The Rays already have a difficult decision to make to settle their lineup, and Sean Rodriguez apparently is going to make it even harder.
Rodriguez is part of a three-player battle over two positions—he's competing with Reid Brignac at second base and Matt Joyce is in right field, and they all know that 2009 team MVP Ben Zobrist will play one of the two positions.
Rodriguez came into camp and told the Rays he is ready, willing and able to play any position, and in the first week of games he made starts at shortstop and left field. That's an appealing option for the Rays, who savor versatility because they plan to carry 12 pitchers.
Then he made it clear how ready he was, getting off to a scorching start with homers in his first at-bat in each of their first...
FORT MYERS, Fla. - Nomar Garciaparra rejoined the Red Sox for one day and then retired, ending a 14-year career in which he won two batting titles with Boston and was once a beloved player in the city.
Tampa Bay Rays prized left-hander David Price, the No. 1 overall pick in the 2007 draft, left Wednesday's 8-6 win over the Boston Red Sox in the bottom of the second inning after being hit on the right hand by the barrel of a shattered bat. According to Rays team spokesman Rick Vaughn, Price had an abrasion on his right thumb and will not need stitches.
Rays right-hander Jeff Niemann breezed through his start Tuesday. The Baltimore Orioles made it easy on him. Niemann became the first Tampa Bay pitcher to complete four innings this spring, leading the Rays to an 8-3 victory against the Orioles. Niemann threw just 36 pitches while allowing one run and two hits.
Matt Garza looked good and felt even better. After two exhibition outings, including three scoreless innings Monday in Tampa Bay's 4-3 victory over a Pittsburgh Pirates split-squad, the Rays right-hander is happy about the way he's pitching this spring. Garza won 11 games two years ago in his first full season in the majors and was the MVP of the 2008 AL championship series while helping...
Joba Chamberlain and the New York Yankees were not concerned about his first outing of the year. Chamberlain allowed five runs, three hits and three walks over 1 1-3 innings Friday in New York's 12-7 loss to the Tampa Bay Rays. Slowed by flulike symptoms this week that cost him eight pounds, Chamberlain threw just 14 of 33 pitches for strikes in relief of Phil Hughes, competing with him to be...
