Andy Villamarzo, Times Correspondent
Saturday, February 26, 2011

ST. PETERSBURG — Admiral Farragut's boys track squad picked up right where it left off last season, dominating the boys field with 168 points in the Shorecrest Invitational Friday evening.

"The kids were pretty jazzed up to be running on one of the best tracks around at Shorecrest," Farragut coach Phil Barnhill said.

"This was a good result for us at an early meet and were still missing several boys due to basketball right now. So were not at full strength yet, but the invitational gave us a chance to show what we could do early on. I think we competed and the girls did pretty good as well."

The Blue Jackets had several wins among the 17 events, including Michael Pitts (129 feet, 4 inches) in the discus throw, Jake Pappas (18.65 seconds) in the 110-meter hurdles and Gem Runyan (6-2) in the pole vault.

Other notable winners included St. Petersburg Catholic's Ryan Green (11.44) in the 100 and Indian Rocks Christian's Tyler Wood (41-3) in the shot put.

On the girls side, the team standings were much tighter, with Indian Rocks Christian edging Berkeley Prep 111-75 in the standings.

For the Golden Eagles, junior Tori Trador (4 feet, 10 inches) took the high jump and sisters Jennifer and Rachel Kistemaker (8-6) finished second and third in the pole vault, respectively.

Admiral Farragut's Destini Oglesby capped a solid day by taking the discus throw (118-10) and the shot put (35-41/2) The Blue Jackets finished eighth with 42 points.

By Jack McCarthy, Special to the Times
Saturday, February 26, 2011

ROSEMONT, Ill. — USF finally found a way to finish.

The Bulls withstood a furious second-half DePaul comeback to claim their first Big East road win of the season, 86-76 Saturday at Allstate Arena.

Forward Augustus Gilchrist had a career-high 32 points, including a season-high 20 in the first half as the Bulls halted a six-game losing streak.

USF (9-20, 3-13 Big East) never trailed after the midpoint of the first half but had nervous moments in the second. DePaul (7-21, 1-15) used fullcourt pressure to unnerve the visitors and rally from 14 points down to within 63-61 with nine minutes to play.

"In a lot of our close games we haven't been able to finish," Gilchrist said. " 'Let's come together,' and that's what we did."

The Bulls broke the Blue Demons' pressure then used superior height to regain command.

"Once we handled the initial part of the press, (we) attacked and scored," coach Stan Heath said. "That's what allowed us to shoot such a high percentage, especially in the second half."

USF was 13-of-18 (72.2 percent) from the field in the final 20 minutes, including eight baskets in the paint and just one outside.

For the game, Gilchrist had seven baskets underneath and missed just two.

"Gilchrist, offensively, was very efficient and very effective scoring for us in both halves," Heath said. "If he starts off pretty good, he can be very effective. He has the ability to score around the basket, face up and (also) hit 3s. So he has a lot of firepower to his game, and our guys did a good job of finding him. They knew he was hot."

The lead changed four times early before the Bulls went ahead for good on a Gilchrist layup with 13 minutes left in the first half. USF then outscored DePaul 12-2 over the final 3:40 to take a 41-28 lead into intermission.

Gilchrist, whose previous high was 27 against Florida Atlantic in 2009, was 9-of-14 from the field, including a 3-pointer, and made 13 of 15 free throws. Jarrid Famous came off the bench to score 15, Shaun Noriega had 14 and Hugh Robertson added 12.

Ron Anderson had 10 rebounds as the Bulls won the battle of the boards, 33-19.

DePaul was missing leading scorer Cleveland Melvin, out with a thumb injury. Freshman guard Brandon Young led the hosts with 23 points.

USF had lost all seven of its Big East road games going in (its last conference road win was March 9, also against DePaul). The Blue Demons fell to 0-8 in conference home games.

By Tom Jones, Times Staff Writer
Saturday, February 26, 2011

Outside the Lines: 9 a.m. on ESPN. The story of LPGA golfer Erica Blasberg, who killed herself last year.

Lightning at Rangers: 1 p.m. on Sun Sports. Geez, we forgot the Lightning played road games.

Dirt Knights: 6 p.m. on Versus. The lives of six modified dirt car racers on a quest for a national championship.

By Tom Jones, Times Staff Writer
Saturday, February 26, 2011

The poll

Whose Rays jersey will you be wearing this season? Total: 438 votes

Evan Longoria: 35 percent

None or other: 25 percent

David Price: 10 percent

Manny Ramirez: 8 percent

Ben Zobrist: 6 percent

An ex-Ray: 6 percent

B.J. Upton: 4 percent

Johnny Damon: 3 percent

Jeremy Hellickson: 3 percent

Another poll

With the acquisitions of Dwayne Roloson, Marc-Andre Bergeron and Eric Brewer, does the Lightning have everything it needs to make a deep run in the playoffs? Total: 431 votes

Yes: 43 percent

No, I'm still not sold on the goaltending: 32 percent

No, the team needs more depth on the blue line: 25 percent

This week's question

What was your reaction to the news the Red Sox monitored ex-Ray Carl Crawford closely on and off the field for months before signing him?

Vote at rays.tampabay.com.

By Damian Cristodero, Times Staff Writer
Saturday, February 26, 2011

5 questions | D Eric Brewer

When you played for St. Louis, did you visit the Arch? I did not. I was at the base of the Arch, never went up.

When you played for the Islanders, did you visit the Empire State Building in New York? We were in the city, but I didn't do the Empire State Building.

How about the Statue of Liberty? No, I did not.

You also played in Edmonton. Does that city have something iconic? I don't think so. I can't think of anything off the top of my head.

Is it disappointing that as a player, there is little time to see the sights? What happens is sometimes you get busy and you never do what's in your back yard.

Old friends

D Eric Brewer, whom the Lightning acquired from the Blues, has known Tampa Bay GM Steve Yzerman a long time. They were teammates on Canada's 2002 Olympic team that won gold in Salt Lake City, and Brewer played for Yzerman when Yzerman managed Canada's 2007 world championship team.

Yzerman's observations about Brewer were technical. "He moved the puck well and skated. I like his size, like his mobility."

Brewer remembered Yzerman took an interest in younger players.

"He was fantastic," Brewer said. "I remember shooting the breeze with him about some games and plays; kind of neat at the time to shoot the breeze with a player of that reputation and caliber."

Changing sides

With all the hoopla surrounding the first time GM Steve Yzerman faced his old team, the Red Wings, on Feb. 17 at the St. Pete Times Forum, it got Tampa Bay C Vinny Lecavalier, left, thinking about what it would be like if he ever had to face the Lightning. "I can't even imagine," said the captain who has played only for Tampa Bay in a 12-season career. "I can't even imagine wearing a different jersey."

