Rays bring their boots to Fort Myers

ROGER MOONEY
rmooney@bradenton.com

FORT MYERS – One of the reasons for the Rays success this spring – a team-record 17 wins – has been the defense. The Rays 18 errors prior to Wednesday’s 4-2 loss against the Twins were the third fewest by an American League team.

In fact, he Rays brought a 27-inning errorless streak into the game.

That was snapped in the first inning on a throwing error by first baseman Chris Richard that allowed a run to score.

Two innings later, it was Elliot Johnson’s turn.

The second baseman played center field in his continuing attempt to replace Ben Zobrist as the super utility fielder. For the most part, Johnson has looked smooth in the field.

Then Craig Monroe singled up the middle and Johnson fell apart.

First he mishandled the grounder, allowing Justin Morneau, who was on first, to continue to third.

Then Johnson tried to throw out Morneau at third.

“Once he booted the ball he should have just thrown it into second base,” Rays manager Joe Maddon said. “That will just come with experience. At that point he was just trying to make a play.”

The ball sailed past Rays third baseman Joel Guzman. Pitcher James Shields, who did not anticipate Johnson throwing to third, didn’t hustle over to back up the base. That bit of miscommunication allowed the ball to sail into the dugout and Morneau to score.

“He’ll learn from that,” Maddon said. “I was not upset. He was trying to make an aggressive play. We’ll talk about it.”

Shields final tune-up
James Shields’ final start of the spring was not his best outing this month. He allowed a spring-high seven hits and four runs, though only two of those runs were earned. He also suffered his first loss of the spring.

“He got his work in,” Maddon said. “I thought he was fine.”

Shields next start will be Monday in Baltimore when the Rays open the season against the Orioles.

Who is Scott Munter?
A candidate for the bullpen, that’s who.

The right-hander signed as a minor league free agent in January has pushed his way among Scott Dohmann and Grant Balfour for the last spot in the bullpen.

“There’s still one position that we’re pretty torn about,” Maddon said before that game, and without mentioning which position, he was talking about the final spot in the pen.

Dohmann has struggled.

Balfour has pitched well lately.

Munter has been solid for much of the spring.

The 6-foot-6, 260-pound right-hander who doesn’t throw hard but gets ground balls is making that decision hard.

He allowed three hits in two scoreless innings against the Twins, and got out of one jam by inducing Nick Punto to hit into a double play.

“I like Munter,” Maddon said. “Munter has been pitching really well. He has a hard sinker and gets a lot of ground balls. He’s becoming very interesting.”

Other decisions
Maddon said the team is closer to deciding on their extra infielder, a race that includes Elliot Johnson, Erick Hinske and Joel Guzman. The key is who can play third base and if Johnson starts there Thursday against the Indians, Maddon will have seen all three there during a three-game span.

Hinske played third Tuesday against Toronto and Guzman started there Wednesday against the Twins.

“We pretty much have in our mind what it’s going to look like, but we want to give it another day or two,” Maddon said. “Quite frankly that’s what’s going on.”

The play of the spring
Elliot Johnson led off the second inning and tried to drag a bunt down the first base line. Twins pitcher Livan Hernandez chased after the ball, but couldn’t reach down and grab it and still make the play so he kicked it toward first baseman Justin Morneau, who caught it in time to nip Johnson.

“That was pretty impressive,” Maddon said. “And not only that, you have give Morneau some credit at first base. He was holding the glove like he was saying, ‘Kick it here.’ I don’t know if he willed it there. It was some kind of ESPN at that point.”

Hernandez received a standing ovation from the crowd for his heads-up – foots-up? – effort.

“That was impressive,” Maddon said. “Didn’t like it, but it was impressive.”

Shields liked it. He said the Rays should incorporate that as part of their pitcher’s fielding practice.

Maddon isn’t so is that’s a play everyone can make.

“Only if you played soccer some time in your life,” Maddon said. “I don’t want any sprained ankles.”

Up next
They’ve been playing spring training baseball at Winter Haven’s Chain O’Lakes Park since 1966. They will play the last game there Thursday when the Rays meet the Indians at 1:05 p.m.

Andy Sonnanstine will pitch for the Rays. Cliff Lee is the Indians scheduled starter.

This & That
Shortstop Jason Bartlett, acquired from the Twins last November, was 3-for-4 against his former team. He doubled in the first and singled home a run in the third. Bartlett is hitting .357 this spring … Aki Iwamura tripled and scored in the second … J.P. Howell threw two perfect innings and lowered his ERA to 0.82 … Edwin Jackson was officially named the fourth starter and Jason Hammel the fifth … Delmon Young, who was involved in the trade that brought Bartlett and pitcher Matt Garza to the Rays, was presented the “Outstanding Rookie” award for the 2007 season by the members of the Tampa Bay chapter of the Baseball Writer’s Association of America.