--RHP Grant Balfour is among the pitchers feeling they are close to top form following the long 2008 season and slow-placed spring. 

Manager Joe Maddon plans to be patient even though the team has struggled through the first three weeks of the season. 

By Joe Smith 

Rays manager Joe Maddon twice defied convention and sent pitching coach Jim Hickey to talk to starter Jeff Niemann during an at-bat. 

The Minnesota Twins expected Francisco Liriano to be their ace, but he has already matched his loss total from 14 outings last season. 

OAKLAND (AP) TheOaklandAthletics are starting to show signs of breaking out of their offensive slump after scuffling for the first three weeks of the season. 

By MARC LANCASTER 

Manager Joe Maddon plans to be patient even though the team has struggled through the first three weeks of the season. 

--Veteran LF Carl Crawford acknowledges that the Rays' slow start has been "very" frustrating. 

The one thing the Rays agree on is that they're not hitting like they expected to. 

By Marc Topkin 

The dish 

The Oakland Athletics are starting to show signs of breaking out of their offensive slump after scuffling for the first three weeks of the season. 

After their stunning run to the AL pennant last year, the Tampa Bay Rays had thought their days at the bottom of the AL East were behind them. 

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