Sports: Same Smith, new result: outta here

Same Smith, new result: outta here

By MARC TOPKIN

TORONTO -- In spring training, Bobby Smith looked like a new man. But six games into the season, the Rays decided he was the same old Bobby Smith.

Making the first of what could be a seasonlong series of roster moves, the Rays on Monday shipped out Smith, named Russ Johnson the starting second baseman for at least the short term and added Rusty Meacham to bolster their already battered bullpen.

Smith won an intense battle with rookie Brent Abernathy by hitting .306 in spring training and creating the impression that after three inconsistent seasons he was ready -- physically and mentally -- to be an everyday player.

But the Rays changed their minds after Smith had two singles and 10 strikeouts in 19 at-bats (for a .105 average) in the six games and was spotty, at best, defensively.

"What changed," manager Larry Rothschild said, "is that we saw the same things that we saw last year that we didn't see in the spring."

Added general manager Chuck LaMar: "We wanted to see a definite change once the ball rang, and to us in the first week of the season we saw the same Bobby Smith we saw over parts of the last three years."

Smith, 26, was designated for assignment, creating a spot on the 40-man roster for Meacham and giving the Rays 10 days to release, trade or waive Smith. Even if he is unclaimed, Smith is unlikely to remain in the Rays system. He has the right to refuse an assignment to Durham and declare free agency (he would forfeit a hefty Triple-A salary of about $30,000 a month), and the Rays may decide they are ready to move on.

FIRST AT SECOND: Johnson has been a valuable utility player since being acquired in May, but he is eager for the chance to start. "Getting an opportunity is a blessing," Johnson said. "They don't come around a lot."

How long Johnson remains the starter remains to be seen. Abernathy is off to a horrible start at Durham (1-for-17), but he is considered a key part of the future. "Obviously that's going to be left open and at some point you're going to have to look at that," Rothschild said.

With Johnson at second, the Rays have one reserve, Damian Rolls, who can play second and third base, and no backup shortstop. That could make Rothschild hesitant to pinch hit for shortstop Felix Martinez, but he said he could play Rolls at second and move Johnson to shortstop.

WHAT A RELIEF: Meacham, 33, made a strong bid to make the team out of spring training (one run allowed in 13 1/3 innings), but it took a solid week in Durham (four strikeouts in two scoreless innings), a rough start by the Rays bullpen (13 runs in 16 1/3 innings) and a decision by management to carry 12 pitchers for the first time in franchise history for him to get there.

"Obviously it's a great feeling," said Meacham, who earned a save in Durham's 2-1 win Sunday night, packed his belongings into four suitcases, caught a morning flight to Canada, then pitched 1 1/3 innings Monday night. "I'm proud to be back at the top again. I just want to come in and pick up where I left off."

RAYS BITS: Greg Vaughn's sore left calf is healing. He likely will return to leftfield during the weekend series in Baltimore. ... Albie Lopez, 1-1 with a 2.40 ERA in two starts, was selected by team officials as player of the week. ... After five games, top prospect Josh Hamilton is 1-for-21 with 10 strikeouts at Double-A Orlando.