Smith out at least2 months to fix knee

By MARC TOPKIN and JOHN ROMANO

© St. Petersburg Times, published July 6, 2000

ST. PETERSBURG -- The crutches were there to hold him up, but Bobby Smith was going to need more support than that.

The Devil Rays second baseman, enjoying a career revival after a year-long slump and demotion to the minors, had just been told he had a tear in the medial collateral ligament in his right knee and that two months of rehabilitation was a best-case scenario.

When he came out of the training room, before going to his locker, he steered his crutches toward outfielder Gerald Williams. For 15 minutes they talked while other teammates gently tapped Smith as they walked by.

"I needed to talk to (Williams). He was nothing but positive with me," Smith said. "I needed somebody to pick my spirits up, the way I feel right now."

Smith, who claimed the starting second base job after coming up from Triple-A Durham and was hitting .311 with 14 RBI in 20 games, injured the knee in a collision with Detroit first baseman Robert Fick. Fick separated his right shoulder and is out 6-8 weeks.

[Times photo: Carrie Pratt] Bobby Smith holds his right knee after injuring it in a third-inning collision at first base.

Smith was trying to beat out an infield grounder when he went awkwardly into first base, the knee hitting Fick's torso and the two of them sprawling to the ground. Fick said he lost track of where the base was while he waited for the throw.

"I was going to slide, but he was covering the whole base," Smith said. "I tried to go over him but didn't make it."

Doctors told Smith surgery might not be necessary, but he will have a strenuous rehabilitation. If all goes well, he might make it back by September.

"I finally get a chance to play every day and I get this," Smith said. "It's not like a bruised finger. It's frustrating. But you have to handle the situation you're dealt."

Miguel Cairo, who lost his job to Smith last month, likely will retake it.

"It's one of those things. You can't ever predict anything," manager Larry Rothschild said. "He gets a chance and takes advantage, and then this happens. It's just one of those things we go through. And he's been through enough.

"Hopefully, he comes back and he's fine."

FAMILY TIME: Last year, Roberto Hernandez scrapped a family trip to Disney World when he was chosen for the All-Star team. This year, he's planning a straight shot east on I-4.

Though his numbers are significantly different -- a 2-3 record, 4.20 ERA and 12 saves this year compared with 1-3, 3.72 and 26 -- Hernandez said his pitching hasn't changed much.

"My stuff's the same, maybe better," he said. "It's just not as consistent."

The only thing he has noticed is that hitters approach him more aggressively and swing more at first pitches. "I'm not going to change my approach," he said. "I've just got to be a little smarter."

NO WAY, JOSE: Designated hitter Jose Canseco will be with the team in South Florida this weekend but is not expecting to play until next week. Rothschild had mentioned the possibility of using Canseco, out more than six weeks with a sore left heel, against the Marlins. "I think the smart thing to do is wait until the All-Star break is over, just to make sure," Canseco said.

CROWD CONTROL: Being home on July 4 wasn't much of a celebration for the Rays. The announced crowd of 18,011 was third-smallest in the majors Tuesday, behind Minnesota and Milwaukee. And it was nearly 1,000 fewer than the Mutiny drew to Raymond James Stadium.

ON THE VERGE: Dave Eiland threw 61/3 strong innings in a rehabilitation start at Double-A Orlando on Tuesday. Eiland, on the disabled list since May 24 with a hip injury, probably will make one more rehab start Sunday at Triple-A Durham.

"The arm strength was never really a problem because it wasn't like I took two weeks off without throwing. I was throwing on the side as much as I could," Eiland said. "The command is what's coming back. Everything felt crisper coming out of my hand."

© St. Petersburg Times. All rights reserved.

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