masn-baseballs-orioles.jpgPORT CHARLOTTE, Fla. – Now I remember this place. We were in the press box here last spring when news broke about the Orioles trading for utility infielder Julio Lugo. Later that morning, catcher Chad Moeller refused his outright assignment to Triple-A Norfolk and became a free agent.

Just another boring day at spring training.

Brian Roberts is taking batting practice as I type this blog entry. No sign of Derrek Lee, however.

Evan Longoria is looking for his cap.

For the Rays:
Ben Zobrist…PORT CHARLOTTE, Fla. – Now I remember this place. We were in the press box here last spring when news broke about the Orioles trading for utility infielder Julio Lugo. Later that morning, catcher Chad Moeller refused his outright assignment to Triple-A Norfolk and became a free agent.

Just another boring day at spring training.

Brian Roberts is taking batting practice as I type this blog entry. No sign of Derrek Lee, however.

Evan Longoria is looking for his cap.

For the Rays:
Ben Zobrist 2B
Johnny Damon DH
Evan Longoria 3B
Manny Ramirez LF
Matt Joyce RF
B.J. Upton CF
Dan Johnson 1B
Kelly Shoppach C
Reid Brignac SS

Jeff Niemann RHP

Ryan Drese is scheduled to pitch today for the Orioles, and he needs a solid outing after he allowed five runs and seven hits in three innings against the Astros.

Rick VandenHurk, Clay Rapada and Mark Hendrickson also are pitching at Twin Lakes Park today. That’s back-to-back appearances for Rapada, who gave up Shane Victorino’s three-run homer yesterday.

Manager Buck Showalter talked about Lee this morning. Here’s what he said:

“Derrek goes home last night and Richie (Bancells) called me and said, ‘We’ve got a problem.’ He said that he was fine when he left here but he was sitting in a chair or whatever and he said, ‘Richie, this thing is killing me. It’s throbbing. I don’t know what’s going on here. I’ve never had anything like this.’ I’m going, ‘Perfect.’

“Anyway, it was a long night. He went to get an X-ray and the X-ray had said everything looked OK with the exception of one spot the guy was concerned with. He had an MRI this morning at 8 o’clock and we just got the results back and that’s clean, so we dodged a bullet there, it looks like.

“Other moment from the other day was his violent check-swing. Part of me doesn’t want him to play today just so I don’t have to go through that again.”