Back to the Rays Report

Roger Mooney

Roger Mooney covers the Tampa Bay Rays for The Tampa Tribune, TBO.com and News Channel 8. He has covered the Rays since their first season in 1998, including 11 years for the Bradenton Herald. Roger has also covered Florida, South Florida and Florida State football, the Bucs and the Lightning.

 @RMooneyTrib
 TBO_Rays
Send us your questions

More Links:

• Schedule/Results
• Player Stats
• Team Stats

Most Recent Entries

• Topps previews baseball Update series
• Panini’s Prime Hockey will have extra treat
• Rays juggle rotation to get Cobb a start this weekend against Yankees
• Beckett opens weekly Wednesday chat room on Facebook page
• Rays @ Jays: Joyce update, Longo DH, Molina returns
• NFL Network report on Revis is revealing
• In The Game acquires Sport Kings LP
• Pasco WR Nate Craig (2016) up to 15 Division I offers
• Tampa Bay softball players honored by FACA
• Western Conference Baseball Teams
• Pasco baseball players Blaine Duncan, Matt Plourde headed to Barry, Daytona State respectively
• Maddon changes stance on Escobar’s home run guesture
• Panini previews Rookies & Stars football
• A peek at Panini’s 2013 Cooperstown Collection
• Wharton athletes sign NLI’s

More

• Bucs Report -Tribune staff
• Rays Report - Roger Mooney
• Bolts Report - Erik Erlendsson
• Bulls Report
• Prep Report - Hillsborough
• Prep Report - Pasco
• Prep Report - Region
• Prep Report - Recruiting Updates
• Prep Report - Football
• Go Fishing: On The Waterfront
• The Sports Bookie - Bob D'Angelo
• Gators Report - Tribune staff
• Youth Sports Report
• NFL Draft Report
• Go Ask: Frank's Tacklebox
• Bucified Bert Blog
• BUK Power - Bucs Fan Blog
• Pigskin Preacher - NFL Fan Blog
• Breakfast Bonus - Tom McEwen
• Highlands Sports

Monthly Archives

• May 2013
• April 2013
• March 2013
• February 2013
• January 2013
• December 2012

Kazmir hopes to start Sunday

Posted Mar 10, 2008 by Marc Lancaster

Updated Mar 10, 2008 at 01:13 PM

Scott Kazmir said he’s shooting for Sunday’s game against the Tigers at Progress Energy Park to make his spring debut. After a successful bullpen session this morning, Kazmir said the plan is to throw live batting practice Thursday—he’d like to throw as many as 60-65 pitches if the Rays will let him—and take a couple days off before making his first start.

“I’m happy with where we’re at right now,” he said.

Kazmir said his arm felt fine during and after today’s session. His biggest issue was getting accustomed to being on the mound again after two weeks away from it and working through his mechanics. His release point was a bit of a problem today also.

Starting Sunday would essentially give Kazmir two weeks between then and Opening Day to stretch out, but he wasn’t as adamant as he has been in the past when discussing the possibility of starting against the Orioles on March 31.

“Sure it’s a goal for me, but I’m not going to rush anything,” said Kazmir. “Whatever happens, happens. I realize that it’s not going to be that big of a difference going from Opening Day to maybe game two or game three. We’re just going to take our time and make sure that everything’s strong and we stretched it out and didn’t rush it.”

It would seem to make the most sense for all involved to push him back a few more days, perhaps to the four-game series at New York the first weekend of the season, but that determination probably won’t be made for a while yet.