Not only did Carlos Pena soldier through a torn muscle in 2008, he played his best baseball after the injury, writes Joe Henderson. ...more

March 24, 2009

Curt Schilling retired from baseball Monday after a career in which he won World Series titles with the Boston Red Sox and Arizona Diamondbacks and was one of the game's most dominant pitchers and grittiest competitors. ...more

March 23, 2009

An early morning bus ride across Alligator Alley from Port Charlotte went to waste for the Tampa Bay Rays today. A series of rainstorms late in the morning, with more forecast for the afternoon, led to the cancellation of the Rays' spring training game against the Baltimore Orioles. And with that, it was back on the bus for Manager Joe Maddon and his players. "We're just going to stop and get a movie for the ride back, stop at Blockbuster or someplace else and make sure we get a good flick," Maddon said. "We'll probably watch all three episodes of 'The Godfather' by the time we get back." The game, which will not be made up, was to feature the Grapefruit League debut of outfielder Matt Joyce. The Armwood High graduate, acquired in a December trade with the Detroit Tigers, has been hampered by tendinitis in his right leg throughout the spring. A more pressing concern for the Rays' coaching staff will be finding the requisite innings for Andy Sonnanstine and David Price, who were scheduled to pitch today. Maddon and pitching coach Jim Hickey were discussing options as the bus prepared to pull out, with the Rays likely to get both pitchers work in either a minor-league game or a simulated game Sunday in Port Charlotte. About the only person who seemed pleased by the development was Rays catcher Shawn Riggans, a Fort Lauderdale native who will now have a few more hours to spend with family and friends. ...more

March 21, 2009

Vernon Wells went 0-for-2 in his first spring training game since injuring his hamstring. ...more

March 20, 2009

A couple of hundred yards from where the Tampa Bay Rays were playing St. Louis in an exhibition game, B.J. Upton took his first swings in a game this spring. ...more

March 19, 2009

Tampa Bay Rays third baseman Evan Longoria said this morning he still has not heard from USA Baseball about the possibility of being called in as an injury replacement for this weekend's final round of the World Baseball Classic. ...more

March 19, 2009

If the Tampa Bay Rays were going to open the season with their best 25-man squad, David Price would be on the team. But he probably won't be. ...more

March 19, 2009

The first day of spring may be not be until Friday, but you couldn't tell that to the thousands of fans gathered at Charlotte Sports Park on Wednesday to watch the Tampa Bay Rays play the Cincinnati Reds in a spring training game. Sunshine and temperatures in the 70s made for perfect baseball-watching conditions as the Rays won 7-3. ...more

March 19, 2009

James Shields made his third start of the spring and made the batters he faced look like minor leaguers. ...more

March 18, 2009

Edwin Jackson is setting himself up for a chance to be the Detroit Tigers' Opening Day starter. ...more

March 14, 2009