"At some point this evening, perhaps as early as the first inning, Manny Ramirez's name will be announced throughout the stadium and buzz will pass through the stands as the aging slugger strides to the plate carrying his bat, his dreadlocks bouncing off his shoulders.

On the mound, Orioles pitcher Jeremy Guthrie will take notice.

In the Rays dugout, manager Joe Maddon will smile.

"It's kind of fun, because I don't think we've ever had that kind of presence in the lineup yet," Maddon said. "I've seen it from the other side on many occasions. We will see it again this year with different teams, but I don't know if we had that kind of vibe walking up to the plate."

The Rays begin their 14th season tonight with eight new faces from last season, nine if you include Elliot Johnson, who hasn't played here since 2008.

Ramirez, the new designated hitter, and left fielder Johnny Damon are by far the most recognizable of the new Rays. Of those two, Ramirez carries the most clout, as you would expect from someone with 555 career home runs.

Ramirez has mashed major-league pitching for nearly 18 seasons with a right-handed swing worthy of a spot in the Smithsonian.

It's a swing that keeps pitchers awake at night, one that comes with a swagger not seen at the Trop from the home side since the first half of the 1999 season when Jose Canseco was still healthy and occasionally during Carlos Peña's big home run years."