Rays beat Reds in exhibition opener

Andy Cannizaro successfully breaks up a double play as Adam Rosales, top, throws a wild ball past first during the 8th inning of the Rays opener against the Reds.  [James Borchuck, Times]

UPDATE (4:30 PM) The Rays hold on to win, 7-6.

UPDATE (4:12 PM) The Rays went back ahead 7-6 when Ben Zobrist reached on an infield single, went to second on a ground out and scored when Eric Hinske ripped a hard single off the second baseman.

UPDATE (4:04 PM) Rough homecoming for Houser - he gave up a two-run single to his first batter, Jolbert Cabrera, and the Reds tied the score at 6. But he got out of further trouble with a pickoff, a strikeout and a ground out. And the Rays didn't prove to be much a draw in Sarasota, with an announced crowd of only 2,768, less than the Reds drew on Thursday for the Twins (3,085).

(UPDATE 3:56 PM )  LHP prospect Jake McGee got into quite a mess in the eighth, walking three and giving up two singles (one that caromed off what looked to be his left leg) as the Reds pulled to within 6-4 in the eighth, and are still batting. Sarasota's James Houser just came to pitch for the Rays. McGee ended up facing five batters and they all reached.

(UPDATE 3:33 PM) The Rays extended the lead to 6-2. First Andy Cannizaro drew a bases loaded walk off Scott Sauerbeck, and they got two more when John Jaso grounded to second and the Reds botched a double play with an errant throw.

(UPDATE 3:20 PM) Still 3-2 Tampa Bay, Chad Orvella just worked the seventh for the Rays, getting out of trouble after Joel Guzman didn't make much of a bid for a hard smash that became a double.

(UPDATE 2:45 PM) Manager Joe Maddon said he wanted to see strikes from the pitchers competing for spots in the rotation, but Jason Hammel walked two in the fourth that led to a Reds run and cut the lead to 3-2.

(UPDATE 2:02 PM) Was the legend just born? Evan Longoria just tied the game for the Rays by smashing a Edinson Volquez pitch high off the left-centerfield fence, doubling in Jonny Gomes who was hit by a pitch. Shawn Riggans put the Rays up 2-1 with an RBI single to left, scoring Longoria. The Rays got a third run when a balk was called on Reds pitcher Justin Lehr. That's about it for the regulars, as John Rodriguez pinch-hit for Akinori Iwamura and the Rays made numerous changes.

(UPDATE 1:43 PM) Edwin Jackson worked two scoreless innings to start the game, striking out his last two hitters. The Rays had the bases loaded in the first, after pulling off a double-steal (which might be the first ever in the first inning of the first spring game), and didn't score.
The Reds did score in the third off Jason Hammel as Paul Janish doubled and came around on two fly balls.

(UPDATE 12:55 PM) CF B.J. Upton did not agree to terms by the team-imposed noon Friday deadline, so that means the Rays have renewed his contract, and likely for somewhere in the $405,000 to $415,000 range. The MLB deadline for renewals isn't until Sunday, so an announcement may not come until then.

(UPDATE 10:16 AM) RHP Scott Dohmann agreed to terms on a one-year deal Friday morning, leaving just CF B.J. Upton unsigned with a team-imposed deadline of noon today. If Upton doesn't agree he will be renewed at $10,000 less than the Rays offered, and as a player with less than three years service time (meaning he is pre-arbitration) there isn't anything he can do about it.

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The lineup posted for today's spring opener against the Reds in Sarasota could be a preview of what the Rays field in Baltimore on March 31, with a few exceptions, as Willy Aybar will be the DH on Friday (instead of Cliff Floyd) and Shawn Riggans the catcher (instead of Dioner Navarro). Otherwise, it has a reasonable look:
Akinori Iwamura, 2b
Carl Crawford, lf
Carlos Pena, 1b
B.J. Upton, cf
Willy Aybar, dh
Jonny Gomes, rf
Evan Longoria, 3b
Jason Bartlett, ss
Shawn Riggans, c

Edwin Jackson will be the starter today, followed by Jason Hammel, Andy Sonnantine, Grant Balfour, Chad Orvella and James Houser. The Reds did agree to allow the DH to be used.

Houser didn't have much to say about the remaining 25 games of his suspension for failing a performance-enhancing drug test in the minors being lifted as a result of being placed on the 40-man roster. "Obviously it's a good thing,'' he said. "I get to play baseball and that's important to me.''

Players quickly settled into the clubhouse at Progress Energy Park after equipment manager Chris Westmoreland orchestrated the move from the Naimoli complex.

