5th inning: Jays at Rays

Edwin Jackson's going for a complete game, maybe a first in spring training history. He worked the fifth without incident, and now that ERA is sliding down to a more manageable level. Maybe the team just wants to make sure his confidence isn't too shaken following his last outing, six runs (five earned) on seven hits in four innings of a 6-4 loss to the Reds on March 9. Ouch. Taking him off the mound after another four runs in three innings against the Blue Jays probably isn't the best idea. But is it possible he'll really be back on the mound for the sixth?

In the bottom of the frame, that pesky Elliott Johnson is determined to cause another flap. You might remember it was Johnson's collision at home plate that started all this nasty business between the Rays and Yankees — culminating in six fines and/or suspensions handed down Friday (go to Rays Confidential for more details, or our parent site, Bradenton.com) — and he led off the fifth by trying to stretch what should have been an easy single into a double. He was thrown out by a good two feet at second, and, no, he didn't pull a Sandy Duncan... what's that?... oh, Shelley Duncan, my mistake... anyway, he didn't go in with spikes blazing, like some renegade Yankee bubbleguy non-roster wannabe, but it was the kind of hustle play that got the crowd up in their yellow garbage-bag ponchos and cheering, if only for a second or two.

Carl Crawford followed with a nice rip single, Willy Aybar reached base, and Cliff Floyd popped up to second to end the inning, so it's still 4-3 Blue Jays. Aybar's worth watching. The kid is batting third in the lineup today, between Crawford and Floyd, two regulars. That's showing a lot of confidence in a guy who didn't play last year. I have to believe that should Longoria start the season in the minors (personally, I think that's a pretty good bet) Willy Aybar is going to be your everyday third baseman for the forseeable future.

If you're asking Willy who? Here's the scoop: He missed all of last year, when he was with the Braves, because of an injured right wrist and what the handy dandy Rays media guide says were "personal matters that included a stint at a rehabilitation facility for substance abuse." He started his career with the Dodgers, hitting .326 in his 26-game late-season call-up, then hitting .250 with 3 HR and 22 RBI in 43 games of 2006 before being traded to the Braves. In 36 games in Atlanta that year, he hit .313 — the kid clearly loves his late-season baseball.

Can I change my vote for comeback player of the year? And should I find it encouraging or troubling that the Rays seem to have so many candidates for the award?