Eckersley

OAKLAND, Calif. -- Oakland Athletics reliever Dennis Eckersley was so disturbed by Jack Morris' criticism of his celebration act, he confronted the Toronto Blue Jays pitcher yesterday before Game 5 of the American League Championship Series."

One of the key questions for the Orioles this season is whether their bullpen can repeat its success from 2012. Bullpens could actually be a deciding factor in a taut American League East. Hall of Fame pitcher and TBS MLB analyst Dennis Eckersley joined us for a quick Q&A the other day where we discussed bullpens and his expectations for the division. Eckersley - who also works as a studio analyst for NESN, the regional cable network that carries Red Sox games - also gave a brief scouting report of Boston's team as the Orioles begin a three-game series at Fenway Park this afternoon.

OAKLAND, Calif. -- It isn't unusual for Dennis Eckersley to pump his fist after an important strikeout, but yesterday he went a step further. He stared into the Toronto dugout, provoking a response he surely regrets.The Blue Jays not only screamed back, they stormed back, completing their rally from a five-run deficit to tie the score 6-6 on Roberto Alomar's two-run homer off Eckersley in the ninth inning.Eckersley lasted only three more batters, but the Blue Jays could not be stopped. They moved within one victory of the World Series, winning Game 4 of the American League Championship Series, 7-6 in 11 innings.

That was a bit of an awkward moment after Thursday night's Red Sox-Rays game on TBS. After fellow studio analysts Dennis Eckersley and Harold Reynolds offered opinions on turning points in the game, host Ernie Johnson turned to Cal Ripken Jr. But Ripken said those two already had covered his points. So Johnson went to a commercial. (For more, go to baltimoresun.com/mediumwell)

When Dennis Eckersley ran his career saves total to 301 with back-to-back pickups against the Orioles this week, he once again helped put into perspective the value of what possibly is baseball's most overrated statistic.The 300 number has become almost as magical to relievers as it is to bowlers, which is an injustice since it reflects perfection in the latter instance. Even after exhaustive research to accommodate those who pitched when saves were not officially recognized, only six pitchers have reached that level.

SAN DIEGO -- Dennis Eckersley turned 42 on Thursday. He is not exactly in the middle of a mid-life crisis.His hair is rock-star long. And as jet-black as a teen-ager's. You have to look very hard for a gray hair -- or a deep wrinkle. He looks as if he just stepped out of a tanning salon or a health club.Eckersley looks so young because he likes his job. Especially at this time of year. Walking onto a field before 50,000 fans and protecting a late-inning lead might sound pretty stressful.Eckersley is having the time of his life.

OAKLAND, Calif. -- You just knew the American League playoffs couldn't end without one more showdown between Dwight Evans and Dennis Eckersley. But this was a close encounter of the humorous kind.Evans entered the Oakland clubhouse yesterday as the A's wercelebrating their four-game sweep of the Red Sox. He interrupted reporters, shook Eckersley's hand and offered congratulations.It was a touching scene, considering all that had happenebetween the two old friends and former teammates. Eckersley twice struck out Evans in the series, and both times the reliever's method of celebration was an issue.

OAKLAND, Calif. -- Welcome to a new season, Dennis Eckersley. Please say hello to Cecil Fielder, Kirk Gibson and Rob Deer on your way through the door.Eckersley launched the Oakland A's season by breezing through the heart of Detroit's dangerous lineup last night. In the process, he saved Oakland's 9-4 victory.The margin of victory grew when Eric Fox hit a grand slam in the bottom of the eighth inning. That gave Eckersley a comfortable cushion for the ninth.The win went to starting pitcher Bob Welch and was the 200th of his career.

Dennis Eckersley, the premier reliever of the Oakland Athletics, is the runaway winner of the American League's 1992 Cy Young Award -- and fourth-place finisher Mike Mussina is among the least surprised."

CINCINNATI -- The Oakland Athletics never figured on this, and neither did the oddsmakers who made them lopsided favorites to win the 87th World Series.The Cincinnati Reds have taken the first two games at Riverfront Stadium and with them a decided advantage in the best-of-seven series, scoring a 5-4, extra-inning victory in Game 2 last night to send the A's home empty-handed.The Reds beat the best, outlasting 27-game winner Bob Welch (( and defeating Dennis Eckersley when catcher Joe Oliver brought home Billy Bates with a bouncing single down the left-field line in the 10th inning.

When Paul Molitor and Dennis Eckersley are inducted into the Hall of Fame today in Cooperstown, N.Y., every kid who ever thought about playing professional baseball should take a moment and think about the meaning of perseverance. Molitor might have ended up with 4,000 hits if he had not had to battle through a long series of injuries that cost him hundreds of games over the course of his great career. He also battled some personal demons in the late 1970s and early '80s, and admitted to using cocaine.

