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By MARC TOPKIN
© St. Petersburg Times, published March 24, 2001
KISSIMMEE -- Jason Standridge made the most of his first start of the spring. And that doesn't even include his strong three-inning performance on the mound Friday in a 10-2 loss to Houston.
Stepping to the plate for the first time since 1997 when he was a senior at Alabama's Hewitt-Trussvile High School, Standridge drilled a 1-and-2 pitch from Houston's Scott Elarton up the middle for a hard single.
"First of all, I don't have a batting approach," Standridge said. "I hadn't seen live pitching in four years. It was kind of real odd me stepping up in the box. It was kind of weird. I was just going to go up there and look for a fastball and see if I could at least put it in play."
Standridge said Elarton's first pitch was a slider "and I thought it was the nastiest pitch I've ever seen in my life." Next was a fastball "that looked like it was 120 (mph)" and a slider in the dirt that Standridge let go.
"The next pitch was a fastball and I just swung," he said. "After I hit it, I was like, "Oh, my gosh, I can't believe I hit the ball.' "
Standridge had a chance to drive in a run, but catcher John Flaherty was thrown out trying to score from second.
Standridge's pitching was even more impressive. The 22-year-old right-hander, who split last season between Class A St. Petersburg and Double-A Orlando, scattered three hits over three shutout innings, featuring his new slider and striking out Craig Biggio and Moises Alou.
"He threw the ball outstanding," Flaherty said. "He mixed his pitches, he had a well-above-average slider, he threw the ball over the plate, he threw some breaking balls in fastball counts. I thought, overall, he really threw the ball well."
Standridge learned the slider from minor-league pitching coordinator Chuck Hernandez during the fall instructional league and proved to be a quick study.
"He was making some very good major-league hitters look silly on the slider, so that's a good sign," Flaherty said.
RUSTY READY: Reliever Rusty Meacham had another clean inning, lowering his ERA to 0.96 and improving his chances of making the team. In 91/3 innings, Meacham has allowed five hits, one walk and one run. "I like my chances," Meacham said. DECISIONS, DECISIONS: For weeks, manager Larry Rothschild has said he wanted to cut down at least close to the final 25-man roster by Tuesday, the one-week mark from opening day. But, as usual, there are complications and difficult decisions and they may not make it. "Just like the movie, it happens every spring," Rothschild said. "I'll aim for somewhere in there to get within a couple, three guys if we can, but I don't know that that's even going to be possible."
FIRST AT SECOND: The competition at second base between rookie Brent Abernathy and Bobby Smith appears to be tight. Abernathy, after going 1-for-5 Friday, is hitting .400. Smith, who had a solid game Thursday, is hitting .257 with six RBI. Abernathy has started 10 games at second, Smith nine. Both have played well defensively. Abernathy may be more of an all-around player, Smith has more power.
"If they are evenly matched defensively, then sure that's what it's going to come down to, baserunning and the offensive production," Rothschild said. "But you've got to look at the whole picture."
Russ Johnson and Damian Rolls also were possibilities, but the choice appears to be between Smith and Abernathy.
SPLIT PERSONALITIES: Because they are making up the March 5 rained out game at Disney today, the Rays have to field two teams, a challenge this late in spring. Most big-name players, including Greg Vaughn, Fred McGriff, Ben Grieve, Vinny Castilla and Josh Hamilton, are scheduled to play at home. Paul Wilson, Trevor Enders and Tanyon Sturtze are slated to pitch. Albie Lopez, Flaherty and Felix Martinez are part of the traveling squad.
RAYS BITS: Ozzie Guillen, Johnson and Hamilton will host about 250 Little Leaguers expected for the Festival of States breakfast at Tropicana Field this morning. ... The stadium will be open from 10 a.m.-2 p.m. for prospective season-ticket holders. Entry is through Gate 7.