Despite riding high in 1st place in the AL East, the injuries keep mounting for the Tampa Bay Rays. Certainly the baseball season is lengthy and such wounds are par for the course of 162 games. However, it appears that the injury bug has taken a liking to the confines of Tropicana Field and struck the team quite harshly during the first quarter of the season. Here is a look at the multiple members of the Rays that continue to spend far too much time in the training room.

Robinson Chirinos: The 2nd year catcher received his first taste of the major leagues in 2011, when he hit .218 in 55 at bats with the Rays. Expected to compete for the backup catching spot, the 27 year-old sustained a concussion in spring training and was placed on the 60 day disabled list in March. Jose Lobaton was instead named the team’s second catcher.

Sam Fuld: Though he cooled off late in the season, Fuld was a valuable utility outfielder for the Rays in 2011. Since manager Joe Maddon loves tinkering with the lineup, the 30 year-old was expected to provide depth off the bench in 2012. After injuring his wrist in an exhibition game, Fuld required surgery and was placed on the 60 day disabled list in early April. He is expected to miss at least 4 months, which makes a return in August or September possible.

Kyle Farnsworth: With 25 saves, Farnsworth was surprisingly effective as the Rays’ closer last year. Despite elbow soreness in September, the team believed an off-season of rest would help and picked up the veteran’s option for 2012. After pitching in spring training, however, the problem re-surfaced and Farnsworth was immediately shut down. Tampa Bay placed him on the 60 day disabled list and continues to hope surgery is not needed.

Jose Lobaton: The Venezuela native began the season as the club’s backup catcher. He played in 4 contests before being removed from a mid-April game with a sore shoulder. Lobaton was soon added to the 15 day disabled list, while Chris Gimenez has assumed the backup role for the Rays. Lobaton has recently begun rehabbing with the minor league Charlotte Stone Crabs, where he has played in 2 games and is hitless in 5 at bats.

Evan Longoria: No injury stung more bitterly than the loss of the Rays’ best hitter, who was hitting .329 with 4 home runs and 19 RBI during a torrid first month of 2012. After already overcoming an injured wrist in spring training, Longo tore his left hamstring on a stolen base attempt during an April 30 game. He was immediately placed on the 15 day disabled list and is expected to need 6-8 weeks to heal. Though Will Rhymes was added to the roster in his place, Sean Rodriguez and Jeff Keppinger have received most of the playing time at 3rd base.

Brandon Allen: It seemed like Rays fans hardly knew Allen, before he was sidelined with a right quad strain. The 26 year-old began the season with the Oakland A’s, but the first baseman/outfielder was claimed off waivers by the Rays on April 19. He was signed to provide a lefty bat off the bench and did deliver a game-winning home run in an April 26th game against the Los Angeles Angels. Allen is on the 15 day disabled list and could return by the end of May. Brandon Guyer was recalled from Durham to fill his role and serve as an extra outfielder.

Desmond Jennings: In his first full season as the Rays’ everyday left fielder, Jennings strained his left knee when sliding into home plate on May 6. Hoping to avoid placement on the growing DL, the 25 year-old was limited to pinch hitting duties for the past week while receiving treatment on the knee. With the strategy not working, the Rays finally placed Jennings on the 15 day disabled list retroactive to May 12. Utilityman Stephen Vogt was recalled in his place and Matt Joyce will likely be shifted to left field.

Jeff Niemann: The tall righty won the competitive job to serve as the club’s 5th starting pitcher in spring training. In 6 starts, it appeared Joe Maddon made the correct decision, as Niemann sported a solid 3.37 ERA and 30 strikeouts in 33 innings of work. However, Niemann disappointingly sustained a fracture to his right fibula upon being hit by a ball during a May 14th start against the Toronto Blue Jays. He is expected to miss at least a month and was added to the 15 day disabled list on May 15. Bullpen pitcher Wade Davis and minor-league prospect Alex Cobb are likely candidates to assume Niemann’s spot.

Sources:

Yahoo! Sports, Sportsillustrated.cnn.com, TBO.com.

More by Jeff Briscoe from Yahoo! Contributor Network:

Rays and Orioles Meet in 1st Place Showdown

Jeff Briscoe is a regular contributor for the Yahoo! Contributor Network and a follower of the Tampa Bay Rays . He co-hosts The Sports Train radio show on 1580am WCCF in Southwest Florida.

TAMPA – A group that wants to move the Rays to downtown Tampa from St. Petersburg is swinging for the fences and taking their campaign directly to the Commissioner of Major League Baseball, asking for his help to move the team from St. Pete to an as yet, undisclosed potential location in Tampa.

The group Build It Downtown Tampa sent a letter to baseball Commissioner Bud Selig, asking him to help with the fight to keep the Rays, not only here in the Bay area, but to move them somewhere in downtown Tampa.

Ryan Neubauer, with Build It Downtown Tampa, has one goal on his mind.

“Getting a stadium built in downtown Tampa,” said Neubauer. “In order to secure the Rays future in this region.”

It’s as simple as that, he said. What’s not so simple? Getting that done before some place else woos the team away.

“It’s not a question of if anymore,” said Neubauer. “But when. The referendum in St. Petersburg, to build a new waterfront stadium, was basically shot down.”

