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By JOHN ROMANO
© St. Petersburg Times, published March 26, 2001
PORT CHARLOTTE -- Albie Lopez pitched like an ace in the second half of last season. So, on Sunday, the Rays made the designation official.
Lopez was named the opening-day starter against Toronto on April 3 at Tropicana Field. He will be followed in the rotation by Paul Wilson and Bryan Rekar.
Manager Larry Rothschild said the assignment was bestowed partially because of last season and also because of the way Lopez is throwing this spring. Lopez is 1-0 with a 2.25 ERA in four starts.
"It's a combination. I don't think you forget about what he did last year, but I don't know if it's a reward either," Rothschild said. "It's a continuation of the progress he made, which goes into oening day this year."
ANYONE WATCHING?: Jose Guillen remains the hottest hitter in the lineup. How long he remains in the lineup is questionable.
Guillen had four hits, including two home runs, in Sunday's 12-6 victory against the Rangers. Guillen is hitting .444 with four home runs and 17 RBI in 45 at-bats. The 17 RBI ties Tampa Bay's spring record set by Paul Sorrento in 1998.
"That's how you make a case for yourself," Rothschild said "And he's come out and done that."
No matter how strong a case Guillen builds, the Rays simply do not have a lot of room for him. A starter for most of the past two seasons in rightfield, Guillen lost his job when Ben Grieve was acquired in January. At best, he appears to be the fourth outfielder, perhaps getting starts against left-handed hitters with Grieve moving to designated hitter.
"Everybody knows what my situation is. Last year was the second year in a row I had a bad year. I just want to open people's eyes that I can still play," Guillen said. "The most important thing is to find the consistency, not just having one good day."
Guillen said he would prefer to remain with the Rays, but is aware that he is upping his trade value with every good day.
"Something good is going happen. We've only got a week and a few days left," Guillen said. "I want to stay here but I cannot control what Chuck LaMar and Larry decide. I'm just hoping something good can happen."
ROTATION MIX: Although Rothschild did not officially name the fourth and fifth starters in the rotation, he suggested Ryan Rupe and rookie Travis Harper likely had wrapped up the jobs.
Rupe gave up five runs in five innings Sunday, but Rothschild attributed much of that to a strong Texas lineup and a hitter's park.
Rupe gave up three walks and fell behind in the count against several hitters, leading to some of his problems.
"I'm not attacking enough. I'm getting too defensive," Rupe said. "If I tell myself to be aggressive, I am. Sometimes it gets away from me."
Rupe was perceived to be the No. 3 starter in the rotation, but is now No. 4 at best.
Rothschild said he liked the idea of sandwiching Wilson between Lopez and Rekar in the first three spots of the rotation. Wilson is starting his first full season in the majors after elbow and shoulder operations.
"Albie and Bryan both gave us good innings last year," Rothschild said. "So if I need to give Paul a break, and I'm getting innings out of Albie and Bryan, having him in the middle of them is a pretty good situation."
ON THE SHELF: Juan Guzman will join Wilson Alvarez on the disabled list to start the season. Tampa Bay's two highest-paid pitchers -- Alvarez will make $9-million and Guzman $6-million -- are returning from shoulder operations last summer. Alvarez likely will miss the first month of the season and Guzman probably will be sidelined for at least two weeks.