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Longo May Join Team USA

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By MARC LANCASTER

mlancaster@tampatrib.com

Published: March 17, 2009

Updated: 03/17/2009 05:00 am

BRADENTON - Evan Longoria might get his chance to play in the World Baseball Classic after all.

Left off Team USA's final roster in deference to the more established third basemen Chipper Jones and David Wright, Longoria would seem a good bet to replace the injured Jones if the U.S. advances to the final round of the event.

"I talked to U.S. manager Davey Johnson right before the thing started and he said if they needed somebody I would be the first in line," Longoria said Monday. "If it happens, it happens - I'll be ready to go. I'd be happy to go."

The U.S. can't replace Jones, who has a strained muscle in his side, during the current round. But if the U.S. wins tonight in Miami to move on to next weekend's final four at Dodger Stadium, Longoria could fly out to join them.

USA Baseball executive director Paul Seiler said in an e-mail to The Tampa Tribune on Monday that there have been no discussions about Jones' potential replacement. "We are focused on our game tonight and will go from there," he said.

Rays executive vice president Andrew Friedman took essentially the same tack when asked if the team would object to Longoria's participation.

"I haven't heard anything about it," Friedman said Monday night. "If it presents itself we'll go through it and go from there. Right now it's too speculative to say much about."

DROPPING THE AX

It was no surprise that SS Tim Beckham and RHP Wade Davis were among the second round of cuts handed down Monday afternoon, and each elite prospect took the news well.

Both seemed pleased to have shown the Rays a bit of what they can do, leaving a positive impression as they move to the minor-league side of the complex.

"I showed them I've got potential, I showed them I'm a good player," said Beckham. "But I haven't shown them I can put on a big-league uni yet, because I can't. I'm not trying to trick anybody and say I'm ready to play on the big-league level."

The 19-year-old likely will open his first full professional season with the Rays' new Low-A affiliate in Bowling Green, Ky., and has a ways to go before reaching Tampa Bay. Davis, on the other hand, was optioned to Durham and has a definite shot to make it to the majors this year at age 23.

"That's definitely the goal, and hopefully I get that opportunity," said Davis.

Others sent out Monday included two pitchers who had been in the running for the final rotation spot, Mitch Talbot and Carlos Hernandez. Both will join Davis in Durham's rotation.

Talbot was optioned to Durham along with Ps Dale Thayer and Jake McGee, while Hernandez was reassigned to minor-league camp along with Ps Randy Choate, Dewon Day, Jason Childers, Winston Abreu and Julio DePaula, C Matt Spring and IF Chris Nowak.

Cutting 13 players left the Rays with 43 still in camp.

MONDAY'S GAME

Andy Sonnanstine allowed a run in three innings in his first start of the spring. ... The Rays' four-run sixth inning took so long that David Price ran down to the bullpen to play catch as it was in progress. Price needed 58 pitches to get through 21/3 innings and wasn't pleased with his lack of efficiency. ... The Rays drew six walks in the sixth and 11 in the game. ... A sellout crowd of 5,836 was in attendance at McKechnie Field.

NOTEWORTHY

OF Matt Joyce will see his first action of the spring today, serving as the DH in a minor-league game. The Armwood High graduate is slated for three at-bats, and the Rays would also like to see him run the bases as he continues to recover from tendinitis in his right leg that has slowed him all spring. ... RHP James Shields will pitch in a minor-league game today at 1 p.m. in Port Charlotte. ... Rays manager Joe Maddon said he has "no concerns" about reliever Joe Nelson, who gave up two long homers Sunday and has surrendered four longballs in 22/3 spring innings.

Marc Lancaster

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