Souvenir of the day
LHP David Price provided plenty of memories for folks at Saturday's Fan Fest, signing autographs and posing for pictures. But he also got a cool souvenir from a fan: A ticket stub from the Sept. 30, 2012, game in Chicago that was his 20th win. "That was pretty sweet," Price said.
Artifact of the day
Manager Joe Maddon had on his desk a plastic box containing something called a cassette tape of the Beatles' 20 greatest hits. Though usually high tech, with two iPads and a preference for Pandora, Spotify and SiriusXM, Maddon was excited to get the tape because his truck has a player.
Cool scene of the day
Since ace LHP David Price wasn't throwing, he could have been long gone Sunday from the fields, but he stuck around not only to watch the other starters throw but to pick up balls and offer advice from behind the mound.
Who is this Ray?
Native of Cuba played at University of Miami. Hit a home run in his first big-league plate appearance, vs. Reds. Joined Rays as minor-league free agent.
The dish
Today's full-squad workout starts at 9:30 a.m. at the Charlotte Sports Park (2300 El Jobean Road) and will last 2½ 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
LHPs Erik Bedard and David Price and RHPs Grant Balfour and Alex Cobb are among 16 pitchers throwing live BP, starting around 10:30 today. The daily fundamental is cutoffs and relays.
Exhibition schedule
Rays tickets: Single-game range from $10-$29, available at raysbaseball.com, via phone (toll-free 1-800-745-3000), CSP or Tropicana Field box offices, team Tampa Store (400 N Tampa St.), all Ticketmaster outlets.
All games 1:05 unless noted.
Feb.
28 Orioles
March
1 at Pirates
2 Twins
3 Phillies
4 at Red Sox
5 Yankees
6 at Orioles
7 at Blue Jays
8 Pirates
9 at Yankees
10 at Red Sox
11 Twins
12 at Blue Jays
13 Pirates
14 at Braves
15 (ss) Blue Jays; at Pirates
16 Red Sox
18 at Twins, 7:05
19 at Orioles
20 Twins, 7:05
21 Blue Jays
22 Orioles
23 at Red Sox
24 at Twins
25 Red Sox
26 Orioles 7:05
27 at Orioles, 7:05
28 at Tigers
29 at AA Montgomery (Ala.), 3:05
Who is this Ray: C Eddy Rodriguez
Follow coverage all spring on The Heater blog (tampabay.com/blogs/rays) and on Twitter @TBTimes_Rays.
Fashion plates
Four Rays players — LHP Jake McGee, OF Matt Joyce and RHPs Alex Cobb and Brandon Gomes (right, with 19-year-old Sierra Bickel of St. Petersburg) — joined other area pro athletes at Saturday's Fashion Funds the Cure event at the Tampa International Jet Center, strutting the runway for charity. "It was awesome," McGee said. "Really fun."
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Explore all your optionsErik the Happy
Rays manager Joe Maddon said having veteran LHP Erik Bedard has already been eye-opening. "I never knew — he's kind of a gregarious guy, he's affable, he talks, he's funny," Maddon said. "You never got that watching from a distance. I kind of like his personality."