Miller expected to sign with Cardinals

Former Rays reliever Trever Miller is expected to sign with the Cardinals, pending a physical, his agent confirmed to the Times.

Barry Praver, Miller's agent, said several teams showed interest in Miller since the Rays declined his $2 million option for 2009, making the veteran reliever a free agent. Miller is in St. Louis taking his physical today, and any official announcement wouldn't come until after that is completed. Praver declined to discuss terms of the potential deal, but it's reportedly a two-year contract.

Miller, 35, who spent his second stint with the Rays last season as a lefty specialist, told the Times he would have loved to returned to the Rays, and even made a counteroffer to them after they declined his option, but they said it wasn't the right time.

-- JOE SMITH

joesmith@sptimes.com

Rays announce Spring Training schedule, ticket prices

The American League Champion Tampa Bay Rays announced their 2009 Spring Training schedule today.

The Rays also announced pricing options for the 16 home games at the newly renovated Charlotte Sports Park. Individual ticket prices will range from $9 to $23.

Here's the breakdown for single-game tickets: field box, $23.00; baseline box, $18.00; field reserve, $18.00; baseline reserve, $16.00; berm, $9.00.

Rays spring schedule

February
25: Reds, 1:05; 26: at Yankees, 1:15; 27: Red Sox, 1:05; 28: at Phillies, 1:05.
March
1: Blue Jays, 1:05; 2: at Cardinals, TBA; 3: at Astros, 1:05; 4: World Baseball Classic exhibition, 7:05; 5: off; 6: at Pirates, 1:05; 7: Red Sox, 1:05; 8: at Red Sox, 1:05; 9: Twins, 1:05; 10: Blue Jays, 1:05; 11: off; 12: Phillies, 1:05; 13: at Blue Jays, 1:05; 14: at Reds, 1:05; 15: Pirates, 1:05; 16: at Pirates, 7:05; 17: off; 18: Reds, 1:05; 19: Cardinals, 1:05; 20: at Blue Jays, 1:05; 21: at Orioles, 1:05; 22: Yankees, 1:05; 23: at Pirates, 1:05; 24: off; 25: Pirates, 7:05; 26: at Tigers, 6:05; 27: at Twins, 1:05; 28: Reds, 1:05; 29: at Reds, 1:05; 30: at Twins, 1:05; 31: at Red Sox, 1:05.
April
1: Twins, 1:05; 2: off; 3: vs. Phillies at Citizens Bank Park, Philadelphia; 4: vs. Phillies at Citizens Bank Park, Philadelphia.

FSN Rays post-season special show airs tonight

Already going through Rays withdrawl? FSN will have some shows to bring Rays fans down memory lane this winter, starting today.

FSN Florida put together a commemorative, half-hour show highlighting the Rays postseason run in 2008, and the program debuts tonight at 6:30 p.m.; encore presentations scheduled on FSN and Sun Sports through December.

The show features interviews with Joe Maddon and players, relives some of the more exciting moments - and biggest plays - of the Rays season.

FSN is also showing encore performances of some of the Rays biggest games, every other Wednesday at noon.

Today, it starts at noon with a replay of the Rays sweep over the Red Sox (April 27) - It also airs Nov 27 at 9 pm on Sun Sports

Dec 3, Noon - Evan Longoria's walkoff homer to beat the Angels from May 9

Dec 17, Noon - Longoria doubles in Carlos Pena for winning run in beating Orioles on May 25

Dec. 31, Noon - Carl Crawford hits grand slam to help sweep Cubs June 19

Jan 14, Noon - Rays come from three runs behind in the ninth to beat the Indians, 10-7 on Aug 6

Jan 28, Noon - Willy Aybar hits clutch two-run single to help beat Angels on Aug 19

Feb 11, Noon - Ben Zobrist hit first career grand slam and Rays clinch first winning season in win over Orioles Aug 29

Feb 25, Noon  - In Rays wild win at Fenway, Dan Johnson becomes the hero with a game-tying homer off Jonathan Papelbon

-- JOE SMITH

joesmith@sptimes.com

AL MVP ballot

This made the print edition today, but may not have made it online. So for those who have asked (and there are one or two who know who you are), here it is:

Times baseball writer Marc Topkin was one of 28 BBWAA members to vote for the AL MVP award. His ballot:

1. Dustin Pedroia, Red Sox
2. Joe Mauer, Twins
3. Josh Hamilton, Rangers
4. Frankie Rodriguez, Angels
5. Jason Bartlett, Rays
6. Carlos Quentin, White Sox
7. Justin Morneau, Twins
8. Kevin Youkilis, Red Sox
9. Carlos Pena, Rays
10. Grady Sizemore, Indians

Tampa Bay Rays' fired mascot speaks out

Performer Kelly Frank, the woman who perfected Raymond's trademark butt shimmy, said she does not know why she was fired Monday after five seasons with the Tampa Bay Rays.

