Jon Jordan

In a rehab start for the class-A St. Lucie Mets, Pedro Martinez had to be pleased with his outing against the Vero Beach Devil Rays - 6 innings pitched, 4 hits, 2 runs and six strikeouts. But he did take the loss … and that was largely because the opposing pitcher, Rays’ 2007 1st overall pick David Price, was that much better. Price went 6 innings as well, blanking the Mets and allowing just 2 hits while striking out 9 in just his second pro start. He earned significant postgame praise from the veteran Martinez, who was awestruck at Price’s performance.

“He’s amazing, that kid. He’s amazing. That kid is very mature for his time and very talented. Oh my God. God bless him and keep him healthy.”

Comparing Price to himself at that stage of his career:

“He’s a big lefty with superb talent. At that age, I don’t think I was like that. He seems far superior.”

Differences in physical stature and hand preference, of course, duly noted …

On Price’s approach to the St. Lucie hitters:

“That kid did a hell of a job of throwing first-pitch strikes and pounding the strike zone and jamming hitters. I was watching that. He did it like a big leaguer. He had such a command. Right there, I’m challenging you. I’m going to do what I gotta do without any fear. That’s the kind of talent you love to see.”

Price was flattered, and rightfully so, when told of Martinez’s kind words:

“That’s definitely a big compliment coming from Pedro Martinez. That definitely does mean a lot to me. Hopefully I could face him in the big leagues one day.”

Martinez, surely in the twilight of his career (though he has recently said he would like to pitch at least this season and next) can only hope to return to the Mets next week and help them get back on track after a tumultous start to the year. Price, on the other hand, is just getting started, while his parent club rolls along atop the Major League standings.

In a season full of positives thus far for the Rays, Price’s immediate progress in his first two professional starts is just gravy. With no pressing need to rush him along, the 6′4″ lefty has the luxury of moving slowly through the minor leagues, adding invaluable confidence along the way.

While Pedro sees the light at the end of his big league tunnel, David Price is just beginning his journey.

If his first two starts are any indication, that Price v. Pedro matchup he wished for (schedule-maker permitting, of course) might not be all that far-fetched.

jjordan79@tampabay.rr.com

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Jon Jordan

Did I jinx the Rays with my praise-laden posts last week? I doubt it - they hardly know I exist yet. (Yet!) Did I jump the gun by giving them so much credit for their stellar start to the season? I still don’t think so. A couple of walk-off losses during an interleague series doesn’t - and shouldn’t - change my way of thinking about this club.

Dropping two of three to the Cardinals in St. Louis over the weekend leaves the Rays in 2nd place in the AL East, a game behind the Boston Red Sox. (Beantown will claim, of course, that this is how it should be, but at least the Rays have made a bit of a statement of their own - that, for now anyway, they live in the same neighborhood as the BoSox.) Still, you can’t complain about where they are at this stage of the season.

Putting the interleague series behind them, the Rays head out west for a 3-game tilt with Oakland, where they are just 10-35 historically. But that was when there was still a “Devil” in the team’s moniker and, as we’ve said time and again recently, this is a whole new ballclub.

The Rays will send James Shields (4-3), Scott Kazmir (2-1) and Andy Sonnanstine (6-1) to the hill against the A’s, who will counter with Joe Blanton (2-6), Greg Smith (2-3) and Dana Eveland (3-3). Rebounding from losing two of three is important, with a divisional matchup at home against Baltimore immediately following the quick west coast trip.

The challenge for the Rays is to continue their strong play and bounce back from this minor slip-up. The challenge for me this week will be to stay awake to take in these first two games.

That’s not nearly as easy for me as it used to be.

jjordan79@tampabay.rr.com

Jon Jordan

The Tampa Bay Rays - the AL East-leading, American League best, 3rd best record in the Majors Rays - taking their train down brand new tracks with every step they take towards being accepted as a real contender, head even further into unknown territory this weekend, testing their mettle against the St. Louis Cardinals in an interleague showdown.

A fantastic 24-17 start has the Rays small fanbase abuzz and the baseball world paying cautious attention to MLB’s black sheep franchise - and for good reason. The formula has been simple. Solid, fundamental baseball defensively, timely hitting and stellar - STELLAR - pitching. The team is playing with a confidence level they’ve not dared come close to in seasons past. After sending the Yankees into last place with a 5-2 victory last night, this weekend’s interleague series in St. Louis is an opportunity for the team to significantly add to that confidence level.

Say what you will about this stage of the baseball season - still early, yes - and say what you will about interleague play. But with every win … with every little positive step, this Rays team gets that much closer to legitimacy. It’s that proverbial train again - gaining steam at each turn. The more momentum this train builds, the less any of us will be able to ignore it. I’m stating this, on the record, right now: This team is a real threat. The chance to conquer interleague stage, to show the rest of the baseball world what they’re doing in St. Pete these days - no matter the opponent - is another huge step for the club. The matchup with the Cardinals - in a baseball city like St. Louis - adds to the opportunity presented to the Rays. If they come away with a series win against the Cards, they’ll head to Oakland piping hot, returning home thereafter for a weekend divisional showdown with the Baltimore Orioles.

Forty-one games into the Major League Baseball season, nobody’s handing out any hardware just yet but, if this momentum continues to grow … if the Rays continue to topple the many adversities they’ve never been able to overcome before … confidence and momentum do amazing things and add up to create a monster of a train that, at some point, becomes awfully difficult to stop.

The Rays train is well on its way.

jjordan79@tampabay.rr.com