By Marc Topkin, Times Staff Writer
Wednesday, June 8, 2011
Today: Off
Next game: at Orioles, 7:05 Friday, Camden Yards, Baltimore
TV/radio: Sun Sports; 620-AM, 680-AM (Spanish)
Probable starting pitchers
RAYS:
RH Jeremy Hellickson (7-3, 2.64)
ORIOLES:
RH Jake Arrieta (7-3, 4.93)
On deck
Saturday: at Orioles, 7:05, Sun Sports. Rays — David Price (6-5, 3.52); O's — Jeremy Guthrie (2-8, 3.71)
Sunday: at Orioles, 1:35, Sun Sports. Rays — Wade Davis (4-5, 4.71); O's — Brian Matusz (1-0, 2.45)
Monday: at Tigers (makeup), 7:05, Sun Sports. Rays — Alex Cobb (1-0, 4.24); Tigers — Phil Coke (1-5, 3.81)
Draft tidbits: Local yokels
Three of the Rays' picks are local products: OF Granden Goetzman, Palmetto High, 2nd round, 75th overall; 2B Jonathan Koscso, USF, 29th round, No. 900; C Michael Bourdon, University of Tampa, 42nd round, No. 1,290.
Good pedigree
Two draft picks are the sons of former big-leaguers:
• 1B Cameron Seitzer, 11th round, son of Kevin, who played 12 seasons for the Royals, Brewers, Jays, A's and Indians and is currently the Royals hitting coach.
• LHP Brandon Liebrandt, 48th round, son of Charlie, who pitched 14 seasons for the Reds, Royals, Braves and Rangers, going 140-119, 3.71.
Late-night fun and games
The Rays tried to make the best of their overnight flight to Baltimore with a sleepwear-themed dress code. Players seemed to be opting for sweats and T-shirts, with video coordinator Chris Fernandez among the most stylish with a Hugh Hefner/Playboy theme — red smoking jacket and silk pajamas. Equipment manager Chris Westmoreland had full-sized "footie" pajamas, with a monkey print. "A one-sie," he said.
When it's going bad …
Not only was 3B Evan Longoria too sick to play, he went back to the hotel to rest but couldn't watch the first two games because the hotel didn't get the right channel. "That made it even tougher," he said. "I was kind of going back and forth between my computer and watching the box score on ESPN. ''