And ever since Neubauer said, they’ve been looking at ways to keep the Rays here.

“We gotta get the team in a location, where they’re in a 30-minute drive time to most of us that live in the area, so that more people can come out and support the team,” he said.

So Build It Downtown Tampa wants baseball Commissioner Bud Selig to appoint a three-man committee to look at Tampa, then report directly back to him. It’s worked in other cities like Washington, D.C.

There are a handful of properties around downtown and Channelside, that do have the proper acreage, but Build It Downtown Tampa, is not ready to give-up, where those locations are just yet.

“It’s gotta be in a location that is accessible to the greatest number of people,” said Neubauer. “And that’s what a location in downtown Tampa would be.”

The space needed would be about twice the size of Centennial Park in Ybor City. The Rays’ current lease agreement is up 2027.

“That’s a long way, away,” we said. “It is, it is,” said Neubauer. But, in situations in other cities, where teams have broken leases, moved entirely out of that city or that region, into a completely different place.”

“You don’t wanna see your Rays go away?,” we asked Josh Parsons. “Absolutely not!,” he enthusiastically replied. “Being down here at the Forum is a nice place and having everything all in the same area, would work out well.”

“You should see the Lightning games, how many people it draws in,” said Sherry Simons, who was feverishly parking cars on lots across from the Tampa Bay Times Forum.

“The biggest issue’s going to be how to finance it, once this divorce does happen,” said Neubauer.

They’re going to have to get creative and Neubauer admits, it cannot just be thrown onto the backs of taxpayers.

“Well, I think it’s a wonderful idea to pay millionaires for their stadium,” joked Jeff Shelley. “I guess they can’t do it themselves ya know? It gets in the way of their profits.”

“It’s a hundred million dollar economic engine annually, the Rays are, to this region,” said Neubauer. “So, it’s not something we can let go.”

Build It Downtown Tampa said they may never hear from the Commissioner’s Office, but they did say, they’re really having trouble getting through to anyone there. They remain hopeful their letter is taken seriously and encourage fans to also reach out to Major League Baseball, to let them know, they’re serious about keeping the Rays in Tampa Bay, wherever that may be.
 

PORT CHARLOTTE, Fla. (AP) — The Tampa Bay Rays say a mild lower abdominal strain that’s slowed prized pitching prospect Matt Moore in spring training is not a major concern.

Nevertheless, the team is taking a cautious approach with the rookie left-hander who was held out of a scheduled live batting practice session this week. Manager Joe Maddon stressed the injury is not considered serious, and Moore felt good after playing catch from 75 feet on Wednesday.

“Everything was good today,” Moore said. “Everything has been great the last few days, too.”

The 22-year-old made his major league debut last September and won his only regular-season start at Yankee Stadium. Eight days later, he became the youngest pitcher to start and win a team’s opening postseason game, working seven shutout innings in a 9-0 victory over Texas in the AL divisional playoff round.

The Rangers went on to win the series, three games to one.

“I’m not concerned. He’s fine. But it’s the beginning of camp and we’re just treating it this way,” Maddon said, adding that there’s no reason at this time to believe the discomfort in the middle of the abdomen might be hinder the pitcher’s bid to earn a spot in the starting rotation coming out of spring training.

In two starts with Tampa Bay, including the postseason, Moore allowed six hits over 12 scoreless innings, walked three and struck out 17.

Still, he’s not assured of beginning the season in one of baseball’s youngest – and deepest – rotations. David Price, James Shields, 2011 AL rookie of the year Jeremy Hellickson, Wade Davis and Jeff Niemann return from last season, with Moore and right-hander Alex Cobb expected to push the incumbents this spring.

Maddon plans to use a six-man rotation when spring training games begin this weekend. Price will start the exhibition opener against Minnesota in Fort Myers on Saturday and Hellickson is scheduled to face the Twins when the teams meet again the following day in Port Charlotte.

It’s unclear when Moore will be back on a mound.

“I don’t anticipate it being a long time. … I don’t consider it a setback at all,” Maddon said of the injury.

Moore, who began last season at Double-A Montgomery, signed a $14 million, five-year contract in December. The deal includes club options for the 2017, 2018 and 2019 seasons that could make it worth about $39.75 million over eight years.

The hard-throwing young left-hander was a combined 12-3 with a 1.92 ERA in 27 starts with Montgomery and Triple-A Durham.

Notes: Price and Shields faced hitters Wednesday during a live batting practice session. … Most of the team’s regulars will take part in a four-inning intrasquad game on Thursday. Among the pitchers scheduled to throw are Cobb, LH Cesar Ramos, RH Josh Lueke, LH Alex Torres and RH Matt Bush. … The Rays said Opening Day at Tropicana Field against the New York Yankees (April 6) is sold out. It’s the seventh straight season the team has sold out its home opener.

Copyright 2012 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

The Tampa Bay Rays did a lot more than win a wild-card spot last year.

Left for dead in the first half of the year, the Rays did not climb from the abyss with a sensational winning streak. Instead, they steadied themselves and played solid baseball from the All-Star break on and took advantage of a horrendous stretch run by the Boston Red Sox to win the American League wild-card spot.

