One lonely lefty in Phils' bullpen

TAMPA, Fla. - The list is impressive and one Matt Smith will have memorized in no time.

Barry Bonds, Carlos Delgado, Brian McCann and Shawn Green.

They are some of the more notable lefthanded hitters in the National League, and Smith is likely to face them in crucial situations this season as the only lefthanded pitcher in the Phillies' bullpen. The Phillies yesterday optioned lefthanders Fabio Castro and Eude Brito to minor-league camp, all but assuring Smith of a job.

"I don't envy you," righthander Ryan Madson told Smith. "You have a tough job this year."

"I understand that," Smith said.

The Phillies acquired Smith in the Bobby Abreu trade in July, and in 82/3 innings for the Phils he allowed just three hits, two runs and four walks for a 2.08 ERA. He also struck out 12. Smith entered spring training as a heavy favorite to make the team, but he struggled early.

Smith threw 11/3 scoreless innings in yesterday's 5-1 loss to the New York Yankees at Legends Field to lower his ERA to 9.00 in nine appearances. He faced Abreu, Alex Rodriguez, Jason Giambi and Hideki Matsui. He struck out Rodriguez and Matsui.

"Lefthhanded-wise, we're not as comfortable as we'd like to be," Phillies general manager Pat Gillick said Sunday.

The Phillies would love to add a veteran lefthander to the bullpen before Monday's season opener against the Atlanta Braves at Citizens Bank Park, but it looks like an improbability at this point.

So it's up to Smith, who has pitched just 202/3 innings in his big-league career.

"I am really confident in myself," he said. "I'm pretty much a humble, confident kind of guy. I believe in myself. I trust myself. I want that role. I've been in the minor leagues long enough to say all I want is a chance. Last year, I at least got my chance to prove to them that I belong there. And I think this year I have an opportunity to prove that I can get out lefties."

Smith's spring training numbers look bad, but he has pitched better of late. He allowed eight earned runs in just 11/3 innings in his second and third appearances of the spring March 6 and 9 against Pittsburgh and Boston.

He has a 2.08 ERA in his other seven appearances.

"That was just an awful week for me," Smith said. "I didn't have a fastball, I didn't have a slider, I didn't have control. In my estimation, it was pretty ugly and embarrassing. I've been working hard, working on mechanics and the mental side of it. My control could be a little bit better, but my fastball and slider are getting there. As long as I'm ready for opening day, I'll be happy about it. I consider this a pretty big week for me. I'm still on that edge."

"He's been better the last couple times," manager Charlie Manuel said. "Today was probably the best he's pitched all spring."

The fact that Castro and Brito were optioned doesn't seem to comfort Smith, even though it should.

"I've been in this game long enough to realize that unless you're on that team opening day, you're not on that team," he said. "I still feel like I have something to prove this spring. It's been a tough spring for me. I've been battling myself and trying to work on things. I just want to prove to myself more so than anybody else that last year was not a fluke."

He will get that chance, no question about it.

"The major leagues aren't supposed to be easy, because then everybody would be doing it," Smith said. "It's going to be a challenge, but I'm looking forward to it. I really am."