Drabek

Doug Drabek of the Pittsburgh Pirates was named recipient of the National League's Cy Young Award yesterday, winning a statistical tossup from the Los Angeles Dodgers' Ramon Martinez in voting by a committee of the Baseball Writers Association of America.Dodgers manager Tom Lasorda said he was disappointed."I'm not taking anything away from Drabek, but he had the luxury of pitching for a contender all year," Lasorda said. "Ramon was winning even when we were lousy, when we were 13 or 14 games behind.

The Orioles ran their way out of a couple of potential big innings Wednesday night against the Toronto Blue Jays against a pitcher making his major league debut by being a little too bold. Fortunately for Brad Bergesen, the Orioles continued to experience the kind of moments that have become the norm under new manager Buck Showalter, making the kind of plays that point to a much brighter baseball future in Baltimore. Sparked by some dazzling defensive plays, including a pair by shortstop Cesar Izturis and another by rightfielder Nick Markakis, Bergesen pitched a complete game and the Orioles, after not beating the Blue Jays in their first 12 meetings this season, completed a three-game sweep with a 3-1 victory at Camden Yards.

PITTSBURGH -- When he came off the field unable to continue pitching a week ago, Doug Drabek could not be sure he would get on the mound again for the Pittsburgh Pirates this year. A strained left hamstring kept him out of the rotation in Atlanta, where the Pirates very well could have left their season.They came back, however, both in the National League Championship Series and to Pittsburgh, giving Drabek a chance to finish what he started. Drabek pitched six shutout innings in the Pirates' 5-1 victory over the Braves in Game 1 last Wednesday night.

On July 12, 2004, GLENNA L., 92, (nee Carmack), beloved wife of the late Henry W. Ring, devoted mother of Sandra Drabek and her husband Richard, Ellen Holtje and Susan Monaghan and her husband Pat, beloved grandmother of Rich and Susie Drabek, Wendy Drabek, Eric Holtje, Kelsey Holtje, Kristen Holtje, Amy and Kevin Kozlek and Patrick and Mikey Monaghan, loving great-grandmother of RJ Drabek, Colleen Drabek, Jack Kozlek, Sarah Kozlek and Dylan Monaghan....

PITTSBURGH -- Doug Drabek has pitched the only complete game of the National League Championship Series, and all he has to show for it is a heartbreaking loss.Pittsburgh's almost-certain Cy Young Award winner will try t keep the Pirates alive in the final game of the series at Three Rivers Stadium."I used to let games like the last one eat at me," Drabek said yesterday, referring to his 2-1 defeat in Game 2. "But why do that? I've learned how to forget those things."His mound opponent will be the same, Cincinnati left-hande Tom Browning, and if both are in their groove, the game could pass in a hurry.

The Pittsburgh Pirates, who have lost one marquee player to free agency and are on the verge of losing another, may be nearing a four-year, $20 million deal for 1990 National League Cy Young Award winner Doug Drabek.General manager Ted Simmons, with the Pirates in Chicago on Sunday, said he has concluded negotiations with Drabek's agents, Randy and Alan Hendricks. Simmons has passed on a proposal to board chairman Douglas Danforth, who must approve all such deals.With Bobby Bonilla already gone and Barry Bonds likely to leave after this season, Simmons said that signing Drabek -- the Pirates' No. 1 starter for four years -- is his No. 1 priority.

PITTSBURGH (AP) -- Cy Young Award winner Doug Drabek of the Pittsburgh Pirates hit a homer yesterday, tripling his salary to an arbitration record $3,335,000.Drabek, the first of three Pirates seeking $3 million in arbitration, was offered $2.4 million. He also rejected a $2.7 million offer two days before Wednesday's hearing before arbitrator Raymond Goetz."We're delighted . . . but we thought we clearly won," said Drabek's agent, Randy Hendricks. "The Pirates were respectful and cordial in negotiations, but they came in with a low-ball figure.

ATLANTA -- There are flameouts and then there are flameouts, but few flameouts are quite like the pyrotechnics the Atlanta Braves pulled off here last night in the seventh game of the National League Championship Series.Just one out from giving back a 3-1 series lead to the Pittsburgh Pirates, the Braves staged an incredible ninth-inning comeback to win, 3-2.Reserve catcher Francisco Cabrera slapped a hit to left field on a 2-1 pitch with two out in the bottom of the ninth to drive in David Justice and Sid Bream with the tying and winning runs and give the Braves their second straight National League title.

PITTSBURGH -- When the Pittsburgh Pirates were in trouble this season, they usually found the antidote in Doug Drabek.He was unbeaten in six decisions after consecutive Pirates losses, stopping losing streaks of six, five, four (twice) and three in the second half of the season.He was 12-3 with a 2.88 ERA after any defeat.And the right-hander did it again last night in the National League Championship Series, leading the Pirates to a 3-2 victory over the Cincinnati Reds that staved off elimination in five games.

