Fielding Percentage

Cal Ripken, who already has established two home run records for his position, is on the verge of yet another milestone.Following last night's 10th-inning tiebreaker, the Orioles' All-Star shortstop needs one more homer to become the second active player to hit 20 or more in nine straight seasons. Philadelphia's Dale Murphy, who has 24 this season, already has reached the plateau.Boston's Tom Brunansky and Dwight Evans started the year with eight consecutive 20-home run seasons, but both will miss the mark in 1990.

The debate about who was the game's best shortstop raged on around baseball in the late 1990s and early 2000s. The conversation started with Alex Rodriguez, continued with Derek Jeter and included Nomar Garciaparra and Miguel Tejada. Only Jeter remains at that position. Garciaparra retired this month, and now Tejada is attempting a transition that Rodriguez made in 2004 when the Texas Rangers traded him to the New York Yankees. Rodriguez moved from shortstop to third base when he was 28. Tejada is trying to do it at age 35. Rodriguez thinks he'll be just fine.

NEW YORK -- Each day seems to bring a new saga to the 1991 chapter of Cal Ripken's career.The American League announced yesterday that the Orioles' perennial All-Star shortstop has been named Player of the Month. The day before Ripken was named co-Player of the Week.This is only the second time Ripken has won the AL's monthly honor, and those touting him for this year's MVP award will find an interesting omen. The only other time Ripken was the Player of the Month was in September 1983, when he ultimately was named the league's MVP.Ripken hit .349 (37-106)

The debate about who was the game's best shortstop raged on around baseball in the late 1990s and early 2000s. The conversation started with Alex Rodriguez, continued with Derek Jeter and included Nomar Garciaparra and Miguel Tejada. Only Jeter remains at that position. Garciaparra retired this month, and now Tejada is attempting a transition that Rodriguez made in 2004 when the Texas Rangers traded him to the New York Yankees. Rodriguez moved from shortstop to third base when he was 28. Tejada is trying to do it at age 35. Rodriguez thinks he'll be just fine.

It might have seemed as if everyone was happy after the Baltimore Orioles traded Mickey Tettleton to the Detroit Tigers on Saturday, but there was one notable exception.New-look free agent Mike Heath had been hoping to sign a new contract with the Tigers, but the arrival of Tettleton confirmed his suspicions about the club's intentions."I feel the same way I felt before I heard about it," said a disconsolate Heath. "I feel that they don't want me there. Why would they give a guy like Tettleton that kind of money if they weren't going to play him?

PLAYER OF THE YEAR Karen Kreis Mount Hebron Any doubts observers may have had about a shoulder injury that sidelined Kreis midway through last season proved unfounded. Opponents batted a scant .179 against the senior right-hander, who compiled a 17-2 record with a 0.86 ERA. The two-year varsity starter struck out 101 batters and walked just 25 in 122 innings. Kreis also excelled at the plate, where she led the Vikings with a .578 batting average, .734 slugging percentage and .643 on-base percentage.

Orioles shortstop Cal Ripken may have had a difficult year at the plate, but another solid defensive season will be rewarded today when he receives his second Rawlings Gold Glove Award at a morning news conference at Camden Yards.Ripken, who has been the defensive cornerstone of the Orioles infield for more than a decade, waited 10 seasons to receive his first Gold Glove last year, but he did not have to wait long to repeat the honor. A source close to the team confirmed that he had been chosen again in a poll of American League managers and coaches conducted by The Sporting News.

In 1930, Babe Ruth was asked how he felt about requesting more money ($80,000 a year) to play baseball than President Herbert Hoover was paid. The Babe replied, "I had a better year than he did." Without getting into comparisons with that former Yale first baseman, George Bush, let us consider Cal Ripken Jr.'s year. It was, one could argue, the best 1991 enjoyed by any Marylander:Most Valuable Player in the All-Star Game. Chosen Major League Player of the Year by both The Sporting News and the Associated Press.

COACH OF THE YEAR* Valerie Cooper, Bel Air -- A repeat selection for this eight-year coach after guiding the Bobcats to a 19-2 record, county and regional titles, and the state semifinals, where they lost in nine innings. Last year (14-4, shared county title) she had young, relatively inexperienced players, but this time there were seven senior starters. It required a different type of coaching -- going up a notch with some things they could not have handled last year. "My job basically is March to mid-April; after that it's the girls who play," she said.

Cal Ripken has two games remaining in a season of streaks that could produce a total of seven all-time defensive records.With only three errors in 159 games, Ripken is on the verge of breaking two marks set last year by Toronto's Tony Fernandez. Fernandez committed only six errors for a .992 fielding percentage -- both of which represent major-league records for a shortstop.Ripken currently is fielding .996 and, at his current pace (4.25 chances per game), has the luxury of being able to make two errors and still break both of Fernandez's records.