Lecavalier did wear a different jersey when he played for AHL Norfolk in October 2009 in a mixed-squad preseason exhibition with the Lightning. "It was so weird," he said. "You're just not used to it. So if something ever happened, it would be a shock (to have to play against the Lightning). It's lucky I haven't had to go through that."

Quote to note

"You put a guy against the wall who's half my size and you tell him if I beat him up, he dies; see how hard he fights."

Coach Guy Boucher, explaining the desperation of penalty killers

Number of the day

22 Games between Dec. 28 and Wednesday, the last two times Vinny Lecavalier, Marty St. Louis and Steven Stamkos scored in the same game

By Dave Zalewski, Times Correspondent
Saturday, February 26, 2011

What's hot: Bottom fishing continues to be very strong in the 40- to 60-foot depths. Because of the grouper-season closure, we have been targeting white grunts, triggerfish and mangrove snapper with tackle downsized to the size of the fish. On recent trips, just about everyone has asked to switch to 10- to 12-pound tackle once they see how much fun and sport it is to target these fish with appropriate tackle. We have always had downsized tackle onboard for children, but now we have regular clients asking for the lighter tackle.

Bait watch: Baitfish are beginning to be seen near the Sunshine Skyway bridge, all over Tampa Bay and in the nearshore waters of the gulf. Scattered reports of Spanish mackerel striking these schools of bait and being caught increase every day.

Temperature watch: Water temperatures near Venice are close to 72 degrees, the temperature that means kingfish, Spanish mackerel, bonita and cobia are in the area.

Dave Zalewski charters the Lucky Too out of Madeira Beach and can be reached at Luckytoo2@aol.com or (727) 397-8815.

By Marc Topkin, Times Staff Writer
Saturday, February 26, 2011

PORT CHARLOTTE — Of all things, Manny Ramirez was nervous.

The Rays were opening the exhibition season Saturday — successfully, it turned out, with a 9-5 win over the Pirates — and Ramirez was playing his first game for them. But still, at 38, in his 19th big-league season, DH-ing in an exhibition, nervous?

"I always get nervous the first game," he said. "Opening day you get kind of butterflies in your stomach."

Manager Joe Maddon, having raved earlier about Ramirez's work ethic, said he took the nerves as another positive.

"That impresses me," Maddon said. "It tells you how much he cares right now, and I think it's actually a good thing."

Ramirez went 1-for-2, singling hard to right after taking two strikes his first at-bat, then flying out. "I wasn't really concerned about getting hits," Ramirez said. "I just want to get the feel, feeling it like the way I was. And I'm getting there."

Fellow newcomer Johnny Damon went 0-for-2.

MORE FIRST IMPRESSIONS: RHP Matt Bush was used in the third inning, which means his bosses wanted to see him face the big-league hitters before they leave the game.

And Bush, a 25-year-old trying to make the Rays as a reliever after dealing with alcohol issues, put on a show, keeping his nerves under control and his fastball low, striking out Andrew McCutchen and Matt Diaz and getting Pedro Alvarez to pop out.

"I had fun," Bush said. "I was excited. I love it. The more guys I can throw against to get my confidence up and to know I can face those guys and have success against them is just, in the long run, going to get me going a lot quicker."

C Robinson Chirinos, acquired from the Cubs in the Matt Garza trade, came up big with four RBIs, delivering a bases-loaded double on an 0-and-2 pitch and later singling in another run. "It was nice to have a first game like that," he said.

PRICE CHECK: The four-pitch walk to former college teammate Pedro Alvarez aside, LHP David Price was relatively happy with his 17-pitch, one-hit inning, and particularly pleased with the 1-and-2 fastball that struck out leadoff man Jose Tabata. "I felt better than I thought I was going to, to be honest," he said.

BOTTOM LINE: RHP Jeff Niemann agreed to a one-year contract for around $950,000, marking a slight pay cut (despite a solid 12-8, 4.39 season) from last season's $1.032 million due to the unusual circumstance of reaching the end of his original big-league contract without being arbitration eligible. The other 26 pre-arbitration players got one-year deals within the standard salary structure, at or slightly above the $414,000 major-league minimum.

GAME DETAILS: After the Pirates took a 2-0 lead against RHP Adam Russell, the Rays tied it on homers by Evan Longoria and Sean Rodriguez, then broke it open with Chirinos' double. … RHP Dirk Hayhurst and Rob Delaney each worked a pair of clean innings.

MISCELLANY: Ramirez is scheduled to play leftfield Monday, with Damon as the DH. … RHP Jeremy Hellickson will be back on the mound to throw a bullpen session for the first time since straining his right hamstring Feb. 17. … RHP Albert Suarez will be sidelined another 1-2 weeks after having exploratory arthroscopic surgery on his bruised left knee.

Times wires
Saturday, February 26, 2011

AVONDALE, Ariz. — Phoenix International Raceway will undergo a transformation almost as soon as the checkers drop on today's Sprint Cup race, a repaving and reconfiguration project scheduled to be completed before NASCAR returns in the fall.

The track needs it. The last repaving was 20 years ago, and the current setup doesn't always make for easy passing.

Necessity doesn't mean everyone's going to like it, though.

Quirky and cracky, Phoenix is fine the way it is for many drivers and crews — especially after one track record after another fell in qualifying this weekend.

"I'm a little disappointed even though it probably has to be done," said Steve Letarte, crew chief for Dale Earnhardt Jr. "I'm a race fan, and it's just an amazing racetrack. The two different ends make the racing good, and the old, worn-out pavement makes it look like the tracks we grew up running on. I know repaves are necessary, but I think they are a necessary evil."

Built nearly 50 years ago, the mile oval is one of the most unusual tracks on the circuit, with vastly different turns at opposite ends and asphalt that has developed all kinds of bumps and cracks since the most recent repave.

The best drivers like those quirks and for the track to be somewhat slick because it puts a premium on driving and setups. The added grip from new asphalt will even the playing field a little and allow drivers and crews a little more room for error while still running fast.

"Definitely disappointed that they needed to resurface the track," said five-time defending Sprint Cup champion Jimmie Johnson, who has four Cup wins at Phoenix. "I understand that at some point all tracks need it, and they are at that point. We love the tracks that are worn out and on the verge of needing to be resurfaced. I think we put on our best races there."

Of course, repaving along with stretching the dogleg out and adding variable banking — among other changes — will make PIR completely different when teams return in November.

