Rays' Zobrist excited to get first preseason start
ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. - Tampa Bay Rays utility player Ben Zobrist received welcome news when he arrived at Tropicana Field about four hours before last night's Game 1 of the World Series.
ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. - Tampa Bay Rays utility player
Ben Zobrist
received welcome news when he arrived at Tropicana Field about four hours before last night's Game 1 of the World Series.
Zobrist, who had not started any of the Rays' previous 11 postseason games, was in the starting lineup, batting eighth and playing right field.
Not bad for somebody who had appeared in three of Tampa Bay's postseason games and was 0 for 4. The Rays don't have a true regular at the position.
"I was hoping to see my name in the lineup, and I got my wish," Zobrist said in the dugout before the game.
Zobrist, who had four stops with the Rays this season and was called up for good Aug. 5, said he wasn't shocked because manager Joe Maddon had told him to be ready because he might be starting a few games.
"It's exciting," Zobrist said. "I texted my wife and said, 'I'm starting.' "
Old-timers reunion
Before the game, first-year Rays bench coach
Dave
Martinez
gave Phillies pitcher
Jamie Moyer
a big hug as they met near the batting cage. The 44-year-old Martinez is a former teammate of Moyer's, who will turn 46 next month. Both played for the Chicago Cubs from 1986 to 1988.
"We came up the same day together with the Cubs," Martinez said. "We were roommates, and he is one guy I will never forget."
They don't cross paths much, but Martinez said the bond remains strong.
"I was there when he met his wife, Karen," Martinez said. "I could go 20 years without seeing him and when we see each other, it seems like we don't miss a beat."
Martinez admitted that seeing Moyer still pitching makes him feel a little on the old side.
He thinks that Moyer is ageless as a pitcher.
"I faced him over the years, and he is one of those guys who knows how to pitch," Martinez said. "As long as he can throw the baseball, he will pitch for a long while."
On board with Obama
Outfielder
Fernando Perez
was one of the Rays who spoke at a rally for Democratic presidential candidate
Barack Obama
on Monday at Tampa's Legends Field.
Perez, who attended the Peddie School in Hightstown, N.J., and has a degree in American studies and creative writing from Columbia, was joined by Rays teammates Carl Crawford, Cliff Floyd, Jonny Gomes and David Price.
"I am deeply impressed with him as a man and was very excited to meet him," Perez said. "He is a phenomenal person, a real interesting and intriguing character, and I jumped at the chance to meet him."
No Hinske
For the second consecutive series, Tampa Bay left outfielder
Eric Hinske
off its roster. Hinske, who had 20 home runs and 60 RBIs, was on the roster for the American League division series, in which the Rays beat the Chicago White Sox.
He didn't play in that series and was left off the roster for the AL Championship Series, which the Rays won in seven games over the Boston Red Sox.
Maddon decided to go with 11 pitchers, two catchers, five infielders and seven outfielders.
"He has done so much for us this year and I love the way he plays," Maddon said. "Just a tough choice, sometimes."