The rally to the playoffs featured all aspects of the games. The Rays depended on their starting pitching, solid fielding, clutch hitting and gutsy relief pitching. The Rays never lacked for confidence during the season, but their long rally has allowed them to reassess themselves at the start of the 2012 season.

No longer are they the little team chasing the New York Yankees and the Red Sox. They view themselves on equal footing with those two rivals and they believe in their hearts that a World Series title is a legitimate possibility.

The rest of the baseball world is coming around to their way of thinking, but they are not as sold as the Rays are themselves. Many American League observers believe Tampa Bay has bypassed Boston in the American League East and will be able to challenge the Yankees but won’t be able to beat them.

Ben Zobrist, an All-Star in 2009 who should see the majority of his action at second base this year, believes his team has only one thing to concern itself with—winning the World Series. He told the Tampa Tribune there is nothing else for his team to focus on at this point.

“We’re planning on winning the World Series this year. That’s the goal,” Zobrist said. “And from Day 1 here, looking forward, that’s what we’re focused on.”

Zobrist admits expectations have changed dramatically over the years. “When I first got into spring training with the Devil Rays at the time, the atmosphere was we were just trying to get above water,” Zobrist said. “After the last few years the expectations just keep going up, so we’re going to have to work really hard and try and meet those.”

This year’s team will depend on the pitching of David Price, James Shields and Jeremy Hellickson, but the Rays’ clutch hitting may be the difference maker this year. The Rays follow the lead of 3rd baseman Evan Longoria in this area. Even though he was troubled by nagging injuries throughout much of the first half of the season, he still hit 31 home runs and drove in 99 runs last year. A healthy Longoria could hit 40 home runs and drive in 125 runs.

Add in centerfielder B.J. Upton, Zobrist and Matt Joyce and the Rays should be able to mash the ball consistently.

The best asset the Rays have won’t pitch a single inning or get one base hit. Joe Maddon is the best manager in baseball and once he wins a World Series, he will get that recognition. If he can ever win multiple World Series titles, Maddon’s name will get mentioned with the great managers in history.

Those who sell him or his team short risk getting run down the way the Red Sox were a year ago.

Reference:

Tampa Bay Online—Rays Embracing High Expectations for 2012

http://www2.tbo.com/sports/rays/2012/feb/25/4/spsporto6-high-expectations-embraced-by-team-ar-362634/#fbcomments

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(Reuters) – The Tampa Bay Rays sorted out their catching needs for the 2012 Major League Baseball season by signing veteran Jose Molina to a one-year deal, the team said Monday.

The $1.5 million deal includes a club option to bring the 36-year-old Molina back in 2013 for the same salary, according to a report posted on the team’s website.

Free agent Molina, an accomplished defensive catcher, hit a career-high .281 last season with the Toronto Blue Jays.

“Jose has been one of the best defensive catchers in baseball over the past decade, and his presence will bring even more stability to our defense, and he will be a great asset to our young pitchers,” said Rays General Manager Andrew Friedman.

Tampa Bay had created an opening for a veteran catcher by trading catcher John Jaso to the Seattle Mariners Sunday for reliever Josh Lueke, after earlier deciding not to pick up a $3.2 million club option to retain Kelly Shoppach.

Those moves left the Rays with only young catchers Jose Lobaton and Robinson Chirinos on their major league roster.

Over his career, Molina has thrown out 153 of 410 attempted base stealers for a 37.3 percentage that ranks fourth best among active catchers who have played a minimum of 500 games.

The Rays witnessed his throwing ability first-hand in April when Molina, while playing for Toronto, threw out four Tampa Bay runners attempting to steal in the first four innings.

Molina has played in parts of 12 seasons for the Cubs, Angels, Yankees and Blue Jays with a .241 career batting average.

The native of Puerto Rico comes from a family of big league catchers. Older brother Bengie played 13 seasons before retiring after 2010, while younger brother Yadier has spent his eight-year career with the St. Louis Cardinals and won his second World Series ring with them last month.

(Reporting by Larry Fine in New York; Editing by Frank Pingue)

There I was, in the middle of the hotel bar at the Baseball Winter Meetings, proposing the seemingly unimaginable: a woman throwing batting practice to a Major League team. Tampa Bay Rays manager Joe Maddon listened intently as I explained to him how it would help show girls and boys that baseball really is a game for all. He asked about my qualifications, then gave me his contact info and said he wanted to help.

And that’s when I joined the “cult” of Joe Maddon.

Joe Maddon lives an authentic life, one where he is true to himself regardless of the external pressures to conform. This authenticity translates into his successful work as a baseball manager. He is able to remain balanced in a sports world that often feeds on the frenzied state of wins and losses, salary wars and unsolicited opinions.

As the manager of the Rays, Joe has built a community. There is a sense of togetherness in the clubhouse, which makes for a unified team that can play well through both the highs and lows of a marathon-like season. To create a culture of fun, he surprises his players with different experiences: homemade hoagies, team letterman sweaters, wearing a Bucs helmet to a postgame press conference.

Beyond the fun, Joe Maddon also wins games. Many thought the Rays would be rebuilding during the 2011 season, but instead they made the playoffs — the third time in four years. The Rays led the league with a .988 team fielding average and were second in the American League in earned run average. With a team payroll of just $40 million, the 2011 Rays won without a roster of bought superstars.

