The Rays Tank: Happy Spring Training Opening Day

The Rays  will kick off their spring training games at 1:05 today when Nathan Karns goes to work as the Rays host the Orioles. Karns is in the mix for the fifth starter spot to start the season. Pitchers will pitch only one inning.

You can't watch the game unless you're there, but it will be available on MLB Gameday Audio.

Speaking of the fifth starter spot, Matt Moore was working out his throwing arm at spring training, and from the video, he appears to have experienced no setbacks.

There's good velocity on the signature, and some explosive loopiness with good break on one of the letters. I think it's the M, since it happens twice. Whatever it is, there's a nice repeatable delivery on it.

• According to Steve Adams at MLB Trade Rumors, the Rays have signed reliever Jim Miller to a minor league deal for bullpen depth.
• Are the Rays targeting hitters who can beat the shift? Seems that way, says Dock of the Rays.
• Owen Watson at FanGraphs talked about Matt Harvey's curve ball (and his possibly new pitch). Harvey's breaking ball is unique, and Watson struggles to find a good comparable pitch, because Harvey throws his curve so hard. I imagine Watson filtered him out because of sample size, but there is one good comparable out there: Nate Karns. Now if we can just get the rest of Nate Karns to resemble Matt Harvey . . .
• What's the relationship between TV revenue, attendance, and payroll in baseball? I can see an open debate as to whether not this is in the process of changing, but right now butts in the seats still matter.