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Bench depth the key to Rays' spring victories

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By TONY FABRIZIO | The Tampa Tribune
and ROGER MOONEY | The Tampa Tribune

Published: March 16, 2010

Updated: 03/16/2010 04:00 am

PORT CHARLOTTE - Monday was the Tampa Bay Rays' lone off day during the Grapefruit League schedule and, while the franchise-best spring training winning streak ended Saturday at nine, the Rays are halfway to the record 18 wins they set in 2008 with 19 games left to play.

Aside from a few injuries that don't appear serious, this has to be the smoothest camp in team history.

"The camp's been great to this point," Rays manager Joe Maddon said. "I really couldn't have asked for more in regard to the guys showing up, being ready to roll, their work while they've been here (and) their focus. Everything has been right on. I cannot ask more of a group in regard to their attitude."

As for the wins, as Maddon said back in 2008, it's not so much the work of the varsity but of what he refers to as the "junior varsity," which is playing in the later innings.

"Talk about winning in spring training, a lot of it has to do with your bench or your Double- and Triple-A players," Maddon said. "And we have a lot of good depth sitting on our bench, a lot of good Double-A and Triple-A players. A lot of those guys have been playing well late in the game, and that permits us to win a lot of these spring training games."

Price returns to mound

LHP David Price threw four innings in a minor-league intrasquad game Monday at Charlotte Sports Park and, with the exception of a comebacker that clipped the pinky of his throwing hand, everything went smooth.

Price, who bruised the palm of his right hand near the base of his thumb while being struck with the barrel of a broken bat Wednesday against the Red Sox, said the injury was not an issue. He expects to make his scheduled start Sunday.

The Zobrist shuttle

The idea of playing one position was broached with IF/OF Ben Zobrist last week. Would he be more comfortable knowing he was either the everyday second baseman or everyday right fielder?

His answer: He doesn't know.

"I guess I wouldn't know unless I'm stuck in one position and stayed there," Zobrist said. "Right now, that's all I know. That's all I've been doing the last couple of years. I feel it works for me. It may not work for some other guys, but it works for me. I think I can contribute to the team doing both."

Zobrist said there are days he comes to ballpark and doesn't know where he's going to play until he sees the lineup card posted in the clubhouse.

"I didn't know I was playing in (Game 1 of the) World Series in right field until I got to the field," he said. "So I don't always have a complete heads-up about it, but I think it doesn't really matter to me. I think it's good to be uncomfortable sometimes. It keeps you on your toes."

Odds and ends

Tickets remain available for Opening Day, April 6, against the visiting Orioles. ... The Rays return to action tonight against the visiting Red Sox at Charlotte Sports Park. ... A video produced by the sports/comedy production group called 12 Angry Mascots and starring OF Fernando Perez, which pokes fun at salaries of baseball players, was posted Monday on YouTube.

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