Going into September, down by 8.5 games in the American League wild card chase, the Rays never gave up. Maddon’s balanced approach to managing kept his team loose but focused. The result was a month of peak performance in an atmosphere where every game meant something. The team finished the season with a five-game winning streak and clinched the wild card win in the 12th inning of the final game. The team never gave up; they kept believing. That belief is the result of Joe’s authentic leadership.

Joe’s tweets alone give a sense of his managerial style:

Sept. 7: “We want to be like the guys in Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid. Relentless pursuers who prompted the line: Who are those guys?”

Sept. 11: “We’re kinda fun to watch right now. Our guys believe. They don’t need any speeches from me. I need to get out of the way and let them play.”

Sept. 15: “Now it’s about Friday. We have to think in those terms. It’s the only way we are going to do this. We need to stay in the present tense.”

Oct. 3: “Joel Peralta’s wife made some great Dominican food for the spread today. She’s a great cook.”

Oct. 4: “Had a postgame toast in the clubhouse. Told them I couldn’t be more proud. Back in April I toasted to the best 0-6 team ever. I was right.”

The day I pitched batting practice to the Rays, Joe Maddon and his team were amazing. Johnny Damon came over to introduce himself, and Sam Fuld stopped to tell me how great he thought my batting practice journey was. Joe spent half an hour with me and my daughter Jasmine making sure we felt welcomed. The whole team culture was supportive and inspiring.

The authenticity that Joe puts forth, and that his players model, is what drives the Rays and what made them one of the best and most exciting teams in baseball. The “cult” of Joe Maddon now has one more proud member.

Read More: andrew friedman owns your soul, Tampa Bay Rays, Los Angeles Angels

The Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim are still in the midst of their search for a General Manager, and Rays vice president Andrew Friedman remains at the top of their list of candidates. However, according to a report from the Los Angeles Times, it remains most likely that Friedman will remain with the Tampa Bay Rays:

The Angels remain highly interested in Tampa Bay General Manager Andrew Friedman, but their chances of luring the 34-year-old executive away from the Rays are slim, according to people familiar with the team’s GM search who are not authorized to speak publicly on the topic.

The article goes on to state that Friedman’s loyalty to Rays owner Stuart Sternberg is the largest obstacle. Friedman and Sternberg both joined the Rays together back in 2005, switching over from Wall Street to baseball. The entire Rays’ front office seems to be a tight-knit bunch and Sternberg, Friedman, and Matt Silverman (the team president) are a night inseperable bunch. It’s also been rumored — although never confirmed — that Friedman owns a share in the Rays, so he has more invested in the team than most other GMs.

The Angels are willing to offer Friedman the role of President, much like Theo Epstein’s new role with the Cubs, and he would have considerably more financial flexibility than he currently has in Tampa Bay. But regardless, Friedman seems unlikely to switch allegiances at the moment. And if he’s not willing to take on this role, it seems highly unlikely that Friedman will be moving anywhere in the near future.

The Angels remain highly interested in Tampa Bay General Manager Andrew Friedman, but their chances of luring the 34-year-old executive away from the Rays are slim, according to people familiar with the team’s GM search who are not authorized to speak publicly on the topic.

Owner Arte Moreno and team president John Carpino met last week in Florida with Friedman, who has helped build the small-market Rays into perennial playoff contenders despite extremely limited resources — their $42-million payroll this season was less than one-third of the $142 million the Angels spent on players.

Friedman appears to be the favored candidate to replace Tony Reagins, who was fired as GM two days after the season.

But Friedman’s loyalty to Tampa Bay owner Stuart Sternberg, who has referred to Friedman as “a partner,” appears to be the biggest obstacle to the Angels luring him to Anaheim.

If the Angels are able to land Friedman, he would be offered a position as club president, with the team likely hiring one of its other finalists as GM, a hierarchy similar to the one the Chicago Cubs used to lure GM Theo Epstein from the Boston Red Sox.

In addition to Friedman, the Angels have formally interviewed Jerry Dipoto, Arizona’s senior vice president for scouting and player development; New York Yankees executives Damon Oppenheimer (vice president of amateur scouting) and Billy Eppler (director of professional scouting); Chicago White Sox assistant GM Rick Hahn; and former New York Mets GM Omar Minaya.

Former Dodgers assistant GM Kim Ng, who is now a senior vice president for baseball operations with Major League Baseball, will be interviewed this week.

The Angels hope to interview Texas assistant GM Thad Levine after the Rangers finish the World Series. Former Dodgers GM Dan Evans is being considered for the job but has not been formally interviewed.

The Angels sought permission to interview Detroit Tigers assistant GM Al Avila and Florida vice president of player personnel Dan Jennings but were denied.

The team did not seek permission to interview San Diego Manager Bud Black, the former Angels pitching coach who was on a front-office track with the Cleveland Indians before joining Manager Mike Scioscia’s staff in 2000.

The Angels are expected to narrow their list of finalists and conduct a second round of interviews this week, and they hope to have a GM in place by early next week.

The new GM will be given the authority to hire a new assistant GM, player personnel director and farm director.

mike.digiovanna@latimes.com

twitter.com/MikeDiGiovanna

By Marc Topkin, Times Staff Writer

Posted: Oct 10, 2011 12:56 PM

Tampa Bay Rays principal owner Stuart Sternberg clarified in a letter e-mailed to season-ticket holders that his recent comments about the “precarious” future of the franchise were not a complaint nor meant to sound ungrateful about the support they do have, but the reality of their situation. Also, he provided assurance that the organization remains committed to finding a solution to the region-wide issue.

