FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. -- Jim Palmer will make his 1991 exhibition debut against the Boston Red Sox today, but only if the Hall of Fame right-hander is able to pitch with a strained right Achilles' tendon.
Palmer has been hobbled the past few days, but says he will make his scheduled start in the Baltimore Orioles' Grapefruit League "home" opener at McKechnie Field in Bradenton, Fla.
Manager Frank Robinson has left the decision entirely up to Palmer, who has been building toward this appearance since he began his unlikely comeback attempt in December.
Palmer has thrown only once against live competition, making a two-inning appearance in an intrasquad game Wednesday. Club officials are eager to see whether he can be effective against rival hitters, but Robinson said that he would not judge Palmer on one appearance.
Orioles fans can judge for themselves. The game will be telecast on Home Team Sports.
Today's game is the first of nine games in which the Orioles will be designated the home team in a stadium that is not really their home. They are host for three games at Ed Smith Stadium in Sarasota, two games at Joe Robbie Stadium in Miami and two at RFK Stadium in Washington. The other is a split-squad game with the Montreal Expos at Pompano Beach.
* The Orioles also have a "B" game scheduled today. Right-handers Jose Mesa and Dave Johnson are expected to pitch four innings each against the Chicago White Sox at Ed Smith Stadium. Knuckleballer Charlie Hough will start for the White Sox.
* No. 1 draft choice Mike Mussina made his exhibition debut yesterday and made a good impression in the first inning. He struck out the first batter he faced (Jim Walewander) and broke two bats before getting Pat Sheridan on a ground out. Don Mattingly closed out the inning with a soft liner to third.
The second inning didn't go quite so well. The Yankees scored an unearned run on two hits and an error by Cal Ripken to take the lead. But Mussina's first outing (three innings pitched, one run, no earned runs and three hits) was an unqualified success.
"I was satisfied," Mussina said, "but it was too windy. You can't work on anything when the toughest thing to do out there is stand up."
* Catcher Chris Hoiles hit a windblown three-run homer off reliever Jeff Johnson in the top of the 10th inning to give the Orioles a 6-3 victory and improve their Grapefruit League record to 3-1.
