Tampa Bay Rays open defense of AL East Flag

For some fans it may be hard to believe that thirteen seasons have passed in the history of their local baseball club and tonight the Tampa Bay Rays embark on a defense of their second American League East title in the last three years.

A lot has changed since the final game in 2010 but it is felt that the new additions, such as Manny Ramirez, Johnny Damon, Kyle Farnsworth, Adam Russell and Joel Peralta will soften the blow of departures like Rafael Soriano, Joaquin Benoit and most importantly, Carl Crawford.

A sellout crowd will pack Tropicana Field as they host the retooled Baltimore Orioles under the leadership of Buck Showalter. The Birds won an astounding 34 games under their new manager considering they won only 32 prior to that and he did that after August 1st becoming the first manager since 1900 to turn the trick.

The Orioles are coming off a year where they beat the Rays in the season series 10-6 and have added three thumper to their lineup: Vladimir Guerrero, Derrick Lee and Mark Reynolds, all of whom have had 40 HR seasons in their careers. But the Rays have something Baltimore does not – a starting rotation that could turn out to be the best in the junior circuit.

This evening lefty David Price toes the rubber hoping to become Tampa Bay's first 20-game winner after falling one short in 2010. His 19-6 record was the best in team annals while posting a stellar 2.72 ERA. This will be Price's first opening day assignment. The O's will send righty Jeremy Guthrie (11-14, 3.83) to the hill.

Before the first pitch fans will get to see the raising of the Rays' third banner for beating out the New York Yankees for the AL East top spot. Since their inaugural season in 1998 the Rays (2) and Yankees are the only teams to have one more than one division championship (Kids 14 and under will receive a replica banner this Sunday).

Since the Rays made their first appearance in the postseason in 2008, they have played at a torrid pace under the roof of Tropicana Field going 158-85 (65.6% winning percentage) tying them with Boston for the best home record over that span. 19 of the first 32 games of the season will be played in St. Petersburg. In addition, the Bay Bunch have a 40-13 mark with crowds of 30,000 or more. Tonight will mark the sixth straight season the Rays have sold out the home opener. The first pitch will be tossed out by Florida Governor Rick Scott.

SILENCE PLEASE: A moment of silence will be observed for the three fallen St. Petersburg police officers who were killed in the line of duty this year. They are Sergeant Thomas Baitinger, Officer Jeffrey Yaslowitz and Officer David Crawford. In addition, 125 police officers from the St. Petersburg force will unfurl a 150x300-foot US flag and the colors will be presented by the police department.

HELPING HAND: Volunteers from the Red Cross will be collecting donations for the Japan relief Fund during the opening series that will run through Sunday. The Rays have already donated $10,000 to the Children's Japan Earthquake Tsunami Children in Emergency Fund and will match up to $15,000 to the red Cross' efforts.