"It's going to change the whole outlook when we come back here for a Chase (for the Championship) race with two to go in the fall," driver Kurt Busch said. "It's going to be a roll of the dice, and I think it's smart on NASCAR's part to shake up the Chase a little bit with a new racetrack."

Carl Edwards set a track record Saturday on the last go-round at Phoenix qualifying, hitting 137.279 mph on a day in which 15 drivers eclipsed the record he set last fall. Track records were set in qualifying this weekend for the trucks and Nationwide races as well.

By Rick Stroud, Times Staff Writer
Saturday, February 26, 2011

INDIANAPOLIS — As he was watching Super Bowl XLV a few weeks ago, GM Mark Dominik received the following text message from QB Josh Freeman:

"It's hard to watch this. I want to be there."

Dominik smiled. At a time when many players are sipping umbrella drinks on some beach, Freeman's fire was already raging. Not just because the Bucs missed the playoffs after going 10-6, but because the second-year quarterback felt they had a chance to make a run to the Super Bowl just like the champion Packers.

"I think the encouraging thing is obviously we played pretty good in December. We won three of our last four," Dominik said. "And watching Green Bay get hot, especially on the road, it was tremendous for Green Bay. But it just shows you that I felt our team was getting hot at the right time.

"Green Bay did it all the way through with the injuries they suffered, even in the Super Bowl. I'd love it to be back when the Bays were battling each other again because it was a lot of fun in '97 when (Warren) Sapp and (Brett) Favre were out there getting after each other and Trent Dilfer was throwing the ball around and we're trying to run the ball at Lambeau Field in the second round of the playoffs. I'd like to try and get that rivalry going again."

What particularly eats at Freeman, and the organization, is if they had beaten the Lions at home in overtime to start December, the Packers would've been eliminated from the playoffs with Tampa Bay's win at New Orleans in the final week.

Freeman, 23, had a terrific season with 25 touchdowns and six interceptions. He vows to organize workouts in the event of a lockout. Dominik believes he's the type of player who can carve up teams in the postseason the way Aaron Rodgers did for the Packers.

"I think there's a lot on his shoulders," Dominik said. "I think that's why with some quarterbacks, people go, 'How could that guy not make it?' Because of the volume and the expectations can be such a heavy burden. What makes Josh special is what you know about him and that is nothing is too high or too low, and that's how he handles it.

"What also makes him special is that he texts me during the middle of the Super Bowl and he's sick to his stomach watching the game. That's special because you can see he has such inner drive and just wants to be great. … To have your quarterback text me? That's fantastic."

WAITING GAME: It will be another long summer for LB Barrett Ruud. After being tendered an unrestricted free agent the past two years, he's finally able to test the market as a six-year veteran. But there doesn't appear to be a labor agreement on the horizon, and the Bucs won't do a deal until there is one. Dominik said last week that negotiations with players such as Ruud and G Davin Joseph will be difficult.

"We'll have to see," Dominik said. "All these players we have, with (LBs) Adam Hayward or Quincy Black or Niko Koutou­vides or Barrett Ruud — they all have an opinion of where they want to be at financially as do we. … It's rarely easy. For me, I'm going to consistently stay with those numbers in my mind of what a guy is worth. You have to adjust it because salaries have adjusted over the last five years. But once you've identified that in your head, you have to stay true to it. You can't say, 'Oh, well, what's three-quarters of a million dollars a year, let's just keep the guy.' No, you've got to value the contributions versus the salaries. That's a tough thing because at the end of the day, you know you're going to be lower than what the player wants it to be, so that makes it tough every time."

If Ruud were to sign elsewhere, who is the next man up to play middle linebacker for the Bucs? Former USF star Tyrone McKenzie or Weber State's J.D. Folsom, who was on the practice squad.

OLSON GETS HIS MAN: The Bucs weren't disappointed in the job done by offensive line coach Pete Mangurian last season, particularly with the amount of injuries and multiple lineups.

The Bucs finished eighth in rushing at 125.1 yards per game and protected Freeman well.

But Mangurian was brought in two years ago by then offensive coordinator Jeff Jagodzinski. The Bucs believed Olson should have a chance to hire his own OL coach and the Vikings' Pat Morris had worked with him in both Detroit and San Francisco.

BE LIKE WARREN: Alabama DT Marcell Dareus has never met Sapp, but he grew up idolizing the former Bucs All-Pro.

"I love Warren Sapp," Dareus said. "Watching Warren Sapp really made me want to play football. When they won the Super Bowl, I was in middle school and I started picking it up and accelerating, and I look up to him as a player and a person."

Times wires
Saturday, February 26, 2011

TALLAHASSEE — It looked like a runaway for most of the game, but Florida State needed a clutch basket from its youngest player in the final minute to choke off a furious Miami comeback and win 65-59.

Former Clearwater High standout Okaro White, 18, a freshman starting in place of injured Chris Singleton, sank a 10-foot jumper with 31 seconds left Saturday that gave the Seminoles a 64-59 lead after Malcolm Grant's 3-pointer 25 seconds earlier got the Hurricanes within 62-59.

"I'd gotten a charge the last time I tried that (drive to the basket), so I had to pull up and take the jump shot," said the 6-foot-8, 200-pound White, who led the Seminoles (20-8, 10-4 ACC) with seven rebounds and tied Deividas Dulkys for the team high with 17 points.

White hit 6 of 11 shots, and Dulkys made 4 of 8 3-pointers.

"He stepped it up when we needed him," Dulkys said about White. "He's a very good player. You can't count him as a freshman."

Grant led Miami with 19 points, and 6-10, 300-pound center Reggie Johnson added 17 points and 12 rebounds.

Miami fought back from a 22-point first-half deficit but couldn't overcome 31.7 percent shooting (20-of-63).

"We didn't match their intensity to start that ball game," Miami coach Frank Haith said. "They jumped out on us. We were fighting uphill the rest of the game."

FSU won for the second time in three games since losing Singleton, its scoring leader this season, to a broken right foot. It reached 20 wins overall and 10 in the ACC for the third straight season.

FSU led by double figures through much of the contest, including 61-50 with 4:06 left.

The Seminoles took a 16-2 lead on their way to a 36-16 halftime cushion and a fifth straight victory over Miami. Miami's 16 points at the break were the fewest FSU has allowed in the first half this season.

"In the first half, we played about as flawless of a defense effort as I've seen us play," FSU coach Leonard Hamilton said.

