Rays set Opening Day roster

The Rays set their Opening Day roster Sunday afternoon after trading pitcher Jason Hammel to the rockies for minor league pitcher Aneury Rodriguez.

No real surprises. Here is is:

Pitchers (12): RH Grant Balfour, RH Lance Cormier, RH Matt Garza, LH J.P. Howell, LH Scott Kazmir, RH Joe Nelson, RH Jeff Niemann, RH Troy Percival, RH James Shields, LH Brian Shouse, RH Andy Sonnanstine, RH Dan Wheeler

Catchers (2): Dioner Navarro, Shawn Riggans

Infielders (6): Willy Aybar, Jason Bartlett, Akinori Iwamura, Evan Longoria, Carlos Peña, Ben Zobrist

Outfielders (5): Pat Burrell, Carl Crawford, Gabe Gross, Matt Joyce, Gabe Kapler

DL (4): RHP Chad Bradford (15-day), RHP Jason Isringhausen (15-day), OF Fernando Perez (15-day), OF B.J. Upton (15-day)

Upton to bat leadoff

No word yet on who won the Fifth Spot in the Rotation Sweepstakes or which team has traded for Jeff Niemann, but Rays manager Joe Maddon did have some news before Saturday's exhibition season finale in Philadelphia.

B.J. Upton will bat leadoff when he returns to the lineup April 13.

Until then, Maddon will use Akinori Iwamura and Jason Bartlett as leadoff hitters, using Aki against right-handed pitchers and Bartlett against the lefties.

Once Upton returns for the home opener against the Yankees, Aki and Bartlett will move to the bottom of the order.

Aki will bat eighth and Bartlett ninth against righties and the two will switch against lefties.

Maddon also announced that Matt Joyce will start in center field and Gabe Gross will start in right against righties, meaning Joyce is your Opening Day center field when the Rays play the Red Sox on Monday at Fenway Park.

Gabe Kapler and Ben Zobrist will be in the outfield against lefties, though Maddon hasn't decided who will play center and who will play right.

The decision between Niemann and Jason Hammel will be made Sunday before the Rays set their Opening Day roster. The deadline is 3 p.m.

Both pitchers will pitch in a Triple A game Sunday. It's doubtful the race between the two fifth starter candidates is that close. The Rays have to be working out arrangements for a trade, probably for Niemann since he appears to have more upside.

Bus to the Trop

The Rays have partnered with ESCOT Bus Lines to provide transportation to Friday home games this season. Cost is $18 and will leave from three Beef O’Brady’s locations in Sarasota and Manatee counties. Game tickets not included in bus fare. Here is the schedule.
5:15 p.m. departure from Beef O’Brady’s, 5942 34th St. W., Sarasota.
6:00 p.m. departure from Beef O’Brady’s, 1795 Lakewood Ranch Blvd., Lakewood Ranch.
6:35 p.m. departure from Beef O’Brady’s, 8913 US Highway 301 N., Parrish.
7:00 p.m. arrival at Tropicana Field.
7:30 p.m. scheduled first pitch.

Izzy wants to be a Ray

By ROGER MOONEY
rmooney@bradenton.com
PORT CHARLOTTE — They met and discussed and discussed and met and in the end, Jason Isringhausen will begin the season on the disabled list.

The right-handed relief pitcher threw only six innings this spring, enough to show his surgically repaired right elbow is fine, but enough to build sufficient arm strength to enable Isringhausen to begin the season on time.

“We all agreed I need a few more innings to get to where I want to be with my mechanics and my arm strength and stuff, so this is the right thing to do,” Isringhausen said Wednesday morning. “This is the right situation for me. I love the team. Love the guys, the management, the GM, everything. So, kind of a no-brainer for me. I could have went somewhere else and pitched, but that’s not the same situation. I want to pitch and I want to help these guys win as much as I can, because I think it’s a special group of guys. Groups of guys like this, they don’t come around very often. That’s pretty much the bottom line. I’m not worried about the rest of it. The rest of it will take care of itself. When it’s time to come off the DL things usually take care of itselves up in the big leagues and we’ll figure out some then. So until then we’re going to get a throwing program together and stick to that.”