Houser's suspension ends

LHP James Houser, the Sarasota product who'd been suspended 50 games last August at Double-A Montgomery for  "testing positive for a performance-enhancing substance,'' has been reinstated due to something of an apparent technicality in the rules.
Since the Rays added Houser to the 40-man roster during the off-season, he is no longer "subject to the minor-league rules and is no longer considered suspended,'' Rays spokesman Rick Vaughn said.
Houser was not on the 40-man roster and was pitching for the Biscuits at the time of the failed test, and had served half of his suspension. He also was not allowed to pitch in the Arizona Fall League.
But the Rays had him scheduled to pitch in Friday's spring training opener in Sarasota, and sent word Thursday night that he was now eligible. Vaughn said that if Houser is sent down to the minors after camp and kept on the 40-man roster, the suspension will still be void.

Shields takes Kazmir's place

Jonny Gomes, left, signs autographs for fans as he heads into the clubhouse after the Rays last workout at the Naimoli Complex in St. Petersburg.  [James Borchuck, Times]

RHP James Shields will move into injured LHP Scott Kazmir's slot for Saturday's home exhibition opener, and thus becomes on schedule to start the March 31 season opener assuming Kazmir isn't ready.
That's the biggest news thus far of what is a chilly morning and a short work day Thursday for the Rays as they wrap up the Naimoli complex portion of spring training, with the team moving its spring camp to Port Charlotte next year.

The plans for Friday's exhibition opener in Sarasota are being finalized, but based on the travel squad posted in the clubhouse they're bringing most of the big boys: 2B Akinori Iwamura, SS Jason Bartlett, 3B Evan Longoria, 1B Carlos Pena, LF Carl Crawford, CF B.J. Upton and RF Jonny Gomes.
Scheduled pitchers for the Rays include three of the top candidates for the two open spots in the roation: Edwin Jackson, Jason Hammel and Andy Sonnanstine, plus Grant Balfour, Chad Orvella and Sarasota product James Houser.

Manager Joe Maddon said the Reds had not agreed to adopt the DH rule - as some NL teams do, especially for early spring games - so that means the Rays pitchers will at least have to bring their bats, though with pinch-hitters may not have to use them. The Reds are starting Homer Bailey.
Also, top draft LHP David Price said he saw Dr. Koco Eaton on Wednesday and there are no concerns about the shoulder stiffness that kept him from pitching in Tuesday's intrasquad. Price said he will resume throwing soon.

Also scheduled to pitch for the Rays on Saturday after Shields are RHP Mitch Talbot, RHP Al Reyes, LHP Trever Miller and RHP Dan Wheeler.

RHP Jeff Niemann, one of the Rays' top prospects, will start Sunday in Bradenton, followed by RHP Jae Kuk Ryu, RHP Scott Munter, LHP Kirt Birkins and RHP Wade Davis. RHP Matt Garza will start Monday and Jackson again on Tuesday.

Kazmir diagnosis: left elbow strain

(UPDATE 1:03 P.M.) Scott Kazmir, predictably, has a more accelerated return in mind, saying he felt markedly better after one day of treatment and there is still a good chance he would be ready to start the March 31 opener.
"I wouldn't say definitely, but that's what we're shooting for,'' he said. "And if anything changes hopefully it wouldn't be too far from that day.''
Kazmir also interpreted the results as good news, saying: "It could have been a lot worse.''

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LHP Scott Kazmir has inflammation and a left elbow strain, but will be sidelined "weeks not months,'' executive VP Andrew Friedman said Wednesday.
"Relatively speaking, it is good news,'' Friedman said.
Friedman said the Rays would not put a specific timetable on Kazmir's return, but they expect him "at most" to miss only a few regular-season starts. The Times reported Wednesday that Kazmir is unlikely to make his expected opening day start and expected to miss about two weeks.
"I expect it would be two weeks at least until he is throwing to a hitter,'' Friedman said.
Friedman said an MRI and examination by Dr. Koco Eaton showed that "the nerves, the tendons, the ligaments, everything's intact.''
The first step is to get inflammation out of the elbow, then Kazmir will start a throwing program. "We're trying not to set an artificial timeline because it's dependent on how Scotty feels,'' Friedman said. "And it's imperative that the communication's there on both sides to get him to a point where he can start that throwing program and get this behind us. We don't want this to pop up in April or May or June, and be sure that we get this behind us. So we're going to do anything and everything while we have this time in March to insure that it's behind us, and when he gets back out on the mound that this is behind us and we put him in a position to pitch 200-plus innings for us this year.''
Though Kazmir could start throwing soon, he will need to slowly build up his arm strength so any time off during spring training is likely to translate to a similar absence during the season.
Friedman wouldn't rule out Kazmir making his expected opening day start - "It's not clear,'' he said - but it seems unlikely given the cautious way the prized 24-year-old lefthander will be handled.
"The good thing is, again, we're not looking through April,'' Friedman said. "If it's a start or two, that could be the case, or it coudl be no missed starts. I don't know yet. ... It's so dependent on how quickly the inflammation goes out, and then how he feels, that there's no way to put an actual date on it.''
Kazmir walked off the mound Tuesday after feeling "a little discomfort" while warming up for an intrasquad game, a sensation he described like this: "It felt like it just jammed a little bit, kind of like a hyperextension."
Friedman said top draft pick LHP David Price, who was scratched from his intrasquad outing due to shoulder stiffness, felt "much better" but would not throw on Wednesday and was likely to see Dr. Eaton on Thursday.
Also INF Reid Brignac, the team's top shortstop prospect, will be sidelined four to seven days with a broken pinky toe on his right foot. He was hit by a Chris Mason pitch in Tuesday's intrasquad.