By Bryan Burns, Times Staff Writer
Saturday, February 26, 2011

TAMPA — Jeremy Criscione would have happily accepted completing Saturday's 34th annual Gasparilla Distance Classic 15-kilometer race in the middle of the pack as long as the trade-off was no further damage to his oft-injured body.

Where he finished seemed insignificant, given the prior 10 months of rehab just to regain his fitness to able to compete.

Criscione, a cross country and track runner for Florida whose eligibility with the Gators expired last year, suffered a stress reaction in his leg in May that sidelined him for most of the summer. Then, five months later, he pulled his groin in the second workout back from the injury.

Saturday's 15K was Criscione's first competitive race in almost a year. It was merely going to be a test run.

He passed, with room to spare.

The 23-year-old Bartow resident pulled away from Andrew Letherby in Mile 6 of the 9.3-mile race and ran unchallenged to the finish to win in 46 minutes, 22 seconds.

"I still have a long way to go until I'm completely back from injury," Criscione said. "I feel great; it's just getting in shape. (The 15K) was a little bit of a stretch. We didn't know how much it was going to take out of me being so soon. But I'm happy."

Letherby, 37, of Clearwater trailed Criscione by 43 seconds, taking second in 47:05.

Austin Richmond, last year's 15K champion, ran 30 seconds behind his winning pace for third in 47:19.

Criscione and Letherby broke ahead of the field around the 3-mile mark and ran nearly step-for-step until Mile 6, when Criscione made his move and the challenger couldn't keep up.

"I didn't know what pace felt like because I haven't done any real extended pace work," Criscione said. "I was just kind of out there feeling out for a little bit."

Despite his limited training for the 15K, Criscione widened the gap over Letherby over the final 3 miles.

"I didn't know if I was going to be ready in time for this," Criscione said. "Just came into it with an open mind to see how I could do. … I'm glad to be back racing."

Briana Whaley's race was almost a carbon copy of the one she ran last year to win the women's 15K. The 32-year-old Clearwater resident crossed the finish with the same time of 54:05.

She also came away with the same result: the women's championship.

Whaley outkicked Apollo Beach resident and former Academy of the Holy Names runner Sara Petrick for the second year in a row, this time by 54 seconds. Whaley even started breaking away from Petrick at about the same place (Mile 7) on the Bayshore Boulevard course.

"I think last year (Whaley) was leading and just kind of took off," Petrick said. "This year I was in the lead, and then she came up behind me and passed me with about a 5K left. … I couldn't answer the call."

Whaley, who competed for Virginia Commonwealth University, was unsure how she would perform with the field gunning for her title.

"Usually if I win a race, I never get to go back because it's so far away," Whaley said. "So there was a lot of pressure coming back this time. The returning champion, I've never had to deal with that before."

Because Criscione and Whaley are both local runners, they each earned $2,000 in prize money for their victories.

The men's 5K also crowned a repeat winner as Brooksville's Ben Martucci broke the tape in 14:53. Martucci, 22, set a personal record by five seconds. A year ago, he ran 15:02 here.

"No one went out with me. I figured that was going to happen, so I had to run all by myself," said Martucci, a former standout at Hernando High and current senior track and cross country runner at Florida Southern. "But you got to do what you got to do."

James Osborne, a 22-year-old Lutz resident who competed in high school for Jesuit, was second in the 5K (15:30). Osborne and Martucci used to compete on the high school circuit but hadn't run head-to-head in about four years.

"He was my rival back in high school," Martucci said. "He always beat me by a few seconds."

The 5K female champion still attends high school. Kari Grippo, a 14-year-old freshman at Gulf, held the lead virtually from start to finish to win in her first appearance at the Gasparilla 5K.

"I had a really big lead the first 1.5 miles, and then one of the girls from (Florida State) kind of came up on me and she only got about (a foot) ahead of me," Grippo said. "But then I heard people saying, 'You got to go. You got to go.' And I heard everyone saying, 'First female.' And that kind of pumped me up to finish all the way through."

Grippo, a Hudson resident, grabbed the lead for good 2 miles in to win in 18:11. The 2010 winner, 21-year-old Bree McArdle of Tallahassee, was second in 18:16.

"I was actually going for top-10 female because I heard this is a really prestigious kind of race," Grippo said. "I'm ecstatic that I got first place."

Times wires
Saturday, February 26, 2011

LAKELAND — Tigers first baseman Miguel Cabrera may play his first spring game Monday against the Yankees after his Feb. 16 arrest on a charge of drunken driving.

"He will not play" today, manager Jim Leyland said. "Monday's more a possibility, but I'm not sure about Monday, either."

Leyland said Cabrera had an "excellent" workout Saturday under first-base coach Tom Brookens' guidance at the Tigers' spring camp in Lakeland, but, "truth be told, I don't want to get second-guessed (about playing Cabrera too soon). …

"I'm not going to put him out there for one day and do something crazy."

Leyland said he will meet with Cabrera, head trainer Kevin Rand and strength and conditioning coordinator Javair Gillett before making a final decision on when to put Cabrera in the lineup. Cabrera came in second in AL MVP voting last season.

He was arrested in Fort Pierce, about 110 miles from Lakeland. Police said they approached Cabrera's car, broken down on the side of the road, and smelled alcohol on his breath and that he took a gulp from a bottle of scotch in front of an officer.

NEW GIG FOR TORRE: Commissioner Bud Selig hired former player and manager Joe Torre as MLB's executive vice president for baseball operations.

In what Selig called "a very critical appointment," Torre, 70, will oversee major-league operations, onfield discipline, umpiring and other areas. He also said Torre would be one of baseball's representatives to general managers and field managers.

Torre won four World Series titles with the Yankees during a 29-year career as a manager. He retired after last season after three years with the Dodgers.

"I retired from managing, and when I did, I made mention that I still have the energy to work. Really, baseball has been a huge part of my life. I just would like to do something significant," Torre said. "This fills the bill, no question about it."

GUILLEN RIPS EX-CLOSER: White Sox manager Ozzie Guillen responded to comments by former closer Bobby Jenks, saying he feels bad for the new Red Sox reliever.

In an interview with the Chicago Tribune, Jenks was critical of the White Sox front office.

Initially attempting to hold back, Guillen ended up talking about the situation for more than seven minutes.

"First of all, he can't make any comments about last year because he was never in the clubhouse. He spent more time in his house than he was in the clubhouse," Guillen jabbed. "The only thing I can say is I feel bad for him because I think the way we treated this kid, just the White Sox, myself, our front office people … we helped him a lot, on the field and off the field."

INDIANS: Free agent reliever Chad Durbin is close to agreeing to a one-year contract. Durbin, 33, spent the past three seasons with the Phillies.

