Ballpark In Arlington

ARLINGTON, Texas -- Orioles first baseman Rafael Palmeiro, the man who wanted to finish his career in Texas, sat in the visiting dugout before last night's game, looked out on the finished product of The Ballpark in Arlington and made a comparison."

- Left-hander Joe Saunders was not the popular choice to get the Orioles' first postseason start in 15 years and to try and guide the club back to Baltimore for its first home playoff contest since Game 6 of the 1997 American League Championship Series. Saunders has been with the Orioles for barely a month. The 31-year-old veteran had never won a playoff game in four previous attempts. And he's been on the ugly side of awful for most of his career against the Texas Rangers, including a dismal 0-6 record and a 9.38 ERA in his starts at Rangers Ballpark in Arlington.

Opponent: Texas Rangers Site: The Ballpark in Arlington (Texas) Time: 8:05 TV/Radio: Ch. 13/WBAL (1090 AM) Starters: Orioles' Jason Johnson (3-5, 3.74) vs. Rangers' Chan Ho Park (3-4, 8.12)

ARLINGTON, Texas - As a rookie, Rusty Greer put himself in the major-league record books. He caught the last out of a perfect game. A line drive to center field landed in his glove to seal Kenny Rogers' perfect game on July 28, 1994, one of the highlight moments of the Texas Rangers' first season at The Ballpark in Arlington. It was more than a Rangers highlight. It was one of many for Major League Baseball in 1994, one of the sport's most extraordinary seasons. In 1994, baseball had record pursuits and tight pennant chases.

NAMING pro sports stadiums and teams is a screw-loose activity, as recent events in Baltimore make clear.First we were saddled with "Oriole Park at Camden Yards," a compromise that satisfied former Orioles owner Eli Jacobs and Gov. William Donald Schaefer -- but no one else. (Shouldn't it be changed to Camden Yards, now that Mr. Jacobs is out of the picture?)Then came the Rhinos and the Bombers. Both are absurd, the latter barely edging out the former in appropriateness.But Baltimore isn't alone.

ARLINGTON, Texas -- Tom Henke, 36, might have thrown his last major-league pitch last night.The Texas Rangers reliever said he is contemplating retirement. He is going home to Missouri today fully expecting a strike."If we do go out, maybe I don't want to come back," he said. "I'm not real happy right now. I don't want to waste people's money. I don't want to waste the fans' enthusiasm by not pitching well."Henke's comments came a few minutes after he had served up a game-losing homer to Seattle's Mike Blowers in the Rangers' 3-2 defeat to the Mariners at The Ballpark in Arlington.

Devil Rays: Shortstop Kevin Stocker was ejected in the seventh for arguing with plate umpire Durwood Merrill after striking out.Red Sox: Steve Avery pitched three innings and gave up three earned runs in his second start at Triple-A Pawtucket.Royals: Jose Offerman had a terrible night running the bases. He was thrown out trying to steal third after doubling in the first inning. In the fourth, he was on first when Hal Morris singled and got thrown out after rounding second too far, eventually costing the team a run. Kansas City has only two runs in 11 games against left-handed starters.

ARLINGTON, Texas -- Heading into last night's game against the Texas Rangers at The Ballpark in Arlington, Orioles manager Johnny Oates had barely used his bench.Tim Hulett started one game and was used once as a pinch hitter. Damon Buford was used once as a pinch runner, and Jeff Tackett as a defensive replacement. Leo Gomez and Lonnie Smith awaited their first action. Gomez's came only after Chris Sabo was ejected for arguing a called third-strike call in the fifth last night.Playing for the first time, Jack Voigt started at designated hitter in place of Harold Baines, who rested against Texas left-hander Kenny Rogers.

At The Ballpark in Arlington (Texas) Day...Time...TV...Starters Tonight...8:05...13...Rodrigo Lopez (14-5, 3.14) vs. Dennys Reyes (1-1, 9.24) Tomorrow...8:05...CSN...John Stephens (1-2, 6.00) vs. Chan Ho Park (5-6, 6.89) Thursday...8:05...54...Travis Driskill (8-7, 4.78) vs. Aaron Myette (2-4, 8.15) Radio: All games on WBAL (1090 AM) Rangers update While shortstop Alex Rodriguez decides whether to give back part of his $252 million salary for the good of the sport, these teams will engage in their second series of the year.

ARLINGTON, Texas - Cal Ripken's farewell tour made a poignant stop yesterday within his own clubhouse. In the most novel and perhaps most compelling gesture Ripken has received from any of the four organizations that have feted him, the Texas Rangers retired the Iron Man's locker inside the visitors' clubhouse at The Ballpark in Arlington - an honor thought to be unprecedented in the game. Rangers players Ivan Rodriguez, Alex Rodriguez and Ripken's former teammate, Rafael Palmeiro, attended along with Rangers general manager Doug Melvin and former Orioles and Rangers manager Johnny Oates.

