DUNEDIN, Florida – It's time to play ball, a much more enjoyable alternative to simply practicing ball, which is what the Blue Jays have been doing for the first week of spring training.

With Grapefruit League action set to kick off on Tuesday, a Dunedin matinee with the Pittsburgh Pirates, manager John Gibbons split his roster in half and put his charges through a seven inning intra-squad game at Florida Auto Exchange Stadium.

Gray beat Blue 1-0, powered by a fifth inning home run by Mitch Nay off Juan Oramas.

"That's what they need," said Gibbons. "Today was mostly for the young guys to get them more playing time. They all come in shape, they all hit all winter and all the things like that but you still have to get the timing. Now the game starts speeding up. Intra-squad is real relaxed but that's when it gets tough to play when things start speeding up. The more of that they can get the better."

Here are some tidbits:

DICKEY AND MARTIN

R.A. Dickey pitched a scoreless top of the first inning, working around a two out walk to Maicer Izturis.

Monday marked the first time Dickey pitched to catcher Russell Martin in something resembling an actual game. Prior, the two had played a game of catch and shared two bullpen sessions.

"It's not easy. I'm going to have to focus on every pitch. It's almost like I'm at the plate hitting. It's that type of focus I need to have," said Martin. "Unlike having the comfort of just sitting back there and feeling comfortable it's going to be work. But I feel like I can do it and as long as Dickey is comfortable out there on the mound, that's what is most important. Hopefully he's okay with the way I'm handling him right now."

Dickey didn't speak to the media on Monday but has previously expressed optimism that the combination of Martin's athletic ability and willingness to learn to catch his unorthodox knuckleball will lead to positive results.

Each day that Dioner Navarro isn't traded brings the club one step closer to having last year's top backstop on the opening day roster. It would be counterproductive to carry three catchers, which would happen in the event Dickey and Martin don't mesh and Josh Thole, Dickey's personal catcher for most of the last five seasons, makes the team.

It's fair to call the Dickey-and-Martin combination a work in progress and it seems the two will need every moment they can spend together over the next five weeks.

JOSH DONALDSON

Josh Donaldson was retired by Mark Buehrle in his lone at-bat but not before he made some noise, launching a home run-distance foul ball to leftfield.

"I don't need them to be fair right now. The season, that's when I need to save them," said Donaldson. "But it was nice to get out there and face some live pitching. It's just the first step of the process."

At this time of year, pitchers are focused on reestablishing command. Sometimes they're working on a particular pitch. For hitters, it's the timing of their swings.

"I'm still pretty far away," said Donaldson of his timing. "First day really getting in there in somewhat of a simulated game, getting the juices going a little bit, just really looking forward to when that first day comes, getting the body and mind ready."

Donaldson, a plus-defender at third base, also started an around-the-horn double play in the second inning.

BUEHRLE THROWS SCORELESS INNING

For veteran left-hander Mark Buehrle it's pretty simple: get the ball and throw it. He'll take an inning in an intra-squad game over another bullpen session. Even if nothing is on the line at least the feel is real.

"You can't hold fake runners or imaginary runners when you're on the back fields, (pitchers' fielding practice) gets old, so facing hitters, game-speed, anything can happen, guys get on, they steal, bunt plays, everything is in play," said Buehrle. "It's good to get that going."

Soon to be 36 years old, Buehrle has never been a hard thrower. He had a chuckle when asked how hard is his fastball in early March.

"Did you see the gun? Probably 90 (miles per hour)," he joked. "Obviously that's the least of my worries, I felt good, may have broken 80, I'm not sure, but made some good pitches and it's getting into live action. Other than that, no biggie."

HUTCHISON LOOKING FOR BIG THINGS

It's been more than two-and-a-half years since right-hander Drew Hutchison underwent Tommy John elbow ligament replacement surgery. He's well beyond the injury and the procedure and said he benefits from each time he makes an appearance.

"For me it's more about mound time, how much mound time you have on the mound in competitive situations, just to get that feel and that fine-tuning back, and all the intricacies of pitching," said Hutchison. "That's what takes the longest."

Hutchison said he worked on his changeup in his one scoreless inning on Monday. While working out of the stretch, he also focused on refining his slide step to home plate.

WELLS ABOARD

Former Blue Jays' centrefielder Vernon Wells will be in Dunedin for three days starting on Tuesday. He'll serve as a guest coach.

GRAPEFRUIT LEAGUE ACTION BEGINS

The Blue Jays play their first of 30 Grapefruit League games on Tuesday, a 1:07 first pitch versus Pittsburgh at Florida Auto Exchange Stadium in Dunedin.

Right-hander Aaron Sanchez will get the start and, depending on pitch count, will throw one or two innings.

Marco Estrada, Steve Delabar, Kyle Drabek, Miguel Castro, Gregory Infante and Wilton Lopez also are expected to throw.

As is customary for the Blue Jays' first home game of the spring, manager John Gibbons likely will field a major league calibre starting lineup.