DID YOU KNOW?

To kill some of the endless free time of spring training, a few Rays are banding together, gathering in a stadium storage area to make some loud, if not beautiful, music. Usually itÕs Josh Paul on electric guitar, Rocco Baldelli on bass guitar and Edwin Jackson on drums, though Eric Hinske has also sat in. Next? A singer, with Fernando Perez and Andy Sonnanstine the top candidates. "But we havenÕt had open auditions yet," Baldelli said.

WhoÕs on third?

A daily look at the RaysÕ biggest positional issue:

Longoria is human after all, striking out twice, but he has good timing : It wonÕt show up in the stats because the game wasnÕt official.

The dish ...

Astros at Rays

When/where: 1:05; Progress Energy Park, 180 Second Ave. SE, St. Petersburg. Gates open at 11.

Tickets: $7-$20, at stadium box office, via raysbaseball.com and at Ticketmaster outlets.

Pitchers: Rays Ñ RH Jason Hammel, RH Mitch Talbot, RH Gary Glover, RH Dan Wheeler, RH Scott Dohmann, LH Kurt Birkins, RH Scott Munter. Astros Ñ RH Runelvys Hernandez, RH Jack Cassel, RH Geoff Geary, RH Brad James, LH Josh Muecke

Rays info: 1-888-326-7297 (FAN-RAYS)

Weather: 65, partly cloudy.

Watch for: Hammel gets his first start in the battle for one of the open rotation spots.

Cancellation policy

Fans can exchange a ticket from TuesdayÕs game for a spring game of equal value or apply the value to a regular-season ticket. Exchanges can be made at Tropicana Field or Progress Energy Park (open only on exhibition game days) box offices or by mail at Tampa Bay Rays, Attn: Ticket Operations, One Tropicana Drive, St. Petersburg, FL 33705.

On deck

Thursday: at Phillies, 1:05, Bright House Networks Field, Clearwater. Rays Ñ James Shields; Phillies Ñ Adam Eaton

Friday: Phillies, 1:05, Progress Energy Park, St. Petersburg. Rays Ñ Jeff Niemann; Phillies Ñ Cole Hamels

Marc Topkin,

Times staff writer

Quote of the day

"ItÕs an emotional day for me.

It really is."

OF/INF Eric Hinske, lifelong Packers fan,

on the retirement of QB Brett Favre.

Good timing award

The Rays were trailing 3-0 when the game was stopped then canceled in the top of the fifth. Because they hadnÕt completed the fifth, the results are unofficial and the Rays remain 4-0. "Thanks to mother nature," manager Joe Maddon said.