Shhh: No. 2 role suits Zambrano

ST. PETERSBURG -- Lean in close and listen to Rays pitcher Victor Zambrano.

Real close.

Otherwise, he can't be heard. You see, there's soft-spoken, there's quiet, then there's Zambrano.

He said he is so quiet that most of his conversations are with his best friend -- himself.

"I've always been like that, that's just my personality," Zambrano said softly, of course. "My parents are like that, too."

But listen to the whiz of that fastball and the pop of the catcher's mitt and realize that Zambrano's motto must be: "Speak softly and carry a big heater."

After struggling to find a role the past two seasons (Starter? Closer? Long reliever?), Zambrano has settled in to a comfortable spot as the Rays' No. 2 starter after Joe Kennedy. Manager Lou Piniella named Zambrano the No. 2 man last week.

"I'm so glad they made that decision, and I appreciate that they are giving me that type of opportunity," Zambrano said.

Zambrano continued his strong spring Monday, albeit against lesser competition. The 27-year-old right-hander pitched four shutout innings against the Class A Tampa Yankees at the Naimoli complex.

He threw 47 pitches -- 32 for strikes -- allowed two hits, struck out two and walked none.

Last season, Zambrano struggled out of the bullpen (7.21 ERA in 31 appearances), but shined as a starter when put into the rotation in August. In 11 starts, he went 4-4 with a 4.27 ERA.

"I really, really like it a lot," he said of starting as opposed to working out of the bullpen. "I like working for one day, getting ready for one day."

GOOD OUTING: Zambrano wasn't the only Rays pitcher mowing down minor-leaguers Monday. Gerardo Garcia threw successfully against a group of Yankee minor-leaguers. Garcia pitched four innings and allowed four hits with five strikeouts. Only one runner reached third base.

FIVE ALIVE: One of the decisions Piniella must make in the next 10 days or so is who will be the fifth starter. Kennedy and Zambrano are the top two pitchers in the rotation, and left-hander Nick Bierbrodt has earned a spot as well. Jim Parque has impressed Piniella and likely will take the fourth spot.

Jason Standridge has an outside shot, but it appears the fifth spot will go to either 22-year-old Dewon Brazelton or 35-year-old Steve Parris. Brazelton, who has been so-so in the spring, pitches today, and Parris is coming off a strong outing against the Red Sox on Saturday.

But his good outing, and his good spring, might not matter.

"Sometimes it doesn't matter how you pitch," Parris said. "It's who they are looking at. Bottom line: If you put me out there every fifth day, I'll do the job."

That has been Parris' mind-set since the start of spring training. While pitchers with secure spots can tinker with their delivery, or work on new pitches, Parris has one goal: "I need to get people out. I really don't have the luxury of working on anything except pitching as well as I can."

RING THE BELL: Right-hander Rob Bell, 26, was signed to a minor-league contract. Bell, released by Texas, has major-league experience. He is 16-21 with a 5.95 ERA in parts of three seasons with Reds and Rangers.

MISCELLANY: Houston manager Jimy Williams, on his lone day off of the spring, took in a game at the Naimoli complex. Not because he can't get enough of baseball but because it was his one chance this spring to check out his son, Brady, who is a prospect in the Rays system. Williams lives in Palm Harbor in the offseason. ... Union leader Don Fehr will visit the Rays this morning as part of his tour to team camps.