"I'm just as confused as everyone else," she said. "I really didn't get an explanation."

Frank said she was praised as recently as three weeks ago, when her supervisors told her she out-enthused the Philadelphia Phillies mascot, the Phillie Phanatic, during the World Series.

But on Monday, she was told she would no longer be Raymond. Frank also worked on marketing projects, including the cowbell promotions at several Rays games. She maintained a Raymond blog, offering insider tips on costume changes.

Frank said she was reluctant to discuss what happened Monday.

"My severance package is kind of up in the air right now, so ..." she said.

Magrane leaving TV booth for MLB Network

A familiar face is leaving the Rays.

Joe Magrane (pictured), the informative and sometimes irreverent TV analyst for all 11 seasons, has been hired by the new MLB Network, which debuts in January.

Magrane, 44, who pitched eight seasons in the majors, is expected to do game analysis and in-studio work in his new role. An official announcement is expected later this week.

Brian Anderson, who joined Dewayne Staats in the booth last summer when Magrane did the Olympics, could be among the possible replacements.

The Rays on Monday also parted ways with Kelly Frank, who played mascot Raymond for five seasons.

Times staff writer

Tampa Bay Rays raise individual ticket prices for '09

The Tampa Bay Rays, coming off their first-ever playoff appearance (and World Series berth), have slightly raised individual ticket prices for the 2009 season.

Rays president Matt Silverman said Monday that about 70-percent of the single-game tickets will increase by $1 (for example, upper deck goes from $9 to $10 for regular game, from $14-16 for prime pricing). But in an effort to bolster their season-ticket base - the "lifeblood" of any baseball team - Silverman said the club is also increasing the discount for season ticket holders (up to 35 percent).

Silverman said the club is cognizant of the struggling national economy, but felt - especially with the continued free parking for cars with four or more, and the ability to bring in food and drink - it still makes the Rays tickets one of the most affordable in major league baseball.

"In order to continue fielding a team that makes the entire Tampa Bay region proud, our family of season ticket holders has to grow," Silverman said. "The pitch to a season ticket holder is an easy one; sit in the best seats, support your home team, and enjoy considerable savings off individual ticket prices."

Most everything else at Tropicana Field will remain the same; vehicles with four or more passengers can park for free, you can still bring in your food and drink, the upper-deck tarp will remain.

But here are some of the changes:

*The club added a "marquee" pricing category for the 11 Saturday night games (which will either feature a post-game concert or premium giveaway). The pricing for those is between the regular and "prime" pricing (games with Yankees, Red Sox and Phillies).

*Vehicles with less than four passengers will be charged $15 to park in the main Trop lot, $10 for the remote lots.

*There will be an increase in the surcharge for those tickets bought within five hours of game time (now $3-$5).

When Silverman was asked last week about the potential for higher ticket costs, he pointed to how even with a price bump, the Rays still offer one of the most affordable experiences in baseball.

"We could have increased ticket (prices) the last couple years, but we haven't," Silverman said. "And if you benchmark our seats against others in baseball, we're at or near the bottom in almost every pricing category."

The Rays posted losing seasons in their first 10 years of baseball (never winning more than 70 games), but made a huge turnaround in 2008, racking up 97 victories and winning the American League East. They advanced to the World Series and lost in five games to the Phillies, but Silverman said the sellout crowds at the Trop throughout the playoff run learned the value of the tickets.

"The experience our fans had, especially during the pennant run and post season shows the value of their tickets and their investment," Silverman said. " They enjoyed it, and a number of ticket holders actually benefited financially - they were actually a lot who covered some of their costs by selling tickets."

The Rays sold out eight home playoff games within minutes this year, and attendance this season increased 30 percent, the largest spike in the majors. But while the Rays shared baseball's second best record, they finished 26th out of 30 teams in tickets sold.

