Quinton returns, Morris demoted

By BRANT JAMES

© St. Petersburg Times, published May 14, 2000

ST. PETERSBURG -- Jose Guillen was recalled from Triple-A Durham on Friday to become the Devil Rays' rightfielder of the future. Quinton McCracken followed him Saturday, but his destiny as role player of the present sounds much less glamorous.

The new/old player in an outfield so crowded Dave Martinez was traded to the Cubs for reliever Mark Guthrie on Friday, McCracken will serve "situationally," manager Larry Rothschild said. That will mean pinch-hitting and pinch-running duty for the fleet switch-hitter, and an occasional start in centerfield when Gerald Williams is rested.

Utility infielder Tony Graffanino was designated for assignment to make room. The Rays have 10 days to trade or release Graffanino or put him on waivers. The club also optioned left-handed reliever Jim Morris to Durham to free a spot for Guthrie.

"We told (Morris) just to continue the progress he's made here, which I think has been good," Rothschild said of the 36-year-old rookie. "He needs to pitch, and the more regular work he gets, the better he will be."

In his last outing Tuesday, Morris walked in the winning run in the 10th inning at New York.

McCracken, a popular figure among Rays players and fans, said part-time duty is just fine. He missed most of last season after a knee injury in May.

"When I first came up, that's what I did for Colorado," he said. "So that's a role I'm going to take on and do to the best of my abilities. Whatever they ask me to do, I'll do it."

McCracken played for the Rays on Opening Day but was optioned to Durham to play himself back into big-league form. He batted .280 with five doubles and 10 RBI.

"Quinton is a major-league player and should be in the major leagues," Rothschild said. "We knew it would probably take him about a month to get things straightened out down there, and he went down there and did that."

So did Guillen, who batted .423 with 31 RBI at Durham. Rothschild said he would have started Guillen in rightfield Saturday, but Bubba Trammell was 5-for-6 lifetime against Toronto starter Kelvim Escobar. Rothschild said there is an urgency to getting Guillen a start, partly so the battle for the rightfield job can begin.

With Martinez gone, Guillen, 23, Trammell, 28, and Steve Cox, 25, will attempt to become Rothschild's full-time starter.

"Jose has played well in Triple-A, and you have to give him a good look because he's the youngest of them," Rothschild said. "Bubba has done a good job for us over the last couple of years, so you have to take that into consideration. You have Steve Cox, who is not really a rightfielder, but he can play out there and so you need to find some at-bats for him.

"We'll go through a little while, but eventually somebody is going to be the rightfielder."

Trammell has started the past two games and may not be unseated easily. He is batting .314 in 19 games with three home runs.

OZZIE EVERYWHERE: Graffanino's departure makes Ozzie Guillen the backup to every infielder but first baseman Fred McGriff. Guillen has played eight career games at third, three at second and one at first (just in case).

Graffanino, who played in 11 games, was doomed by Miguel Cairo's improved play at second base and the fact that Guillen was viewed as a better backup to shortstop Kevin Stocker, Rothschild said.

WELCOME HOME: Dinner may or may not have tasted good for Guthrie on Saturday, but at least it was a home-cooked meal, or one from a local restaurant. Guthrie had not seen his Bradenton home since Feb. 10 and did not expect to see his family for five weeks because of the Chicago Cubs' schedule, but his trade changed all that.

"They're excited," Guthrie said of his family's reaction. "They may not be so excited (Saturday night). They may give me some pointers."

SAUNDERS TO THROW: Left-hander Tony Saunders, attempting to come back from a fractured humerus, is scheduled to throw 75 pitches in the bullpen before today's game. He then will be re-evaluated. The next step would be pitching batting practice.

MISCELLANY: McGriff extended his hitting streak to 14, tying a career high, with his 395th career home run in the first inning. ... Right-hander Dave Eiland will be Monday's starter at Texas.

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