“It would be easy to assure you and all Rays fans that everything will be fine, but that would be disingenuous,” Sternberg wrote. “It has been a thrilling past six years for the Rays. We have experienced success on the field that most everyone believed to be impossible. This success has exposed questions from which neither the Rays nor the Tampa Bay region can hide. I assure you that our organization is committed to doing all that we can to find solutions.”

Here is the full text of the letter:

Thank you for being such a big part of a wonderfully improbable season!

I know you share my pride in our ballclub’s successes over the past six seasons. We are one of three teams to reach the Postseason three out of the past four years. To do it from the AL East, while winning the East twice, makes it all the sweeter.

Rays fans support the team in many ways. Perhaps they attend a few games each year, coordinate a group outing, or watch or listen from a distance. I am grateful for each and every Rays fan.

But it is our season ticket holders who have been and continue to be our foundation. Without your loyal support, we could not begin to do what we do. I can’t emphasize enough how much I appreciate the time and hard-earned money you invest in the Rays. You are the ones who support the team through thick and thin. You spread word throughout our community about the great experiences you have at Tropicana Field, as well as your memories and friendships that are connected to Rays baseball.

We all care deeply about the organization. We want it to succeed. We want it to be a fixture in Tampa Bay. We want the seats filled, the atmosphere charged, and the play on the field to be of high quality. Each Spring, we want to look forward to the bright prospects of a new season.

As in the past, I will continue to communicate with you honestly and with candor.

I became the principal owner of the Rays in 2005 because I believed that Major League Baseball could thrive in Tampa Bay. The transformation of the franchise has been breathtaking: a rebranding of the team to become the Rays, significant investments in Tropicana Field, top notch fan experience and customer service, and, of course, development of an acclaimed baseball operations department.

Just as when this organization was “under construction” back in 2005, we continue to face major challenges. At that time, I said that there were no quick, easy fixes. I asked for patience as we built the Rays from a team that had never experienced success into what it is today.

Recently, I have acknowledged that the future of the Rays and Major League Baseball in Tampa Bay is precarious. I have expressed concern about the long-term health and vitality of our franchise. When asked by the press, I did not shy away from answering questions about attendance and our future. For the sake of our franchise, we cannot ignore these questions. Doing so would be a disservice to the organization, its employees and all of its loyal supporters.

Please do not take my remarks as a complaint — they were not intended to be. I was not pointing fingers. I was not blaming anyone. I do not mean to sound ungrateful to our fans for their support, and I certainly will not tell anyone how to spend his or her money. I was simply being forthright about a reality that must be faced. It would be easy to assure you and all Rays fans that everything will be fine, but that would be disingenuous.

It has been a thrilling past six years for the Rays. We have experienced success on the field that most everyone believed to be impossible. This success has exposed questions from which neither the Rays nor the Tampa Bay region can hide. I assure you that our organization is committed to doing all that we can to find solutions.

I am proud to be the principal owner of the Rays, and I am truly grateful for your support, dedication and passion. Thank you for being a season ticket holder. Your support does not go unnoticed by any of us within the organization.

I look forward to seeing you on Opening Day 2012 for the next edition of our Rays.

Sincerely,

Stuart Sternberg

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ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (AP)—The Tampa Bay Rays are running short on time in
the playoff race.

The team’s fourth loss in five games—5-1 to the Toronto Blue Jays on
Friday night—dropped them 2 1/2 games behind Boston in the AL wild-card chase,
further dampening the team’s hopes of earning a third postseason berth in four
years.

“It’s not going to be easy. It hasn’t been easy, and that’s OK,” manager
Joe Maddon said. “We’re learning a lot of lessons about ourselves right now.”

Tampa Bay has only five games remaining—two against Toronto and three
against the Yankees, who have already clinched the AL East title.

Brandon Morrow(notes) pitched seven scoreless innings and Kelly Johnson(notes) homered and
drove in two runs off David Price(notes) (12-13), whose pair of third-inning throwing
errors contributed the Rays’ demise.

“You’ve got to throw this in the trash can very fast,” Maddon said. “We
did not play well. We didn’t hit well, we didn’t do anything well. Trash it,
then come back tomorrow and get back on the right track. We’re running out of
time, but there is time. We’ve got to come back play our normal game.”

A night after pounding out 17 hits in a 15-8 road romp at Yankee Stadium,
the Rays were limited to Matt Joyce’s(notes) second-inning infield single until Casey
Kotchman(notes) singled with one out in the seventh off Morrow (11-11), only allowed
those two hits while walking four and striking out nine.

Toronto played spoiler for the second straight night. Edwin Encarnacion’s(notes)
12th-inning walk-off homer at home beat Los Angeles 4-3 Thursday, dropping the
Angels three games behind Boston in the wild-card race.

“It’s fun to win, no matter what,” Johnson said. “We’re playing against a
lot of teams that are desperate to win and we’re doing all right. It’s
definitely encouraging.”

