Tampa Bay Ray Evan Longoria was robbed during Spring Training, and yesterday he was able to find some closure. From a report via Tampa’s News Leader™ WTSP 10

A Port Charlotte man was arrested Wednesday for his involvement in the burglary and grand theft of a Tampa Bay Rays spring training rental home earlier this year.

Steven Charles Vaughn, 22, is charged with Armed Burglary of an Unoccupied Dwelling, Grand Theft and Dealing in Stolen Property. Vaughn was already in jail on unrelated charges.

While the Rays were at a spring training game in nearby Charlotte Stadium on March 26, thieves got into their home and stole $60,000 worth of items, including numerous electronics, watches, jewelry and an AK-47 that belonged to third baseman Evan Longoria.

His jewelry and his what?

Yes, apparently Evan Longoria has a stash of automatic weapons in his home, and it may or may not be because he’s one of Gillette’s “Young Guns”. Regardless, it’s always good when a robbery gets solved, and The Dugout is pleased to present this exclusive transcript of the police report that led to an arrest. Of, uh, a guy already in jail. But still.

Today’s Dugout is after the jump.

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Women’s Soccer has suddenly become an important thing in the United States, and even our baseball players are taking notice. Well, not really “taking notice” as much as “noticing the hot girls”, but Tampa Bay Rays third baseman Evan Longoria has taken a break from chasing people in helicopters and stealing their hats to hit on one of the prettier members of the team, the legitimately foxy Alex Morgan, via Twitter. Burnsy covered the story yesterday, so be sure to click through and read his post should you need more information for today’s strip than “baseball guy wants to nail soccer girl”.

A couple of disclaimers:

1. As always, The Dugout contains frank depictions of real life situations and reader discretion is advised.
2. The opinions of characters in The Dugout do not necessarily represent those of its writer.
3. Somebody contact me via Twitter, I want to throw out the first pitch at a baseball game.

Today’s Dugout follows.

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BJ Upton did his best Scrappy Doo impression after teammate Evan Longoria got all up in his grill. Longoria felt that Upton didn’t give 110% when going after center field drive in yesterday’s 2-1 loss to the Diamondbacks. I haven’t seen an argument so heated since me and my buddy debated whether Wendy’s or McDonald’s had the better dollar menu. Obviously, it’s Wendy’s.

Rays center fielder B.J. Upton and All-Star third baseman Evan Longoria nearly came to blows in the dugout today after Longoria took Upton to task for pursuing a ball in what Longoria felt was a cavalier fashion.

After Arizona’s Rusty Ryal hit a ball into the gap between left and center field in the top of the fifth inning, Upton appeared to pursue it at less than full speed. Ryal motored to third for a triple, a key base to attain with just one out. Gerardo Parra rendered that somewhat moot by following with a two-run home run to provide the winning margin.

Between innings, Longoria approached Upton about the play and the two had several verbal exchanges. Teammates had to restrain Upton after Longoria walked away. –USAToday

Rays manager Joe Maddon said that Longoria’s actions represented a feeling that was shared with his teammates. The two must have had a pretty serious heart to heart, as both have said that beef has been squashed. The Rays HR department had Dick Vitale arbitrate the conflict resolution. “You guys are both awesome with a capital A! Let’s all be PTP-ers and have a calm discussion where we talk about our feelings! Evan, how did BJ’s play make you feel?” They should send Dickey V to the West Bank to find a peaceful resolution to that crisis. Video after the jump. Read the rest of this entry »

Here comes your baseball post for August: Evan Longoria burned the Red Sox last night after they decided to pitch to him in the bottom of the 13th inning. Longoria took Takashi Saito over the left field fence, ending a game that lasted nearly five hours, and since it was baseball, it probably felt like, you know, five and a half or so. But seriously, why pitch to the guy that had already homered in the eighth inning?

“With the bases open we had some room to make some pitches,” [Sox manager Terry] Franconca said. “We’ve seen him at his best. I know he’s a great player. Every time they’re in a rally, it seems like he’s right in the middle of it. He seems to start it or finish it.”

“It’s obviously a choice,” [Rays manager Joe] Maddon said. “[Ben] Zobrist also is very good, so you have to make a choice right there. Saito’s got the good breaking ball. Obviously he could have struck Longo out also. It’s just a managerial choice right there.” via.

Also winning with a walkoff of their own: the Chicago White Sox, whose Scott Podsednik singled in the game-winner in the bottom of the ninth. And Pujols had a grand slam in extra innings last night visiting the Mets. But then again, you’d expect Pujols in Queens to be pushed to the limit. I’ll give you a second on that one.