Jack Mcdowell

O's Mike Mussina (19-11, 4.81) vs. Indians' Jack McDowell (13-9, 5.11)What Mussina throws: Fastball, changeup, knuckle-curveball. Mussina's fastball can range from about 85-86 mph on his bad TC days to overpowering, in the low-90s.Mussina of late: He pitched extremely well in his last outing, in Toronto, allowing a run in eight innings against the Blue Jays. He retired the first six and the last seven hitters he faced. Before that, however, Mussina had been struggling.Something to look for: Mussina's fastball can be a barometer.

Orioles, take note. The Chicago White Sox unveiled the spanking new version of Comiskey Park last week, but not without pangs of anxiety and a couple of losses.After the Sox got spanked, 16-0, by Detroit in their stadium christening Thursday, veteran Carlton Fisk offered up this fastball to Chicago writers:"The new stadium was a distraction and it will continue to be. This may not feel like home until July."That should be good news to the Orioles, who play the first night game at new Comiskey tonight (8:05, Ch. 2)

FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. -- New York Yankees third baseman Wade Boggs has a message for the other American League East contenders, at least one of whom was caught looking when the best team in the division added front-line starter Jack McDowell and top-notch reliever John Wetteland."

There they go again. Chicago White Sox pitcher Jack McDowell is feuding with owner Jerry Reinsdorf, which only makes it more likely that McDowell will either be traded in the next few months or will leave the club when he becomes eligible for free agency after the season.McDowell filed for a record salary of $6.5 million in arbitration, sparking the latest round of unpleasantness in a personality conflict that dates to his earliest contract negotiations with the club. The White Sox offered him a $5.3 million salary in arbitration and a three-year deal worth $17 million, but there doesn't appear to be any productive negotiating going on."

ANAHEIM, Calif. -- There is a huge rock formation behind center field at newly remodeled Edison International Field. The only thing missing from this Disney tableau is the runaway mine train, but the newly remodeled Anaheim Angels have made up for that with a wild ride through the early weeks of the 1998 season.The Angels have one of the best young offensive teams in baseball, but they have struggled through a tough April schedule and enter a three-game series against the Orioles tonight still looking to turn that offensive potential into production.

ATLANTA -- This World Series has spotlighted some of the best of baseball.Also some of the worst.The best has been on the playing field, where the Atlanta Braves and Minnesota Twins, two rags-to-riches teams cheered on by supercharged fans, have played out this weeklong drama with fire and intensity. Where such longtime minor-leaguers as Mark Lemke, Greg Olson and Jerry Willard have turned childhood dreams into reality.The worst has been off the field -- in the hotel lobbies and corridors, in the hospitality rooms and coffee shops, where some of the best baseball minds gathered this week to seek employment . . . and left empty-handed.

IndiansWhere they're coming from: Cleveland spent 170 days in first place and won the division by 14 1/2 games with a 99-62 record before losing to the Orioles in the Division Series. The Indians were the first major-league team to lead its league in both batting average and ERA in consecutive seasons.Where they're going: Baseball's dominant regular-season team each of the past two seasons is going back to the top, with a new cast of characters and a lot more character.Key newcomers: 3B Matt Williams, CF Marquis Grissom, LF David Justice, RP Mike Jackson, DH Kevin Mitchell, IF Tony Fernandez.

Just how have things gone lately for the Orioles?They had their best game of the season against reigning American League Most Valuable Player Frank Thomas last night, and they didn't get him out.They did keep him in the ballpark for the first time in five games, but they didn't get him out.Instead, they got themselves out, stranding nine runners in a 7-1 loss to the Chicago White Sox.Meanwhile, Thomas doubled, singled twice and was walked twice. He left the heavy work for Norberto Martin, whose first major-league home run was a ninth-inning grand slam off Orioles left-handed reliever Jim Poole (one inning, five earned runs)

If Mike Devereaux is ready for a rush, the Orioles are more than willing to go along for the ride.Devereaux gave additional evidence that he's on the verge of something he has been seeking all season as the Orioles thumped the Oakland Athletics, 14-5, last night at Camden Yards. And the center fielder did a lot more than just extend his hitting streak to eight games.Devereaux had a season-high five RBI, including the first four of the game for the Orioles, as he delivered a sacrifice fly, a three-run home run, a double and a single.

CHICAGO -- Frank Thomas, hovering in the on-deck circle like the baseball giant that he is, represented the tying run if the man at the plate reached base yesterday.Thomas didn't have to say "save my ups" to Mike LaValliere. What was left of the 37,454 spectators at sunny Comiskey Park were thinking it.LaValliere reaches base and Lee Smith, the man on a pace to save 70 games, has to face Thomas, the man on a pace to hit 70 home runs.It didn't happen. Maybe in October.LaValliere flied to center, Smith earned his 20th save, and the Orioles won the game, 8-4, over the Chicago White Sox in much tougher fashion than the score indicates.