Price fondly recalls playing for Maddon

CINCINNATI -- When the Reds opened their three-game series vs. the Rays on Friday, it was an opportunity for manager Bryan Price to work opposite one of his former skippers in Rays manager Joe Maddon.

Price was a Minor League pitcher in the Angels' organization, and he was on Maddon's team at Double-A Midland in parts of the 1985-86 seasons.

"It was great. My first full season of professional baseball, I started in Midland playing for Joe," Price recalled. "And I got absolutely obliterated in the Texas League and worked my way back to the California League. I don't think his memories of me are as good as mine were of him. Unfortunately, it was usually seeing him around the third or fourth inning, when it was his second and last visit to the mound to come get me. I didn't pitch terribly well that first year for Joe.

"Joe is a wonderful guy to play for, and a terrific person. He's very similar now to what I remember playing 30 years ago."