Paul Molitor overcame a string of injuries to become one of baseball's most prolific pure hitters. Dennis Eckersley changed roles mid-career and established himself as the model for the modern closer. Each player took an unusual path to glory, but both ended up in the same place yesterday, earning induction into baseball's Hall of Fame in their first year of eligibility. Molitor, who ranks ninth on baseball's all-time list with 3,319 hits, was named on 85.2 percent (431) of the 506 ballots submitted by the voting members of the Baseball Writers' Association of America.

Orioles first baseman Will Clark had his left elbow examined by team doctors yesterday, and it appears more likely that he will go on the disabled list for the second time this season.Only last night's rainout kept Clark from missing his sixth consecutive game because of soreness in the elbow that prevents him from throwing. He's able to swing the bat without discomfort, and manager Ray Miller suggested Clark could remain on the active roster as a designated hitter and pinch hitter."I don't think there's any progression as far as throwing," Miller said.

From 400 feet away Elrod Hendricks saw Ray Miller's left-hand gesture. It was 9: 53 p.m., time for Jesse Orosco to face history.Almost four months after his 42nd birthday and more than 20 years after his major-league debut, Orosco last night set the major-league record for appearances by a pitcher, breaking a tie with Dennis Eckersley with his 1,072nd career outing.He faced one hitter and on two pitches earned a "hold," a statistic not yet manufactured when Orosco left Santa Barbara Community College after being drafted in 1978 by the Minnesota Twins.

CLEVELAND -- The Orioles may never reach .500 again this season. Scott Erickson must be wondering if he'll ever get there, as well.Hoping to apply another bandage to his wounded start this season, Erickson gave up a tie-breaking single to former teammate Roberto Alomar in the eighth inning and Manny Ramirez's second two-run homer to provide Cleveland with a 6-3 victory over the Orioles last night before 43,073 at Jacobs Field.Time: 1: 15TV/Radio: Ch. 45/WBAL (1090 AM)Starters: O's Jason Johnson (3-6, 6.24)

The Los Angeles Dodgers have been in almost constant turmoil since the club was acquired by Fox Sports earlier this year, and that doesn't seem likely to change any time soon.The lackluster performance of the club over the past couple of weeks has almost assured that the organization will undergo another management shake-up at the end of the season.Interim manager Glenn Hoffman likely will be replaced, and interim general manager Tom Lasorda is at work trying to replace himself.Lasorda said Friday he will interview Florida Marlins general manager Dave Dombrowski for the GM job, lending belated credence to rumors earlier this year that both Dombrowski and Marlins manager Jim Leyland could uproot to Los Angeles at the end of the year.

OAKLAND, Calif. -- Athletics closer Dennis Eckersley earned his 299th save on May 11, and then for two weeks, he waited. And waited. And waited.But No. 300 finally came last night, in Oakland's 5-3 victory over the Orioles. After Oakland rallied from a 3-1 deficit in the seventh and eighth innings against Mike Mussina (3-2), Eckersley pitched a scoreless ninth to become the sixth pitcher inmajor-league history to save 300 games.It was a night for milestones. Orioles left fielder Brady Anderson stole third base in the third inning -- his 32nd straight successful attempt, which ties an AL record held by Willie Wilson (1980)

BOSTON -- Last year Toronto catcher Ernie Whitt complained about the way Rickey Henderson stole bases. This year Boston designated hitter Dwight Evans complained about the way Dennis Eckersley celebrates strikeouts.Far be it from anyone to suggest this pattern is related to the AL East's 1-10 record against Oakland the last three postseasons. Or, in Evans' case, the strikeout that ended the Red Sox's final threat last night.If you can't beat 'em, attack their table manners.TTC "I don't appreciate someone showing someone else up," Evans sniffed after Eckersley fanned him on three pitches -- with two outs, men on first and third and the Red Sox trailing 2-1 in the eighth inning.

Quote: "I'd have them pitching batting practice. If you're tired, take a 2 o'clock nap like a kid in the afternoon."-- Hall of Famer Bob Feller, on pitchers who complain of being overworked.It's a fact: Boston's Dennis Eckersley has passed Kent Tekulve and moved into second place on the career pitching appearance list. Eckersley has appeared in 1,052 games, behind leader Hoyt Wilhelm's 1,070.Who's hot: The Yankees' Orlando "El Duque" Hernandez has allowed just two runs and nine hits and has struck out 28 batters in his last 25 1/3 innings.