Jeff Conine

UP -- The long goodbye Cal Ripken is 40 and the Orioles have no logical heir. It's a delicate thing for the club to protect itself without denting a legacy. Did anyone expect it to be easy? UP -- Lineup intrigue Who needs the latest Michael Crichton tome when Mike Hargrove puts out an unpredictable card every day? DOWN -- Ryan Kohlmeier After hinting at it for weeks, Hargrove confirmed the obvious Wednesday. Kohly the Closer is now one among many. UP -- The trading block The Orioles are likely to trade several veterans before July 31 (Delino DeShields, Chuck McElroy, Jeff Conine)

**** Jason Johnson: Last year's spring washout was this spring's Most Valuable Oriole. Jay Gibbons: Hope he stays healthy so fans can watch him rake. Delino DeShields: No one better embodies a team player. Position switch has given his career a second wind. *** Brady Anderson: Accused of disinterest last season, he showed what a difference being healthy makes. Willis Roberts: Jose Mercedes II? Mark Wiley: O's latest pitching coach accomplished the improbable - he earned a tough crowd's respect in a matter of weeks.

FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. - Jeff Conine hears his name featured among trade talks and shrugs. Playing for his fourth team in five seasons causes him no worry. Last season taught Conine the true meaning of terror. Whatever happens to the Orioles' veteran utility player in the next two weeks can't come close. "If it's about perspective, I think I have my share now," Conine said before ending yesterday's 1-0 win over the Texas Rangers with a ninth-inning RBI single. The Orioles probably will shed two veteran position players before setting their roster in Atlanta on March 30. Able to play first base, third base and outfield, rookie Mike Kinkade offers the same versatility as Conine, along with the bonus of representing a third catcher.

JUPITER, Fla. - It isn't spring training without the sun shining on a phenom, a young player who has come out of nowhere to stir the imagination. The Orioles have a classic this year. "The first time he walked through the clubhouse, I said, `Man, what a beast,' " Jeff Conine said yesterday. Brady Anderson had the same reaction when he spotted Jay Gibbons, the Rule 5 draftee who has become one of the talking points of camp. "He's got some Popeye arms, for sure," Anderson said. "The guy is jacked."

When the Boston Red Sox placed Nomar Garciaparra on the disabled list Friday, they recalled Donnie Sadler to play shortstop. When they placed John Valentin on the DL on April11, they promoted Wilton Veras to play third base virtually every day. The Orioles summoned third baseman Ryan Minor to replace the injured Will Clark on May 3. They already trail the Red Sox by 6 1/2 games in the wild-card standings. So how is it that Minor can't get off their bench, when the entire left side of the Red Sox's infield started the season at Triple-A?

CHICAGO -- Throughout this season's pursuit of 3,000 hits, Cal Ripken maintained that the pressure associated with it had taken a toll on his approach. The week since Ripken reached the goal has validated his claim. Close to finding the comfort zone that has proved elusive since spring training, Ripken enters tonight's game against the Chicago White Sox enjoying a seven-game hitting streak that has raised his average from .176 to .271 since his line single off Minnesota Twins reliever Hector Carrasco.

Continuing to progress faster than club officials had anticipated, pitcher Scott Erickson threw in the bullpen again yesterday and is drawing closer to a rehab assignment in the minor leagues. Erickson's right elbow withstood a mound session that lasted about 16 minutes and included some off-speed stuff. It was his fourth time throwing since having arthroscopic surgery on March 3 to remove bone chips. He previously had not gone longer than about 12 minutes. "It was very encouraging," said pitching coach Sammy Ellis.

Highlights and lowlights from the Orioles' 8-4 loss to the Montreal Expos in Jupiter, Fla. DOWN - Sidney Ponson: Says he feels good physically. His numbers, however, remain sickly. UP - Will Clark: Hits his first spring homer. DOWN - Full squad: The Orioles do better when they're halved and put in separate ballparks. DOWN - Mike Trombley: Serves up a homer in the seventh. UP - Jeff Conine: One at-bat produces a two-run homer. EVEN - Wayne Kirby: Two hits, but also tags Trombley with an unearned run. The bats The Orioles collected 10 hits, but again they weren't enough.