Part-Time Player, Big-Time Numbers : Raiders: Defensive lineman Anthony Smith, who comes in only in certain situations, leads AFC with 13 sacks.

Can you envision a pinch-hitter leading the major leagues in home runs?

Can you picture a sixth man coming off the bench to lead the NBA in scoring?

Can you imagine a power-play specialist leading the NHL in goals?

On the Raiders, no such imagination is required. Just look at Anthony Smith.

Smith, a defensive lineman in only his second season, got two sacks Sunday against the Kansas City Chiefs to take over the conference lead with 13, giving Smith an average of one a game.

That is an amazing figure considering:

--Smith is what is known as a situation player. His situation is third down or other obvious passing downs.

--In several games this season, Smith barely played at all.

--Although official NFL sack records have been kept only since 1982, ongoing research by the Raiders has uncovered only one season sack total higher than Smith’s in club history--13 1/2 sacks by Dan Birdwell in 1967. Because the records are incomplete, Birdwell may have even had several more.

--Teammate Howie Long, who is enjoying a season worthy of Pro Bowl consideration, is second to Smith this season with eight sacks.

--All the rest of the Raiders combined have only seven more sacks than Smith’s total. And this guy is playing part time.

--Smith has a higher sack total than noted pass rushers Bruce Smith of the Buffalo Bills, Leslie O’Neal of the San Diego Chargers and Derrick Thomas and Neil Smith of the Chiefs. So why isn’t Smith playing more? That has a become a perennial question for the 25-year-old Raider.

It seems every time he deals with the media, the interviewer gets the niceties out of the way before popping the question.

Wishing to avoid controversy, Smith politely gives an answer geared to keep him from antagonizing club officials or appearing to be anything but a team player.

“I don’t control my playing time,” Smith said Sunday. “All I control is my production once I’m in there.”

The knock on Smith from inside the Raider organization is that he can’t yet play the run effectively and that he can’t play inside at defensive tackle; that he is effective only as a defensive end.

Smith has a clause in his contract that awards him approximately $200,000 for leading the league in sacks. Some Smith supporters theorize that, illogical as it may sound, the Raiders are keeping Smith on the sidelines to save money.

Coach Art Shell offers a more orthodox reason.

“He’s playing in situations that are designed for him, which are passing situations,” the coach said. “We want to take advantage of his ability to rush the passer.”

But how many sacks might Smith have as a full-time player?

“I couldn’t answer that for you,” Shell said. “The way we are set up defensively with our people, we try to take advantage of their strengths. And Anthony’s strength is rushing the passer.

“Not that he can’t do the other things. . . . We’re about stopping the run and Anthony can play in the running situation. But then you start wearing him down. We don’t want him fighting those big guys all the time. If you show you are going to throw on second and seven instead of run, then we’ll run Anthony out on the field.”

Smith’s situation is similar to that of Greg Townsend, who was a rushing specialist in his early years with the Raiders before becoming a full-time performer.

What, Shell was asked, did Townsend do to earn a regular job?

“He evolved into the position,” the coach said.

Smith probably will as well. But until then, he must deal with the frustration of standing on the sidelines for large chunks of time.

“Once I’m in there, I’m ready to go, and I hope my teammates are, too,” Smith said. “I feel like I want to take care of things myself. If I wait for someone else to do it, it might not happen.”

Smith said he fired himself up for Sunday’s performance by watching films of NFC sack leaders Clyde Simmons of the Philadelphia Eagles and Chris Doleman of the Minnesota Vikings.

“I figure I’m a great player, too,” Smith said. “It was time to prove it, no matter how many snaps I get. Doesn’t matter whether it’s five or 15.”

For now, it will be closer to five. For that, a lot of NFL quarterbacks are thankful.