Coaches Are Pleased With Kazmir's Session

ST. PETERSBURG - Gauging the progress of LHP Scott Kazmir's rehab from a strained left elbow has become an exercise in interpreting adjectives and tone of voice.

By those standards, Friday was a good day for Kazmir. He made about 70 throws from around 120 feet in the outfield, and he got his best reviews yet.

Rays manager Joe Maddon said Kazmir threw "very well," and pitching coach Jim Hickey was "very pleased," noting in particular how hard the lefty was throwing.

Kazmir upped the ante by saying his arm "feels wonderful right now."

Next up for him is a long-awaited bullpen session, which he said has been scheduled for Sunday. Kazmir hasn't thrown off a mound since a live batting practice session March 13 at Progress Energy Park, so that will be a big step in a recovery process that is being likened to a one-man spring training.

Because Kazmir was hurt so early in camp, the Rays are essentially building him up from the same general starting point the other pitchers reached in late February.

"Hopefully it's not going to be as long as spring training," Kazmir said.

Once he is cleared to pitch in games - either at extended spring training or in the minor leagues - he expects to be built up by going two innings in his first start, then four and six innings in successive outings.

"That's kind of how we're going to set it up, but everything can change," Kazmir said. "It all depends on how strong everything feels. I'm happy with where we're at right now. I think we took the right step to go about this and just make sure everything's good."

AYBAR ON TRACK: 3B Willy Aybar (tight left hamstring) played in a minor-league game Friday, going 1-for-2 with two walks and a home run. Executive vice president Andrew Friedman said he was "very optimistic" Aybar will be ready to go for Opening Day.

"The only challenging part is the fact that we're going to play in cold weather, so it adds a little bit of hesitation when you have a minor hamstring tweak," Friedman said. "So it's important for us to see how he's doing today and go into Baltimore feeling comfortable with the depth we have in the event that he can't go."

SNEAK PREVIEW: The Rays took infield and batting practice at Tropicana Field before Friday's game and will do the same today before heading to Sarasota. The idea is to get everyone acclimated to the Trop's quirks, such as tracking pop-ups with the roof as a backdrop.

"It's important to get to know your home surface," Maddon said. "Of course, the guys that have been there the adjustment is rather quick. The guys that have not been there, we want to make sure that they get comfortable as quickly as possible."

IN REMEMBRANCE: Frank Walsh, who regularly covered the Rays as a columnist for the Northeast Neighborhood News in St. Petersburg, died Thursday of cancer. He was 79.

A memorial service, including a Buddhist ceremony, will be held April 5 at 10:30 a.m. at Anderson-McQueen Funeral Home, 2201 Dr. Martin Luther King St. N., St. Petersburg.

NOTEWORTHY: Elliot Johnson won the 2008 Al Lopez Award as the Rays' top rookie in spring training. He'll accept the award from Al Lopez III before the April 14 Rays-Yankees game. ... The Rays will start their regular lineup today against the Reds, but Maddon said they will make a "minimal" appearance before giving way to a slew of reserves from minor-league camp.

Marc Lancaster