Isringhausen will continue his rehab at Tropicana Field and join the Charlotte Stone Crabs of the Florida State League on nights he’s scheduled to pitch.

“Obviously, we are very excited about this development,” Rays vice president of baseball Andrew Friedman said. “We feel there is a very good chance that at some point in 2009 Jason will help us win games. We are going to be fairly methodical here of getting him all the way back. We’ve seen a lot of good things this spring, and by doing this we feel it greatly increases the chances of him helping in a meaningful way.”

Isringhausen doesn’t expect to need much time to get ready, but Friedman didn’t want to place a timetable on Isringhausen’s return.

“When we feel like and he feels like he’s 100 percent, we’ll sit down and see where we are. But we feel he has chance to impact us once he returns to 100 percent. When that will happen we’re not sure,” Friedman said. “This guy is obviously very talented, has a lot of experience pitching late in games, and just provides even more depth for us, and we feel it’s a very good thing for us, and from talking to him (Tuesday), a very good thing for him as well. He knows the prudent thing is coming back 100 percent coming off surgery, and coming off the various ailments that plagued him last year and get him back to 100 percent. If anything, we feel we’ve saved some bullets for later on this season that can impact us in a positive way.”

Waiting is the hardest part
Jeff Niemann wore a long face as he walked through the clubhouse Wednesday afternoon. He had just met with manager Joe Maddon and Friedman and knew as much about his status as the team’s fifth starter as he did before he entered Maddon’s office.

Niemann and Jason Hammel will remain in Port Charlotte, where both will pitch in minor league games Sunday. The Rays have to announce their 25-man Opening Day roster at 3 p.m. Sunday.

Both Niemann and Hammel, and Lance Cormier, who will pitch in one of the two games in Philadelphia this weekend, will have to wait until Sunday to learn if they’ve made the team.

Cormier will be the long man in the bullpen if the Rays trade Niemann or Hammel, while the runner-up for the fifth spot in the rotation will move to the bullpen.
Niemann was asked if he is anxious.

“Yes and no,” he said. “It’s taken this long, what’s another day or two. It’s not an easy decision to make on either of us. It’s a great position for (the Rays) to be in, but it (stinks) for us.”

The bullpen
The Rays will start the year with a bullpen of Troy Percival, J.P. Howell, Dan Wheeler, Grant Balfour, Brian Shouse and Joe Nelson.

To the DL
Isringhausen will be officially added to the disabled list on Sunday along with Fernando Perez, B.J. Upton and Chad Bradford.

Each will be retroactive to March 27, which means Upton is eligible to be activated for the April 13 home opener.

Back to Durham
Outfielders Jon Weber, Ray Sadler, catcher Michel Hernandez, second baseman Adam Kennedy and first baseman Chris Richard were all optioned to Triple A Durham. The six will make the trip to Philadelphia and play in the two exhibition games

Kennedy not surprised
Adam Kennedy, who signed a minor league contract the first week of camp, was not too upset to be headed to Durham.

“It would have more than a surprise if it had been anything other than Durham,” Kennedy said.

The Rays tried moving Kennedy around the infield and even played him in left field once in an attempt to use him as a Super Utility fielder.

He’ll play second base with the Bulls.

Kennedy said he was pleased with the amount of innings in the field and at-bats at the plate this spring.

He hit .302, one of seven Rays to hit above .300.

NOTEWORTHY
Jason Bartlett led the raise with a .362 average. Dioner Navarro batted .347 ... Joe Nelson pitched two perfect innings Wednesday, striking out two ... Grant Balfour pitched a scoreless inning, but needed a heads up play by Bartlett and a strong throw from Gabe Gross to cut down a runner who took too big of a turn around second base to get out of the inning ... Gross his second home run in as many days.

