Lopez adamantly opposed to bench

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LAKELAND, Fla. — Manny Acta doesn't plan on naming a starting second baseman until "right before the season starts." Maybe the Washington Nationals manager should consider how the two men fighting for that job — Felipe Lopez and Ronnie Belliard — would handle the news.

Asked yesterday whether he would accept a backup role, Lopez offered an emphatic response.

"No," he said. "Bench? No. I've already said that. [Heck] no. I feel good out there. The numbers do not show that I'm hitting the ball hard, playing great defense. I feel ... great. You can put that, too. I feel great."

Lopez's spring training numbers (.205 average, one homer, two RBI) indeed pale in comparison to those of his fellow middle infielders. After hitting a two-run homer yesterday in the Nationals' 9-1 exhibition win over the Detroit Tigers, Belliard is batting .459 with three homers and seven RBI.

Shortstop Cristian Guzman, who also entered camp hoping to beat out Lopez, is hitting .356 with two homers and 10 RBI.

Acta won't make any firm decisions for another week, but he spoke highly of Belliard after yesterday's game.

"We feel very comfortable with him at the plate," the manager said. "He's been around, and he does have quality at-bats. He knows what he's doing at the plate. We're very happy to have him."

But in what role? Belliard, who turns 33 next month and is due to earn $1.6 million this season, has expressed a willingness to come off the bench before, and he reiterated his stance yesterday.

"I'm not going to get upset," he said. "Whatever they decide, it's good to me."

Lopez, 27, is making $4.9 million in his final year of arbitration following a disappointing season in which he hit .245 with nine homers and 50 RBI. Club officials have commended him for his positive attitude and work ethic this spring, but they have been careful not to reveal his eventual role with the team.