Kaz close to returning

ROGER MOONEY
rmooney@bradenton.com

ST. PETERSBURG – Scott Kazmir warmed up with his teammates before batting practice Sunday for the first time since Feb. 26, the day he strained his left elbow, playing catch with fellow left-hander David Price before Sunday’s game with the Reds.
“I saw all those guys playing catch every day, and I wanted to be a part of it,” he said.
Kazmir threw the ball a distance of 100 and 120 feet. He even moved closer and threw a couple of sliders and change-ups to Price.
“It felt great,” Kazmir said. “I thought I was going to be a little timid out there, but I wasn’t.”
After throwing with trainer Ron Porterfield for four days, Kazmir said his elbow feels fine.
“I felt like I didn’t lose any ground taking that week off,” he said.
Kazmir will throw a bullpen session Monday, and if everything goes well, will pitch in a game by the end of the week.
Rays manager Joe Maddon said Kazmir has not been ruled out as the starter when the Rays open the season March 31 in Baltimore.
“That’s still an important issue to be determined,” Maddon said. “It’s possible. I’m leaving the possibility out there that he can, but it’s also possible that he can not. We have to be flexible with this one. What’s best for him and for us is what we’re going to do ultimately and see where it takes us.”

A tough second for Jackson
All the doubt Edwin Jackson erased concerning his ability ton throw strikes during his first six innings this spring returned during the second inning of his start against the Reds on Sunday at Al Lang Field.
The Reds sent 11 hitters to the plate, had six hits, including a pair of RBI doubles, and scored six times, which proved to be all the runs they needed in a 6-4 victory.
“That’s the kind of performance he really needs to stay away from,” Maddon said. “For me, it was really not so good.”
Jackson didn’t walk a batter during the inning, but couldn’t not keep the ball down in the strike zone – something that has been drilled into the head of every Rays pitcher this spring. Keep the ball down or else.
“It’s not what I wanted, but it’s not the end of the world,” Jackson said.

Percy the jokester
The Rays begin each day with a team meeting in right field and a joke, told by one of the younger players.
David Price’s turn in the spotlight occurred early in camp, and closer troy Percival was the butt of the joke.
On Saturday, hours after Price’s stunning debut at Legends Field, the first overall pick in last June’s draft returned to Al Lang to find his BMW covered with larger-than-life decals of Percival’s face.
Price called the car a “Troyota.”
Maddon was impressed with Percival’s prank.
“That was awesome,” Maddon said. “I knew something was coming since he told the done, and I knew it would have something to do with Price’s car. He couldn’t have done much better than what he did. It took a lot of money and imagination.”
When asked if Price has the intestinal fortitude to respond, Maddon said, “I think he has the inner intelligence to not.”

Longoria’s fate
The Rays said they would wait until the middle of camp to determine if Evan Longoria was ready to begin the year at the major league level or back at Triple A Durham. That decision is now a week away.
“He’s doing a fine job, and I want to be patient with the evaluation,” Maddon said. “He’s done well. He’s had some good at-bats. He’s made some nice plays.”
Longoria had a pinch-hit double and scored a run in the Rays loss Sunday.
He’s batting .364 and playing well at third.
Maddon though it interested in the at-bats in which Longoria struggled, like this strikeout against Mike Mussina of the Yankees on Saturday.
“I’ve been watching his reaction to those,” Maddon said.

E-Rays
The Rays committed just two errors through their first eight games. They committed four Sunday. Three in the infield and one in right when Justin Ruggiano let a ball get under his glove.
“That was a sloppy game,” Maddon said.

Monday’s action
The American League Central champion Cleveland Indians make their lone appearance at Al Lang this season. Paul Byrd will start for the Indians. Jason Hammel will start for the Rays.

This & That
Ben Zobrist played left field for the first time this spring, further advancing his development into a super utility player … Percival made his second appearance of the spring and worked another perfect inning … Relievers Dan wheeler, Gary Glover, Mitch Talbot and Chris Mason each threw one hitless inning as the Reds failed to get a hit after the third inning … Rocco Baldelli was not in the lineup Sunday and is not expected to play Monday … A strong walk-up crowd, with many fans not getting in until after the first inning, produced the largest crowd at Al Lang this season – 5,392.