Rays put Farnsworth on DL with sore elbow

As expected the Tampa Rays placed closer Kyle Farnsworth on the 15 day disabled list Thursday and called up right hander Josh Luke.

Farnsworth, who had a career high 25 saves last season, is suffereing from an elbow strain. There are a lot of estimates on how long he will be out for one. At the worse one scenario has the right hander sidelined for six weeks.

Rays manager Joe Maddon is not one to panic and he didn't sound any alarms. He said the Rays never officially had a closer and that role would be filled by committee for the time being.

That means any of a number of Rays could be closing; the most likely are Jose Peralta, newly acquired Fernando Rodney, J.P. Howell and Jake McGee. There is also the distinct possibility Wade Davis, a starter for two years who has been assigned to the bullpen could wind up closing games.

The 27 year-old Lueke was acquired from the Seattle Mariners in exchange for catcher John Jaso. The right hander made his Major League debut last season and appeared in 25 games. He had an 8.06 ERA in 32.2 innings and struck out 29.

In 2010 pitching for four minor league teams had 94 strikeouts in 63 innings and his 13.43 strikeouts per nine innings ranked seventh among Minor Leaguers.

Cody Rogers goes from prosthetic technician to home run hero for Rays

Minor leaguer Cody Rogers gave Tampa Bay Rays manager Joe Maddon something to remember about him when he slugged a two-out, two-run homer in the bottom of the ninth on Monday to enable the Rays to sqeeze out a 6-6 tie with Minnesota.

Rogers, who is a prosthetic technician (makes artificial limbs) during the off season, is certainly a young man who makes the most of his opportunties. In four spring at-bats with the Rays, the outfielder has hit two homers and driven in four runs.

Tampa Rays Upton says he will start season on DL

Tampa Rays centerfielder B.J. Upton said he will be placed on the DL to start the season as he recovers from an outfield collision he had March 14th with Desmond Jennings that has left him with a sore back.

The Rays announced they were sending catcher Chris Gimenez to minor league camp and optioning pitcher Brandon Gomes to Triple A.

The moves mean Jose Labaton will probably be the backup catcher and Burke Badenhop has a spot in the bullpen. In other news, the Rays said right-handed pitchers Ryan Reid and Marquis Fleming are going to be re-assigned.

Shortstop Reid Brignac, still fighting plantar fascia in his right foot, went 1 for 4 with a homer in a Triple A game on Wednesday and jumped around with no negative impact on his foot.
“I still think there is plenty of opportunity here. Just because it’s not at the onset doesn’t mean it can’t happen at any point in the season,” Gimenez said. “You just have to take that attitude into it. You can handle it two ways. You can go down and be Bitter Bob about it or be your normal self. I don’t plan on being Bitter Bob.

“I would’ve liked to have caught a little more this spring. But being able to play those other positions was a benefit and I got a ton of at-bats and that was awesome. I feel like the last two weeks I feel like I was making good strides. I still feel like this is a good spot to be.”

Heading into Wednesday night’s game against the Pirates Gimenez was hitting .209 with nine hits in 43 at-bats. He had one double and one home run.

Maddon sheds his red locks for a good cause

There will be no more questions about when Joe Maddon will take the dye out of his red hair__At least for the time being.

The Rays manager had his dome shaved today at the Charlotte Sports Park kicking off a parade of about 30 players, coaches and organization employees who followed suit.

The ceremonies were done under the watchful eye of six year old Palmetto resident Matthew Desantis (see photo), a Lakewood Ranch Little League player and avid Rays fan who is battling leukemia. He is a big fan of Rays ace pitcher James Shields, who he met a few months ago.

The shaved heads were part of a fundraiser that hopes to raise $10,000 for the Pediatric Cancer Foundation and the Vincent Lecavalier Pediatric Cancer and Blood Disorders Center at All Children’s Hospital.

The event took place on the boardwalk at Charlotte Sports Park before today’s game with the Phillies. In addition, the first 15 fans making a $100 donation were given the option of getting their heads shaved with the stars and received a "Fortune Favors the Bald" T-shirt

"Fortune Favors the bald," Maddon announced before shedding the red locks that brought him so much attention this spring.

Among those shedding their locks was rookie pitcher Matt Moore, hero of last year's post season and third baseman Evan Longoria along with Shields.

Rays David Price knocks himself out of game with improper toweling

Looking somewhat embarrassed, David Price admitted that he knocked himself out of Thursday's game against Detroit by over-toweling.

“I was sitting in the dugout wiping myself dry. I pulled the towel forward and it caught the back of my neck. I felt a little pop and there were some spasms,” Price said. “It’s the third time I’ve done that in my career. I don’t think it will impact my schedule and hopefully it will be all-right with a little rest and good night’s sleep.”

Price was scheduled to pitch three innings, but the towel incident that happened in the dugout between the second and third innings prevented him from going out to throw the third.

Rays manager Joe Maddon doesn't remember ever having a player knocked out of a game because of an unruly towel and couldn't resist having some fun with this incident, which might be labeled TowelGate Part III staring David Price.

"Lets have him stop toweling himself down or maybe we need some toweling practice," Maddon said. "David might need better technique when it comes to toweling. He has been doing it for 20 something years now, but apparently doesn't have it down yet.

"John Wooden used to have a thing where he would teach his players how to put their socks on to avoid players losing time because of blisters. Now, I am concerned we will have players lose time because of improper toweling. Maybe first day next year we will bring out the towel. We will never throw in the towel, but we might bring it out."

Other Maddon noteworthy comments: "I loved the way we ran to first base today. We ran hard and put a lot of pressure on their defense and that is one of concepts that we want to achieve on a daily basis."

Maddon said shortstop Sean Rodriguez suffered an index sprain on his finger in the Rays game at Fort Myers against the Twins. He said injured Luke Scott will remain out a little while longer, Sam Fuld would play Saturday and Evan Longoria would take batting practice. He has lefty Matt Moore scheduled to pitch on Tuesday.

The best thing about Price?

"There should be no setback for him because of this, but we've got to improve his toweling technique," Maddon said.

In his two innings of work, Price allowed three hits, walked one and struck out one throwing 38 pitches (24 strikes).

"It was the best I felt all spring, strength wise and body wise," Price said before he was done in my his towel.

Pena to make spring debut for Rays, Longoria still sidelined

Rays manager Joe Maddon said Carlos Pena would make his spring training debut Tuesday against the Minnesota Twins at the Charlotte Sports Park, but that he was still keeping third baseman Evan Longoria on the shelf because of his bruised right hand.

Maddon said Longoria's injury is not serious and with more than a month to go he didn't want to risk anything.

"He (Longoria) will get plenty at bats. We just want to make sure he can swing and not aggravate his injury," Maddon said. "Its nothing really horrible wrong with his wrist. There is a little discoloration and we thought it might influence the way he swings and that could cause other problems. He is fine and coming along great."