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Price Eager To Prove He Is Ready

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By MARC LANCASTER | The Tampa Tribune

Published: March 9, 2009

PORT CHARLOTTE - Two of the four pitchers guaranteed a spot in the Rays' season-opening rotation will make their debut today, but Matt Garza and Andy Sonnanstine might not be the top attractions. Not with David Price set to make his first appearance of 2009.

It's a strange situation for Price, in that he is nominally in competition for the fifth starter's job but has had to sit back and watch the other contenders make multiple appearances without clearing the starting block himself.

"It's kind of tough for me to be like, 'All right, those guys are throwing great and I'm just kind of sitting here watching everybody,'" Price said Monday. "It's going to be good to get out there and get a good chance, take my turn."

The real question is what Price can do to actually earn the job. The Rays continue to beat the development drum, and even though no one has come right out and said it, every indication is that they would prefer to have their top prospect open the year in Durham.

Take Joe Maddon's most recent comments on the matter Monday as an example:

"We're looking at this from a developmental perspective, and with that, I think the change-up getting to become a better pitch is very big for us, the command of the fastball is very big for us, and then 130-some innings last year is very big for us," Maddon said. "So we're trying to consider a whole bunch of things with David, and we still consider him in the developmental process, whereas a lot of people, I think, see him as the finished product."

Maddon left the door open for the Rays to "change our thinking" if Price dominates in spring training, so that's his new mission.

"I want them to not be able to look me in the eyes at the end of spring training and tell me I'm going to Durham," Price said.

PERCIVAL STILL ON TRACK

Every time Troy Percival takes the mound, it looks more likely he'll be healthy enough to open the season with the Rays.

"It looks as though he may be able to do that right now," Maddon said.

Percival threw 42 pitches in a bullpen session Monday and said his velocity is now consistently in the low 90s. He'll make his first Grapefruit League appearance Thursday against the Phillies.

"I've just got to keep taking steps, and the next step is facing hitters with full adrenaline and being able to command all my off-speed pitches," Percival said.

JUMPING FOR JOYCE

OF Matt Joyce said he was "relieved" to get the diagnosis of tendinitis in his lower right leg, as he had feared something more serious might be going on, but he acknowledged that his inability to get into a game to this point severely dampens his chances of making the Opening Day roster.

"I guess it's difficult to think that I can still go out there and win a starting job, as much time as I've missed," Joyce said. "Which is fine. In due time, it'll all take care of itself, and however it works out, you just go out there and you play and you play hard."

Joyce would like to see game action by this weekend, but Maddon said he didn't know if that was realistic.

MONDAY'S GAME

In addition to Scott Kazmir's spring debut, Dan Wheeler and Joe Nelson also saw their first action. Each veteran reliever was scored upon, including a two-run Delmon Young homer off Nelson. ... Jeff Niemann continued his strong bid for a rotation spot by closing the game with four scoreless innings. ... Elliot Johnson opened the ninth with his team-leading third home run. ... Ben Zobrist, who was 2-for-20 entering the game, tripled and doubled in his first two at-bats.

NOTEWORTHY

Jason Isringhausen will throw live batting practice today and could make his game debut Saturday. ... Grant Balfour will miss his scheduled turn today after taking a line drive off his pitching elbow Saturday but is expected to be back in there Thursday. ... The Rays named Durham pitching coach Xavier Hernandez their Player Development Man of the Year and Brad Matthews Scout of the Year. ... Wednesday's charity golf tournament at the Ritz Carlton Members Club in Bradenton is sold out.

Marc Lancaster

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