Sports: Lopez is ready for stress-free spring training

Lopez is ready for stress-free spring training

By MARC TOPKIN and JOHN ROMANO

ST. PETERSBURG -- Things are going to be different this spring for Albie Lopez.

For the first time in his four seasons with the Rays, he comes to camp as a starting pitcher, a slot in the rotation assured. There is a strong possibility he'll be the opening day starter.

"I have nothing to prove, I have nothing to win," Lopez said. "I'm coming in here to get myself ready for the season. To me, that's an ease off my mind that I just have to get myself ready and get myself in shape."

Lopez figures he went into spring training with the Indians a couple of times as a starter, "but I might have been competing for the No. 5 job." In most of his Cleveland years, he bounced between starting and relieving. The Rays used him primarily as a setup man in his first three seasons here.

But after coming out of the bullpen in May to emerge as the Rays' top starter, Lopez is targeted for a more significant role.

"Since the first day I've gotten here (in 1998), I've said, 'What's my job?' Going back and forth from the bullpen, I've already proven that's a tough job for me," Lopez said. "It's a little comforting to know what my job title entails."

And if that includes the prestigious April 3 assignment and once-every-five-days matchups with the league's elite pitchers?

"If that happens, that would be fine," Lopez said. "Guys talk about being the 'No. 1' starter. To me, I don't have to bat against them, so it doesn't bother me. If I was in the National League, it would be a whole different story."

ONLY IN TAMPA BAY: It appears the Rays' first serious injury of the spring occurred to Raymond, the furry mascot. Seems he was flying a little too high during an on-court appearance at the Tampa Bay Thunderdawgs basketball game and possibly broke his right wrist when he hit the rim.

SHOULDER TALK: Juan Guzman and Wilson Alvarez, recovering from shoulder operations last summer, were optimistic after checkups with orthopedic specialist Dr. James Andrews.

"He told me everything looked fine and set up a program to build it back up," Guzman said. "There's no timetable. We'll just push it a little more each day, depending on how I feel."

Manager Larry Rothschild said Alvarez looked good during an early morning throwing session.

"It was the best day Wilson has had so far," Rothschild said. "He's been going through the strides he needs to go through, but today was a good day for him."

The news was not quite so good for right-hander Dwayne Jacobs, who is scheduled for an MRI on his shoulder today. While pitching in the Dodgers minor-league system in 2000, Jacobs went on the disabled list twice with shoulder problems. Jacobs said he has a tear in his rotator cuff and the MRI will determine the severity.

"I was coming in here with high hopes and now I have to go through this again," Jacobs said.

INJURY REPORT: Prospect Jesus Colome tweaked his right hamstring covering first base in pitchers' fielding drills. The injury is not considered serious and Colome should be back in a few days. Left-hander Bobby Seay, recovering from an ankle sprain, resumed light workouts.