Cleveland Indians

Former Oriole outfielder Felix Pie is officially leaving the organization for another American League club. Pie has agreed to terms on a minor league deal and spring invite with the Cleveland Indians, according to an industry source. The 26-year-old Pie could make $1 million in salary and performance bonuses in the majors. He also would be able to opt out of the contract if he doesn't make the Indians' Opening Day roster. Pie spent three seasons with the Orioles, batting .259 with 14 homers in 268 games.

Here are a couple thoughts on Josh Hamilton's four-home run night against the Orioles - only the 16 th in major league baseball history, the first at Camden Yards and only the second in Baltimore. The other was at Memorial Stadium on June 10, 1959, when Rocky Colavito of the Cleveland Indians did it. After Hamilton reached the milestone - a blast to center on a 0-2 pitch from Darren O'Day - the Orioles fans reacted appropriately. I know he is on the opposing team, but it was fantastic to see the fans - there were only 11,263 of you, so I don't want to see 20,000 stories next year about how all of you were there - jump to their feet and applaud this guy. And when Hamilton went out to the outfield after the eighth, he received another ovation - that apparently was especially cool for the Raleigh, N.C., native, who says he gets “worn out” by heckling Orioles fans, presumably about his well-publicized battle against addictions.

It's not over.The Cleveland Indians are the defending American League champions, and the Orioles still must knock them out."I never take anything for granted," Orioles manager Davey Johnson said after yesterday's 7-4 victory at Camden Yards.How can he, when the opponent is Mike Tyson?Guaranteed, the Indians will come off the ropes swinging when this American League Division Series resumes in Cleveland tomorrow afternoon.But one victory in three games, that's all the Orioles need to secure their biggest postseason upset since the 1966 World Series.

Before the Texas Rangers' Josh Hamilton did it Tuesday night, the Cleveland Indians' Rocky Colavito was the only player to hit four home runs in a game against the Orioles. Colavito went deep four times at Memorial Stadium on June 10, 1959. Here's a story The Sun ran 30 years later, reflecting on the slugger's feat.   June 18, 1989 ROCKY IV 30 years ago, Rocky Colavito ended a slump by becoming only the third player to hit four homers in four consecutive at-bats in a nine-inning game Rocky Colavito clicked his way down the tunnel from the visitors clubhouse and emerged in the Cleveland Indians dugout carrying his K-55 bats -- 33-ounce models that most hitters would consider light when compared with the weight of a 3-for-28 batting skid.

WINTER HAVEN, Fla. - It has been more than a decade since Brady Anderson had to wonder about his place in the lineup. He was such a regular fixture in the Orioles' outfield that it is he - not consecutive-games king Cal Ripken - who holds the club record for games played at Oriole Park. So this must be a strange time. The Cleveland Indians are preparing for another run at the American League Central title and Anderson finds himself in an unfamiliar uniform and an uncomfortable situation, forced to audition for a significant role in their 2002 playoff bid. It is not a sure thing.

BaseballCleveland Indians -- Fired manager John McNamara. Named Mike Hargrove manager.FootballSaskatchewan Roughriders (CFL) -- Released QB Tony Rice.

Good morning--Cleveland Indians--If Boston's Curt Schilling puts on a bloody, good show, you could be in trouble.

BASEBALL American League * Cleveland Indians -- Agreed to terms with Dave Otto (pitcher) on a Class AAA contract.* Minnesota Twins -- Agreed to terms with Larry Casian (pitcher) on a one-year contract.

The first time Bobby Ojeda saw Sheppard and Enoch Pratt Hospital, it wasn't at all what he expected. The mix of old and new buildings on the wooded hillside looked imposing to him, like something out of a Hollywood movie. It could have been a fancy private school, or a small college.But they don't send you to private school when you're a major league baseball pitcher struggling to get over seeing two teammates killed in a boating accident. Mr. Ojeda came to Sheppard Pratt in July 1993 because he had survived, but still wasn't living.

BASEBALL (AL) * Cleveland Indians -- Optioned Eddie Taubensee (catcher) to Colorado Springs of the Pacific Coast League. Purchased the contract of Jose Escobar (infielder) from Colorado Springs.BASKETBALL (NBA) * League -- Fined Benoit Benjamin (Seattle center) $1,500 for making an obscene gesture at the fans of a Seattle-LA Clippers game on April 5.

Former Oriole outfielder Felix Pie is officially leaving the organization for another American League club. Pie has agreed to terms on a minor league deal and spring invite with the Cleveland Indians, according to an industry source. The 26-year-old Pie could make $1 million in salary and performance bonuses in the majors. He also would be able to opt out of the contract if he doesn't make the Indians' Opening Day roster. Pie spent three seasons with the Orioles, batting .259 with 14 homers in 268 games.

April 19, 1977: Brooks Robinson hit the last home run of his Hall-of-Fame career, and he did it as a pinch hitter in the bottom of the 10th inning as the Orioles beat the Cleveland Indians.

The Chicago Cubs traded second baseman Mark DeRosa to the Cleveland Indians yesterday. Some of you are asking if this means that the on-again, off-again trade talks involving Brian Roberts and the Cubs might be on again. ( For more, go to baltimoresun.com/schmuckblog)

In 2005 and 2006, Hafner was one of the most feared hitters in baseball. Last year, he took a step backward despite setting career highs in at-bats and games played. He still hit 24 homers and drove in 100 RBIs, but those numbers - as well as his batting average, on-base percentage, slugging percentage and runs scored - were his lowest since he was a part-timer in 2003. Still, the Indians won their division and were a win away from the World Series. But they did it without Hafner's run production.

Now this is fantasy baseball. Randy Newsom is a relief-pitcher prospect for the Cleveland Indians. The submarining right-hander is selling 4 percent of his future major-league earnings - if there are any - for $50,000. You don't have to put up the whole $50,000, however. You can buy shares in Newsom at $20 per pop, as brokered by Real Sports Investments, his company (realsportsinvestments.com). Each $20 share is worth 0.0016 percent of his future major-league earnings. So say he turns into something like Dan Quisenberry, earns an average of $4 million a year and works 10 years.

Good morning--Cleveland Indians--If Boston's Curt Schilling puts on a bloody, good show, you could be in trouble.

The Boston Red Sox are supposed to be playing in October, and no one should be surprised that the Cleveland Indians also made it to the American League Championship Series. Both are 96-game winners. Both looked impressive in the postseason's first round. Both aren't just happy to be there. Then there's the National League Championship Series, which begins tonight and pits two of the league's most recent expansion teams, the Arizona Diamondbacks and Colorado Rockies. Sports fans nationwide aren't exactly frothing over that one. It's not getting a lot of attention in Arizona, either - the first two games in Phoenix weren't sold out as of yesterday afternoon.

Hitting -- He's a guy that's somewhat generic. He is fairly easy to pitch to, but when he gets two strikes, he spreads out and gets the bat on [the] ball and gets a lot of bloop hits. You have to give him credit there. Weaknesses -- He doesn't like the breaking ball. He wants the fastball. He really doesn't have a position. He is like what a lot of clubs have. He's a six-inning guy and then you put the defense in. Future -- I would say [his ceiling] is pretty low. He's having a good run right now, but I think clubs will eventually figure him out. But he's had some success.