"They say he can't ... he can too," Hall teased.

Four games into the season, Cantu has been the team's primary power source, hitting three home runs in 15 official at-bats to tie for the Major League lead with Detroit's Dmitri Young and Cincinnati's Joe Randa.

Cantu laughed when told he was on pace for a 120-homer season.

"You know what, I don't pay any attention to that," Cantu said. "The only time I look at the numbers is the end of the year. And for right now, all I'm looking for is to hit pitches hard, so I can do my part to help the team win."

Hitting home runs can derail some hitters who stray from their normal approach to hitting. Cantu doesn't think he will fall into that trap.

"I'm just trying to make solid contact, and when you do that, the home runs come by themselves," Cantu said. "Every at-bat, I just try to make solid contact and be productive."

Cantu said he is not a guess hitter, rather he has a "see the ball, hit the ball" approach.

"I try to read every pitch," Cantu said. "Wherever that pitch is located, I hit it that way.

"At this level, I think as a batter you have to look at every level of the strike zone. That's what makes you a Major League hitter, I think."

Cantu is three home runs shy of tying the club record for most home runs by a Rays second baseman in a single season. Marlon Anderson hit six long balls in 2003.

Baldelli coming along: Rocco Baldelli underwent successful surgery to his left knee on Nov. 5 to repair a torn anterior cruciate ligament and has been on the road to recovery ever since.

Baldelli is becoming more visible around the Devil Rays clubhouse even though he remains on the disabled list.

"I have been doing a lot of new stuff," Baldelli said. "My leg feels good and it's starting to get a little stronger, but it's still a little ways off before I feel 100 percent. It is improving, though."

Baldelli smiled when asked about having a timetable for his return.

"The only reason we even give a timetable is for you guys [reporters]," Baldelli said. "I don't really have a timetable. We work as hard as we can every day. When it's ready, it's ready. We don't really know exactly when it's going to be ready. Like July 1, I'm going to be on a rehab assignment. Doesn't really work that way."

Baldelli took batting practice against live pitching for the first time Friday night.

"That was the first time I've hit on the field," Baldelli said. "I've been hitting pretty much every day for a while. [But] it's the first time I've seen live pitching since last October."

And how did it look, Rocco?

"Fast," said Baldelli through a smile.

Though he continues to make progress, Baldelli said his knee is still stiff.

"It's not going to be 100 percent for over a year," Baldelli said. "I've talked to a couple of guys who've had that surgery and they said that it's always going to be swollen. You can get the strength back up to 100 percent, but it's always going to feel a little different when you're running around."

Donating their time: As part of the continuing Youth Baseball Field Renovation Program, Rays pitching coach Chuck Hernandez, head groundskeeper Dan Moeller, members of the Rays grounds crew and staff volunteers will donate their time to improve the baseball field at St. Joseph's School in Tampa. Work will begin Monday at 9 a.m. ET.

Students have been unable to use the field because of its poor condition.

On deck: The Devil Rays will host the A's on Sunday at 2:15 p.m. ET in the final game of their three-game series at Tropicana Field. Dewon Brazelton will make his second start of the season after taking the loss on Opening Day against the Blue Jays.

Right-hander Rich Harden will make his first start of the season for the A's after missing his original start due to a blister on the middle finger of his right hand.