Rays ready to hit the road

Posted Mar 8, 2009 by Marc Lancaster

Updated Mar 8, 2009 at 08:06 AM

PORT CHARLOTTE—Good Sunday morning from the home base, where the bus is idling as those on the trip prepare to head south for Fort Myers.

Among those not on the trip, Grant Balfour and his multicolored right arm were the star attractions. The reliever has all sorts of interesting bruising and swelling on the inside of his elbow after taking a line drive there yesterday. He said it’s pretty tight but he thinks he’ll be fine. As for whether he makes his next scheduled appearance Tuesday, well, we’ll see. I don’t know that I’d bank on that.

Here’s the lineup that’s making the trip—not a bad one, considering some of the road lineups the Rays have used this spring:

Fernando Perez CF
Adam Kennedy 2B
Evan Longoria 3B
Carlos Pena 1B
Dioner Navarro C
Gabe Gross RF
Morgan Ensberg DH
Ray Sadler LF
Elliot Johnson SS
Wade Davis P

Scheduled relievers: Chad Orvella, Winston Abreu, Dewon Day, Derek Rodriguez