Lenny Webster

When Lenny Webster was injured for the second time this season, spraining his right ankle while avoiding a pitch thrown near his head, catcher Charles Johnson figured he was in the Orioles' lineup for the long haul.He just had no idea it would be this long."I assumed I'd catch five games and get a day off, something like that," he says.It's been nothing like that and nothing like what Johnson has experienced in his five previous seasons. Forget baseballs. Johnson is simply trying to catch his breath.

JUPITER, Fla. -- Orioles pitcher Matt Riley still hasn't been given clearance to throw because of what he described yesterday as mild soreness in his left biceps. Riley, the jewel of the organization's farm system, had been scheduled to pitch in Tuesday night's game against the New York Mets. He also was supposed to have a bullpen session today, but Riley said that would come "within the next couple of days." "I'm hoping to try to work myself into a game. It's getting late in the spring," said Riley, who denied his inactivity was related to the back stiffness he experienced last season.

BaseballCalifornia Angels -- Placed C Lance Parrish on the 15-day disabled list, retroactive to June 10. Recalled P Mike Fetters and C John Orton from Class AAA Edmonton.Minnesota Twins -- Activated C Junior Ortiz from the 15-day DL. Optioned C Lenny Webster (.267 in 15 AB) to Class AAAPortland.New York Mets -- Placed OF Vince Coleman (strained hamstring) on the 15-day DL retroactive to Saturday. Activated IF-OF Keith Miller from the 15-day DL.New York Yankees -- Called up IF Carlos Rodriguez (.289 at Class AAA Columbus)

Peter's Diner -- UP -- Majority owner Peter Angelos receives high marks for customer service after inviting disgruntled bleacherites into his luxury box for dinner. But if everyone who has been flipped off by Albert Belle deserves free eats, Angelos had better open a fourth-floor cafeteria.The Untouchables -- UP -- Cal Ripken, B. J. Surhoff, Charles Johnson, Jason Johnson, Mike Mussina and Sidney Ponson are not to be included in trade discussions. Belle, Brady Anderson and Scott Erickson, all of whom enjoy at least partial no-trade status within their contracts, are available for offers.

On the field: Geronimo Berroa delivered two of the Orioles' three first-inning runs with a double to left-center field, and he almost padded the margin in the second. With B. J. Surhoff on first, Minnesota center fielder Matt Lawton raced into the gap in right-center and made a diving catch of Berroa's line drive.In the dugout: Manager Davey Johnson waited until after Lenny Webster had taken batting practice to write the catcher's name into the lineup. Webster has been bothered by a strained left shoulder that prevented him from playing Thursday.

Highlights and lowlights from the Orioles' 4-3 loss to the Florida Marlins in Fort Lauderdale, Fla.DOWN -- Mike Timlin: Allows tiebreaking run in the ninth on double by Kevin Orie, preventing extra innings. No, wait, that's a good thing.UP -- Jeff Reboulet: Two singles and a walk in the No. 9 spot, and turns a beautiful double play.UP -- Will Clark: Goes 2-for-4 to raise his batting average to .466. Anybody heard from Raffy?UP -- Doug Linton: Wriggles out of a bases-loaded jam in the seventh to complete two scoreless innings.

Scott Kamieniecki down Fifth starter is averaging $3.15 million per win since signing a two-year contract after the '97 season. The Orioles must decide whether it's worth it to hold onto their investment. Ray Miller has his doubts.Injury intrigue down Hoping to sidestep a "circus" in Sarasota, Fla., Cal Ripken eased out of Detroit under cover of misinformation last Sunday. Two days later, after word had spread, seven media types and 20 fans attended a controlled scrimmage featuring the Iron Man. Oh, the humanity!

PitchersRicky Bones: Once projected as a spot starter, will remain in middle/long relief.Scott Erickson: Winless with an 8.38 ERA in five spring starts, could his preferred pairing with Lenny Webster return?Mike Fetters: Managed to dispel health concerns. Saved Cuba exhibition.Juan Guzman: Second in AL in exhibition ERA. Best pitcher in camp.Doug Johns: Third left-handed reliever barely hung on to 11th spot.*Scott Kamieniecki: "Strained" hamstring continues to resist treatment. Will likely miss April.

