GM's hustle makes reserve's pick easy

ST. PETERSBURG -- Terry Shumpert had to decide. Did he want to be an Angel or a Devil (Ray)?

When he was released by the Dodgers on Saturday, the quick draw of Rays general manager Chuck LaMar with the telephone was the difference.

"I actually thought I was going to go to the Angels, but the Devil Rays called back first and offered me a guaranteed major-league contract," Shumpert said. "When you get that, you got to take it."

As it is, Shumpert, picked up for his right-handed bat and ability to play anywhere in the infield as well as left and right, sounds just as happy to be in Tampa Bay as he would've been playing for the defending champions.

"I like (Rays manager) Lou (Piniella)," Shumpert said. "I think this is the perfect time to come here. It seems like a fresh start here. Everything's new."

Shumpert, 36, thought he would be suiting up for the Dodgers after a good spring.

"Things happen," Shumpert said. "Nothing surprises you. Until you actually sign a contract, anything can happen."

Instead, he'll be with the Rays, backing up Rey Ordonez at short and likely finding a spot somewhere when the Rays are facing left-handers. He joins outfielder/designated hitter Al Martin, pitcher Mike Venafro and catcher Javier Valentin as experienced major-league players the Rays have added in the past week.

"He's a nice addition at the end of spring training," Piniella said. "We've made a few ... they are good kids and they play hard and they'll bring experience and perhaps some leadership to our situation."

NOT ABOUT JOE: Rookie centerfielder Rocco Baldelli will wear No. 5. You might remember Rays managing general partner Vince Naimoli said Baldelli reminded him of young Joe DiMaggio, who also wore No. 5.

Baldelli, though, nipped that potential story in the bud. He said he wore No. 5 in the minors, so he decided to wear the same number in the majors.

CH-CH-CHANGES: Fans will see a spruced-up Tropicana Field, which had a bit of a facelift in the offseason. Most noticeably, there's more of a tropical feel with bright colors and designs added to the facades, dugout tops and outfield walls.

"We've gotten criticized in the past, and somewhat rightly so, for being bland," Naimoli said. "What we would like to do is show Florida: the water, the greenery, the sunshine and the like. ... You automatically feel good about it."

There's more to come throughout the season.

"We've really hurried and scurried to get this much done for opening day," Naimoli said. "But there will be more."

PERFECT PEDRO: The Rays season hasn't even started and they have something ominous facing them. Actually it's someONE ominous. Boston starter Pedro Martinez never has lost to a team managed by Piniella. He was 10-0 against Piniella's Mariners with an 0.94 ERA.

"I didn't know that," Martinez said after pitching against the Rays in spring training two weeks ago. Funny, but Martinez took the loss in that game that didn't count. "Just one of those things, I guess. But I think he's a great manager, and you never know what might happen in the future. That's the way baseball is."

The Rays' record against Martinez is not much better than Piniella's -- 2-7.

"He's tough, what else can I say?" Piniella said. "He is one of the premier, if not THE premier, pitcher in all of baseball. It's a tough assignment.

"He's an opening day pitcher."

HOO-RAYS: The Rays are 3-2 in season openers and have won three straight. They are 2-3 in home openers and have won two straight. ... No. 5 starter Steve Parris was supposed to throw in a minor-league game Sunday, but it was canceled because of rain. He threw a simulated game at Tropicana Field.