Key dates
Saturday: Position players report
Sunday: First full squad workout
March 1: Intrasquad game.
March 3: Exhibition opener vs. Twins in Fort Myers
April 6: Season opener vs. Yankees at Tropicana Field
The dish
Today's workout for pitchers and catchers starts at around 9:30 a.m. at the Charlotte Sports Park (2300 El Jobean Road) and lasts 2½-3 hours. Admission and parking free. Driving time from the bay area is 1½-2 hours. Suggested route: 1-75 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: Among the pitchers scheduled to throw bullpen sessions today are RHP James Shields and LHPs David Price and Moore. The "action" starts around 10:30.
Rays tickets: $9/12-27, available via raysbaseball.com, at box office, through Ticketmaster.
Info: Toll-free 1-888-326-7297 (FAN-RAYS)
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, at Tropicana Field
Who is this answer: RHP Brandon Gomes
Marc Topkin, Times staff writer
Quote of the day
"I was a little too strong; a little too much movement."
LHP J.P. Howell, on his performance during Tuesday's physical exam giving a urine specimen
List of the day
Baseball America included four Rays among its ranking of the top 100 prospects:
2. LHP Matt Moore .
44. SS Hak-Ju Lee
89. RHP Chris Archer
90. RHP Taylor Guerrieri
The Maddon rule? The Fuld rule?
MLB is trying to close a loophole exploited last season by Rays manager Joe Maddon, who had OF Sam Fuld warm up on the mound in Milwaukee so Cesar Ramos had more time in the bullpen. With the change to Rule 3.05, managers are now prohibited from having a pitcher warm up "with no intention" of having him pitch because a reliever isn't ready. Asked if it should be known as the Maddon Rule, he told the AP's Fred Goodall: "Make it the Sam Fuld Rule. I'm good with that."
Number of the day
14 Position players, of 21, who reported early.
Who is this Ray?
He pitched collegiately at Tulane. His dad built him a new electric guitar to replace one destroyed in Hurricane Katrina. He was married in November, to a former college soccer player. He was acquired in trade from San Diego.
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