Jay Buhner

In baseball contract negotiations, close doesn't count for anything.Mariners free-agent right fielder Jay Buhner indicated toSeattle-area reporters that he thought he was close to becoming an Oriole in midweek, but the ones doing the actual negotiating have indicated otherwise.Seeking to quash the perception that his client's mind was made up, agent Alan Hendricks issued the following statement yesterday: "Any report that Jay Buhner is on the verge of signing is premature and incorrect. There is nothing imminent."

Offered a chance at making history, the Orioles yesterday chose to repeat it. Because the Seattle Mariners eventually played like the Mariners and the Orioles like the Orioles, Brady Anderson's early three-run homer and starting pitcher Jose Mercedes' five strong innings were negated by forces that have become as predictable as the tides for each team. The Mariners left Camden Yards with a 6-4 win after trailing 4-1. The Orioles' frustration was only heightened by what they might have accomplished.

Some major-league clubs have decided to sit out the free-agent hunt until January, hoping the dearth of activity will lower salary demands. Others are sitting it out to wait to see what economic system will govern the game, thus protecting themselves from having to pay penalties for overspending.The Orioles, meanwhile, continue to talk to free agents, but are undecided as to how quickly they will take the next step actually to sign players.Free-agent pitchers Bill Swift (with the San Francisco Giants in 1994)

The top candidates for Comeback Player of the Year: American League Cal Ripken (Orioles): Can he make it all the way back from surgery? Darryl Strawberry (Yankees): With Chili Davis gone, might return to prominence. Jay Buhner (Mariners): Prone to injury, but also prone to hit 45 homers if healthy. Sandy Alomar (Indians): Trying to shake off another painful season. Jim Edmonds (Angels): Still trade bait after injury-marred season. Steve Trachsel (Devil Rays): Losingest pitcher in major leagues last year.

Get out your 20-20 hindsight glasses. The second (and final) meeting of the Baltimore Orioles chapter of second guessers is hereby called to order. The topic: hitters. The Orioles outfield is in disarray. Andy Van Slyke, Matt Nokes and Damon Buford (who was sent to the minors Friday) have hit a combined .114 with four home runs and 13 RBI. This week's selection is a review of the hitters the Orioles could have signed.CHARACTERS ........ COMMENTJay Buhner -- UP -- This guy wasn't worth $18 million.

The top candidates for Comeback Player of the Year: American League Cal Ripken (Orioles): Can he make it all the way back from surgery? Darryl Strawberry (Yankees): With Chili Davis gone, might return to prominence. Jay Buhner (Mariners): Prone to injury, but also prone to hit 45 homers if healthy. Sandy Alomar (Indians): Trying to shake off another painful season. Jim Edmonds (Angels): Still trade bait after injury-marred season. Steve Trachsel (Devil Rays): Losingest pitcher in major leagues last year.

SEATTLE -- So far this season, Alan Mills has been to relief pitchers what Mike Devereaux has been to hitters, an all-or-nothing player.Mills, who gave up the game-winning home run to Seattle's Jay Buhner in the eighth inning of Friday night's 5-4 loss to the Mariners at the Kingdome, has given up five home runs in his first 6 2/3 innings. He also has struck out 12, walked four and allowed 12 hits.Devereaux homered four times and drove in 10 runs in his first 66 at-bats. He also struck out 24 times.

At Oriole Park at Camden YardsDay .. .. ..Time .. .. ..TV .. ... . .. .. ..StartersTonight .. .7:35 .. .. .13,50 .. .Matt Wagner (3-3, 6.40) vs... .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .Mike Mussina (15-8, 4.93)Tomorrow .. 7:35 .. .. ..HTS .. ..Sterling Hitchcock (12-5, 5.26) vs... .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .Scott Erickson (7-10, 5.04)Thursday .. 7:35 .. .. .13,50 .. .Jamie Moyer (9-2, 4.08) vs... .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .Rocky Coppinger (7-4, 4.63)Radio: All games on WBAL (1090 AM) and WTOP (1500 AM)

At the Kingdome, SeattleDay Time TV StartersTonight 10:35 Ch. 54 Ben McDonald (0-1, 5.33)vs. Randy Johnson (4-0, 1.21)Tomorrow night 10:05 Ch. 54 Sid Fernandez (0-2, 9.22)vs. Undecided TC Sunday night 8:05 HTS Kevin Brown (4-1, 3.29)vs. Chris Bosio (2-0, 2.36)Radio: All games on WBAL (1090 AM) and WTOP (1500 AM)Mariners update Mariners statisticsTomorrow's starter is expected to be either Bob Wells, who has a 6.75 ERA and has allowed 18 hits and eight walks in 16 innings, or Salomon Torres, acquired from San Francisco last week.

Anaheim AngelsManager: Terry Collins1998 record: 85-77, second placeNo. 1: The Angels must assemble a capable -- and durable -- starting rotation. Tim Belcher is the only significant addition.No. 2: Club tries to tap great outfield depth to get a front-line starting pitcher by Opening Day.No. 3: Will the presence of Mo Vaughn create a more dynamic team chemistry?No. 4: Is promising third baseman Troy Glaus ready for prime time?No. 5: Can right fielder Tim Salmon shake off last year's injury problems and open the season as a solid MVP candidate?