At The Ballpark in Arlington (Texas) Day...Time...TV...Starters Tonight...8:05...13...Rodrigo Lopez (14-5, 3.14) vs. Dennys Reyes (1-1, 9.24) Tomorrow...8:05...CSN...John Stephens (1-2, 6.00) vs. Chan Ho Park (5-6, 6.89) Thursday...8:05...54...Travis Driskill (8-7, 4.78) vs. Aaron Myette (2-4, 8.15) Radio: All games on WBAL (1090 AM) Rangers update While shortstop Alex Rodriguez decides whether to give back part of his $252 million salary for the good of the sport, these teams will engage in their second series of the year.

Opponent: Texas Rangers Site: The Ballpark in Arlington (Texas) Time: 8:05 TV/Radio: Ch. 13/WBAL (1090 AM) Starters: Orioles' Jason Johnson (3-5, 3.74) vs. Rangers' Chan Ho Park (3-4, 8.12)

ARLINGTON, Texas - Cal Ripken's farewell tour made a poignant stop yesterday within his own clubhouse. In the most novel and perhaps most compelling gesture Ripken has received from any of the four organizations that have feted him, the Texas Rangers retired the Iron Man's locker inside the visitors' clubhouse at The Ballpark in Arlington - an honor thought to be unprecedented in the game. Rangers players Ivan Rodriguez, Alex Rodriguez and Ripken's former teammate, Rafael Palmeiro, attended along with Rangers general manager Doug Melvin and former Orioles and Rangers manager Johnny Oates.

DALLAS - Even given a day to digest the Texas Rangers' 10-year, $252 million signing of free-agent shortstop Alex Rodriguez, baseball's salary structure still suffered from acute indigestion. Early Monday morning, Rangers owner Tom Hicks wrested away the sport's most talented player in a manner that has riled the game's power structure and added another chapter to agent Scott Boras' list of negotiating accomplishments. Less certain is whether Rodriguez becomes only the second of the past 11 players to be anointed as highest-paid to subsequently play for a world champion.

For the second time in two starts, Orioles catcher Lenny Webster had to leave a game early because of injury. Last night, he suffered a strained tendon in his right ankle in the fourth inning while falling backward to avoid a tight pitch from Cleveland Indians starter Dwight Gooden.Webster grimaced as he bent forward at the waist, then limped off the field with trainer Richie Bancells. He is listed as day-to-day.Charles Johnson, who had started the previous five games, struck out while completing Webster's at-bat and took over behind the plate.

Devil Rays: Shortstop Kevin Stocker was ejected in the seventh for arguing with plate umpire Durwood Merrill after striking out.Red Sox: Steve Avery pitched three innings and gave up three earned runs in his second start at Triple-A Pawtucket.Royals: Jose Offerman had a terrible night running the bases. He was thrown out trying to steal third after doubling in the first inning. In the fourth, he was on first when Hal Morris singled and got thrown out after rounding second too far, eventually costing the team a run. Kansas City has only two runs in 11 games against left-handed starters.

Major League Baseball's season has ended, but the organization's Pitch, Hit & Run Contest will go on, much to the delight of five Baltimore-area youngsters who earned themselves and a companion an all-expenses paid trip to the nationals in Arlington, Texas."

One day this month, a man walked into a fast-food restaurant on Reisterstown Road, near the Plaza, and asked to speak to the manager. "I ordered a bacon-cheeseburger in here last night and it made me sick," the man said loudly."

Statistics through ThursdayUps and downsJeffrey Hammonds -- UP -- Settled right into the No. 2 slot in the batting order, going 7-for-16 in a three-game series against theTexas Rangers. Where would O's be without him?The road -- UP -- The Orioles seem to feel more at home on the road, where they entered the weekend 16 games over .500. They're only eight games over at Camden Yards.Rafael Palmeiro -- UP -- Says he doesn't get a special thrill out of hurting the Rangers, but he seems to have a special talent for it. Hit three homers in three games at The Ballpark in Arlington.

ARLINGTON, Texas -- Utility player Jeff Reboulet was not part of the new-look Orioles lineup. He wasn't even a consideration. But after the club managed just two runs through 11 innings last night, he became a hero.Reboulet, who entered the game as a late-inning replacement for shortstop Mike Bordick, slapped an RBI single down the right-field line with one out in the top of the 12th inning to propel the Orioles to a 3-2 victory over the Texas Rangers and complete a three-game sweep at The Ballpark in Arlington.