No Rocco in the outfield ...

(UPDATE, 1:05 p.m.)
Rocco Baldelli said as far as he knew he was scheduled to be the DH and not play the outfield in Wednesday's intrasquad so there was no change in plans. He batted twice, hitting into a double play and reaching on an error, and took it easy on the bases. He said all went well in his first game action since last May's season-ending hamstring injury: "Everything was fine - nice and smooth.''

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Rocco Baldelli was scheduled to play in the outfield in today's intrasquad game, according to manager Joe Maddon, but instead will DH.
There's no official explanation yet, but it likely has something to do with the fields being wet and the weather being nasty. Baldelli, who missed most of last season due to hamstring problems, has already said he will take it easy this spring and not take any chances with his legs.
The clubhouse was closed to the media early Wednesday morning due to one of the standard series of spring training meetings, this one on the perils of driving while impaired.
An official update from executive VP Andrew Friedman is expected mid-morning on the condition of LHP Scott Kazmir; the Times reported in Wednesday's editions that an MRI showed no serious injury but that he is expected to be sidelined about two weeks.
Another highlight of the morning: RHP Jae Kuk Ryu walking around the clubhouse wearing his uniforn and the head of mascot Raymond.
As for who is scheduled to play in the 11 a.m. intrasquad game:
Foley's Feinsteins
Iwamura, 2b
Crawford, lf
Pena, 1b
Floyd, DH
Gomes, rf
Hinske, 3b
Navarro, c
Bartlett, ss
Weber, cf
Shields, rhp
Other pitchers: Gary Glover, Scott Munter, J.P. Howell, Jeff Niemann, Calvin Medlock.

Martinez's Mud Dogs
Ruggiano, cf
Zobrist, ss
Baldelli, dh
Rodriguez, lf
Guzman, rf
Longoria, 3b
Richard, 1b
Gimenez, c
Cannizaro, 2b
Garza, rhp
Other pitchers: Dohmann, Birkins, Ryu, Talbot, Davis
And new acquisition Willy Aybar, who'd been delayed by visa problems in the Dominican Republic, is scheduled for his first action as a replacement in rightfield, but he has to go through a series of medical tests and hadn't been seen in the clubhouse by the time the meeting started.

Kazmir headed for MRI on elbow

Ace LHP Scott Kazmir was headed for an MRI on his left elbow after feeling what "felt like a hyperextension" while warming up for Tuesday's intrasquad game but said he was confident it was not a serious injury.
Also, top draft pick David Price was scratched from his scheduled inning for precautionary reasons due to some stiffness in his left shoulder.
Kazmir looked somber and addmitted he was concerned.
"It was just a little scary because I never felt it before,'' Kazmir said. "But after I talked with (head athletic trainer Ron Porterfield) and everything and we did some of the strength tests I felt confident it would be all right. Just got to check it out just to make sure. ...
"I feel like I'll be all right. Just precautions. ... They said there's a couple minor things that could go on that are just really nothing.''
Though Kazmir, 24, spoke optimistically, he looked downcast and somber as he prepared to head out to see Dr. Koco Eaton. Kazmir said he "felt great" warming up in the bullpen but after what he thought was his third pitch warming up on the game mound felt "a little discomfort'' but definitely not a pop, which is typically an indication of a more severe problem. "It was just scary,'' he said. "I didn't want to test it, didn't want to just throw through it'' and "just wanted to stop it right there.''
He said he showed "great strength" on tests performed by Rays trainers and was encouraged that he didn't feel any further pain in the elbow, which was covered by a blue sleeve as he prepared to leave. He said he could flex the elbow in and out with no pain. "That's a good sign,'' he said. "It kinda feels like maybe I just tried to do a little too much to try to get warmed up.''
A few moments earlier outside the clubhouse, he described it like this: "It felt like it just jammed a little bit, kind of like a hyperextension. ... The thing is I don't feel anything now. If it was a torn ligament or something, you'd be hurting.''