NATIONALS: Right-hander Chien-Ming Wang, 30, who missed last season while recovering from shoulder surgery, will make his spring training debut Friday.

ORIOLES: Second baseman Brian Roberts returned to practice after missing three straight days with a stiff neck. … Right-hander Justin Duchscherer was held out of workouts because of hip soreness.

RANGERS: Right-hander Brandon Webb is scheduled to pitch off a mound today for the first time in 10 days. Webb, 31, hasn't pitched in the majors since the 2009 season opener for Arizona because of shoulder surgery.

REDS: Right-hander Edinson Volquez will miss today's spring opener because of problems with his work visa.

ROYALS: Rookie right-hander Henry Barrera received good news after an MRI exam of his aching right elbow detected no structural damage. Barrera, 25, threw three pitches in an intrasquad game Friday before walking off the mound in pain.

By John Romano, Times Sports Columnist
Saturday, February 26, 2011

TAMPA

The podium was obviously not designed for a man of this size. Even if he leans slightly forward, the stationary microphone remains far from his mouth, making his words sound almost hushed in the large ballroom.

In a way, it makes sense, for it was hard to know what to expect when David Price showed up. Many already know him as a Cy Young Award contender. And some may have heard about him as a clubhouse goofball. But David Price as a motivational speaker? This is something the world has yet to see.

So as he stares out at the crowd of 200 or so in a luxury Tampa hotel, the 6-foot-6 left-hander admits the thought of this moment had left him terrified earlier in the week.

"I'm still a little scared right now," Price begins, "but we're going to get through this."

He is here because he was asked. Because he believed in the cause of Black, Brown & College Bound, an organization dedicated to helping African-American and Hispanic males fulfill their college dreams.

He is here because he decided some time ago that one of the surcharges of celebrity is the obligation to use it for a greater good.

And so he begins talking, never glancing down at the handwritten bullet points on the note card in front of him. He sounds hesitant and unsure. He also sounds real and sincere.

Price never mentions he was on the mound when Tampa Bay won Game 7 of the 2008 American League Championship Series and advanced to the World Series. He never talks about starting ahead of Cliff Lee and Andy Pettitte in the 2010 All-Star Game.

He doesn't talk about being on the cover of Sports Illustrated or being the No. 1 pick in the 2007 draft. He doesn't mention the time Tommy Lasorda called his home and offered a ransom's worth of cash when the Dodgers made a run at him out of high school.

Instead, Price talks about his pursuit of a sociology degree at Vanderbilt. How, since signing an $8.5 million contract with the Rays in '07, he has completed another 17 credit hours and is a semester shy of graduation.

"I was 18 years old, and I had a chance to sign, I guess, for around $1 million. For an 18-year-old, that's a ton of money. That's money I wanted right then and there," Price said. "But I sat down and talked with my parents. I told them I didn't think I was ready.

"I wasn't a man. I wasn't mature enough to play (professional) baseball. I was still a little boy. My mom did my laundry. She made all of my food. She did everything for me. I wasn't ready to be in the real world by myself.

"That was the best decision I ever made, to not (sign) out of high school and go to college."

A day later, he will talk about the impact of looking out at a roomful of faces that were not so different from his own. At 25, he already has earned more money than most people will make in a lifetime, but he is not far removed from his days as a full-time student.

That's what he saw when he addressed the audience during this speech and afterward when he stayed to pose for pictures and sign autographs. The same kind of expectant and eager and hopeful faces he once wore.

Now that he is away from the crowd, he talks more about growing up in a small town in Tennessee collecting David Justice baseball cards. About leaning over the rail at the big-league ballpark in Atlanta trying to get his hero's autograph.

"When I'm walking by a group of kids, I try to remember that. I try to think about what it was like when I was a kid and how much it meant to me," Price said. "It's a big responsibility being in this position. I'm under a microscope both on and off the field, and I have to remember that whenever I'm making decisions."

He has been this way from the moment he arrived in Tampa Bay. Even as a rookie in 2008, when he had less than 10 big-league appearances on his resume, Rays officials knew they could depend on Price no matter what the situation.

So the Rays put the ball in Price's hand to get the final four outs with a 3-1 lead in Game 7 of the ALCS that October. And a week later, on the morning of Game 5 of the World Series, it was Price they approached when a Philadelphia-area hospital asked if a player might stop by to visit a young boy with cancer.

"He has his 13-year-old moments, and he has his 30-year-old moments. And I love that about him," manager Joe Maddon said. "He's like a big kid, but he transforms when the moment calls for it. A lot of players give you lip service about wanting to be the best. With David, it's no joke. He really is driven to be the best."

Back in the ballroom, Price is still going. His day began 11 hours earlier in the clubhouse in Port Charlotte, included a 100-mile drive to Tampa, the speech and now a question-and-answer period with another 100-mile trip back to Port Charlotte still to come.

The session is winding down when someone asks how his experiences in baseball can be applied to real life. And for the first time, Price is stumped.

It never occurs to him that he is immersed in the answer. That baseball and his life have become intertwined and impossible to separate.

He is wealthy, famous and cele­brated in baseball because he cared enough to make it happen. And he is here in a ballroom of strangers for the same reason.

By Damian Cristodero, Times Staff Writer
Saturday, February 26, 2011

Lightning coach Guy Boucher and his players like to say they don't worry about the standings, a fine sentiment, as far as it goes. But the truth is, where Tampa Bay finishes in the Eastern Conference will have a huge effect on the road it takes in the playoffs.

Win the Southeast Division and the road looks a lot smoother. Let the Capitals slip past and there are potholes to avoid.

If the playoffs began before Saturday's games, the Lightning, as Southeast leader, would be the No. 2 seed. Its opponent in the first round would be the seventh-seeded Rangers. The series would be a blast, with crazy media hype around Tampa Bay facing former coach John Tortorella. Can you imagine Torts telling Boucher to shut his yap?

The series would not be easy. New York is hard-working. But the Lightning is 3-0-0 against it, though only one win was in regulation.

Other possible opponents, assuming the Lightning remains the second seed, include the Canadiens, against whom it is 2-0, and the Hurricanes, against whom it is 2-1.

But let's say Tampa Bay finishes second in the division behind the Capitals. Based on standings entering Saturday, the Lightning would be the No. 5 seed. Its opponent: the fourth-seeded Penguins.

This is a trickier call. Pittsburgh has been decimated by injuries, especially by the losses of Sidney Crosby, out with a concussion, and Evgeni Malkin, lost for the season with a knee injury.

