Comerica

On deck Curt Schilling of the Diamondbacks goes for his major-league-leading 16th victory today, facing the Rockies. He said it"Free Ted, Freeze John Henry." Sign held by a fan at Comerica Park in Detroit, where the Red Sox were playing, referring to the family fight over Ted Williams' remains

The Orioles hope to rebound from last night's tough 5-3 loss to the Tigers here at Comerica Park. The O's will send Zach Britton to the mound for a spot start. Britton has struggled in five starts, allowing at least four earned runs in four of them. There's still a lot of buzz about Mark Reynolds' comments about the umpiring in Friday's game. Reynolds said he expects to be fined and retreated from one of his statements. In other news... ** The Orioles optioned Joe Mahoney to Triple-A Norfolk in order to Britton.

Quote: "It reminded me of Candlestick Park out there." - Yankees manager Joe Torre after watching his team and the Tigers struggle with swirling winds at Comerica Park It's a fact: Michael Hirschbeck, the 13-year-old son of plate umpire John Hirschbeck, was the Indians' bat boy yesterday. Who's hot: The Devil Rays' Fred McGriff's 14-game hitting streak matches the longest of his career, set in 1991 with the Braves. Who's not: Mariners pinch hitters are 3-for-19 (.158) with no RBIs. On deck: The Blue Jays' David Wells goes for his league-leading seventh win today.

"Only truth can give true reputation; only reality can be of real profit. Unfounded things never reach old age." - Balthasar Gracian, 17th-century Spanish Jesuit We speak in baseball of immortality, of Ruthian clouts, of Mays' catches - even, if gruesomely now, of the mastery of Ted Williams, the Fenway deity whose corpse lies frozen in a cryonics lab, there to "live," perhaps, for a creepy eternity. Mostly, though, we speak of deeds, of acts that will live forever in the collective memory of the game.

At Comerica Park, Detroit Day...Time...TV...Starters Tonight...7:05...13...Jason Johnson (3-8, 4.44) vs. Mike Maroth (3-4, 4.77) Tomorrow...7:05...54, 50...Rodrigo Lopez (12-4, 3.16) vs. Brian Powell (1-2, 5.94) Sunday...2:05...54, 50...Sidney Ponson (6-5, 4.16) vs. Steve Sparks (6-11, 5.27) Radio: All games on WBAL (1090 AM)

DETROIT - The Orioles can handle the first-place teams. It's the other side of the standings that's troubling them. One night after completing a three-game sweep of the American League Central-leading Minnesota Twins, the Orioles ran into all kinds of trouble against the last-place Detroit Tigers. Jason Johnson looked strong in his return from the disabled list last night, but the Orioles couldn't solve Tigers rookie Mike Maroth in a 3-0 loss at Comerica Park. The Orioles take great pride in their 14-10 record against the first-place Twins, Yankees and Mariners, but they are scratching their heads at their 9-10 mark against the last-place Tigers, Devil Rays and Rangers.

DETROIT - The Orioles can handle the first-place teams. It's the other side the of the standings that's troubling them. One night after completing a three-game sweep of the American League Central-leading Minnesota Twins, the Orioles ran into all kinds of trouble against the last-place Detroit Tigers. Jason Johnson looked strong in his return from the disabled list last night, but the Orioles couldn't solve Tigers rookie Mike Maroth in a 3-0 loss at Comerica Park. The Orioles take great pride in their 14-10 record against the first-place Twins, Yankees and Mariners, but they are scratching their heads at their 9-10 mark against the last-place Tigers, Devil Rays and Rangers.

DETROIT - The Orioles can handle the first-place teams. It's the other side of the standings that's troubling them. One night after completing a three-game sweep of the American League Central-leading Minnesota Twins, the Orioles ran into all kinds of trouble against the last-place Detroit Tigers. Jason Johnson looked strong in his return from the disabled list last night, but the Orioles couldn't solve Tigers rookie Mike Maroth in a 3-0 loss at Comerica Park. The Orioles take great pride in their 14-10 record against the first-place Twins, Yankees and Mariners, but they are scratching their heads at their 9-10 mark against the last-place Tigers, Devil Rays and Rangers.

DETROIT - The Orioles can handle the first-place teams. It's the other side the of the standings that's troubling them. One night after completing a three-game sweep of the American League Central-leading Minnesota Twins, the Orioles ran into all kinds of trouble against the last-place Detroit Tigers. Jason Johnson looked strong in his return from the disabled list last night, but the Orioles couldn't solve Tigers rookie Mike Maroth in a 3-0 loss at Comerica Park. The Orioles take great pride in their 14-10 record against the first-place Twins, Yankees and Mariners, but they are scratching their heads at their 9-10 mark against the last-place Tigers, Devil Rays and Rangers.

At Comerica Park, Detroit Day...Time...TV...Starters Tonight...7:05...13...Jason Johnson (3-8, 4.44) vs. Mike Maroth (3-4, 4.77) Tomorrow...7:05...54, 50...Rodrigo Lopez (12-4, 3.16) vs. Brian Powell (1-2, 5.94) Sunday...2:05...54, 50...Sidney Ponson (6-5, 4.16) vs. Steve Sparks (6-11, 5.27) Radio: All games on WBAL (1090 AM)

On deck Curt Schilling of the Diamondbacks goes for his major-league-leading 16th victory today, facing the Rockies. He said it"Free Ted, Freeze John Henry." Sign held by a fan at Comerica Park in Detroit, where the Red Sox were playing, referring to the family fight over Ted Williams' remains

DETROIT - It doesn't get much better than this for a ballgame: The sky is blue, the temperature a delightful 74 and the Tigers are in the midst of a two-run, fourth-inning rally at their new stadium. Seated in a half-empty upper deck at Comerica Park, Jeff Nail, a 45-year-old manager for the U.S. Postal Service, is at a loss to explain why more people aren't here on this Sunday afternoon to enjoy the game. "They come down for the casinos. They come down for the festivals. And the traffic is always tied up when the Red Wings play," Nail said.

FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. - Though Camden Yards still isn't regarded within baseball circles as being a pitcher-friendly ballpark, it should begin treating them a little better in 2001. About 7 feet better. That's how far home plate has been moved back, altering the outfield dimensions and perhaps softening the reputation of the Orioles' stomping grounds as a claustrophobic bandbox where routine fly balls drift into the first row of seats. Now, the left-field line measures 337 feet to the fence, while a shot down the right-field line must travel 320 feet to reach it. The deepest portion of Camden Yards measures 417 feet, compared to 410 in previous years.

Quote: "These kind of games aren't fun; they're long and hard to get through. So we suffered through. Nobody got hurt, except maybe a few egos." -- Twins manager Tom Kelly after his team lost to Kansas City, 8-4, yesterday. It's a fact: The White Sox have the best road record in baseball at 39-26. Who's hot: The Yankees are 27-15 since July 1, the best mark in league. Who's not: Boston shortstop Nomar Garciaparra has one hit in his past 10 at-bats. On deck: Oakland's Tim Hudson, who recently signed a four-year extension, will be going for his 14th win tonight in Comerica Park against the Tigers.