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By JOHN ROMANO and MARC TOPKIN
© St. Petersburg Times, published May 21, 2001
ST. PETERSBURG -- On the day he joined the Rays, shortstop Andy Sheets said it was important for every ballplayer to understand his role.
Which explains why the veteran infielder did not get too excited about hitting his first major-league home run in more than two years Sunday.
The Rays are not paying Sheets to hit home runs, or even drive in runs. Offense is considered a bonus. When manager Hal McRae put Sheets in the lineup for the struggling Felix Martinez late last week, he said Sheets would determine his future by how well he played defense.
So far, Sheets has done the job. He has not made an error in his first four games and helped turn a smooth double play Sunday by going up the middle to snatch a grounder and flip it to Damian Rolls, who turned the play barehanded.
After getting off to an 0-for-9 start, Sheets drove in a run with a second-inning single Sunday, got an RBI on a groundout in the fourth and homered in the eighth.
"I had some chances (Saturday) night to get a guy in and I struck out," Sheets said. "So it was kind of a relief, to say the least, to finally get a hit and drive in a run."
McRae originally said he would like to see Sheets play for a week before making a decision. So far, nothing has changed.
"He hasn't said anything, so I'm not saying anything, either," Sheets said. "If I come in and my name is up there, I'll play."
FIORE REACTION: Rays reliever Tony Fiore, who reacted angrily when told he was being designated for assignment Saturday, said Sunday that he was upset at the reasons McRae gave him for his demotion.
"What the man told me set me off. I thought it was unfair, uncalled for and totally off the mark," Fiore said after calling a reporter Sunday. "He said he was sending me down because I didn't try. Well, I guarantee he's just using me as an example because I'm a guy who is replaceable. He insulted my character and my integrity. It was wrong."
Fiore, 29, pitched nine years in the minors before being called up by Tampa Bay last season. He said a player does not survive that long in the minors without having a definite fire for the game.
Fiore had not given up a run in 201/3 innings at Triple-A Durham and was scoreless in his first two appearances with the Rays before getting knocked around in Friday night's loss to Detroit.
BACK AGAIN: Mickey Callaway was the second Rays draft pick to reach the majors, pitching in five games for Tampa Bay in 1999. Since then, the right-hander has been forgotten in the farm system as prospects such as Travis Phelps, Dan Wheeler and Travis Harper have gotten the call.
Callaway returned on Sunday, nearly two years after last pitching in the majors. Despite the long interval, he was not complaining about a lack of opportunity.
"I had some arm problems later in '99, my shoulder wasn't feeling well," Callaway said. "The next year, I had a bad start, although I finished strong. That's just baseball. That's how it goes. You try to keep a good head about it, and keep on doing what you can do. Work your way back."
Callaway, who will work in middle relief for Tampa Bay, said he has developed a split-finger fastball that has made him a more effective pitcher.
UNDER HIS THUMB: His thumb was several shades of purple and noticeably swollen, but Albie Lopez said he expects to make his next start without any problem. Lopez was hit on his pitching hand by a Bobby Higginson shot up the middle Saturday and had to leave the game.
Lopez, who missed a start last week with a groin pull, will get an extra day to recuperate this week because of an off day today.
"I couldn't sleep with it last night," Lopez said. "I felt like one of those cartoon characters who get hit on the thumb with a hammer and you can see it (throbbing)."
RAY BITS: Greg Vaughn's two home runs Sunday tied him with Hall of Famer Hank Greenberg for 71st on the all-time list with 331. ... Fred McGriff tied a club record with six consecutive hits. He got hits in his final three at-bats Saturday and his first three at-bats Sunday. ... Radio broadcaster Charlie Slowes missed Sunday's game with the flu. It's just the second game he has missed in franchise history. Todd Kalas filled in for Slowes.
Rays reliever Rusty Meacham was singing in the shower before Sunday's game. Now, that might not be uncommon for a lot of people, but Meacham also had his guitar with him. The sound apparently is better in the showers, so Meacham was practicing his guitar and singing Poison's Every Rose Has Its Thorn. The acoustic show drew half his teammates, who applauded his performance but bemoaned the small repertoire.