Still, the Penguins have won two of three over the Lightning, and in their two victories, they have outscored it 13-2. In an 8-1 win Jan. 5, Crosby and Malkin had one goal and an assist between them, so the Penguins can be potent without them.

That's not saying the Lightning can't beat the Penguins, or any other team, in a series. It's just that by winning the Southeast, it has a better chance of facing teams against which it matches up better, even in the second round.

Tampa Bay has achieved more than anyone anticipated. It would be a shame if it put itself at a disadvantage by not paying attention to the standings.

By Rick Stroud, Times staff writer
Saturday, February 26, 2011

INDIANAPOLIS — Buffalo Bills defensive end Arthur Moats will always be known as the guy who ended the consecutive-games streak of legendary quarterback Brett Favre at 297.

An unheralded sixth-round pick last year out of James Madison, Moats injured Favre's right throwing shoulder with a crushing hit in a game in December, rendering him inactive the next week against the New York Giants.

But Moats' performance also left a big imprint on the kind of players the Bucs will begin to consider in the NFL draft.

At 6 feet, 252 pounds, Moats was considered too small to be a defensive end in a traditional 4-3 scheme. But he excelled as a 3-4 linebacker who could also rush the passer, finishing with 2½ sacks.

In the past, Bucs scouts were told not to evaluate those kinds of "tweeners."

But with coach Raheem Morris incorporating so many multiple fronts as defensive coordinator, including more 3-4 looks, those hybrid players are in play this year for Tampa Bay in the NFL draft.

"Raheem's flexibility of what he wants to do has really helped our draft board be more fluid then most clubs I think," general manager Mark Dominik said.

"It helps us now really open up the board more, and we love it. We've always had a hard time figuring out these tweener guys, and we just take them off our board and don't get them. So it's disappointing. This keeps those guys alive, and I feel like a lot more teams keep going back to the 3-4, which is great because it also opens up some of those (4-3) guys as well."

It's no secret the Bucs' biggest need is for a passer rusher after their 26 sacks last season, tied with Jacksonville for 30th in the 32-team league.

A year ago in the draft, the Bucs loaded up at defensive tackle, using the No. 3 overall choice on Oklahoma's Gerald McCoy and their first of two second-rounders on UCLA's Brian Price.

Fate has smiled on the Bucs again because this year's draft is rich at defensive end with half a dozen or so that could go in the first round.

But after going 10-6, Tampa Bay isn't slotted to make a selection in April's draft until the 20th pick.

The player linked to the Bucs the most in various mock drafts is Purdue defensive end Ryan Kerrigan.

Considering his production and pedigree, Tampa Bay might be lucky if he were still around. Kerrigan played all four years and was incredibly consistent, finishing with 33 sacks, the second-most in school history. What's more, Kerrigan was a team captain, not unlike two other Bucs defensive linemen, Roy Miller from Texas and Southern Cal's Kyle Moore.

"I've been able to put together some solid seasons back to back, and I think my production overall, and I was a captain … will speak volumes for some of the scouts," Kerrigan said Saturday from the NFL scouting combine.

"I've heard all the speculation (with Tampa Bay) and stuff, but that's just speculation until draft day."

Morris doesn't care how the Bucs pressure the quarterback, so long as they do a better job of putting him on the ground.

McCoy demonstrated great versatility as a rookie, playing outside when the Bucs went to a 3-4 alignment. Linebacker Quincy Black, at 240 pounds, was effective as a stand-up pass rusher in those situations.

In the past, the Bucs might not have looked twice at a player like Texas defensive end Sam Acho, who at 6-3, 260 is being considered by teams wanting to convert him to a 3-4 outside linebacker.

"I'm so used to seeing the game as a defensive end, it will be totally different seeing it as a linebacker and probably playing it a little slower with my hand off the ground," Acho said. "I think it'll be a little different, but I think I can make the transition smoothly."

In fact, versatility is in full display among pass rushers projected to go in the first round, whether it's Clemson's Da'Quan Bowers, who could also play linebacker in a 3-4, or Ohio State's Cameron Heyward, who can play defensive end or defensive tackle in a 4-3.

Whether it's in the first round or the seventh, the Bucs will keep an open mind this year when evaluating pass rushers.

"We would never spend the necessary amount of time on (tweeners)," Dominik said. "But now they're all in play again."

By Marc Topkin, Times Staff Writer
Saturday, February 26, 2011

PORT CHARLOTTE — Manager Joe Maddon has a new cause.

Having worked extensively to help the homeless in the Tampa Bay area through his Thanksmas charity program, Maddon has now set his sights on his hometown of Hazleton, Pa.

In short, he wants to help integrate the growing Hispanic population (in excess of 10,000) into a seemingly reluctant old-school community to help keep the whole city from dying.

After meeting with Hispanic families during his holiday visit home, Maddon said he realized the Dominicans and Puerto Ricans and other Hispanics there now are following the same path the European immigrants, including his own family, did generations ago but are not being welcomed.

"It's exactly what we looked like 50, 60, 70 years ago. … There's no difference, and I think that's where the people back home are losing sight, or our memories are too short," Maddon said. "And at that moment, it slapped me in the face exactly what we needed — these people want to work, they want to help our city thrive, and they want something better for themselves. … "

Eventually, Maddon would like to see the Hispanics opening restaurants and stores to revitalize the city. But his first steps will be more general, to make the Hispanics feel welcome and to raise awareness and some funding.

He hopes to bring in several Hispanic Rays for a postseason visit and wants to host a showing of the movie It's a Wonderful Life and stage a Thanksmas meal event. With the help of his wife, Jaye, and other relatives who still live in Hazleton, he hopes to find funding for the purchase of a community center, where Hispanic kids could gather after school to stay out of trouble and adults can take English classes.

"Let's take advantage of these good people and help them assimilate into the community because otherwise the city is going to go away as far as I can tell," he said. "It's going to be a very lackluster place to live and not attract anything dynamic. I think these people have a chance to make it a dynamic area."

RAYS RUMBLINGS: Among the themed dress-up road trips being planned: skinny jeans. … Maddon was ranked MLB's fifth-best manager by the Boston Globe's Nick Cafardo. … After putting seven Rays prospects in its top 100, Baseball America also raved about LHP Alex Torres, calling him "the most unsung player in the deep Rays system." BA editors weren't kind to SS Tim Beckham, saying "there doesn't appear to be any argument" to place him among the top 300 prospects. … The Rays are planning to travel twice this season by train between New York and Boston. … ESPN's Buster Olney ranked the Rays' early season scheduled as the seventh easiest among AL teams.

