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Johnson back, but maybe not to start

By MARC TOPKIN

© St. Petersburg Times,
published June 1, 2001

OAKLAND, Calif. -- Weeks of rest and rehab on his sore right leg got Russ Johnson back on the Rays' active roster Thursday. Getting back on the field on a regular basis will be a little more difficult.

Johnson was the regular second baseman when he got hurt running the bases May 15. But with rookie Damian Rolls playing so well at second in the interim, Johnson will return to a utility role, making occasional starts at second, third and shortstop.

"For sure he'll play a couple times a week," manager Hal McRae said, "and he might play more than that."

Rather than say Johnson lost his job, McRae said he'd rather look at it that Rolls won it. "He played much better than I thought he was going to play," McRae said. "He really did."

Rolls had a .322 average during Johnson's 14-game absence, with hits in 12 of the games. The 23-year-old rookie is hitting .313 overall with a team-high nine stolen bases.

Johnson had been a utility player during most of his major-league career, and even though he was hitting .290 at the time of the injury, McRae was looking to rest him more frequently.

Returning Johnson to a utility role may actually help the team anyway, McRae said.

"It gives you a better player on the bench, a serviceable player on the bench," he said. "You gain a player in a sense."

FOR EVERY ACTION: To make room on the roster for Johnson, the Rays put shortstop Felix Martinez on the 15-day disabled list because of tendinitis in his left knee. The move was retroactive to Monday, making Martinez eligible to be activated June 12. After starting 38 of the Rays' first 39 games, Martinez started just one of the next 13, replaced by Andy Sheets.

DAULTON REPORT: Darren Daulton, reportedly a top candidate for Florida's managing job, said he wasn't disappointed to hear the Marlins decided instead to keep Tony Perez on the job.

"I have no control over that," Daulton said. "I'm a firm believer that if things are supposed to happen, they'll happen for a reason."

Daulton, in his first season as a coach, said he wants to manage. "If I'm going to stay in game, ultimately I'd like to be a manager," Daulton said. "That's the only way I'd stay in the game, to be a manager. If it's to be, it's to be. If not ... "

SADDLE SORE: The day after being hit on the butt by a line drive, pitcher Albie Lopez had a red bruise and a tough time sitting still. "Real sore," Lopez said.

EN FUEGO: The Rays aren't the only team Oakland's Jason Giambi is beating up. Over his last 20 games, Giambi is hitting .434 with 23 RBI.

MINOR MATTERS: Outfielder Rocco Baldelli, the Rays' top pick in the 2000 draft, has an 11-game hitting streak for Charleston. ... Victor Zambrano is 1-2 with a 2.22 ERA and 10 saves for Durham. ... Top outfield prospect Josh Hamilton, out since late April, remains sidelined with back stiffness.

RAYS BITS: In their last four day games in Oakland, the Rays were outscored 47-3. ... The Rays, who face Seattle's Jamie Moyer tonight, are 33-82 in games started by left-handers. ... Players and staff received their paychecks, as scheduled, on Thursday. ... Paul Wilson's career numbers against Oakland are not pretty -- 0-3 with a 16.36 ERA.

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