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Rays Take Their Swings - With Golf Clubs

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By CARTER GADDIS, The Tampa Tribune

Published: February 25, 2008

Updated: 02/24/2008 11:11 pm

ST. PETERSBURG - At the end of the 10th workout of the spring Sunday, the Rays put away the bats and drew out the clubs.

Manager Joe Maddon, in keeping with his routine of ending the day with a look ahead at the next day's key fundamental skill, organized a closest-to-the-pin competition in conjunction with today's sold-out Rays Charity Golf Classic at the Pasadena Yacht & Country Club.

"We wanted to remain consistent," said Maddon, "so today was supposed to be third-base coach Tom Foley giving the instruction in how to hit a pitching wedge."

A flag was set in center field, 110 yards from the right-field line on Field 3 at the Raymond Naimoli Complex. Representatives from the different "units" of the club - coaches, outfielders, infielders, pitchers, catchers, clubhouse attendants and grounds crew - took three shots at it.

Foley led off with a demonstration of his technique, lifting the soft, left-handed wedge to within about 7 feet of the flag.

"Foley, one of his better attributes as a major-league coach," Maddon said, "is he's a good golfer."

But Foley was outmatched by the contest winner, RHP Chad Orvella. He turned out to be a good choice to represent the pitchers as he fought through the verbal harassment of his teammates to land his first ball 4 feet, 11 inches from the pin.

This, after Orvella arrived on the scene carrying three of his own golf clubs and his golf glove, only to be informed that the only tools allowed in the competition were the sticks furnished by the organizer.

How concerned was Orvella at the last-minute attempt to throw him off his game?

"Not too concerned," Orvella said. "I know the quality of the golfers out here."

ANDERSON IMPRESSES: LHP Brian Anderson, a nonroster invitee trying to come back after missing the past two seasons following Tommy John elbow surgeries in 2005 and '06, threw his first and only live batting practice session Sunday and earned a special - and unsolicited - mention by Maddon at the end of the day.

"He's been on task, because we backed him off a bit and had him throw every third day as opposed to every other day, so, he's on task according to what we set up," Maddon said. "We'll see how he feels today. That's always the big thing. But good movement and good location, I think that part of it might be a little further along than we thought."

Anderson, 35, hasn't pitched in the majors since 2005, when he made six starts for Kansas City before developing elbow inflammation in early May of that year. His last full major-league season came in 2004, when he was 6-12 with a 5.64 ERA in 35 appearances (26 starts) for the Royals.

STILL NOT HERE: Nothing had changed Sunday regarding the visa status of IF Willy Aybar, RHP Juan Salas and IF Joel Guzman, all of whom remain in the Dominican Republic. Aybar and Guzman could join the team Tuesday or Wednesday, while Salas' situation remains more uncertain.

"We're supposed to know more by today," Maddon said.

NOTEWORTHY: Rays LHP Scott Kazmir will hold his first charity poker tournament Thursday at Derby Lane. Proceeds will benefit the Children's Dream Fund. Registration and a meet-and-greet begins at 5:30 p.m., with the tournament scheduled for 7. ... St. Petersburg mayor Rick Baker and his family attended the workout Sunday. Rays president Matt Silverman kept them company. ... The Rays will deviate from their usual morning schedule today in order to free the players in time to make the golf tournament in Gulfport. The truncated workout will begin at 9 a.m. and is scheduled to end at about 10:45. ... Foley and bench coach Dave Martinez will manage the intrasquad games Tuesday and Wednesday beginning at 11 a.m. at the Naimoli Complex. ... The Countdown to Opening Day radio show on WDAE, 620 AM, with Rays broadcasters Dave Wills and Andy Freed, will originate tonight at 7 from Grille 121 at Baywalk in St. Petersburg. Silverman and OF/DH Jonny Gomes are scheduled guests.

Carter Gaddis

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