Hair today …
RHP Josh Lueke stopped shaving at the end of last season and spent most of the offseason with a rather, shall we say, full beard. He trimmed it back a couple inches to report to camp but says his fianceé may have a say in how long he keeps it. "As long as she lets me," he said. "I may have to shave for Valentine's Day."
Quote of the day
"That was the toughest negotiation of the winter."
Rays exec VP Andrew Friedman, on getting Joel Peralta to stop pitching in winter ball.
Name game
Evan Longoria said he and girlfriend Jaime Edmondson haven't decided on a name for their baby girl, who is due April 1. But Longoria, who routinely gets jeered by fans derisively chanting the name of a certain actor, said one they definitely won't consider: Eva.
Accomplishment of the day
In an offseason in which he won the AL Cy Young Award and was chosen for the cover of the MLB2K13 video game, LHP David Price was downright gleeful about another recent accomplishment: a one-stroke win in a golf match at Innisbrook's Island course over 3B coach Tom Foley, one of the team's best. "I beat Foley," Price said. "Put that in there." Foley, who had won the previous week, had some fun in return: "If you beat someone every time they might not want to keep playing."
Who is this Ray?
He is a 17-year big-league veteran. Was a first-round pick by the Rockies (in 1993). Has played for nine different teams. Has never been in the playoffs. Was released seven times. (Answer below)
The dish
Today's first workout for pitchers and catchers starts at 10 a.m. at the Charlotte Sports Park (2300 El Jobean Road, Port Charlotte) and lasts 3 hours. Admission and parking free. Driving time from the bay area is 1½-2 hours. Suggested route: I-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. For more information: (941) 235-5025.
Heads up
Several of the big-name pitchers are scheduled to throw off the mounds, with the session starting around 11: David Price, Jeff Niemann, Jeremy Hellickson, Fernando Rodney and Roberto Hernandez.
Exhibition schedule
Tickets: $10-27, available via raysbaseball.com, at CSP 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 - Tigers
March
1 - at Blue 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 O's, 7:05
29 - at Tigers
30 - vs. Tigers at Trop, 1:10
Who is this Ray: RHP Jamey Wright
Marc Topkin, Times staff writer
On the Web
Follow our coverage all spring on The Heater blog (tampabay.com/blogs/rays) and on Twitter @TBTimes_Rays.
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