Calvin Maduro

FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. -- It won't happen the first week of the season, but soon after, Orioles manager Mike Hargrove will call upon his fifth starter. He knows the date. He just needs to come up with a name. Pat Rapp? He was signed as a free agent in January with those responsibilities in mind. Jose Mercedes? He brings some experience, a sound arm and a glowing report from the Dominican Republic. Calvin Maduro? He has limited time on the job. Most pressing, he has no options. Radhames Dykhoff?

One of the examples I often use to illustrate the Orioles' awful international scouting record in the recent past is this one: The organization has never in its history signed, developed and then promoted a native Venezuelan to the big leagues. It's a pretty astounding fact considering how many big leaguers have come from Venezuela. Heck, the Orioles have employed some pretty solid Venezuelan players over the past few years: Melvin Mora, Ramon Hernandez, Cesar Izturis and Jorge Julio, for instance.

Opponent: Tampa Bay Devil Rays Site: Tropicana Field, St. Petersburg, Fla. Time: 7:15 TV/Radio: Ch. 13/WBAL (1090 AM) Starters: Orioles' Calvin Maduro (1-1, 6.30) vs. Devil Rays' Tanyon Sturtze (0-2, 7.56)

OFFENSE: C After scoring 10 runs on Opening Day, the Orioles scored six in the next six games, leaving them at 1-6. In mid-May, No. 3 hitter David Segui went on the disabled list with a wrist injury, and a hamstring injury sent No. 4 hitter Jeff Conine to the DL in mid-June. But with those two out of the lineup, the Orioles are 11-8. DEFENSE: A The Orioles committed just 49 errors in the first 85 games, ranking among the top teams defensively in the American League. Injured much of last season, short-stop Mike Bordick has a 06-game errorless streak.

The numbers 23,480 Average attendance for two home games vs. Devil Rays. .206 Jerry Hairston's on-base average through Friday. 9.00 ERAs of Sidney Ponson and Calvin Maduro. 0.56 ERA of Orioles' bull pen through Friday. 8 Consecutive score less innings by reliever Rodrigo Lopez.

AMERICAN LEAGUE Who's hot Torii Hunter of the Twins is batting .450 (18-for-40) with three homers and 10 RBIs during a 12-game hit ting streak. Who's not The Blue Jays are 0-for-19 with runners in scoring position over the past two games. Line of the day Troy Glaus, Angels third baseman AB R H RBI HR 5 2 4 6 2 NATIONAL LEAGUE Who's hot Steve Finley of the Di amondbacks is 7-for-12 with 12 RBIs over the past five games. Who's not Brewers pitchers have issued a league-high 105 intentional walks.

One of the examples I often use to illustrate the Orioles' awful international scouting record in the recent past is this one: The organization has never in its history signed, developed and then promoted a native Venezuelan to the big leagues. It's a pretty astounding fact considering how many big leaguers have come from Venezuela. Heck, the Orioles have employed some pretty solid Venezuelan players over the past few years: Melvin Mora, Ramon Hernandez, Cesar Izturis and Jorge Julio, for instance.

NEW BRITAIN, Conn. -- Andrew Kontorinis homered in the second and drove in a run in the third to lead the New Britain Rockcats past the Bowie Baysox, 3-1, in Double-A Eastern League action last night.New Britain (4-8) has won the first two games of the series and extended Bowie's losing streak to five, two short of the club record. The Baysox are 3-10.Winner Kevin Ohme (1-1) gave up four hits and a run in six innings. Calvin Maduro (0-2) took the loss.B. J. Waszgis doubled and scored Bowie's run in the second on Sean Hugo's infield out. The Rockcats added an insurance run in the eighth on back-to-back doubles by Ken Tirpack and Rene Lopez.

ROCHESTER, N.Y. -- Cesar Devarez had a three-run double in a four-run third as the Rochester Red Wings salvaged a split of their doubleheader with a 9-5 victory over the Charlotte Knights in an International League game last night. The Red Wings lost the first game to the Knights, 9-7.In the second game, Brent Bowers added two RBIs and Calvin Maduro (1-1) struck out 10 in 5 1/3 innings. Jimmy Myers got the final out for his 10th save.Greg Nix (1-3) allowed six runs and eight hits in 3 1/3 innings, taking the loss.

Scouting report: Tigers vs. Orioles At Oriole Park at Camden Yards Day Time TV Starters Tonight 7: 05 HTS Dave Mlicki (14-12, 4.60 in '99) vs. Calvin Maduro (first '00 start) Tomorrow 1: 35 54, 50 Hideo Nomo (1-0, 3.86 ERA) vs. Mike Mussina (0-1, 4.69 ERA) Sunday 1: 35 54, 50 C. J. Nitkowski (0-1, 1.50 ERA) vs. Jose Mercedes (first start) Radio: All games on WBAL (1090 AM) and WTOP (1500 AM) Tigers update A season-opening win over the Oakland Athletics has been followed by two straight losses.

The numbers 4 Times in past 15 years Orioles have had one All-Star selection. 2 Career All-Star selections for Tony Batista. 13 Wins by Rodrigo Lopez and Travis Driskill. 11 Wins by Scott Erickson, Jason Johnson, Sidney Ponson, Josh Towers and Calvin Maduro. .246 Batting average for Gary Matthews in No. 3 spot through Friday.

NEW YORK - Orioles manager Mike Hargrove offered a solution for getting through last night's game without using the relievers that needed rest. "Bite the bullet." It helped that Sidney Ponson took the Yankee Stadium mound before the usual raucous crowd and didn't shoot himself in the foot. Ponson still was standing through seven innings, and the bullpen was spared excessive wear. Hargrove couldn't call upon Rick Bauer or left-hander Buddy Groom. His preference was to avoid left-hander B.J. Ryan.

Scouting report: Mariners vs. O's At Oriole Park at Camden Yards Day Time TV Starters Tonight 7:05 CSN Rafael Soriano (0-1, 2.53) vs. Scott Erickson (3-5, 4.68) Tomorrow 7:05 CSN Jamie Moyer (4-2, 4.25) vs. Rodrigo Lopez (5-1, 2.57) Saturday 7:05 13, 50 James Baldwin (4-4, 4.91) vs. Travis Driskill (2-0, 2.60) Sunday 1:35 54, 50 Joel Pineiro (4-2, 2.81) vs. Calvin Maduro (2-5, 5.57) Radio: All games on WBAL (1090 AM) Mariners update The Mariners took two of three from the Orioles last weekend, then ran into that tenacious bunch from Tampa Bay again.

Former major-league infielder Ken Caminiti's assertion in this week's Sports Illustrated that at least half of today's players use steroids is being met with skepticism inside the Orioles' clubhouse. Caminiti revealed that he took steroids while winning the National League's Most Valuable Player award in 1996, making him the sport's first prominent athlete to admit using the substance. But he caused a bigger stir by linking so many others to the drug. "Everybody's entitled to their opinion," said shortstop Mike Bordick.