Sheffield a Ray? Probably not

By ROGER MOONEY
rmooney@bradenton.com
FORT MYERS — The news of Gary Sheffield’s release from the Tigers early Tuesday morning reached the Rays front office in Port Charlotte shortly after it happened in Lakeland.

That the Tampa product indicated to reporters in Lakeland that he would be willing to continue his career with the Rays was relayed to Joe Maddon before the Rays-Red Sox game at City of Palms Park.

“That’s very complimentary that he would want to come play for us,” manager Joe Maddon said. “I have so much respect for this guy as a baseball player. I’ve gotten to know him a little bit over the last couple years, just having abstract conversations with him. I saw him during the off-season he’s in great shape, he’s a very strong person. And I like him. Conversationally I really like him. I don’t know, again, it’s very complimentary that he would want to play with us, and beyond that I have no idea what would happen.”

Sheffield has 499 home runs over his 21-year career. He will make $14 million this season. Any team that claims him off waivers or signs him as a free agent if he clears waivers will owe him the major league minimum $400,000.

The Rays really don’t have any place for Sheffield.

Pat Burrell, who signed a two-year, $16 million contract in the offseason, is the designated hitter, which means Sheffield will have to play right field.

Tiger manager Jim Leyland was not eager to play Sheffield in the outfield during the past two seasons, which became a sore subject between Sheffield and the Tigers.

The 21-year veteran, who is probably headed to the Hall of fame, had only eight hits this spring and was hitting .178 upon his release. Three of those eight hits were home runs, though.

Balfour struggles
Grant Balfour allowed three runs in two-thirds of an inning Tuesday, turning a 7-5 lead into an 8-5 loss to the Red Sox.

“Grant just got fastballs in a bad spot,” Maddon said. “Last year he was able to throw that fastball by people. He just hasn’t been as sharp with his velocity or location, but I believe he’s going to be fine.”

Balfour allowed two walks and a two-run double to former Ray Nick Green that tied the score at 7-7. Angel Chavez singled Green home for the go-ahead run.

Balfour has allowed nine hits, four runs and has walked six batters in six innings this spring.

Sonny sharp
Andy Sonnanstine became the first Rays pitcher to go seven innings this spring when he allowed six hits and five runs to the Red Sox. The biggest blow was a three-run homer by Jason Varitek in the seventh inning that cut the Rays lead to 7-5.

Sonnanstine was pleased with his effort and pleased with the command he had with his change-up, a pitch he’s worked on this spring.

Joyce impressive again
Don’t be surprised if Matt Joyce is in Boston for Monday’s season opener against the Red Sox.

The outfielder who missed the first 21 games of the spring because of tendinitis in his right calf, was 2-for-4 against the Red Sox with a two-run homer, his first home run of the spring.

“Joyce looked good again. Very good, actually,” Maddon said.

He also chased down a blast to center field by David Ortiz, catching the ball in front of the wall.
“He’s very smooth out there,” Maddon said. “He runs good routes. I like it.”

NOTEWORTHY
Maddon said center field B.J. Upton will open the season in Port Charlotte with the Class A Charlotte Stone Crabs ... Jon Weber hit his third home run of the spring, a two-run shot off Justin Masterson in the sixth inning. He now has a team-high 14 RBIs ... Gabe Gross hit his first home run of the spring, a two-run blast off Clay Buchholz the struck the batter’s eye in center field ... Chris Richards, Willy Aybar, Shawn Riggans, Ray Sadler and Gabe Kapler each had doubles ... Ben Zobrist had his third triple of the spring ... The Rays play their final game this spring at Charlotte Sport Park. The will top 100,000 in spring training home attendance for the first time in the team’s 12 years.

Izzy to stay? That's the plan

Rays manager Joe Maddon arrived at City of Palms Park less than an hour before first pitch against the Red Sox. The reason: He stayed back at the Rays Port Charlotte complex talking to relief pitcher Jason Isringhausen.

The Rays want Isringhausen on the team. Or, if that can't happen by Opening Day, than with the organization.