- MARC TOPKIN

Kazmir misses start

It didn't take very long for the Rays first spring intrasquad game to deliver its first surprise.

Rays ace Scott Kazmir, scheduled to start for one of the teams, went to the mound but didn't stay long as something apparently didn't feel right and walked to the clubhouse instead, getting replaced by RHP Al Reyes.

There's still no word on the official reason, but Kazmir had warmed up in the bullpen as usual prior to the game and sat in the dugout for the first half inning. Kazmir apparently didn't feel right and walked to the clubhouse, as Reyes began to warm up.

We'll bring you more details on Kazmir as we get it.

The highlight of the game so far was RF Jonny Gomes' diving catch in the right-center gap, robbing Fernando Perez of a lead off double - or triple.

-- JOE SMITH

joesmith@sptimes.com

Sternberg: October dreaming

The optimism flowing through the Rays clubhouse has reached principal owner Stuart Sternberg, who admitted he has to temper some of it, but still said Tuesday during his first visit to camp he thought the team could be good enough to make the playoffs.
"I would think if everybody produces to the best of their abilities, we could be - could be - talking about October,'' Sternberg said. "If guys don't really get it done and get hurt or what not, we're not going to be so doing well.''
Sternberg declined to make a specific prediction or projection on the number of wins, but said he would continue to have a goal of 50 home wins. And, perhaps more realistically, he shared this vision:
"What I would love to have happen, you don't know October is going to look like, but you'd like to get well into the summer, into August and see that the guys are performing real well and that you're withing at least shouting distance and that you're making some noise, making some trouble. If we can stay out of a bad stretch like we did last year, we had a real rough spot in July, I think that's very possible.''

Other tidbits from a nearly half-hour chat with area reporters:
* He said there would be flexibility during the season to further raise the payroll that had already been increased more than 70 percent to around $42-million.
* That while there is a relationship between the number of games the team wins and the number of votes cast for the team's new stadium proposal, the team was not focusing on the connection. "I know it's there, but what I try to do and what I've instilled in the organization ... is to remove as many variables as I can from any equation. So I said to them immediately is take the stadium out of it,'' he said.
* Asked about potentially signing Barry Bonds, Sternberg cited team policy to not discuss individual players but certainly sounded as if he was open to it, saying "payroll wouldn't be an issue" and in discussing how the Rays have dealt with controversial players in the past, said: "When there's opportunity, nothing frightens me, and you deal with it as comes around.''

Guzman arrives: "I was dying to be over here."

INF Joel Guzman made his much-anticipated arrival at Rays camp on Tuesday, over a month later than he had expected due to visa issues in the Dominican Republic.

Guzman, along with INF Willy Aybar, are two of the club's options at third base if touted prospect Evan Longoria doesn't start the season in the big leagues. Guzman said he was frustrated as he continually waited for "the call."

He said every year, players are asked for "different things" when it comes to their visa application. Guzman applied for one around Jan. 20, with hopes of reporting early on Feb. 14, but finally arrived Monday at 11 p.m.

"I was dying to be over here," Guzman said Tuesday morning. "Just waiting and waiting, just for a call. Just waiting for something."

Guzman said he's been working on several different positions in the offseason - including winter ball. Manager Joe Maddon said Monday that Guzman could play anywhere from third base to first base - even the outfield, which he played in Class-AAA.

Guzman said Aybar could arrive as early as today, but is still unsure on RHP Juan Salas, who is also stuck in the Dominican Republic.

-- JOE SMITH

joesmith@sptimes.com

Intrasquad lineups set

The Rays will hold their first intrasquad game today at 11 a.m. at the Naimoli Complex in St. Petersburg.

The game will last seven innings, with each pitcher throwing an inning. INF Joel Guzman reported this morning - stay tuned for updates on his arrival. Guzman said Willy Aybar could arrive today as well, with RHP Juan Salas' status still uncertain.

Here are the lineups:

The "Feinsteins"

2B Aki

SS Bartlett

CF Upton

RF Gomes

1B Hinske

LF Ruggiano

C Riggans

3B Zobrist

DH Cannizaro

P - Percival

The "Muddawgs"

CF - Perez

SS - Brignac

LF - Weber

RF - Rodriguez

1B - Richard

3B -Longoria

C - DiFelice

DH - Gimenez

2B - Johnson

P - Kazmir

-- JOE SMITH

joesmith@sptimes.com