The Rays will head north to Dunedin Friday following Thursday’s rainout. And though Tampa Bay had to forego their seventh game of the season, all is not lost — Joe Maddon thanked the Orioles for making the decision early to call the game, allowing the Rays to get work done and avoid wasted travel time. David Price, Heath Bell, Josh Lueke and Alex Colome got their work in at the Rays Port Charlotte training complex. Price threw 61 pitches between the practice field and cages, and said things went well.
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Moving forward. Alex Cobb will make his second start of the spring Friday. The RHP last pitched Sunday, allowing two hits and striking out three in 1-2/3 innings against the Twins. Also scheduled to see action are right-handers Brandon Gomes and Matt Andriese.
Rays 3/6/14 Starting Lineup
Noteworthiness
Food for thought… Surely you’ve heard many opine, Spring Training is too long, and the results are ultimately meaningless. To an extent that’s true. However, like an earwig, I wanted to lay an egg in your brain. With the exception of the 2013 season, when the Rays head back to the Trop with a plus .500 winning percentage in Spring Training, they find themselves in the postseason. Furthermore, Tampa Bay won the AL East in 2008 and 2010 — the two seasons they posted a plus .692 winning percentage in Spring Training. Sure, a six season snapshot isn’t a huge sample size. It is evidence enough though, that when the Rays end Spring Training with a .500 winning percentage (give or take a game either way), they end the season with life past game 162.