TORONTO -- The Orioles may make a determination as soon as today about whether they need to put either center fielder Brady Anderson or starting pitcher Doug Drabek on the disabled list because of injuries suffered this weekend in Toronto.Anderson strained the quadriceps muscle in his right leg retreating on Tony Fernandez's home run Friday. After doing little except receive treatment on Saturday, Anderson took batting practice before last night's game, swinging well but still walking stiff-legged.

Doug Drabek abstains from the word "retirement" but the 1990 National League Cy Young Award winner and Orioles starting pitcher concedes he has likely made the final appearance of a career as consistent as it was understated.In the same week that fellow Orioles starter Jimmy Key called an end to a 15-year career, Drabek said, "Everybody comes to that point, some sooner than others. You just have to realize when it is and try not to overstay your position where you're just hanging on."A free agent after 13 years, five teams, three division championships and 398 appearances, Drabek says he has received tepid interest from only two teams since struggling through an injury-marred 6-11 season.

SEATTLE -- Jamie Moyer pitched for the Seattle Mariners last night. Doug Drabek pitched for the Orioles. Ken Griffey took another whack at history.Enough said.The chilling combination played out in an 11-1 win for the Mariners before a Kingdome crowd of 24,229. Moyer again dominated his former team by winning his seventh consecutive regular-season decision against it. Drabek, owner of one win since May, received another push toward a painful career decision. He managed only nine outs, allowing seven hits and two of four Mariners home runs.

SEATTLE -- Scott Kamieniecki's painful season officially closed yesterday when the Orioles announced that their deposed fourth starter will undergo disk surgery later this month.Kamieniecki, who did not accompany the team on its current road trip, will return to this Flint, Mich., home today then undergo further examination at Case Western University on Sept. 13.He is tentatively scheduled to undergo surgery on Sept. 15. Kamieniecki was examined in Cleveland Aug. 17 by Dr. Henry Bohlman. Kamieniecki has been diagnosed with a bulging disk in the right trapezius region near his neck.

Doug Drabek wasn't given any promises last night, only the ball. For someone who watched a month go by without pitching, it wasn't a bad deal.Unfortunately for Drabek and the Orioles, it didn't get any better from there. With 24 games remaining, they must wonder if it ever will.Activated earlier in the day, Drabek lasted into the sixth inning and was charged with four earned runs. He allowed a homer to rookie Jeff Abbott leading off the fifth that moved Chicago ahead, Albert Belle reached base five times, and the Orioles sputtered to their ninth straight loss, 9-5, before 40,016 at Camden Yards.

Doug Drabek wasn't given any promises last night, only the ball. For someone who watched a month go by without pitching, it wasn't a bad deal.Unfortunately for Drabek and the Orioles, it didn't get any better from there. With 24 games remaining, they must wonder if it ever will.Activated earlier in the day, Drabek lasted into the sixth inning and was charged with four earned runs. He allowed a homer to rookie Jeff Abbott leading off the fifth that moved Chicago ahead, Albert Belle continued his monstrous second half and the Orioles sputtered to another loss, 9-5, before 40,016 at Camden Yards.

BOWIE -- Doug Drabek, on the disabled list retroactive to Aug. 1 with a strained left hamstring, tossed five hitless innings against Harrisburg last night in an injury rehab start at Double-A Bowie.He threw 55 pitches, striking out three and walking none, and said afterward that he's ready to return to the Orioles in any capacity."There was no pain as far as I could tell," said Drabek, who will rejoin the club in Chicago today. "I could tell in the fifth inning that my legs were a little tired just from non-activity.

Former Cy Young Award winner Doug Drabek says the Pittsburgh Pirates' salary slashing and unsettled future won't affect whether he re-signs or becomes a free agent.Several cost-cutting moves by Pirates ownership to reduce the payroll before Opening Day -- John Smiley's trade and Bill Landrum's release -- have left some players unsettled and uncertain about the team's direction."It's like 'Let's Make a Deal' around here," catcher Mike LaValliere said. "We keep waiting to see what's behind Door No. 3."

NEW YORK -- While dismissing the possibility of going on the disabled list, outfielder Eric Davis admitted he's not sure when he'll be ready to play again after getting hit on the right elbow during Wednesday's game against the New York Mets.Davis was hit by Mets pitcher Rick Reed in the first inning and left the game in the fourth. X-rays showed only a bruise, but it's in the same location where Davis has been bothered much of the year by inflammation caused by bone chips."It was throbbing pretty good this morning," Davis said.

Doug Drabek threw off the mound for about 15 minutes yesterday, facing hitters Willie Greene and Rich Becker from behind a protective screen. Manager Ray Miller said the veteran right-hander is scheduled to make a rehab start Tuesday at an undetermined minor-league site."

Just as Brady Anderson was continuing to pump more life into a batting average that had gone flat through the first half of the season, the Orioles' center fielder was forced from last night's game with an injury that puts his availability for the weekend series against Cleveland in doubt.Anderson strained the tendon just below his right kneecap while attempting to make a leaping catch of Bubba Trammell's double in the second inning. He was examined by club orthopedist Dr. Michael Jacobs and X-rays were negative.