviated workout as the players and staff head to the Trop for FanFest.
Marc Topkin, Times staff writer
Word of the day
"Quadtoon"
Joe Maddon, Rays manager, describing a plan to rotate four players at second base
Quote of the day
"The Legend arrives."
Matt Joyce, greeting fellow OF Sam Fuld upon his arrival in the clubhouse
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