The name game
Minor-league C Nevin Ashley and his wife, the uniquely named Ashley Ashley, are expecting their first child in August. They recently found out it's a boy and are considering a number of names. But had the baby been a girl? "We would have called her Junior," he said.
Friendly reminder
After taking his "victory lap" with the trophy for winning the Rays' fantasy football league, LHP David Price sent a photo with the trophy to last year's champion, C Kelly Shoppach, now with the Red Sox. "It's all fun," Shoppach said.
List of the day
Most homers since 2007 (players are listed with their current team):
Player Team No.
Ryan Howard Phillies 204
Prince Fielder Tigers 200
Albert Pujols Angels 195
Mark Teixeira Yanks 174
Miguel Cabrera Tigers 173
Carlos PeñaRays172
Who is this Ray?
He was a swimmer growing up in Venezuela with a chance to play water polo but opted for baseball. His older brother Thomas was a minor-leaguer with the Yankees. He was claimed off waivers from San Diego.
The dish
Today's workout for pitchers and catchers starts about 9:30 a.m. at the Charlotte Sports Park (2300 El Jobean Road) and lasts 2½-3 hours. Admission and parking are 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, complex is on the left. For more information, call (941) 235-5025.
Heads-up
Today is the last workout just for pitchers and catchers as the full squad takes the field for the first time Sunday.
Exhibition schedule
Rays tickets: $9/$12-$27, via raysbaseball.com, at box office, through Ticketmaster.
Info: Toll-free 1-888-326-7297
All games 1:05 unless noted:
March
3: at Twins
4: Twins
5: Orioles
6: Twins
7: at Yankees
8: Tigers (ss)
at Twins (ss)
9: Orioles
10: at Red Sox (7:05)
11: Pirates
12: Twins
13: at Orioles
14: Marlins
15: Phillies
16: at Jays
17: at Pirates
18: Red Sox
19: Off
20: at Marlins
21: Yankees
22: at Pirates
23: Jays (7:05)
24: at Twins (3:05)
25: Marlins
26: at Twins
27: at Red Sox (1:35)
28: Pirates (7:05)
29: at Phillies
30: at Pirates
31: Red Sox
APRIL
1: at Orioles
2: Twins
3: at Twins
4: vs. Future Rays, 1:40, Tropicana Field
Who is this answer: C Jose Lobaton
Marc Topkin, Times staff writer
Zimmer meets Zim Bear
Senior adviser Don Zimmer has been a bit bewildered by all the attention the team's Zim Bear promo item has gotten. On Friday, they met face to face as the Rays had the model version sent to Port Charlotte for some photo ops. "I don't know what to think," he said. Manager Joe Maddon then opened his post-practice media session with the bear on his shoulder.
The bed bugs did bite
Director of baseball operations Chaim Bloom is looking a little better after a reaction to bed bugs at his — now previous — Port Charlotte rental left him with red bumps all over his body. "He looked," executive VP Andrew Friedman said, "like he had an intense acupuncture appointment go bad." Bloom and roommate Erik Neander, also a baseball ops director, moved out after the first night.
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