Boston, which has six games left, was rained out at New York. Any
combination of Red Sox wins and Rays losses totaling four will eliminate Tampa
Bay from wild-card contention.

“I think I know our guys pretty well,” Madden said. “At this point in the
season, it’s not going to get into their heads. We’ll come back (Saturday) ready
to play.”

Johnson had a RBI single in the third. He led off the sixth with a home run
that drew a smattering of boos from a crowd of just 18,093 at half-filled
Tropicana Field.

Joel Carreno(notes) and Luis Perez(notes) each pitched an inning to finish a combined
three-hitter for Toronto. The Rays didn’t get a runner past second base until
the ninth, when Johnny Damon(notes) walked and wound up scoring from third on Joyce’s
two-out single.

“It’s a pretty big blow. We’ve only got five games left, so we’ve got to
win,” Price said. “We don’t think Boston is going to go and lose six out of
six, so we need to put some wins together and step up.”

The Blue Jays scored three runs in the third, two on Price’s second throwing
error of the inning. The All-Star lefty came off the mound to field Eric Thames’(notes)
high chopper with the bases loaded but his throw to the plate for a forceout
sailed and skipped off the glove of leaping catcher Kelly Shoppach(notes).

Toronto made it 3-0 on Johnson’s two-out, broken-bat single, but wound up
costing themselves a run on the play when Jose Bautista(notes) overran second base and
was thrown out by center fielder B.J. Upton(notes)—an instant before Thames crossed
the plate for what would have been a fourth run in the inning.

The way the Rays were swinging the bats, it didn’t matter.

Tampa Bay was shut out for the 16th time this season, 10th at home. Price
and the Rays beat Morrow 12-0 in Toronto on Aug. 28, but the Blue Jays
right-hander had their number from the start this time.

“They didn’t look comfortable up there hitting,” Johnson said. “He throws
so hard. He’s one of the tougher ones to hit.”

Price, 9-2 lifetime against the Blue Jays, allowed five runs—two earned—
and five hits in six innings. He walked two and struck out seven.

NOTES: Maddon said reliever Kyle Farnsworth(notes), who hasn’t pitched since Sept.
10 because of a sore right elbow, is available for the Toronto series. … Upton
was ejected in the eighth inning, when he was thrown out trying to steal second
base and argued the call with 2B umpire Ed Hickox. … Blue Jays 1B Adam Lind(notes)
left the team Friday to fly home to Toronto for the birth of his child. …
Toronto LHP Ricky Romero(notes) (15-10), Saturday’s scheduled starter, is 8-2 with a
2.84 ERA in 13 starts since the All-Star break. … Blue Jays manager John
Farrell said it’s unlikely that INF Yunel Escobar(notes) (left elbow) will play again
this season if he can’t take batting practice on Sunday. … Former supermodel
Cheryl Tiegs threw out the ceremonial first pitch.

By Richard Danielson, Times Staff Writer

In Print: Thursday, September 22, 2011

What money could Tampa or St. Petersburg contribute to finance a new stadium for the Tampa Bay Rays? And where, exactly, might it come from?

Those are questions a Chamber of Commerce task force studying ways to pay for a new ballpark — and keep the team in the region — is asking each city.

It’s good to be prepared, Tampa Mayor Bob Buckhorn said Wednesday.

“We need to be in a position if the day comes to move and to move quickly, and not spend six months figuring out what we can and we can’t do,” he said.

In the meantime, he said, he will not interfere with St. Petersburg’s discussions with the Rays about their future. The Rays have said Tropicana Field doesn’t draw enough fans for the team to stay through 2027, when their contract with St. Petersburg expires.

Tampa officials are pulling together information on the city’s community redevelopment areas, its capacity to borrow money from the bond market and how much money will be available when the city pays off the debt for the Tampa Convention Center.

“It could be some creative idea comes out of that information, but the information that we’re going to be providing is going to be basic information,” Tampa chief of staff Santiago Corrada said Wednesday.

The group doing the asking is the Baseball Stadium Financing Caucus, a joint effort of the chambers from Tampa and St. Petersburg. The Greater Tampa Chamber of Commerce, led by Chuck Sykes, came up with the idea for a private effort to look at financing possibilities last year. The St. Petersburg Area Chamber of Commerce joined in May.

The inquiries are meant to get a sense of the ways that many different pieces of stadium financing — everything from parking revenues to state funding to private equity — might come together.

Along the way, the caucus has looked at financing for other stadiums around the country, talked to state officials and heard what can happen when building a stadium is a purely private effort and the owner goes out of business. (The place sits empty.)

It has even heard from a University of South Florida economist who thinks that providing public support for ballparks is economically unsound.

“What we’re doing is continuing the process of just getting a complete understanding of the lay of the land,” Tampa chamber president Bob Rohrlack said.

One thing the group is not doing is looking at a stadium in any particular place.

“I’m looking at how do you finance things like this? How do you structure the financing?” said Jeff Hearn, a Raymond James senior vice president who chairs the finance structure committee of the caucus. “We are absolutely committed to not talking about where the stadium goes.”

The caucus also has been in discussion with St. Petersburg City Hall, where Mayor Bill Foster looks forward to seeing a report from the group.

“I think they’re talking to everybody, at least the cities that have the wherewithal,” Foster said. “I agreed to cooperate with that group so long as their studies were site-neutral.”

