Joyce to rehab in Charlotte

OF Matt Joyce sounded more upbeat and optimistic than he has in a while Friday. The Armwood High grad is finally getting back onto the field in uniform.

Having suffered numerous setbacks since straining his throwing elbow March 11, Joyce will start a rehab assignment next week at Single-A Charlotte.

"I did pretty much a full workout (Friday) - hit in the cage, threw, ran the bases," Joyce said. "The arm feels great. I threw 90 feet (Friday)."

Joyce said he will take batting practice at Port Charlotte during the weekend and will DH for the Charlotte Stone Crabs on Tuesday.

A preseason contender for a platoon job in the Rays' outfield, Joyce will have to prove he can stay healthy and demonstrate the defensive and base running improvement Manager Joe Maddon has been looking for.

"It's been a headache and a heartache and everything in between," Joyce said of his battle to get back into the mix.

Howell pitches BP

LHP J.P. Howell pitched batting practice for the first time in his bid to come back from left shoulder weakness. He threw 25 pitches - at about 75 percent, Maddon said - to Sean Rodriguez, Reid Brignac and Rocco Baldelli.

The Rays hope to have Howell, the former workhorse of the bullpen, pitch a simulated game next Tuesday. Because it's already mid-May, a return by the end of this month is looking less likely.

Crawford on batting averages: So what?

LF Carl Crawford downplayed the fact that four Rays starters were batting less than .220 entering Friday.

"The (goal) is to win the game, right?" he said. "Guys are hitting under .200, and we're still winning. I don't see what the big deal is.

"You just figure those guys aren't going to hit under .200 all year. And that should help. If guys were hitting under .200 and we were losing the games, it would be a big deal. But since we're winning, it's not a problem now."

Entering Friday, 1B Carlos Pena was hitting .183, CF B.J Upton .218, DH Pat Burrell .213 and C Dioner Navarro .172.

Blalock and more

Two-time All-Star Hank Blalock, a potential replacement for the struggling Burrell, was not in the starting lineup Friday night for Triple-A Durham.

The former Ranger was hitting .349 with 24 RBIs and a .405 on-base percentage at Durham. If the Rays don't promote or trade him by next week, he can exercise an opt-out clause in his contract and become a free agent.

In other developments, IF/OF Dan Johnson hit his International League-leading 11th home run Thursday, and RHP Shane Dyer, the organization's pitcher of the month, was promoted to Charlotte from Bowling Green.

Cool and easy

C John Jaso arrived for the homestand with a shaved head, his preferred style for the baseball season. "Last year and this year are the only two years I've had it long," Jaso said. "Other than that, it's been like this. But I have to go to the beach or something because I'm pretty white on top."

Odds and ends

A nice video tribute and moment of silence for Hall of Fame pitcher Robin Roberts preceded the national anthem. Roberts, also a former USF coach and Rays fan, died May 6 at his Temple Terrace home at age 83. ... With Tom Foley away because of a family matter, bullpen coach Bobby Ramos coached third. ... Tonight's Saturday Night Concert Series act is hip-hop star Nelly, whose solo hits include "Hot in Herre" and "Country Grammar." The Rays are 17-3 and have averaged more than 30,000 for concert games. ... Two locals were in the starting lineup for Seattle: Brandon High's Chone Figgins at 2B and Casey Kotchman of Seminole at 1B.