Sturtze expecting to feel some flutters

ST. PETERSBURG -- Sure, Tanyon Sturtze will be a little nervous today.

"If I didn't get butterflies," he said, "I wouldn't play the game."

When Sturtze throws the first pitch of the Rays season opener against the Tigers at Tropicana Field, he will become the fourth opening-day starter in the club's five-year existence.

Wilson Alvarez (1998, 1999), Steve Trachsel (2000) and Albie Lopez (last season) were the others.

"You never think that it could be you, but you always hope it's going to be you," Sturtze said. "Now it is. And I'm excited about it."

It's a deserved honor for the 31-year-old, whose 11 wins, 27 starts and 1951/3 innings led the Rays in 2001. Though manager Hal McRae knew last season who would throw on opening day, Sturtze reconfirmed that decision this spring.

He had a 14-inning scoreless streak at one point and finished 2-2 with a 5.19 ERA in six games. The ERA jumped after his final two spring outings, against the Braves on March 23 and Tigers on March 29, when he allowed 13 runs on 20 hits in 10 innings.

"I really didn't put too much into the last two outings," Sturtze said. "I was a little upset after the Braves outing. Then the Detroit outing I just went out there and said, "Whatever happens, happens.' I'm going to face them again.

"But everything feels good. I felt good in my last start. I was just rushing a little bit. We worked on that in our bullpen. I'm ready."

THE REPLACEMENTS: With Russ Johnson on the disabled list and four position players on the bench -- catcher John Flaherty, outfielder Jason Conti and infielders Jason Smith and Felix Escalona -- McRae has limited options when it comes to substitutions.

Three-player moves are unlikely and pinch hitters will be rare until Johnson comes off the disabled list.

"I don't anticipate pinch hitting for anyone that's on the field," McRae said. "Therefore my main concern is pinch running. I don't plan to defend for anyone to start the season. My concern was the pinch-running situation, which I anticipate we'll have to do."

THE SAME FEELING: For nearly half of the Rays, tonight's game will be one of their most memorable. Twelve players never have been on a major-league opening-day roster.

"It doesn't get any better than that," said outfielder Greg Vaughn, who experienced his first opening day with the Brewers in 1990. "It's like being 7 years old on the first day of Little League. It's still the same feeling. Even though you're a man, there's the same feeling."

NEW DIRT: Apparently, all dirt is not created equal.

Groundskeepers removed the infield dirt at Tropicana Field in the offseason and replaced it with another type of clay that holds moisture better in the dome's dry and cool.

The new clay also is mixed with Turface, a granular substance that controls moisture.

ODDS AND ENDS: In a minor-league game at the Ray Naimoli Complex on Monday, Alvarez threw five innings for Class-A Bakersfield against Double-A Orlando. The No. 5 starter allowed three earned runs on six hits, walking two and striking out one. ... Rays officials expect a crowd of around 30,000.