Seeking to fill what has become the team's most glaring deficiency, the Orioles have engaged in talks with the Toronto Blue Jays regarding shortstop David Eckstein, according to industry sources. Eckstein, 33, is hitting .273 with one home run and 18 RBIs in 198 at-bats. However, he has become expendable on a roster that includes infielders Marco Scutaro, John McDonald and Joe Inglett, who has seen his role increase with regular second baseman Aaron Hill injured. Because of the glut of middle infielders, the Blue Jays' asking price for Eckstein isn't expected to be too high.

PLAYER OF THE YEAR Karen Kreis Mount Hebron Any doubts observers may have had about a shoulder injury that sidelined Kreis midway through last season proved unfounded. Opponents batted a scant .179 against the senior right-hander, who compiled a 17-2 record with a 0.86 ERA. The two-year varsity starter struck out 101 batters and walked just 25 in 122 innings. Kreis also excelled at the plate, where she led the Vikings with a .578 batting average, .734 slugging percentage and .643 on-base percentage.

Sam Perlozzo worried about the defense when the Orioles let Mike Bordick walk as a free agent last fall, and who could blame him? At shortstop, Bordick had the consistency of a metronome last season. He made one error in 117 games and seemed to make everyone around him better. Perlozzo, whose duties as bench coach include overseeing the team's infield defense, doesn't have those worries anymore, even with Bordick in Toronto and second baseman Jerry Hairston on the disabled list. On Tuesday, Bordick will make his first visit to Camden Yards since signing with the Blue Jays, and Perlozzo will be proud to show him how well the Orioles' defense has fared in his absence.

Orioles shortstop Mike Bordick rose from the ground during Monday's game concerned about his head. He found out later that a more serious problem existed in his right leg, which will force him onto the disabled list for the second time in two seasons. A magnetic resonance imaging test and further examination yesterday revealed a hairline fracture in his kneecap. Bordick's leg will be immobilized for three weeks before the club re-evaluates the injury. Bordick slid into Seattle Mariners shortstop Carlos Guillen after being picked off first base in the sixth inning of Monday's 6-5 victory.

COACH OF THE YEAR* Valerie Cooper, Bel Air -- A repeat selection for this eight-year coach after guiding the Bobcats to a 19-2 record, county and regional titles, and the state semifinals, where they lost in nine innings. Last year (14-4, shared county title) she had young, relatively inexperienced players, but this time there were seven senior starters. It required a different type of coaching -- going up a notch with some things they could not have handled last year. "My job basically is March to mid-April; after that it's the girls who play," she said.

All the homework is done.Now it's up to the streaking South Carroll baseball team to go out today and solve the pitching of talented Bethesda-Chevy Chase left-hander Jon Cross.Cross will take an 8-0 record and 0.96 ERA to the mound against the Cavaliers today at 3:15 at Bethesda-Chevy Chase in the semifinals of the state Class 3A West Regional.The Francis Scott Key Eagles didn't need to do too much studying about their first-round opponent, Monocacy Valley Athletic League foe Boonsboro, which they will face today at 4:30 in the semifinals of the Class 1A West Regional.

Orioles shortstop Mike Bordick rose from the ground during Monday's game concerned about his head. He found out later that a more serious problem existed in his right leg, which will force him onto the disabled list for the second time in two seasons. A magnetic resonance imaging test and further examination yesterday revealed a hairline fracture in his kneecap. Bordick's leg will be immobilized for three weeks before the club re-evaluates the injury. Bordick slid into Seattle Mariners shortstop Carlos Guillen after being picked off first base in the sixth inning of Monday's 6-5 victory.

ATLANTA -- Somewhere Cal Ripken is enjoying a lucrative post-season vacation.While he's away, the Orioles' perennial All-Star shortstop keeps adding awards to his bulging collection.Four days after being named "Player of the Year" by the Associated Press, Ripken was accorded the same honor The Sporting News, the acclaimed weekly that has been presenting its award for 56 years. The announcement was made just before Game 3 of the World Series here last night.Ripken is the first player from a sub-.

EASTATLANTA BRAVES1993 record: 104-58 (first, NL West)Manager: Bobby CoxPitching: You don't have to say much more than Steve Avery, Tom Glavine, Greg Maddux and John Smoltz. They combined for 75 victories a year ago. So anything Cox gets out of the No. 5 slot is like found money. Kent Mercker will be the fifth starter. Ex-Oriole Gregg Olson was signed to plug the only supposed weakness, that of a closer, but the Braves hardly lack for depth in the bullpen. Greg McMichael, Mike Stanton and Mark Wohlers provide plenty of options.