Wednesday, March 26, 1997 | 11:59 a.m.
PEORIA, Ariz. -- Mark Smith has been through this before, but getting cut from major-league spring training camp never gets any easier.
Smith, who hit .362 with three home runs this spring for the San Diego Padres, report ed to the Las Vegas Stars Tuesday morning, dejected but determined to return to the major leagues.
"I've had this happen to me before," Smith said of Monday's reassignment. "I've had good springs every year and I get cut so I'm used to it. I'm disappointed but I'm here to work and get better. I'm not mad at anybody, I'm just here to play hard and help Las Vegas win."
Smith has split the past three seasons between the Baltimore Orioles and triple-A Rochester. He was acquired from the Orioles in a trade this winter and came to spring training expecting to win a job as the Padres' fifth outfielder.
When the Padres' attempts to trade Rickey Henderson hit a snag earlier this spring, it became apparent there was no room on the roster for the 26-year-old Smith.
"It's a disappointment but I understand the way the game goes," Smith said. "Everybody's got their story and I realize the situation here and I'm not going to sit here and cry or complain about it."
Smith, a former first-round draft choice out of the University of Southern California, even managed to find a silver lining in being sent to triple-A for the fifth consecutive spring.
"I'm from the West Coast so I'm definitely looking forward to playing in the PCL," said Smith, who left USC with school records for RBIs (168), stolen bases (57) and triples (13) and ranked second with 240 career hits. "I'd rather play with the Padres but as far as triple-A goes, I'm glad that I'm close to home."
While there is still a chance a job could open in San Diego for Smith if the Padres deal Henderson, Smith said he won't be paying attention to the comings and goings in San Diego while he is in Las Vegas.
"The approach I always take is that the only thing that matters is what happens in the batters box -- not off the field," said Smith, who hit 51 home runs in three-plus season at Rochester. "That's the only thing I can control. If I sit there and read the paper every day to see if they're going to trade Rickey or who's having what kind of a year ... I don't get into that because it's going to effect my game.
"My call is going to come sometime, whether it's with these guys or with somebody else. If I were to sit here and worry about what's going to happen, I'm not going to be as good a player and I want to earn what I get in this game. I don't want anything handed to me."
Spring flings
* STARS VS. REBELS: The Las Vegas Stars will play the UNLV baseball team in an informal scrimmage game at Cashman Field Wednesday night, April 2. The game will be open to the public and no admission will be charged. According to Stars general manager Don Logan, the game is scheduled to begin at 7 or 7:30 p.m., after both teams take batting practice. The Stars open their 15th anniversary season Thursday night, April 3, against the Edmonton Trappers at Cashman Field.
* GOING, GOING ... : Only about 3,000 tickets remain for the Seattle Mariners' two exhibition games this weekend at Cashman Field. The Mariners play the Boston Red Sox at 7:05 p.m. Friday and the New York Mets at 7:05 p.m. Saturday as part of the six-game Big League Weekend. "The Mariners are definitely the team people want to see," Logan said. "We have about 3,000 seats left for both games, but we're expecting big walk-up crowds for both games." Tickets for all six Big League Weekend games are available at the Cashman Field box office, the Stars and Thunder Store in the Meadows Mall and at all area TicketMaster (474-4000) locations.
* CACTUS NEEDLES: Oakland Athletics outfielder Jason Giambi has been taking a ribbing this spring from his teammates for reporting to camp at 240 pounds -- 22 pounds heavier than last season. ... Athletics outfielder Jose Canseco has declared himself fully recovered from back surgery. How does he know for sure? The slugger claims he is hitting the golf ball close to 400 yards. ... San Diego Padres reliever Dario Veras, considered as late as last Friday to be a lock to open the season with the Padres, is rumored to be in jeopardy of starting the season in Las Vegas after giving up three towering home runs in the ninth inning of Monday's 14-12, 10-inning loss to the Seattle Mariners. Veras blew a 12-9 led by giving up three runs in the ninth and two in the 10th. Jose Cruz Jr. and Andy Sheets hit back-to-back homers off Veras and Edgar Martinez added a pinch-hit shot -- all in the ninth inning.
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