"There's a whole bunch of different ways to get this done if in fact he doesn't make the team whereas we don't want to lose this fella," Maddon said. "We see him as being very valuable to our organization, we think he can help us win in 2009 so if he's not on the team from jump street we want to keep him around somehow."

That could include getting Isringhausen to agree to starting the season at Triple A Durham or sending him to extended spring.

Or, it could be the result of a trade that opens a spot in the bullpen.

A number of teams are interested in Jeff Niemann, who competed with Jason Hammel for the fifth spot in the rotation. The Pirates and Padres appear to show the most interest.

It was believed the runner-up would head to the bullpen as the long man, but if Niemann were traded, Isringhausen could move into the spot, though not in that role.

The Rays would be without a long man, and Maddon said he doesn't want to move J.P. Howell back into that role.

Maddon said there could be some movement on this today. He actually appeared anxious to have the matter resolved.

What's known is this: Isringhausen has been told he's going to Philadelphia with the team for games Friday and Saturday.

Will he Izzy be in Boston for Monday's season opener? That depends on either a trade or the Rays creative process.

None of the six relievers on the team - Troy Percival, Dan Wheeler, Grant Balfour, Joe Nelson, Brian Shouse and Howell - will be placed on the disabled list, a move that would also create a spot of Izzy. Maddon said everyone is healthy.

Pena feeling good

By ROGER MOONEY
rmooney@bradenton.com
FORT MYERS — Carlos Peña hit his first home run of the spring Monday when he drilled an opposite field, two-run home run over the left field fence at Hammond Stadium for all the runs in the Rays 3-2 loss to the Twins.

Peña was happy to go yard.

“Always feels good when you hit the ball hard the other way,” he said. “That’s really good. That’s what every hitter wants to feel, that you can do that. So it felt really good to be able to drive that ball the other way and against a lefty.”

That would be Twins pitcher Brian Duensing.

Peña, hitting below .200 last week, upped his average to .233 with two hits Monday.

“He’s been having good at-bats,” Rays manager Joe Maddon said. “The swing is short.”

And the swing is almost there, Peña said. He’s almost to the point where he feels comfortable with hands at the plate.

“The No. 1 priority for me this spring was to be 100 percent healthy, that was my number one priority and, obviously, I want to be swinging the bat well, feeling good at the plate, and I think I’m accomplishing both things,” Peña said.

The Gold Glove first baseman said he still feels a little soreness in his lower abdominal muscles, which needed surgery in early January. But that soreness comes from putting them through the grind of swinging a bat.

“So that makes me very happy,” Peña said.

Garza sharp
Matt Garza faced his old team for the first time since the trade, though that was not on his mind during his six innings against the Twins.

“It really didn’t matter to me,” he said. “I had to come out and get my work in. The big thing comes in about a week, 10 days. I just came out here and pitched and worked on my game.”

The right-hander, who has the third spot in the Rays rotation, allowed three runs on eight hits. He walked one batter and struck out five.

“I attacked with my fastball,” Garza said. “They knew it was coming, the geared up for it, and they didn’t put good wood on it.”

Maddon said Garza could have gone another inning, despite throwing 98 pitches in his six innings. Garza will throw five Saturday afternoon against the Phillies in Philadelphia.

“We’re rolling to the best part of the season, so I’m ready to go,” Garza said.

Percival strong again
Closer Troy Percival pitched his fifth perfect inning in seven outings this spring.
What impressed Maddon was the quick-step to the plate Percival used when blowing a fastball past Carlos Gomez for the second out in the eighth.

“I like the idea he was playing with that even though there was nobody on base,” Maddon said. “Whether it was to mess with the hitter’s timing or work on it when there is a runner on base, I’m glad that he did it.”

NOTEWORTHY
The Rays released infielder Morgan Ensberg on Monday. Maddon said they had no room for Ensberg at Triple A Durham so this would allow him to land a spot with another organization ... Lance Cromier continued to impress Maddon with another scoreless inning Monday ... Jason Bartlett had two hits. He’s batting .341 ... Akinori Iwamura was 0-for-5 and dropped his average to .091.