As he has said in the past, Buckhorn said that if the Rays leave St. Petersburg, he would like to see them land in downtown Tampa, preferably in the Channel District area.

He’s open to the idea of the city paying for infrastructure improvements, maybe contributing land and doing landscaping or streetscaping. But he doesn’t see city money going into the construction of the stadium.

“We’re not building a stadium,” he said.

Early on, the caucus also met with the Rays for a primer on the business of Major League Baseball, but it has not yet talked to the team about what money it could put into a financing package.

Rohrlack expects the group to give an update on its efforts in May 2012.

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ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (AP)—Zach Britton(notes) rebounded from a tough first inning
and helped the Baltimore Orioles overcome AL All-Star David Price(notes).

Britton had his third consecutive solid start, J.J. Hardy(notes) drove in two runs
and the Orioles beat the Tampa Bay Rays 3-2 on Friday night.

“The only way you’re able to have a shot at that (beating Price) is have a
well-pitched game,” Baltimore manager Buck Showalter said. “Zach has come back
strong and that bodes well for him in the future.”

Britton’s current run has come after he being sidelined just under three
weeks last month due to a strained left shoulder.

“The time on the DL, I tried to use it wisely,” Britton said. “Talking to
(closer) Kevin Gregg(notes) about building a game plan. Having a plan every time you go
out there. … What you’re going to do. I feel like that’s really helped me,
especially out on the mound.”

Britton (9-9) allowed two runs and four hits in six innings. The left-hander
was coming off starts against Minnesota and the New York Yankees where he gave
up one run in a combined 12 innings.

Vladimir Guerrero(notes) got Baltimore’s second hit off Price (12-12) on a leadoff
single in the seventh when the Orioles scored all their runs.

Guerrero went to third when Mark Reynolds(notes) and Robert Andino(notes) drew one-out
walks. After Nolan Reimold(notes) hit a sacrifice fly and Ryan Adams(notes) re-loaded the
bases on an infield single, Hardy put Baltimore up 3-2 with a two-run single.

“He was carving us up all game,” Hardy said of Price. “I think it might
have been the only ball (a cutter) he threw over the plate all night.”

Price was touched for three runs and four hits over seven innings. The
left-hander, who struck out a team-record 14 in a 12-0 victory over Toronto last
Sunday, had 11 strikeouts and three walks.

“One pitch, that’s the game,” Rays catcher Jose Lobaton(notes) said. “I feel bad
for him. He just threw it a little bit to the middle (of the plate).”

Evan Longoria(notes) gave the Rays a 2-0 lead on a two-run double in the first. He
has 60 RBIs over his last 64 games.

After Jim Johnson(notes) threw two perfect innings, Gregg gave up one hit and two
walks in the ninth en route to his 20th save.

Pinch-hitter Sam Fuld(notes) opened the Rays’ ninth with a single and went to
second on Sean Rodriguez’s(notes) one-out grounder. After Casey Kotchman(notes) and
pinch-hitter Matt Joyce(notes) both walked to load the bases, Brandon Guyer(notes) hit a
game-ending grounder that Hardy made a nice play on at short.

“There’s a method to what he’s trying to do out there,” Showalter said of
Gregg. “I understand that. It’s not always real comfortable all the time.”

The Orioles had two on with no outs during the second, but failed to score
when Reynolds and Andino both struck out, and Reimold flied out.

After Guerrero drew just his 14th walk of the season leading off the second,
Matt Wieters(notes) followed with an opposite-field single to right for the Orioles’
first hit. Price then retired his next 14 batters before Nick Markakis(notes) reached
first on a two-out throwing error by third baseman Longoria in the sixth.

Notes: Fuld pinch-hit for 2B Ben Zobrist(notes), who left because of neck
stiffness. … Baltimore RHP Tommy Hunter(notes) (flulike symptoms) remained at the
team hotel. … Tampa Bay LF Desmond Jennings(notes) had been hitless in his previous
12 at-bats before an infield single in the first. … Orioles INF Chris Davis(notes)
(strained right shoulder) is set to play in a minor league game Sunday and could
rejoin the team next week. … Baltimore LHP Jo-Jo Reyes(notes) left the team for the
birth of his child. … Orioles LHP Brian Matusz(notes), skipped this time through the
rotation, had a bullpen session and might pitch in next week’s series against
the Yankees. … Tampa Bay RHP Wade Davis(notes) (8-8), 0-2 with a 6.17 ERA in two home
starts against Baltimore this season, will face Orioles RHP Alfredo Simon(notes) (4-7)
on Saturday night.

“The only way you’re able to have a shot at that (beating Price) is have a well-pitched game,” Baltimore manager Buck Showalter said. “Zach has come back strong and that bodes well for him in the future.”

Britton’s current run has come after he being sidelined just under three weeks last month due to a strained left shoulder.

“The time on the DL, I tried to use it wisely,” Britton said. “Talking to (closer) Kevin Gregg about building a game plan. Having a plan every time you go out there. … What you’re going to do. I feel like that’s really helped me, especially out on the mound.”

Britton (9-9) allowed two runs and four hits in six innings. The left-hander was coming off starts against Minnesota and the New York Yankees where he gave up one run in a combined 12 innings.