For Lenny Webster, the game of baseball is hard enough. "When you're playing sporadically," he said, "it makes it even tougher."Such is the life of a backup catcher, a tag that has been hung on Webster since he broke into the majors in 1989 with Minnesota.It has been no different in his first season with the Orioles. He sits, and he waits for the call.Webster has started just seven games and appeared in seven others as a defensive replacement, hitting .130 (3-for-23). He also has thrown out four of 12 runners attempting to steal.

The Orioles lost a popular member of their family early yesterday morning when Jeff Nelson, the club's video coaching assistant since 1995, died of complications following surgery at Johns Hopkins. He was 25.Nelson helped prepare tapes the Orioles used to review their performances or to prepare for an upcoming pitcher. One of the more common sights at Camden Yards was a player huddled with Nelson in the video room outside the clubhouse checking his at-bats from the previous night's game."Jeff was the man. He had everything you needed," said catcher Lenny Webster.

When Lenny Webster was injured for the second time this season, spraining his right ankle while avoiding a pitch thrown near his head, catcher Charles Johnson figured he was in the Orioles' lineup for the long haul.He just had no idea it would be this long."I assumed I'd catch five games and get a day off, something like that," he says.It's been nothing like that and nothing like what Johnson has experienced in his five previous seasons. Forget baseballs. Johnson is simply trying to catch his breath.

For the second time in two starts, Orioles catcher Lenny Webster had to leave a game early because of injury. Last night, he suffered a strained tendon in his right ankle in the fourth inning while falling backward to avoid a tight pitch from Cleveland Indians starter Dwight Gooden.Webster grimaced as he bent forward at the waist, then limped off the field with trainer Richie Bancells. He is listed as day-to-day.Charles Johnson, who had started the previous five games, struck out while completing Webster's at-bat and took over behind the plate.

PitchersRicky Bones: Once projected as a spot starter, will remain in middle/long relief.Scott Erickson: Winless with an 8.38 ERA in five spring starts, could his preferred pairing with Lenny Webster return?Mike Fetters: Managed to dispel health concerns. Saved Cuba exhibition.Juan Guzman: Second in AL in exhibition ERA. Best pitcher in camp.Doug Johns: Third left-handed reliever barely hung on to 11th spot.*Scott Kamieniecki: "Strained" hamstring continues to resist treatment. Will likely miss April.

Highlights and lowlights from the Orioles' 6-0 victory over the Montreal Expos last night in Jupiter, Fla.UP - Sidney Ponson: Jupiter is much kinder the third time around.UP - Will Clark: Doubles, singles and walks in three trips, and gets his fourth RBI. Average is up to .474. So, Raffy, how's the knee?UP - Brady Anderson: Runs down two long drives in center and collects the Orioles' first triple of spring.DOWN - Mike Bordick: Goes 0-for-4 and fails to drive in Anderson from third with none out.UP - B. J. Surhoff: Two doubles account for his first extra-base hits of spring.

The Orioles lost a popular member of their family early yesterday morning when Jeff Nelson, the club's video coaching assistant since 1995, died of complications following surgery at Johns Hopkins. He was 25.Nelson helped prepare tapes the Orioles used to review their performances or to prepare for an upcoming pitcher. One of the more common sights at Camden Yards was a player huddled with Nelson in the video room outside the clubhouse checking his at-bats from the previous night's game."Jeff was the man. He had everything you needed," said catcher Lenny Webster.

ANAHEIM, Calif. -- Backup catchers are typically relegated to footnotes when a season is reviewed. For Lenny Webster, his role has become a key component in the Orioles' recent offensive revitalization.Webster, who sat out last night, is on a 6-for-10 binge that includes four RBIs. Over his last 19 games, he is hitting .365 (23-for-63) with seven extra-base hits and 12 RBIs.All this from a career backup who signed for $665,000 with an option for next season that vests at 70 games. Webster has played in 63 games and is closing in on his first installment of $25,000 bonuses based upon plate appearances.

Statistics through ThursdayUps and downsScott Erickson -- UP -- Has a chance for 12 first-half wins. He and Mike Mussina have enjoyed mirror first halves except for Mussina's near no-no's.Joe Torre -- UP -- Even if he aced out Erickson, Yankees manager pulled a class move by naming Jimmy Key to the AL roster despite Key's pending nuptials.The Bird -- DOWN -- If only Phillies coach John Vukovich had grabbed him by the tail feathers. We'll say it again: Mascots to the outfield!Bird watching -- UP -- The Orioles set attendance records for a four-game and three-game home series in a seven-day span.