Times wires
Saturday, February 26, 2011

TAMPA — Chase Utley says there's no reason for alarm. After his injury-plagued 2010, Phillies fans may need some convincing.

The five-time All-Star second baseman sat out his second straight exhibition game Saturday with leg and knee soreness, and he's not expected to play in today's spring home opener against the Yankees.

Manager Charlie Manuel insisted that this is normal for early spring training and that Utley is not hurt.

"He's getting better," Manuel said. "He's fine. He just has some soreness in his legs. He'll be better in a couple of days."

It's still unusual for a player to miss time early in the spring for general soreness.

Utley, who did not make the trip to Tampa for Saturday's game against the Yankees, was cheerful but coy when talking about his condition with reporters.

"If there's cause for concern, you'll be the first to know," he said.

Utley, who has been arguably the Phillies' best player during their run of four NL East titles, played in only 115 games last season thanks to a torn thumb ligament that required surgery.

HAMELS STRONG: LHP Cole Hamels allowed one unearned run over two innings in Philadelphia's 5-4 victory over the Yankees. He struck out two, walked one and hit a batter during his 33-pitch outing. "It's fun any time games start," Hamels said. "It's a lot better than practices. Getting the hitters in there, getting the game rolling. That's something that's very hard to simulate. It was good."

Yanks: Opening bid

TAMPA — Veteran RHP Bartolo Colon, bidding for one of two open spots in the Yankees rotation, was pleased with his outing after he gave up one run and two hits in two innings against the Phillies.

Colon, 37, who has been out of the majors since 2009, threw 23 of 36 pitches for strikes.

"I thought it was a good first step," Colon said through an interpreter. "I'm going to continue working hard and see what happens."

Colon was released by the White Sox in September 2009 after going 3-6 with a 4.19 ERA in 12 starts. He is competing with RHPs Freddy Garcia, Ivan Nova and Sergio Mitre for one of the final two rotation spots behind LHP CC Sabathia and RHPs Phil Hughes and A.J. Burnett.

BOSS HONORED: Former Yankees owner George Steinbrenner, who died in July at age 80, was honored before the game. The ceremony included Steinbrenner's wife, Joan, and daughters, Jennifer Steinbrenner Swindal and Jessica Steinbrenner, placing roses on the interlocking N.Y. behind home plate. Steinbrenner's granddaughter, Haley Swindal, sang the national anthem.

Jays: It's early

DUNEDIN — Brett Cecil knows he has work to do.

The left-hander, 24, expected to be the Blue Jays' No. 3 starter this season, allowed a run on three hits while striking out one over two innings in a 4-0 loss to the Tigers. He escaped a first-inning jam then allowed a run in the second on a Brandon Inge double and two groundouts.

"It feels all right," Cecil told MLB.com. "Every pitch was on the opposite part of the plate than where I wanted it. I left balls up. (My) changeup was real flat, straight in there. But it was the first time out.

"The first couple of starts, it (is) all just about getting back into the rhythm of things. There's only so much you can do in bullpens. But once you get out there and face live hitters, things start to click for the better."

Cecil last year was 15-7 with a 4.22 ERA in his first full season in the majors.

By Damian Cristodero, Times Staff Writer
Saturday, February 26, 2011

NEW YORK — For Mike Smith, Friday's 13-hour drive from Norfolk, Va., to Tampa, in a packed car with pregnant wife Brigitte and golden retriever Berkley, was anything but relaxing.

The ride itself was fine, though Smith mostly stayed behind the wheel rather than fold his 6-foot-4 frame into a passenger seat pushed forward because of all the stuff in the back.

It was the uncertainty that drove him to distraction. Smith, with AHL Norfolk since Feb. 5, was on re-entry waivers. If he got through, he would be back with the Lightning. If claimed, he would be with his third team in four years. "My mind was in a million places," Smith said. "I was like, 'Where am I going? Where am I going to be?' I have a new family. It's a lot to go through mentally."

In contrast, convincing the Lightning — and any other team shopping for a free agent goalie this summer — that he is worth a look is straightforward. "You just have to do your job and play up to your capability," said Smith, who was not claimed and is Dwayne Roloson's backup. "When I do that, I'm tough to beat."

Smith, 28, acquired in February 2008 from the Stars in the Brad Richards deal and whose two-year, $4.4 million contract runs out after the season, has reason to be confident.

He was 1-4-0 with Norfolk, but his 1.83 goals-against average and .924 save percentage indicate he played well. And though his numbers with Tampa Bay are uneven (10-5-0 with a too-high 3.20 goals-against average and too-low .883 save percentage), he was solid in his last two games before being demoted.

"One thing about Mike, his work ethic is always impeccable," goaltenders coach Frantz Jean said. "The games he played (in Norfolk) … he managed the pace of the play very well by having very effective rebound control. He gave them a chance to win every night."

Less thinking and more just stopping the puck was a big adjustment, Smith said. Not that he's throwing out his fundamental base: "That has been a huge part of my career, and I still take pride in that. But when it comes to games, sometimes your instincts have to take over."

"That's the challenge for any athlete," Jean said. "I'm not going to say 'Just react,' because you still have to be conscious of what you're doing. But it's more of a deliberate delivery. I think he's found that comfort zone. Now he just has to exploit it."

With Roloson expected to start today against the Rangers in New York and Wednesday against the Devils in Newark, N.J., Smith's first start likely will be Thursday at Boston. The last time Smith played there, Dec. 2, he allowed five goals on 22 shots before being pulled in an 8-1 loss.

Teammates are confident. "I believe in him," captain Vinny Lecavalier said. "I always have."

As for Smith, what came before or that he is auditioning for next season's job is just white noise.

"I'm just excited about being back here, back with the guys who I've gotten so close to and helping this team win," he said.

"He was like a dog wagging his tail coming back in," coach Guy Boucher said. "When you lose something, sometimes you realize how much you had. I think he's at that stage right now."

Minor moves: Left wing Johan Harju was reassigned to AHL Norfolk, and goalie Curtis McElhinney was put on waivers.

By Marc Topkin, Times Staff Writer
Saturday, February 26, 2011

PORT CHARLOTTE — Reid Brignac is ready.

He is sure, and all the Rays around him are, too, that after six years as a prospect and 2010 as an apprentice he can handle taking over as their primary shortstop. "This is my year to prove that I can do this every day," he said. "I believe this is what I'm supposed to do."

He is 25, as Louisiana as they come and one of the most important replacements the Rays are depending on.

Reid Brignac is some other things, too.

