Catcher

Brook Fordyce hadn't gotten more than halfway to second base last night when he began clapping his hands. A balk was called on Kansas City starter Jeremy Affeldt, allowing the Orioles' catcher to advance safely rather than be tagged out. Or maybe Fordyce was just excited to be running the bases, freed at last from the shackles of a slump that nearly had cut off his circulation, and proving that he didn't need to stop for directions. Making his fourth consecutive start, Fordyce dragged along an .034 average that should have been light enough to carry with one hand - matching the number of hits he's gotten this season.

FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. - Given the choice, Orioles catcher Brook Fordyce would prefer talking about the weather. Ask him about the family, his winter hobbies, his meal from the previous night. Just lay off last season. "To tell the truth, I try to forget about it," he said. Fordyce is able to laugh, a response that comes easily to one of the nicest guys in baseball. But there was nothing funny about his season, and nothing that has guaranteed him a starting job with the Orioles. Manager Mike Hargrove confirmed before yesterday's rain-shortened workout that he no longer views Fordyce as the No. 1 catcher, saying there's an open competition that includes Fernando Lunar and rookie Geronimo Gil. But given the .322 average that Fordyce produced after coming to the Orioles in a waiver-deadline trade in 2000, Hargrove expects him to rebound.

Q: Our 10-year-old son refuses to wear a cup when he catches for his Little League team. How can we persuade him to use it?A: In this case, experience will be a painful teacher. We hope your son can be encouraged by the facts.He already knows that batters wear helmets to protect their heads. You should explain why a cup is important and that his testicles are just as sensitive to injury as his head is. It is worth pointing out that if he is hit there by a ball, he will likely think of nothing else for quite a few days!

FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. -- The inflammation in Lenny Webster's right elbow will keep the Orioles catcher from throwing for at least three to four days and makes his availability for the season opener next Tuesday less certain.Webster, who is taking medication to reduce the inflammation, said the condition dates back to the final week of last season, during a series in Milwaukee that preceded the playoffs.He said the elbow felt pretty good when he arrived in camp, but when he sailed a ball into center field before a March 11 game in Fort Myers, Webster experienced a "shocking sensation" that caused him to back off and minimize his throwing.

Fort Lauderdale, Fla. -- When Erik Bedard walked off the mound in his final tuneup before the season begins, Orioles manager Sam Perlozzo met him on the top step of the home dugout and congratulated him on his successful spring. Bedard clearly was not at his best yesterday against the St. Louis Cardinals. Five days before he opposes Minnesota Twins ace Johan Santana on Opening Day, Bedard allowed eight hits and three runs in four innings of the Orioles' 5-1 loss to the Cardinals in the Grapefruit League finale at Fort Lauderdale Stadium.

ATLANTA -- Florida catcher Charles Johnson proved at the National League Championship Series yesterday that he is human.After 175 consecutive games without an error, two-time Gold Glove winner Johnson committed one in the first inning when he threw wildly while trying to retire the fleet Kenny Lofton, who had bunted.Johnson had not erred since June 23, 1996, and had established major-league regular-season records by a catcher for consecutive errorless games in a season (123) and career (171)

Unable to finalize a trade over the last six weeks, the Orioles designated Lenny Webster for assignment yesterday, eliminating both halves of last year's catching tandem with the possibility of getting nothing in return.Coming after the late-March release of Chris Hoiles, the Orioles have 10 days to deal Webster or allow him to become a free agent. General manager Frank Wren remains in contact with other clubs, most prominently the Pittsburgh Pirates, but hasn't been able to pry away a suitable minor-league prospect.

VERO BEACH, Fla. -- Something has changed about the Orioles' catching situation this spring. Rather than just complain about Chris Hoiles' arm, something is being done about it.Much of this camp is devoted to pushing veterans familiar with the routine of March. Teaching is usually reserved for the back fields where minor-league players are largely quarantined from a ready-made roster. The most glaring exception occurs when coach Elrod Hendricks gathers his catchers for a tutorial on footwork and a quick release.

Each time Chicago White Sox catcher Charlie O'Brien squats behind the plate, he looks like a candidate to win the Vezina Trophy. Wearing a hockey-style mask that covers his head, he appears better suited for stopping pucks than pitches.Unlike O'Brien, Orioles catchers Chris Hoiles and Lenny Webster have shunned the exotic model, preferring the standard masks they've always worn. But Hoiles said yesterday he may switch to the same type as O'Brien, which he keeps in his locker."I'm thinking about going to it, as much as I get hit," he said.

WASHINGTON -- The Orioles will make their final three roster cuts today, but only one involves the Big Decision.To keep Rick Dempsey, one of the most popular Orioles in history, or rookie Jeff Tackett, who has had a far superior spring at the plate, as the second catcher -- that is the question.Manager John Oates is finding it difficult to make up his mind as the deadline nears."Under normal circumstances, this would be a very easy decision," he said. "But these are not normal circumstances.