FEB

15

Tampa Bay Rays Spring Training for pitchers and catchers has begun in St. Petersburg and the lowest number of invitees ever for Rays camp are competing for fewer open spots than ever. Manager Joe Maddon is thrilled!!! Every position in the field is locked up except for third base where the job is Evan Longoria's to have for the next 15 years if he's ready and rightfield where a trio of veterans will platoon and split DH duties. The Players (numbers in parenthesis denotes how many seasons the player has spent with the Rays) 1st base [edit] Carlos Pena (2nd season with Rays) After his amazing Comeback Player of the Year and Team MVP campaign in 2007, the Rays HAD to resign him. And they did - to a three year deal that made him the highest paid Ray. He crushed franchise records in HR, RBI, SLG, OPS, walks, etc and so forth. He also set a club record with a 7 RBI game and had a team season high 14 game hitting streak He was the first ever player to hit 40+ HR after being released the previous season (he was cut TWICE in 2006 - by the Red Sox and Yankees). Carlos was a beaming smile machine in the clubhouse and was genuinely thrilled to have the opportunity he was given. His positive attitude was infectious and he led by example demonstrating to younger players that no matter the hype around you, you still have to play the game.. Keep in mind, he only started 139 games after riding the bench for most of April or his numbers may have been even gaudier. His performance allowed the Rays to deal Ty Wigginton for Dan Wheeler. Now he is the Rays main power threat. Carlos hit 5 of the 10 HR that were hit onto Tropicana Field's catwalk in 2007. And you know what else? He's a pretty decent fielder too! Interesting Carlos fact: One of only 11 players in baseball history to amass at least 45 HR, 120 RBI and 100 walks in a season - list includes Babe Ruth, Hank Greenberg, Jimmie Foxx, Mickey Mantle, Lou Gehrig, David Ortiz, Harmon Killebrew, Jim Thome, Rafael Palmiero and R...

Read the full post at ArmchairGM

• ArmchairGM To the People Who Don't Believe Baseball is a Sport... Feb 19
• The Big Lead Wrapping Up an HGH-Filled Offseason Feb 19
• NY Times Yanks Say Mitchell Report Didn’t Affect Pettitte Deal Feb 19
• CBS Sportsline Tejada at camp, won't discuss steroid allegations Feb 19
• Fox Sports Pettitte apologizes, stays mum on Clemens Feb 19
• AOL Fanhouse Sixth Grade Girls' Basketball Coach Arrested After Harrassing Teenage Referee Feb 19
• AOL Fanhouse International Pastime: One Man's Hope for Baseball in Cambodia Feb 19
• CBS Sportsline Pettitte's words sound earnest -- and all too tiresome Feb 19