REGULAR GAMES
TBT Party Deck - $10
Upper Deck - $10
Outfield - $17
Loge box - $22
Press Level - $27
Baseline Box - $22
Lower box - $44
Lower infield box - $55
Fieldside box - $85
Whitney Bank Club - $115
Home Plate Club - $210

MARQUEE GAMES (11 Saturday night games)
TBT Party Deck - $13
Upper Deck - $13
Outfield - $20
Loge box - $31
Press Level - $38
Baseline Box - $31
Lower box - $52
Lower infield box - $65
Fieldside box - $95
Whitney Bank Club - $130
Home Plate Club - $240

PRIME GAMES (vs Yankees, Red Sox, Phillies)
TBT Party Deck - $16
Upper Deck - $16
Outfield - $24
Loge box - $38
Press Level - $47
Baseline Box - $38
Lower box - $60
Lower infield box - $75
Fieldside box - $120
Whitney Bank Club - $150
Home Plate Club - $270

-JOE SMITH

joesmith@sptimes.com

Townsend undergoes shoulder surgery; doubtful for '09

Rays RHP prospect Wade Townsend, their first-round pick in 2005, underwent surgery on his right shoulder, and it is doubtful he'll pitch in the 2009 season, according to Mitch Lukevics, director of minor league operations.

Townsend, 25, has done his share of rehabbing during his professional career. The former Rice standout spent the 2006 season working his way back from Tommy John Surgery, and was shut down in August 2007 due to arm soreness.

Townsend went a combined 1-6 with a 6.08 ERA with both Class-A Vero and Class-AA Montgomery in 2008. He made three starts in the Arizona Fall League, going 2-0 with an 8.44 ERA before getting shut down.

- JOE SMITH

joesmith@sptimes.com

Terry Pluto defends voting Joe Maddon No. 2 for AL Manager of the Year

Terry Pluto, a veteran columnist for the Cleveland Plain Dealer, has gone through pretty much everything in his 30-plus years in journalism, from winning awards to writing more than a dozen books.

"But this," Pluto told the Times this morning, "Is a new one."

Pluto was the voter who kept Tampa Bay Rays manager Joe Maddon from being the first unanimous Manager of the Year Award recipient in baseball history. Maddon received 27 of 28 first place votes, with the Minnesota Twins' Ron Gardenhire getting the other. The Anaheim Angels' Mike Scioscia was third.

Pluto voted Gardenhire No. 1 and Maddon No. 2, and joked he now has "many fans in Tampa" after getting more than 20 emails from puzzled Rays fans.

But here's Pluto's explanation:

Gardenhire's Twins didn't make the playoffs (they lost in  one-game playoff with the White Sox for the AL Central title), but voting was done in the final week of the regular season. Pluto said he has absolutely nothing against Maddon, whom he has a lot of respect for. It was just a tough decision at the time.

"The voting is done in the final week of the season, so I did not have the playoffs to consider," Pluto said. "If they did the voting after, certainly Joe would have got it. I had great respect for both men, and gave the edge to Gardenhire for keeping his team in contention after losing Santana, etc. I had no idea how anyone else was voting. I certainly didn't set out to stiff Joe by being the lone voice not to have him No. 1."

Pluto said, "I'm glad Joe won. Clearly after what he did in the playoffs, he deserves it. It's just how it is."

Pluto said he's trying to respond to every email he's received, which have included a one-word, "Idiot," and even some from fans in Cleveland who love his work but were wowed by his vote

"One guy wrote, 'I usually like your stuff, but what were you thinking? You're making me embarrassed to be from Cleveland."

But as Pluto said, he clearly understands the sentiment.

"Now I look back and say, "I know why everybody voted for Joe."

-- JOE SMITH, Times Staff Writer

Tampa Bay Rays' B.J. Upton has surgery to repair labrum

As expected, Rays centerfielder B.J. Upton underwent surgery Tuesday to repair a torn labrum in his left shoulder.

The surgery was deemed successful, and Upton is expected to be "100 percent" sometime during spring training, according to Rick Vaughn, Rays vice president of communications. Executive VP Andrew Friedman said it's too early to give a timetable on Upton's return, but he said Upton should be in position to be in the Opening Day lineup.

The surgery was performed by Dr. James Andrews in Alabama.

Upton is coming off a stellar postseason, in which he hit seven home runs and had 16 RBI. Upton had hit just nine homers in the regular season, but reluctantly revealed late in the year that he was playing with the labrum injury.

Upton made some mechanical adjustments and had said he was feeling better during the postseason, but acknowledged he'd likely need surgery to fix the problem.

Friedman said that the Rays are still going through tests and scans to see whether veteran RHP Troy Percival will indeed need surgeries on his back and knee, which the 39-year-old thought he might require in the offseason.

Joe Smith, Times Staff Writer

joesmith@sptimes.com

*