Vladimir Guerrero got Baltimore’s second hit off Price (12-12) on a leadoff single in the seventh when the Orioles scored all their runs.

Guerrero went to third when Mark Reynolds and Robert Andino drew one-out walks. After Nolan Reimold hit a sacrifice fly and Ryan Adams re-loaded the bases on an infield single, Hardy put Baltimore up 3-2 with a two-run single.

“He was carving us up all game,” Hardy said of Price. “I think it might have been the only ball (a cutter) he threw over the plate all night.”

Price was touched for three runs and four hits over seven innings. The left-hander, who struck out a team-record 14 in a 12-0 victory over Toronto last Sunday, had 11 strikeouts and three walks.

“One pitch, that’s the game,” Rays catcher Jose Lobaton said. “I feel bad for him. He just threw it a little bit to the middle (of the plate).”

Evan Longoria gave the Rays a 2-0 lead on a two-run double in the first. He has 60 RBIs over his last 64 games.

After Jim Johnson threw two perfect innings, Gregg gave up one hit and two walks in the ninth en route to his 20th save.

Pinch-hitter Sam Fuld opened the Rays’ ninth with a single and went to second on Sean Rodriguez’s one-out grounder. After Casey Kotchman and pinch-hitter Matt Joyce both walked to load the bases, Brandon Guyer hit a game-ending grounder that Hardy made a nice play on at short.

“There’s a method to what he’s trying to do out there,” Showalter said of Gregg. “I understand that. It’s not always real comfortable all the time.”

The Orioles had two on with no outs during the second, but failed to score when Reynolds and Andino both struck out, and Reimold flied out.

After Guerrero drew just his 14th walk of the season leading off the second, Matt Wieters followed with an opposite-field single to right for the Orioles’ first hit. Price then retired his next 14 batters before Nick Markakis reached first on a two-out throwing error by third baseman Longoria in the sixth.

Notes: Fuld pinch-hit for 2B Ben Zobrist, who left because of neck stiffness. … Baltimore RHP Tommy Hunter (flulike symptoms) remained at the team hotel. … Tampa Bay LF Desmond Jennings had been hitless in his previous 12 at-bats before an infield single in the first. … Orioles INF Chris Davis (strained right shoulder) is set to play in a minor league game Sunday and could rejoin the team next week. … Baltimore LHP Jo-Jo Reyes left the team for the birth of his child. … Orioles LHP Brian Matusz, skipped this time through the rotation, had a bullpen session and might pitch in next week’s series against the Yankees. … Tampa Bay RHP Wade Davis (8-8), 0-2 with a 6.17 ERA in two home starts against Baltimore this season, will face Orioles RHP Alfredo Simon (4-7) on Saturday night.

Copyright 2011 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (AP) — Zach Britton had his third consecutive solid start, J.J. Hardy drove in two runs and the Baltimore Orioles beat the Tampa Bay Rays 3-2 on Friday night.

Britton (9-9) allowed two runs and four hits in six innings. The left-hander was coming off starts against Minnesota and the New York Yankees where he gave up one run in a combined 12 innings. Vladimir Guerrero got Baltimore’s second hit off David Price (12-12) on a leadoff single in the seventh when the Orioles scored all their runs.

Guerrero went to third when Mark Reynolds and Robert Andino drew one-out walks. After Nolan Reimold hit a sacrifice fly and Ryan Adams re-loaded the bases on an infield single, Hardy put Baltimore up 3-2 with a two-run single.

Price was touched for three runs and four hits over seven innings. The AL All-Star, who struck out a team-record 14 in a 12-0 victory over Toronto last Sunday, had 11 strikeouts and three walks.

Evan Longoria gave the Rays a 2-0 lead on a two-run double in the first. He has 60 RBIs over his last 64 games.

After Jim Johnson threw two perfect innings, Kevin Gregg gave up one hit and two walks in the ninth en route to his 20th save. Pinch-hitter Sam Fuld opened the Rays’ ninth with a single and went to second on Sean Rodriguez’s one-out grounder. After Casey Kotchman and pinch-hitter Matt Joyce both walked to load the bases, Brandon Guyer hit a game-ending grounder.

The Orioles had two on with no outs during the second, but failed to score when Reynolds and Andino both struck out, and Reimold flied out.

After Guerrero drew just his 14th walk of the season leading off the second, Matt Wieters followed with an opposite-field single to right for the Orioles’ first hit. Price then retired his next 14 batters before Nick Markakis reached first on a two-out throwing error by third baseman Longoria in the sixth.

Notes: Baltimore RHP Tommy Hunter (flulike symptoms) remained at the team hotel. Tampa Bay LF Desmond Jennings had been hitless in his previous 12 at-bats before an infield single in the first. Orioles INF Chris Davis (strained right shoulder) is set to play in a minor league game Sunday and could rejoin the team next week. Baltimore LHP Jo-Jo Reyes left the team for the birth of his child. Orioles LHP Brian Matusz, skipped this time through the rotation, had a bullpen session and might pitch in next week’s series against the Yankees. Tampa Bay RHP Wade Davis (8-8), 0-2 with a 6.17 ERA in two home starts against Baltimore this season, will face Orioles RHP Alfredo Simon (4-7) on Saturday night.

(Copyright 2011 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)