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Joyce Has Chance Of Making Roster

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By MARC LANCASTER

mlancaster@tampatrib.com

Published: March 27, 2009

LAKELAND - It was only about 21/2 weeks ago that Matt Joyce acknowledged the leg problems that had kept him off the field all spring to that point would make it "difficult" to win a spot on the Opening Day roster.

And it wasn't until Thursday night, just more than a week until the Rays break camp and fly to Philadelphia, that Joyce made his first start in the field in a Grapefruit League game.

Nonetheless, it appears the Armwood High product will enter the spring training stretch run with a legitimate chance to make the final cut.

"Realistically, he still has time," Manager Joe Maddon said Thursday.

That's all Joyce needs to hear at this point.

"Being hurt in the beginning was kind of hard to accept and hard to swallow," he said. "But maybe they're keeping me around to watch me some more and see what I can do, or maybe they're keeping me around to see if I maybe have a shot. But ultimately it's not up to me. I kind of just have to go out there and play."

At least he is finally able to do so now that the tendinitis in his right leg that plagued him early in camp is on the wane.

Joyce played six innings in center field Thursday, going 1-for-2 with a walk and a stolen base. The hit, his first of the spring, was an RBI single in the fifth inning, and he was glad to get it against his former team and with a dozen or so relatives and friends in the stands.

"I didn't really plan on getting my first hit of spring training this late," Joyce said. "But I guess it was a good team to get it against."

JACKSON SETTLING IN

The uniform was different, but everything else was pretty much the same for Edwin Jackson as he made the rounds during Rays batting practice Thursday.

The former Tampa Bay pitcher was greeted warmly by Rays players, coaches and staff, and even had a brief chat with Joyce, the man the Tigers traded for him in December. Jackson is usually smiling no matter what the occasion is, but he said everything has gone well this spring with the Tigers.

"It's just a matter of getting a feel for everything - the new system, a new team, a new organization," he said. "Just getting a feel for how they run things and how they run their system. It hasn't been too bad. It's been pretty smooth going right now."

Jackson has reason to feel good, as he appears in line for one of the first three spots in the Tigers' season-opening rotation. His numbers this spring have been mediocre - 0-2 with a 4.85 ERA in four starts - but he has been assured from the day he walked into camp that he already has a job locked up.

"I came here and talked with Tigers manager Jim Leyland and he talked to me about not putting too much pressure on myself," Jackson said. "So I've been relaxed, just getting stuff done that I need to get done in spring training to get myself ready for the season."

NOTEWORTHY

In his sixth spring appearance, Troy Percival allowed his first hit and first runs, as a two-out triple by Will Rhymes scored two men who had walked. ... Andy Sonnanstine was generally pleased with his 41/3-inning outing but upset that he left some pitches up, resulting in two solo homers. ... B.J. Upton played three innings in center field and went 0-for-1 with two walks and two stolen bases in a minor-league game. ... RHP Dan Wheeler pitched in the same game. ... The Rays acquired IF Drew Anderson from the Reds. He is expected to play second base for Double-A Montgomery.

Marc Lancaster

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