Rays' Huff a power hitter without a home

First base, third base, DH? Lou Piniella not sure, yet, what to do with him.

By MARC TOPKIN, Times Staff Writer

© St. Petersburg Times
published February 28, 2003

ST. PETERSBURG -- There is much Lou Piniella knows. But there are some things he doesn't, not yet anyway, such as exactly how his team will line up for a regular-season opener 32 days from today.

About the only things set are that Toby Hall will be behind the plate and Rey Ordonez will be at shortstop.

[Times photo: Michael Rondou] Aubrey Huff has practiced at third and said he thinks he can learn the position.

As Piniella sorts out the rest, deciding if youngsters Rocco Baldelli and Carl Crawford are ready to start every day in the outfield, whether Marlon Anderson is going to play second, how much Greg Vaughn and Ben Grieve can contribute, there may be no player caught more in limbo than Aubrey Huff.

The team's most productive returning hitter, Huff is at least temporarily a man without a place to play.

Huff figured he'd take over at first base, but that seemed to change when the Rays signed slick-fielding Travis Lee. He didn't expect to get another chance at third based on his previous experience -- "I've been told since I've been here that I'm a bad third baseman," he said -- and the presence of Jared Sandberg, but that's where he's getting most of his work this spring. And he's pretty adamant that, at least now, he does not want to be limited to designated hitter.

"I don't want to DH," Huff said. "I don't want to DH. You don't ever want to be labeled a 26-year-old DH this early in your career.

"I'd love to play a position, whether it's third base or first base. But with this team it's kind of hard to do because there's so many players that play defense well. It's kind of an awkward situation for me to get in and play a position every day."

Piniella insists it is too early for conclusions -- or concern.

"We're going to find a place for Huff in the lineup, I just don't know exactly where yet," Piniella said Thursday. "This will sort itself out, that's what these next three weeks are for. I like Huff's bat, I really do. We'll see where we put him. It depends too on how our kids do in the outfield. We'll have a good idea three weeks from now, believe me."

Starting with today's preseason game against Eckerd College, Piniella will move pieces around, and there are a lot of ifs to be dealt with.

If Baldelli and Crawford (and/or Josh Hamilton) make the team, and if Vaughn and Grieve are ready to contribute, and if Sandberg looks like he can cut down on his strikeouts and if Lee is as good as advertised at first base, there is going to be a jumble.

But that might be assuming a lot. Piniella could end up moving Lee to the outfield and put Huff back at first. Sandberg, who Piniella said he considers the starter, could need more time in the minors, which could send Huff back to third. Vaughn and/or Grieve could play their way off the team, making Huff the DH whether he likes it or not.

"You want to be a complete player," Huff said. "You see a guy like A-Rod who hits well, hits for power and average, plays defense and runs well, you want to be that kind of player."

After starting last season in the minors after surgery in March to repair broken bones around his eye, Huff was impressive after a May 28 callup, hitting .313 while splitting most of his time between first base and DH. Only four other American Leaguers matched his homers (23) and average, and had he made nine more plate appearances he would have ranked seventh in the league.

"I felt really comfortable just coming to the field every day and having fun," he said. "That's when I play my best, when I have a good time."

After the Rays sold Steve Cox to Japan in December, Huff planned on playing first. That is his best position, but having Lee there fits more with Piniella's desire for sturdy defense. Huff, who threw his third baseman's glove in the trash after being cut last spring, is confident that with more work he could handle the move back to third, where he played in college and the low minor leagues. But Sandberg is a smooth fielder with needed right-handed power. Huff knows that could leave him as the DH and admits "with this team that may be a role I have to accept."

The uncertainty, he insisted, won't affect his offense. No matter where he stands, the most important thing is that he gets to step to the plate.

"That's my thing," he said. "I wouldn't play baseball if I couldn't hit. That's what I love to do."

Today's lineup

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