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Colina likes what he sees

 
Published March 27, 1997|Updated Oct. 1, 2005

Two weeks in, Cuban defector Roberto Colina says he is making a smooth adjustment to baseball _ and life _ in the United States.

"I feel very comfortable playing here in this organization," Colina said through a Times interpreter. "I feel like I'm playing well. It's been a great experience."

Colina, 26, defected in October, was granted free-agent status in January and signed with the Rays on March 10.

He has impressed team officials with his hitting and is scheduled to start at first base for the St. Petersburg FSL team.

Colina said the workouts are longer here and the quality of play is better. Another difference will be the length of the season _ in Cuba he played 65 games, then another 35 after a break; the FSL team will play 140 games. "That will be something new for me," he said.

Colina said he hasn't had a chance to experience much of life in the United States away from the baseball field, but likes what he has seen. Even the food at the team hotel.

"I like American food because it doesn't have a lot of rice and beans like we have at home," he said.

NEW FACES: Former University of South Florida star outfielder Doug Carroll, a former 10th-round pick of Seattle, was signed and reported to camp. Carroll, who hit .258 with 12 home runs and 53 RBI in the Class A California League last season, asked for his release from the Mariners organization because he was unhappy with the playing time he was to get there. "I decided enough was enough," he said.

Carroll said USF coach Eddie Cardieri helped him hook on with the Rays. "I played the best baseball of my life in Tampa, so I thought I might as well come back here," he said.

Also signed was pitcher Shelby Rama, a 6-foot-6, 205-pound right-hander who spent the past two seasons with the Clearwater Phillies. "I got released two days ago and signed here," he said. "I got lucky."

I-4 TRAFFIC JAM: With the season opener a week away, Rays officials still are trying to work out the specifics of their agreement to place players with Double-A Orlando. The Rays own the team but it is a Cubs affiliate this season and next. The Rays planned to send four or five players there this season but, as of Wednesday afternoon, had not worked out the details. "We don't know if there are (hitches) or not," player personnel director Bill Livesey said. "We're trying to resolve that."

SILENT TREATMENT: Another round of roster cuts could come as soon as today, and the mood in the clubhouse seems to reflect the pending bad news. "It's been kind of tense in here," pitcher Kyle Whitley said.

GAME RECAPS: Charleston rapped out 16 hits in a 10-4 win over a Phillies squad. CF Alex Sanchez was 3-for-3 and 1B Brian Becker had three doubles and three RBI. T.J. Hill allowed two hits over four innings.

OF Greg Blosser homered in St. Petersburg's 6-3 loss to a Blue Jays squad. "I felt good. It's coming," said Blosser, who played briefly in the majors for Boston. Mickey Callaway struck out four in four innings, allowing three hits.

MISCELLANY: The St. Petersburg Devil Rays uniforms will be unveiled Tuesday as part of a series of events to coincide with Opening Day in the majors. Tickets for the April 3 FSL opener and April 5 home game will go on sale at 9 a.m. Saturday at Al Lang Stadium. The final exhibition games are Saturday.

Did you know?

Feb. 25 is not exactly a red-letter day for pitcher Denis Pujals. On Feb. 25, 1993, he was pitching for the University of Miami and suffered a partly torn ligament in his right elbow. He rehabbed all year; then, pitching for Miami on Feb. 25, 1994, he blew out his arm again. On Feb. 25, 1995, he refused to even touch a baseball. "I put a brace on and didn't do anything that day," he said. The real test was to come last year. Pujals was scheduled to pitch for Miami against Florida on Feb. 25, 1996, but got called into the game in relief the night before and was scratched from his start. "I was jumping for joy," he said. This year, he didn't have to worry because the Rays didn't start camp until March 1. But if he eventually gets an invitation to a major-league camp, which usually starts in mid-February, he says he'll take his chances.