Eckersley

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. -- He still sees himself as he was in 1989, throwing that knee-buckling curve, freezing another hitter, celebrating another save. Gregg Olson clings to that memory. It's the reason he's now with his fifth major-league team, the St. Louis Cardinals.He isn't the same, he'll never be the same, a torn elbow ligament having sent him into a downward spiral. Yet, humbling as the past two years have been, Olson still can't let go. He keeps making poor career moves, so desperate is he to return to a closer's role.

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.

Opinion: Dennis Eckersley gets my Hall of Fame vote, first ballot, for a remarkable and truly singular career spanning five U.S. presidencies: 187 wins, 301 saves, a 20-win season in 1978, a no-hitter in 1977, AL MVP and Cy Young Award winner in 1992, ALCS MVP in 1988.Fact: In the CFL's recent dispersal draft of players from the defunct Las Vegas Posse, the Ottawa Rough Riders selected a defensive end who died in an auto accident in 1994. The headline in the local paper read: "Rough Riders Draft a Real Stiff."

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.

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)

Dennis Eckersley's next save will be the 300th of his career, and he will attain this mark faster than any pitcher in major league-history. The number of relief appearances required to reach 300 saves:Dennis Eckersley.. .. .. ..497Bruce Sutter.. .. .. .. ...661Lee Smith.. ..... .. .. ...697Jeff Reardon.. .. .. .. ...711Goose Gossage.. .. .. .. ..757Rollie Fingers.. .. .. .. .824

Quiz correction: Yesterday's quiz asked what active major-league pitchers have more career wins than the Orioles' Jimmy Key (180). The correct answer is Dennis Martinez (241), Roger Clemens (213), Dennis Eckersley (193) and Greg Maddux (184).Pub Date: 3/31/98