Kazmir reportedly was in the clubhouse walking around while talking on his cell phone.

Joel Sherman of the New York Post also reports that Kazmir will “definitely be an Angel”.

Zobrist, now the Rays everyday second baseman, was named by his manager Joe Maddon, to his first All-Star team after batting .297 with 17 homers and 52 RBI, while trailing only Joe Mauer for the American League lead in slugging percentage.  Not bad for a kid who just six years ago was the team MVP of the Wisconsin Woodchucks in a summer league. 

“I’ve never been one to dream that big, but I know those kinds of things are possible,” Zobrist said.  “You never really consider [making an All-Star team] until you’re right at the doorstep of it.”

A couple of weeks ago, Zobrist was knocking on the door.  With the All-Star Game upon us, the “Zorilla” has blown the door right off.  He’ll be getting a lot of national attention on Monday and Tuesday, and he’s looking forward to every bit of it, while also maintaining the humble attitude he’s had his entire career.

“I just remember that you’re never as good as people say you are, and never as bad as people say you are,” he said.  “I don’t want to just make a splash and be done; I want to make a career of this, and make a long career of it.” 

Zobrist said for him, it’s important to remember the things that got him to this point, including working daily in the cage and “not getting too high or too low”. 

What is high for Zobrist this season is his power numbers.  In 1,336 minor league at-bats, Zobrist hit a total of 23 home runs.  Last season, he hit 12 in 198 at-bats, and his is on pace for over 30 this season.  Zobrist credits an offseason program for a huge part of his success.

Jamie Cevallos, the self-titled “swing mechanic”, said he took one look at Zobrist’s swing and instantly knew that he could help him.  When asked how many homers Zobrist could hit if given 500 at-bats, Cevallos didn’t hesitate: “30.” 

According to Maddon, the biggest difference in Zobrist this season, is that he is looking to “drive the ball to all fields”, rather than be a line drive or “spray” hitter. 

“He has confidence that he can hit the ball out of the ballpark,” Maddon said.  “He is the Zorilla.”

To casual fans, including some of his home team, Zobrist has come out of nowhere.  Though he started 49 games last season at five different positions, his yo-yoing between the bigs and Triple-A Durham kept him from establishing himself as a real Major Leaguer.  Until now.

Zobrist made the roster out of Spring Training and was projected as a utility guy off the bench.  Early in the season, Maddon would plug Zobrist into positions all over the field, calling him a “nice toy to have on the bench”.  Now that “toy” is playing everyday and has been mentioned as an MVP candidate in the American League. 

“He’s a guy that all 30 teams would want,” Maddon said.  “We are lucky to have him.”

A little bit of bad luck was needed for Zobrist to have had such an impact this year.  Rays starting second baseman Akinori Iwamura partially tore his ACL on May 22 trying to turn a double play against the Marlins.  The injury, first thought to be a complete tear, gave Maddon a spot to play Zobrist everyday, and since that time, he has started almost every game for the Rays.

The increased playing time and in turn, increased at-bats, have allowed Zobrist to put together an All-Star first-half, and even though Maddon isn’t sure whether Zobrist will even play on Tuesday, Zobrist is planning on enjoying every minute of the experience.

“I’m looking forward to everything,” Zobrist said,  “to mixing it up with some of the guys, and I’m looking forward to the whole aura of the experience.”

Joyce, called up from Durham on Saturday, May 30, has performed well enough in the last four games to make the decision to send him down, which seemed inevitable when he was recalled, a little less likely.

Fans in Tampa Bay have spent the beginning of the season openly campaigning for Joyce to be up with the big league squad. The fact that Edwin Jackson, the former Ray who traded to Detroit for Joyce, made the fans voices louder.

But Maddon consistently preaches patience, and he has told the fans the same thing regarding the trade.

“It’s so easy to overreact in the initial phase of a trade,” Maddon said. “The best trade is one that benefits both sides.”

The Rays front office believes that Joyce is a superb talent, and Maddon cannot say enough good things about his young outfielder.

“I believe that [he] is going to be a very good everyday outfielder,” he said. “He is a baseball player, and he has a special bat, and it makes a different sound when [the ball] hits it. You always like to have those kinds of guys on your offense.”

For Joyce, he is making the best of his opportunity to play.

“I’m pretty happy with the results, and I can hopefully keep rolling,” he said. “I’m just enjoying it while it lasts.”

The Tampa native started the season with the Rays while they were without BJ Upton, who was recovering from offseason shoulder surgery. Joyce went 1-for-10 in three games before being sent to Durham.

At Triple-A Durham, Joyce played 41 games and batted .315 in 149 at-bats. He had 15 doubles, five homers and 22 RBI while posting a .938 OPS.

With injuries to designated hitter Pat Burrell, shortstop Jason Bartlett, second baseman Akinori Iwamura and pitchers Brian Shouse, Troy Percival and Scott Kazmir, the Rays had roster moves to make. Joyce was summoned back to Tampa Bay on Saturday, May 31.

In the four games since being recalled, Joyce has gone 5-for-15 with two homers and five RBI, while playing in front of friends and families. The Rays have gone 3-1 in those games, including the just-completed sweep of the Kansas City Royals.

“It’s one thing be here, but it’s another thing to help the team win,” Joyce said. “You want to come up, make an impression, have fun, win some ball games, and try to stick around.”

Joyce was asked if he feels extra pressure knowing how well his traded counterpart has performed this season, but he said that he was just “trying to keep up” with Jackson.

When Burrell and Bartlett come back, and they are expected within the next few weeks, there is the possibility that Joyce will return to Durham. If it were up to Joyce, he’d be here to stay.

“Hopefully it becomes a little bit more routine,” he said. “There is a lot of hard work paying off.”