With Guzman up, someone is down

By JOHN ROMANO, MARC TOPKIN, ERIC STIRGUS

© St. Petersburg Times, published June 11, 2000

ST. PETERSBURG -- Juan Guzman is close to returning, which means someone soon may be departing the Devil Rays rotation.

Guzman, who has been on the disabled list for two months with a shoulder problem, pitched six innings in a rehab start for Triple-A Durham Friday.

Rays manager Larry Rothschild said the reports from Durham on the right-hander were good, but he was not ready to say Guzman would be activated this week.

If he is, the Rays will have to clear room in the rotation. Steve Trachsel is not going anywhere except, perhaps, in a trade. Bryan Rekar and Cory Lidle have pitched well recently and Rothschild said he wants Albie Lopez to have a legitimate shot as a starter.

That leaves Esteban Yan, who has shown stamina but little consistency as a starter. Yan is 3-4 with a 6.15 ERA in 13 starts. He was in the bullpen for his first two Rays' seasons.

Rothschild said Yan has made progress as a starter but needs to improve.

"His mistakes just seem to be catching up with him and it's been (like that) for most of the year," Rothschild said. "But he's going to come after you and, overall, he's done fine for us."

REALIGNMENT TALK: Donald Fehr, executive director of the players association, did not sound encouraged Saturday about the possibility of realignment being solved in time for the July 31 trading deadline.

Tampa Bay general manager Chuck LaMar has expressed hope that realignment would be decided by then so the Devil Rays would know whether they were in the NL in 2001 and if they should explore trade possibilities for designated hitter Jose Canseco.

Fehr, who was in Tampa Bay for a routine visit, said the uncertainty concerning a possible move by the Expos could delay realignment talks. Facing fan apathy and turmoil in the ownership group in Montreal, the Expos could move to Washington or Charlotte, N.C.

"My sense is there will be all of this conversation, all of this talk within the industry and, sooner or later, a consensus will sort of bubble up to the top," Fehr said. PARTY POOPERS: The Devil Rays front office sent word to the groundscrew that it was taking too much time during the seventh inning break when groundskeepers rake the field and McArthur Church does his fan favorite dance at the conclusion of the Jimmy Buffett song Fins. Church did not dance during Saturday's game, but may resume an abbreviated version in the future.

STOLEN MOMENTS: A fan was robbed in a men's room at Tropicana Field during Friday night's game, according to St. Petersburg police. The fan was at a urinal when he was pushed from behind by two teenagers. The youths grabbed a bag, containing a couple of Devil Rays shirts, and fled. A Rays spokesman said the team was trying to contact the fan to replace the stolen merchandise.

CREEK RISES: He had not pitched in six days, but you could not tell from the way Doug Creek performed on Saturday. The left-hander pitched three innings of one-run ball, striking out five.

"It looks like they're wanting me for two or three innings in long relief. If that's the role, then I've got to learn to stay sharp because you can go a few days without pitching," Creek said. "It's not the easiest job, but if that's what I'm doing, I'm going to do whatever it takes to do it right."

Since being called up from Triple-A Durham, Creek has given up only four hits in his 72/3 innings. The first three hits were home runs. The fourth was a seventh-inning single by Mike Lowell on Saturday.

"I was just glad to give up a damn hit that didn't leave the park," Creek said.

© St. Petersburg Times. All rights reserved.

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