Bobby Bonilla

Manager Davey Johnson preached aggressiveness in the first full-squad workout in February, but this was no idle spring training refrain. The Orioles are running hard, taking chances and creating opportunity.The Orioles barreled around the bases last night and blitzed the Royals, 7-1, before 40,068 at Camden Yards, but the Orioles' aggressiveness cost them some style points: They ran into a triple play in the sixth inning.Roberto Alomar and Rafael Palmeiro hit back-to-back homers in the second inning and Cal Ripken and Bobby Bonilla had RBI hits, strong support for starter David Wells (seven innings, five hits, three runs, six strikeouts)

Manager Davey Johnson did some damage control before yesterday's game, downplaying remarks made by pitcher Scott Erickson after Saturday's 4-2 loss.Erickson said Saturday that he would be 4-0 if the Orioles had played better defense in his past three starts."

CHICAGO -- Bobby Bonilla wouldn't adjust, so Davey Johnson had to."I do feel I've got to play him every day in right field," the Orioles manager said before last night's 3-2 loss to Chicago.Why?Because Bonilla was so unhappy at DH, he was batting .202.So, Bonilla wins."Oh, man, I'm the happiest guy in America," Bonilla told The Sun's Buster Olney.And yet, Johnson wins, too.It's Johnson who emerged as the voice of reason in this unfortunate mess, Johnson who determined that he can't win with his cleanup man pouting.

NEW YORK -- Pittsburgh Pirates slugger Bobby Bonilla sat in front of his locker at Shea Stadium the other day, happily answering reporters' questions about the possibility of fulfilling a lifelong dream and returning home to play for the New York Yankees.Orioles fans grow frustrated supporting a second-rate team that is reluctant to acquire high-priced talent. Pirates fans grapple with the flip side of the problem, supporting the best team in the National League as it's on the verge of disintegration.

FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. -- Every spring, it's the same refrain: Boy, the Orioles' lineup looks great. This team will hit, that's for sure.Then the season starts.And, inevitably, the offense fails to deliver.Overrating your club is a rite of spring -- not just in Baltimore, but every major-league city.Why should this spring be different?Well, the Orioles added an offensive-oriented manager, a hitting coach whose teams won two batting titles and, last but not least, two .300 hitters.L Their attack could be as potent as Boston's and Cleveland's.

I'VE SEEN some nasty, terrible, horrible things in my life.I've seen, just as an example, Jerry Lewis sing in person. I've seen Earl Weaver naked. I've seen Marty Bass do the Macarena.But I've never seen anything to compare with this past weekend at Camden Yards.We waited 13 years for this? We waited 13 years to see the Orioles humiliated by the, shudder, Yankees and, worse, the Yankees fans?We've all had bad weekends. You may remember a few. There was the time you came home late on a Saturday night only to find the kids had held a "slight" party.

DETROIT -- Upset with Armando Benitez's work habits, the Orioles are exiling the right-handed reliever to Florida to continue with rehabilitation from a strained forearm.Benitez, who went on the disabled list April 20 and then suffered a setback in early May, will be told to report to the Orioles' minor-league facility in Sarasota.Said Orioles assistant general manager Kevin Malone, "We didn't feel like Armando is getting enough work up here, so we're sending him someplace where he can work on rehabbing his arm and getting himself into better physical condition."

(Through Thursday's games)UPS AND DOWNSManny Alexander -- UP -- Finally gets his chance, but beware: The world is watching, and so is Cal.Cal Ripken -- UP -- Went from being one of the better AL shortstops to being the best third baseman. He'll try pitching next week, should the need arise.Davey Johnson -- HORZ -- Said he may be the most hated person in Baltimore since making the move. Not quite, but he may be in the top 10.David Wells -- UP -- He's gotten his act together. Teams interested in acquiring a pitcher for the stretch have noticed, no doubt.

FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. -- Bobby Bonilla is a DH. Some news flash, huh? Davey Johnson said it himself the day he took over as Orioles manager: "He's no Gold Glover wherever you put him."Johnson will open the season with Bonilla as his DH because that gives the Orioles their best possible offense and defense. It is absolutely the right decision. The only question now is how Bonilla will react.He sounded less than thrilled discussing the plan yesterday, but chances are, he'll get back in the field soon -- even though the Orioles would be better off if that never happened.

CLEVELAND -- The Orioles got mad last night. They showed emotion. What a difference.David Wells, furious at some bad luck, fired his glove into the dugout. Cal Ripken chewed out home plate umpire Gary Cederstrom. B.J. Surhoff barrelled into second base breaking up a double play. Jeffrey Hammonds and Chris Hoiles pumped their fists after crucial hits. Rafael Palmeiro threw his gum.And the Orioles won a big game, against a good team, on the road, beating Cleveland, 13-10. With the victory, the Orioles pulled out a split of the four-game series, and they've won four out of the first seven in the current 13-game road trip.