ST. PETERSBURG - Robert Fick knew he would have to adjust to not playing much.
What he didn't expect was the frustration of not playing well.
"It's been awful," Fick said.
A starter throughout his four-plus season major-league career with Detroit and Atlanta, Fick signed with the Rays as a bench player figuring he would work his way into the lineup at catcher, first base and/or the outfield.
So far, most of his playing time has been at DH (55 of 73 at-bats), and it hasn't been a good fit, given his .127 average in that role. He is hitting .286 (4-for-14) when he plays in the field and .250 (1-for-4) as a pinch-hitter.
"It's tough," Fick said. "It's especially tough when you struggle. You don't have any defense to take your mind off it. You can't make a good play to save a run. It's all offense. It (stinks). But it's no excuse. You've got to get the job done, and I haven't. I've got to find a way to figure it out and start hitting."
Fick is the type of player who likes to get dirty. Manager Lou Piniella said he will try to get Fick on the field more, but his options are limited. First baseman Tino Martinez has been one of their best hitters and their outfield defense is a strength, featuring Carl Crawford, Rocco Baldelli and Jose Cruz.
The next option may be to use Fick more behind the plate. Toby Hall is hitting .275 but has only three extra-base hits and nine RBIs (though he is 7-for-15 with runners in scoring position). Brook Fordyce is hitting .184 and hasn't driven in a run.
NEW YORK DREAMING: Word of Piniella's frustration has reached New York, which means the rumors have started flying.
The first came Monday, Newark Star-Ledger baseball columnist Lawrence Rocca writing there is a "great" chance Piniella, who is signed with the Rays through 2006, will be managing the Mets next season.
Rocca wrote: "The rebuilding project Piniella inherited is a lot more difficult than he anticipated, and some Mets officials are hoping that will lead him to forcing his way out of his contract after this season, like he did after the 2002 season with the Mariners. If Piniella does so, Mets officials say they will pounce, and they won't foul things up again by being stingy."
TORRID TINO: Martinez has quietly returned to the form that made him one of the top first baseman in the majors for years.
A seven-game hitting streak has raised his average from .264 to .300, he is on pace for 32 homers with a team-high seven (including four off lefties), and his .407 on-base percentage is ninth best in the league.
YOU'LL NEED A PROGRAM: The Rays didn't announce any player moves on Monday's off-day, but some are coming. By Wednesday, pitchers Rob Bell and Jason Standridge are expected to be added to the roster.
OF TORTS AND CHUCKIE: Piniella was impressed with the way Lightning coach John Tortorella took on the Flyers front office in an attempt to take the pressure off his team last week.
"I like John," Piniella said. "He's done a wonderful job over there with the Lightning, he really has. His kids play hard, and they play with a purpose. ( Jon) Gruden won his Super Bowl and this guy is right after the Stanley Cup, and I still haven't gotten out of the cellar. I think I'm lagging behind the curve."
MISCELLANY: Matt Silverman, who has a Harvard economics degree, started Monday as the team's director of strategic planning. He was an analyst with the Goldman Sachs investment firm and CFO of a software company. ... A players meeting has been called for this afternoon.[Last modified May 18, 2004, 01:12:12]
