PORT CHARLOTTE, Fla. -- David Price didnt think he would be in Port Charlotte this spring. For much of the off-season, the Tampa Bay Rays ace expected to be
traded. Instead, the 2012 AL Cy Young Award winner signed a one-year contract to
remain with the only team hes ever played for, a huge deal for the small-market
club. "It feels great. Everybody knows how much I love this organization and how
much they love me. The way the cities of St. Petersburg and Tampa have treated
me over the course of six or seven years has been nothing short of incredible,"
Price said Saturday. "I love it here. Im very comfortable. This is home for me."
Theres still a chance that Price could get traded before the end of the season,
but he thinks each day in Port Charlotte makes it less likely. "Right now, I
dont think theres a very good chance of being traded because Im here in spring
training," he said. "I felt like if I could make it to spring training, that
would solidify my place on this team." Price isnt the only member of the Rays
happy to see him return. His teammates say his contributions to the warm
clubhouse atmosphere are as important as the pitches he throws. "David has a
great arm," new Rays catcher Ryan Hanigan said. "Ive watched him pitch a lot.
His performances speak for themselves. Hes a great clubhouse guy, too. I got a
text from him when I signed just saying, Ill have (the pitchers) ready for you.
Thats awesome. Hes a leader." Manager Joe Maddon suggested the uncertainty of
where the looming off-season would take him weighed heavily on Price last
season. He went 10-8 with a 3.33 ERA. Maddon expects Price will enjoy this
season much more and could return to his form from 2012, when he went 20-5 with
a 2.56 ERA. "I can definitely see him not as edgy," Maddon said. "Hes more
comfortable here. He believes hes going to be here. Last year was a difficult
year, coming off all the awards and coming back with all the uncertainty." If
Price does return to that 2012 form, it could lead to something very big for the
Rays. "We have a very solid team right now from our outfield to our infield,
which is always packed with Gold Gloves," Price said. "I feel like we have a
very competitive team right now. Everybody in here has very high hopes for us."
TORONTO -- Brandon Kozun picked up the shootout winner as the Toronto Marlies
edged the Lake Erie Monsters 3-2 Sunday afternoon at Ricoh Coliseum. Kozun faked
to the forehand and beat Monsters starter, Calvin Pickard, pad side in the
second round for the winner. Spencer Abbott also scored in the shootout for the
Marlies (25-13-4). Drew MacIntyre stopped all four shooters he faced in the
shootout and turned aside 28 shots for his 20th win of the season. Pickard made
28 saves in the loss. Stuart Percy and Jamie Devane scored in regulation for the
Marlie to force overtime. Andrew Agozzino and Cam Reid had the goals for the
Monsters (17-20-3). The loss was Lake Eries eighth straight loss. The Toronto
win evened the season series at two games apiece. Lake Erie opened a 2-0 lead
with goals five minutes apart in the first period. Agozzino opened the scoring
at 10:09 of the first, on a power play, re-directing a Karl Stollery point shot
passt MacIntyre for his 10th of the season.dddddddddddd Then at 15:06, Reid gave
the Monsters a 2-0 lead tipping a bouncing puck past MacIntyre for his second of
the season. Toronto cut Lake Eries lead in half at 18:12 of the first when Percy
stepped into a shot off a face-off beating Pickard for his first of the season.
Devane completed the comeback after getting his stick on a T.J. Brennan point
shot, re-directing it past Pickard at 2:52 of the third. Sam Carrick had an
excellent chance to give Toronto their first lead, on a power play, with 5:30
remaining, but Pickard got across with his shoulder to rob him of the chance The
Marlies now head out on the road for three games in three nights beginning
Thursday in Oklahoma City. NOTES: Lake Erie forward Guillaume Desbiens missed
Sundays game serving a one-game suspension for instigating a fight in the final
five minutes of the Monsters 6-2 loss to Hamilton Saturday night.
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