With Spring, Rays set for spring
The Rays set their spring training roster on Friday by inviting catcher Matt Spring to camp.
Spring, 23, last season between Class A Columbus and Double-A Montgomery hitting .204, but is being invited more to help with the catching chores more than anything.
With Spring, the Rays have 56 players on their roster, their fewest ever to open camp in their 11 seasons.
Also, the next Hot Stove Radio Show will broadcast Monday night (7 p.m., 620-WDAE) from the Sandpearl Resort on Clearwater Beach (500 Mandalay Ave) with RHP James Shields on location (and signing autographs) and principal owner Stuart Sternberg on the phone.
Andy Freed and Dave Wills will host.
Follow the Rays through spring training and the season with Marc Topkin, Joe Smith and the Times sports staff. We invite your participation in the comments area.
well, kinda pointless to have a guy come to ST that wont make it anyways, but whatever.
Posted by: ryan callahan | February 08, 2008 at 07:08 PM
No it isn't pointless. The post suggests the reason. There are so many pitchers in camp every spring that you need 6 or 7 catchers to work with them all. Every team invites that many in the spring. In fact, one of those with the Rays last year was Casanova who had no chance of making the team out of spring training but was kept on the Durham roster and did contribute later in the year.
Posted by: Einhard | February 08, 2008 at 11:18 PM
The whole exercise of this franchise is pointless. One team beaten in 10 years. A fourth place finish on the horizon. A bribe scheme to rip off the city and line the pockets of designers, developers, bond samesmen, and attorneys. Please relocate to another city!!
Posted by: Huge Rays Fan | February 09, 2008 at 06:42 AM
ryan: Every team in the league brings players especially catchers to spring training. You have a whole lot of pitchers trying to get work at the same time and only 3 catchers????
Posted by: CharlieRay | February 09, 2008 at 07:43 AM
Hey "Huge Rays Fan", you want the team to move and think ownership is trying to rip off St. Pete, yet you are a huge Rays fan? If you think so negatively about the team, why are you reading a footnote about a minor league catcher being invited to spring training? If you hate the team and ownership, stop paying attention and direct your feeble attempts at irony at something else.
Posted by: Bigger Rays Fan | February 09, 2008 at 01:05 PM
To: "Huge Rays Fan"
You are an idiot. "Bigger Rays Fan" is right. After all the team has done this off season and you cry about a catcher going to Spring Training. Why don't you ask Rick Backer for one of those "One Way" bus tickets and get out of town with the rest of the bums.
Posted by: Andy C. | February 09, 2008 at 03:21 PM
I agree with both of the last two posters. Although the ownership and team suck big time and are the laughingstock of sports, they shouldn't be criticized locally. New unis should be clown outfits.
Posted by: Biggest Rays Fan | February 10, 2008 at 10:17 AM
If they dressed like clowns then they'd look like your mom. Do we really want to see that?
Posted by: Andy C. | February 10, 2008 at 11:36 AM