By Joe Smith, Times Staff Writer
Thursday, March 3, 2011
Numbers game
With Ben Zobrist wanting to hang on to No. 18, Johnny Damon went back in time picking No. 22, citing a couple of Hall of Famers, Clyde Drexler (basketball) and Emmitt Smith (football), and former pitcher Roger Clemens (with the Yankees). "A few guys I looked up to right there," he said.
Dollar daze
Damon said that DH Manny Ramirez is the "exact same" as when they played together in Boston, but, given his $2 million salary now, with one difference: "He's got to be a little cheaper this year; I think he's going to count on me to take him out to lunch and dinner a little more."
Quote of the day
"He's the only Carlos left right now. He is lost without 'Los."
Joe Maddon, Rays manager, joking about LHP Alex Torres, who looks like former Ray 1B Carlos Peña, now with the Cubs
Idea of the day
After the Rays' 1-1 tie with the Yankees in 10 innings Thursday, Maddon jokingly suggested baseball should have a home run derby to settle tie games in spring training.
"Take the hockey concept," Maddon said. "Have your two best power hitters, take one of the coaches, come out and throw some nice (batting practice pitches). I think the fans may enjoy something like that."
Rays at Twins
When/where: 1:05 today; Hammond Stadium, 14100 Six Mile Cypress Parkway, Fort Myers
Tickets: Reserved seats $23-$39, lawn seating $13-$16. Can be purchased via Twinsbaseball.com, by calling (toll-free 1-800-338-9467) or at the Hammond Stadium box office.
Rays information: Toll-free 1-888-326-7297 (FAN-RAYS)
Pitchers: Rays — Alex Torres, Mike Ekstrom, Dane De La Rosa, Rob Delaney; Twins — Kevin Slowey, Joe Nathan, Jose Mijares, Yorman Bazardo, Carlos Gutierrez, Kyle Gibson
Heads-up
3B Evan Longoria, SS Reid Brignac, Ben Zobrist and CF B.J. Upton will be in the lineup.
Who is this Ray?
He began his career as an infielder with the A's in 1997 but converted to a pitcher and was acquired by Tampa Bay as a free agent this offseason. He earned the nickname of El Campeon, Spanish for champion, by Maddon, who was with him in the Angels' organization.
On deck
Saturday: Twins, 1:05. Rays — Andy Sonnanstine; Twins — Nick Blackburn
Sunday: at Phillies (ss), 1:05. Rays — Wade Davis; Phillies — Cliff Lee
Upcoming schedule
March
7: at Pirates
8: Blue Jays
9: Blue Jays, and vs. Netherlands at St. Petersburg
10: Red Sox
11: Pirates
12: at Phillies (ss)
13: at Blue 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: Blue Jays at Tropicana Field, 4:10
Who is this Ray answer: RHP Joel Peralta
Joe Smith, Times staff writer