Jay Payton

On Jay Payton as the Orioles' everyday left fielder I think it's worth it to have a good defense for the pitchers, and Payton isn't such a liability offensively that he can't contribute at the bottom of the lineup. It wasn't like defense was a huge problem last year. If anything, the O's should be erring on the side of scoring more runs. It puts pressure on both [Jay] Gibbons and [Kevin] Millar to produce.

COLUMBUS, Ohio -- While two charter buses ran idle outside Cooper Stadium here, a throng of fans crowded near the exit of the visiting clubhouse for Orioles' autographs after the team's rare appearance in Ohio's capital city. Brian Roberts, seemingly a fan favorite everywhere, was surrounded as he signed, and so too was hobbled left fielder Jay Payton, who grew up about an hour east of here. Orioles vs. Nationals Today, 2:05 p.m., Norfolk, Va., MASN, 105.7 FM

Who's hot Jay Payton of the Rockies is hitting .355 (22-for-62) in his past 16 games, with eight homers and 15 RBIs. Who's not Russell Branyan of the Reds has struck out at least once in 15 of his past 16 games. Line of the day Orlando Cabrera, Expos SS AB R H 2B 3B 5 1 3 2 1 He said it "We'd lost six in a row. We didn't want to make it seven." Ned Yost, Brewers manager, after yesterday's 5-3 win over Houston On deck The Cardinals and Astros, part of a three-team scram ble in the NL Central race with the Cubs, meet tonight.

FORT MYERS, Fla. -- The Orioles have said all spring that their roster logjam at first base and in left field would work itself out, but the last thing they wanted was an injury to make it happen. Jay Payton, whom manager Sam Perlozzo had anointed as the starter in left field, left the Orioles' exhibition game yesterday in the first inning, clutching his left hamstring. He later was diagnosed with a Grade I hamstring strain, an injury that not only puts him in jeopardy of not playing on Opening Day, but also could force him to miss the first week or two of the season.

Moves Baseball MLB -- Suspended Braves P Rafael Soriano four games for intentionally hitting Marlins IF Dan Uggla with pitch Monday. Fined and suspended Orioles OF Jay Payton two games for inappropriate actions against Yankees on Monday and Wednesday. REDS-- Recalled P Homer Bailey from Single-A Sarasota. Basketball BUCKS -- Matched Heat's offer sheet for G Charlie Bell on five-year contract. WARRIORS -- Waived G Sarunas Jasikevicius (Maryland). College FLORIDA A&M -- Named Eugene Harris men's basketball coach.

Fort Lauderdale, Fla. -- Lineups in the American League always differ from National League lineups because they include the designated hitter, which eliminates the need for having the pitcher hit. But Orioles manager Dave Trembley was a pioneer of sorts yesterday. What he did for the second intrasquad game was unique, to say the least. Trembley didn't include a designated hitter on Gary Allenson's club, and he omitted a left fielder for Brad Komminsk's team. But he had his reasons. Trembley explained that outfielder Jay Payton left camp earlier with flulike symptoms, and that he wanted to rest the veterans who played in Tuesday's intrasquad game.

*Back in May, it was hard to get many people to buy into the idea that the Preakness' sharp decline in attendance and handle - despite the presence of Big Brown - was a bad omen. Magna Entertainment Corp.'s report of a huge deficit that quarter pretty much proves the point. *Early favorites for Ravens Offensive Player of the Year: Matt Stover, Yamon Figurs and Fabian Washington. *Good thing nobody in the Orioles' front office said, "Adam Jones is set in center field, so let's go see what we can get for Jay Payton."

BaseballAstros: Reassigned C Ramon Castro, OF Rob Butler, P Scott Elarton, P Freddy Garcia, P Mike Grzanich, former Oriole P Bob Milacki and P Roger Salkeld to their minor-league camp.Blue Jays: Traded RHP Tim Crabtree to the Rangers for C Kevin Brown.Giants: Optioned OF Calvin Murray to Triple-A Fresno and INF Pedro Felix to Double-A Shreveport. Reassigned RHP Rick Huisman to their minor-league camp.Mets: Signed INF Chad Fonville to a minor-league contract. Assigned RHP Derek Wallace and 1B Jay Payton to Triple-A Norfolk and RHP Octavio Dotel, RHP Arnold Gooch and OF Scott Hunter to Double-A Binghamton.

BOWIE -- Pinch hitter Ed Fully's run-scoring double in the seventh inning capped a three-run rally and lifted the Binghamton Mets past the Bowie Baysox, 3-2, before a season-high crowd of 12,483 last night at Prince George's County Stadium.Jay Payton led off the inning for the Mets (9-11) with home run over the left-center-field wall. With two out and Frank Jacobs on first, Chris Saunders doubled down the left-field line, scoring Jacobs.Mark Fuller and Brent Knackert limited Bowie (7-15) to one hit over the final 4 2/3 innings.