He is extremely self-confident, which his father, Phillip, said has always been the case, and his bosses applaud and he says he has to be.

"If you don't believe in yourself, who else is going to believe in you?" he said.

But it's so much that, even his friends acknowledge, it could come across as almost too much.

"He carries himself a little higher than most want or expect, but by far he's not only a great player but an unbelievable friend," teammate Sean Rodriguez said. "He's unique because with that much confidence you'd think it would be tough to want to talk to him, but it's not at all. It's the complete opposite. He's real humble with everyone. He's harmless."

He dated a Playboy Playmate, Lauren Anderson (Miss July 2002, and be careful on Google) for a year and a half but is single now, preferring to concentrate on baseball.

He is as fearless as most 25-year-old pro athletes are, but he won't swim in the ocean or the gulf for fear of sharks (though he loves to fish) and isn't much for snakes and spiders.

He throws, writes and hits a golf ball right-handed but swings left-handed (after giving up switch-hitting at 13) and eats both ways — and often when it's Cajun food.

He has a soft side, something of a southern gentleman in cleats. When he got his first tattoo this offseason, it was his maternal grandparents' names (Naomi and J.E. Caskey) and the date they were killed in a car accident (June 2, 1989), in script on the left side of his chest, over his heart.

"Some guys go get a random … tattoo; I'm not that type of person," he said. "I'm not going to put something on my body for the rest of my life if it didn't significantly mean something to me. They were close to me, and my mom still gets extremely upset around holidays because her parents aren't around, so it's kind of for her, too."

He is usually in the middle of it when there are players gathered in the clubhouse, and you can usually hear him, laughing, talking or trying to rap.

"He's Cajun to the bone, so I guess he don't meet too many strangers," his father said. "That's just the way we are. We're pretty social people."

He hangs out with the black players on the team so often that, B.J. Upton said, they jokingly call him White Chocolate and the Light-Skinned Brother.

He was always the little kid playing with the big ones, starting T-ball at 3 against those rough-and-tumble 5-year-olds, through high school where he was the younger brother hanging out with Ryan, who was 3 years older, and his friends, a competitive cuss the whole time. "You can't be the young guy and be tentative or scared to make a mistake," he said. "I learned that at a young age."

He has gotten a lot better as he rose through the minors, especially defense that was so rough Rays officials started asking if he should be moved from shortstop. But with hard work, and lots of help from Rays coaches at every level, he made what executive vice president Andrew Friedman termed "staggering" improvement to above-average overall, with hands manager Joe Maddon says are as good as anyone in the league.

And though his offense still needs some improvement, specifically in plate discipline, the adjustments he has made in his swing already, Maddon said, "are incredible."

He was headed to LSU on a scholarship out of St. Amant High School — where he also played football (wide receiver) and hoops (point guard), earned academic honors with a 3.5 GPA and was named Mr. St. Amant as a senior — but would sign if he were drafted in the first or second round, which he was by the Rays, 45th overall.

He has shown the kind of poise and leadership the Rays value and, Friedman said, a drive to be great with makeup and competitive desire for success that are "off the charts."

He has been a winner, as nine of the 11 pro teams he has been on have gone to the playoffs, and he has had only one losing season.

He is ready.

Marc Topkin can be reached at topkin@sptimes.com.

By Marc Topkin, Times Staff Writer
Saturday, February 26, 2011

Radio silence of the day

David Price figured he'd catch a lot of grief after taunting former Vanderbilt teammate and roommate (and current Pirate) Pedro Alvarez for weeks that he'd hit him in Saturday's opener then failing to even throw the ball over the plate, issuing a four-pitch walk. "I'm not going to answer the phone or respond to any texts from him," Price said.

Rays at Pirates

When/where: 1:05 today; McKechnie Field, 1611 9th St. W, Bradenton

Radio: 620-AM

Tickets: $10-20, available by calling (877) 293-2827, via pirates.com and at the stadium.

Rays information: Toll-free 1-888-326-7297 (FAN-RAYS)

Pitchers: Rays — James Shields, Brian Baker, Jonah Bayliss, Chris Bootcheck, Richard De Los Santos, Brandon Gomes, Alex Torres; Pirates — Kevin Correia, Brian Burres, Joel Hanrahan, Joe Beimel, Jose Veras, Tony Watson, Chris Leroux

Heads- up

Most of the big-name players, besides starter James "Big Game" Shields, aren't on the trip; those who are include RF Matt Joyce, CF Desmond Jennings, C Kelly Shoppach and 1B Casey Kotchman.

Who is this Ray?

He was drafted by the Rays out of high school but opted for college ball instead. He shared an apartment there with two future MLB All-Stars. He is an avid golfer, with a 10 handicap.

On deck

Monday: Pirates, 1:05. Rays — RHP Jeff Niemann; Pirates — RHP Bryan Morris

Tuesday: at Orioles (Sarasota), 1:05. Rays — TBA; Orioles — TBA

Wednesday: at Blue Jays (Dunedin), 1:05. Rays — TBA; Blue Jays — TBA

Upcoming schedule

March

3: Yankees

4: at Twins

5: Twins

6: at Phillies (ss)

7: at Pirates

8: Jays

9: Jays; and vs. Netherlands at Al Lang

10: Red Sox

11: Pirates

12: at Phillies (ss)

13: at Jays

14: Off

15: Marlins

16: at Marlins

17: at Yankees, 7:05

18: Red Sox (ss), 7:05

19: at Twins

20: Orioles

21: Yankees, 7:05

22: at Red Sox, 7:05

23: Phillies

24: at Astros

25: Pirates

26: Orioles

27: at Pirates

28: at Yankees, 7:05

29: at Red Sox

30: vs. Jays at Tropicana Field, 4:10

Who is this Ray answer: LHP Cesar Ramos

Marc Topkin, Times staff writer

Quotes of the day

"He's kind of Mr. February/March."

Manager Joe Maddon on Sean Rodriguez, who homered Saturday after hitting .460 with six homers last spring

"He should be in the spring training Hall of Fame."

RHP James Shields, on the same

Tribute of the day

Rays players and coaches wore St. Petersburg police caps for the game in honor of the three slain officers, and also observed a moment of silence. Stadium flags were at half-mast. "It's a small token from our perspective," manager Joe Maddon said. "Our tip of the cap to the entire force."

Playing around

CF B.J. Upton was the big winner at Friday's charity golf tournament, leading his knickers-clad team to victory and claiming the long-drive competition with a blast of 375 yards. "Now," Upton said, "if I could just hit a baseball that far."