Anaheim AngelsManager: Terry Collins1998 record: 85-77, second placeNo. 1: The Angels must assemble a capable -- and durable -- starting rotation. Tim Belcher is the only significant addition.No. 2: Club tries to tap great outfield depth to get a front-line starting pitcher by Opening Day.No. 3: Will the presence of Mo Vaughn create a more dynamic team chemistry?No. 4: Is promising third baseman Troy Glaus ready for prime time?No. 5: Can right fielder Tim Salmon shake off last year's injury problems and open the season as a solid MVP candidate?

BaseballAL: Named Rangers OF Juan Gonzalez Player of the Week.Angels: Recalled P Jarrod Washburn from Triple-A Vancouver.Athletics: Purchased contract of 3B Eric Chavez from Triple-A Edmonton. Recalled P Jay Witasick (C. Milton Wright, UMBC) and IF Jorge Velandia from Edmonton. Transferred 3B Dave Magadan from 15-day to 60-day DL.Cardinals: Recalled P Rich Croushore, P Curtis King, P Manny Aybar, P Jose Jimenez and OF Mark Little from Triple-A Memphis.Mariners: Placed OF Jay Buhner (injured right elbow)

CLEVELAND -- Alan Mills sat in front of his locker after another excruciating defeat Sunday night, this one putting the Orioles on the brink of elimination in the American League Championship Series. He had ice wrapped on his right elbow and wore the look of someone who had just watched a truck back over his dog.He granted a television interview but needed to muster all his strength to rise from his chair. Moments earlier, he had been tagged with the loss when Armando Benitez allowed the runner he inherited from Mills to score in the ninth.

Keys to the game1. Painful exit. Jamie Moyer, who was 4-0 against the Orioles in the past two seasons, was removed from the game in the fifth because of an injury to his elbow with his team leading 2-1 and Orioles runners on first and second. His replacement, Paul Spoljaric, gave up a two-run double to Roberto Alomar, the first batter he faced, to put the Orioles in front to stay. "It seemed like when he went out, everything turned around," Alomar said.2. No relief. Going into the series, the biggest difference between the clubs was considered to be their bullpens.

At Oriole Park at Camden YardsDay .. .. ..Time .. .. ..TV .. ... . .. .. ..StartersTonight .. .7:35 .. .. .13,50 .. .Matt Wagner (3-3, 6.40) vs... .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .Mike Mussina (15-8, 4.93)Tomorrow .. 7:35 .. .. ..HTS .. ..Sterling Hitchcock (12-5, 5.26) vs... .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .Scott Erickson (7-10, 5.04)Thursday .. 7:35 .. .. .13,50 .. .Jamie Moyer (9-2, 4.08) vs... .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .Rocky Coppinger (7-4, 4.63)Radio: All games on WBAL (1090 AM) and WTOP (1500 AM)

Get out your 20-20 hindsight glasses. The second (and final) meeting of the Baltimore Orioles chapter of second guessers is hereby called to order. The topic: hitters. The Orioles outfield is in disarray. Andy Van Slyke, Matt Nokes and Damon Buford (who was sent to the minors Friday) have hit a combined .114 with four home runs and 13 RBI. This week's selection is a review of the hitters the Orioles could have signed.CHARACTERS ........ COMMENTJay Buhner -- UP -- This guy wasn't worth $18 million.

BaseballAL: Named Rangers OF Juan Gonzalez Player of the Week.Angels: Recalled P Jarrod Washburn from Triple-A Vancouver.Athletics: Purchased contract of 3B Eric Chavez from Triple-A Edmonton. Recalled P Jay Witasick (C. Milton Wright, UMBC) and IF Jorge Velandia from Edmonton. Transferred 3B Dave Magadan from 15-day to 60-day DL.Cardinals: Recalled P Rich Croushore, P Curtis King, P Manny Aybar, P Jose Jimenez and OF Mark Little from Triple-A Memphis.Mariners: Placed OF Jay Buhner (injured right elbow)

At the Kingdome, SeattleDay Time TV StartersTonight 10:35 Ch. 54 Ben McDonald (0-1, 5.33)vs. Randy Johnson (4-0, 1.21)Tomorrow night 10:05 Ch. 54 Sid Fernandez (0-2, 9.22)vs. Undecided TC Sunday night 8:05 HTS Kevin Brown (4-1, 3.29)vs. Chris Bosio (2-0, 2.36)Radio: All games on WBAL (1090 AM) and WTOP (1500 AM)Mariners update Mariners statisticsTomorrow's starter is expected to be either Bob Wells, who has a 6.75 ERA and has allowed 18 hits and eight walks in 16 innings, or Salomon Torres, acquired from San Francisco last week.

In baseball contract negotiations, close doesn't count for anything.Mariners free-agent right fielder Jay Buhner indicated toSeattle-area reporters that he thought he was close to becoming an Oriole in midweek, but the ones doing the actual negotiating have indicated otherwise.Seeking to quash the perception that his client's mind was made up, agent Alan Hendricks issued the following statement yesterday: "Any report that Jay Buhner is on the verge of signing is premature and incorrect. There is nothing imminent."