Closer

NEW YORK -- Orioles closer Randy Myers reiterated his disapproval of being removed from Wednesday's 3-2 loss, and manager Davey Johnson defended the move yesterday.Myers walked the first two batters with a one-run lead in the ninth inning, then got the first out before being replaced by Alan Mills. Myers told reporters after Wednesday's game that he believes it is the closer's job to get three outs before allowing a run, and Johnson did not give him a chance to do that.Yesterday, Johnson defended his insertion of Mills, who had retired 18 straight batters, and said he "did not take kindly" to Myers' questioning his decision.

SOMEBODY TRIED to stir up a closer controversy the other night, suggesting that maybe it wouldn't be a bad idea to flip-flop Jorge Julio and setup man B.J. Ryan for a few weeks just to see what's what. Manager Lee Mazzilli didn't bite, but the guy asking the question (a nice-looking fellow in a blousy Hawaiian shirt that makes him look 20 pounds lighter) was not satisfied. Ryan has been the most effective reliever in the Orioles' bullpen. Julio is a talented young man who remains prone to the untimely walk and the long fly ball that can knock over a $7 beer in the 11th row of the bleachers.

MESA, Ariz.-- --The Chicago Cubs may have decided that LaTroy Hawkins wasn't cut out to be their full-time closer after the shaky start last year that cost him the job and eventually prompted a trade to the San Francisco Giants, but Cubs manager Dusty Baker won't discount the possibility that he could successfully fill that role if the Orioles need him in the ninth inning. "He has the stuff," Baker said after Friday's workout at the Cubs' spring training facility. "Sometimes, it takes guys time to do that.

Only about a half-hour had elapsed after George Sherrill had gotten the final three outs of the Orioles' series-opening victory Friday night when manager Dave Trembley approached the closer in the visiting clubhouse and told him he would get the next day off. Sherrill, who got out of a bases-loaded, no-out jam against the Milwaukee Brewers to pick up his 25th save, appreciated Trembley's concern, but not the message. "They were kind of telling me that I got the day off tonight, and I said, `No, I don't,' " Sherrill said before last night's game.

The Texas Rangers decided not to exercise the option on closer Tom Henke's contract, which leaves them with a roster that has one pitcher (Cris Carpenter) with as many as seven career saves (earned in 24 opportunities).Orioles closer Lee Smith is a free agent.Texas manager Johnny Oates had an excellent working relation ship with Smith, never using him more than one in nine, almost never using him in a non save situation.Rangers general manager Doug Melvin felt jilted when the Orioles hired Phil Regan as manager, preventing Regan from interviewing for the Rangers' managing vacancy.

Pedro Martinez looked perplexed, which probably is a pretty good way to look after you pitch great twice in a row and come away with nothing to show for it. The Boston Red Sox ace has given up just one run in his first 15 innings, but the bullpen has come unraveled in each game - giving up a total of six runs in two ugly ninth innings. "There is nothing I can do after I go seven or eight innings," Martinez said last week. "There is nothing you can do. You just have to hope someone comes after you. You just pray to God that they do the job."

FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. -- The 1997 Grapefruit League exhibition season begins today, which means that Orioles reliever Randy Myers will be in uniform for the first time this spring when the Orioles face the Minnesota Twins at Fort Lauderdale Stadium.Myers, whose delayed arrival at training camp is as predictable as the swallows returning to San Juan Capistrano, strolled into the Orioles' clubhouse late yesterday afternoon, bragging about the success of the women's basketball team he helps coach and sidestepping questions on both his past and future as the Orioles' closer.

Washington's Arena Stage begins the fall season with ''Closer Than Ever,'' an original, entertaining musical revue that was first done off-Broadway.David Shire did the music and Richard Maltby Jr., the lyrics for all these very bright, very clever songs. There are 23 in all, and they range in topic. What is important to know, however, is that they cover important aspects of maturity as we know it today.Once in a while, the lyrics touch on youth, but most often they cover other topics, the despair of loving the wrong person, doors that continually open to new lifetime experiences, the man who wants to drop his girlfriend and tells her he wants to be her friend, and the man who has bought the marriage deal and wonders if he has done the right thing.

JUPITER, Fla. -- The question was asked of Ray Miller yesterday: When do your pitchers dial it up during spring training?"Any time after their first time out there," Miller answered dryly.Using Miller's Grapefruit League calendar, yesterday's exhibition against the St. Louis Cardinals was time for Mike Timlin to turn it on.The Orioles' new-and-improved $16 million closer offered a solid reply with a scoreless eighth inning in an 8-5 win, securing three ground-ball outs while ignoring his slider, his signature pitch.