Mike Devereaux

Center fielder Mike Devereaux, one of the hottest hitters in the Baltimore Orioles lineup the past two weeks, was removed from the game with a strained groin in the third inning.Devereaux apparently suffered the injury as he pulled up at second base after a single by Cal Ripken. The strain was described by club officials as slight, but he was removed for precautionary reasons. Joe Orsulak replaced him on the bases and also took his place in the outfield.Though Devereaux is not expected to be out long, the club will miss his bat. He has been on a 22-for-58 tear and has raised his average from .196 to .289 during the past 14 games.

He hit the first Orioles home run in Camden Yards history in 1992, but that poke is long forgotten. What Baltimore fondly recalls of Mike Devereaux is his game-winning homer in the summer of 1989 during the Orioles' improbable push for the American League East pennant. By the All-Star break, those Birds seemed a team of destiny, a ragtag bunch that could do no wrong. Devereaux proved that. On July 15, in a game fixed in the minds of Orioles fans, the rookie slammed a walk-off two-run homer that curled around the left-field foul pole at Memorial Stadium and gave the home team an 11-9 comeback victory over the California Angels.

He hit the first Orioles home run in Camden Yards history in 1992, but that poke is long forgotten. What Baltimore fondly recalls of Mike Devereaux is his game-winning homer in the summer of 1989 during the Orioles' improbable push for the American League East pennant. By the All-Star break, those Birds seemed a team of destiny, a ragtag bunch that could do no wrong. Devereaux proved that. On July 15, in a game fixed in the minds of Orioles fans, the rookie slammed a walk-off two-run homer that curled around the left-field foul pole at Memorial Stadium and gave the home team an 11-9 comeback victory over the California Angels.

Taking the field alongside RipkenThese players have started games in the field with Cal Ripken since the streak began May 30, 1982. Players are listed in order of their appearance:Right fielders (54)Dan FordJim DwyerGary RoenickeJohn LowensteinKen SingletonBenny AyalaMike YoungTito LandrumJohn ShelbyLarry SheetsLee LacyJuan BeniquezJim TraberNelson SimmonsKen GerhartJoe OrsulakFred LynnJeff StoneKeith HughesButch DavisCarl NicholsSteve FinleyMike DevereauxStan JeffersonBrady AndersonBrad KomminskMickey TettletonDave GallagherJeff McKnightDwight EvansDavid SeguiChito MartinezLuis MercedesMark McLemoreSherman ObandoJeffrey HammondsDwight SmithJack VoigtChris SaboLonnie SmithKevin BassAndy Van SlykeBobby BonillaJarvis BrownMark SmithTony TarascoLuis PoloniaEric DavisPete IncavigliaJerome WaltonJeff RebouletDavid DellucciGeronimo BerroaJoe CarterCenter fielders (23)

BASEBALLAmerican League* Orioles -- Agreed to terms with Gregg Olson (pitcher) on a one-year contract. Renewed the contracts of Randy Milligan (first baseman) and Mike Devereaux (outfielder).* Toronto Blue Jays -- Sent Syeve Karsay and David Weathers (pitchers) and Jason Townley (catcher) to thier minor league camp for reassignement.National League* Houston Astros -- Agreed to terms with Pete Harnisch (pitcher) on a one-year contract.

Mike Devereaux and Chris Hoiles underwent successful surgery yesterday, and both are expected to be ready for the start of spring training in February, Orioles vice president and general manager Roland Hemond said.Both players had surgery at Children's Hospital. Dr. Charles Silberstein stabilized the ulna bone fragment in Hoiles' right wrist. The wrist was fractured June 21, when Hoiles was hit by a pitch from Tim Leary of the New York Yankees. Hoiles' wrist will be in a cast for six weeks, and he will then begin an extensive rehabilitation program.

Cal Ripken not worth itWow! $30.5 million plus -- how many soup kitchens and how much housing that could provide for the needy and the homeless. It is a disgrace one person be granted this enormous salary when there are so many people losing jobs who probably have been in their positions 10 years or more and had great performance records.Cal Ripken did say that he would have remained an Oriole no matter what happened. That was the laugh of the day. He was going for the big money, and having his father within the organization for many years certainly was a plus for him. Any other player with a slump as Ripken has experienced would have been traded long ago.We have several valuable players on the team.

GAMES FACTSGates open: NoonBatting practice: Orioles, 12:45 p.m.; Kansas City, 1:45 p.m.Pre-game ceremonies: 2:38 p.m.Ceremonial First pitch: Gov. William Donald SchaeferFirst pitch: 3:05 p.m.National anthem: Michael Harrison, general director of Baltimore Opera CompanyTickets: Sold outPromotion: 40th anniversary fan bandanna, courtesy of The Baltimore SunWeather: Sunny, highs in the low 60s. North winds 10 to 15 mph.TV: Channel 13, 2 p.m.Radio: WBAL (1090...

If past performance is any indication, the Orioles can't count on much production from the top of their lineup when they face the California Angels tonight.John Dopson (1-2, 6.00) doesn't have dominating numbers against the Orioles (0-1 last year, 2-2 lifetime). But the hitters who have been occupying the first three places in the lineup are hitting a collective .148 (9-for-61) with one home run and three RBIs against the Angels' right-hander.Of the Orioles' hitters, Dopson has been most successful against Brady Anderson (1-for-15, .067)

On the field: Orioles hitters compiled some major numbers, even in defeat. They had 17 hits, a season high. Brady Anderson matched a career high with four hits, as did left fielder Mike Devereaux (who improved his average from .214 to .368). Roberto Alomar had two hits, Bobby Bonilla had a hit and an RBI, Chris Hoiles had two singles in five at-bats, his first two-hit game of the year. But the Orioles went 1-for-7 with runners in scoring position and left 13 runners on base.In the dugout: Boston's Kevin Kennedy, trying to end a seven-game losing streak, managed as if it were the World Series.

Yankees' Kenny Rogers (12-8, 4.68 ERA) vs. O's Rocky Coppinger (10-6, 5.18 ERA)What Rogers throws: Fastball, slider and changeup. Rogers likes to run his slow stuff off the outside corner and make right-handed hitters chase balls out of the strike zone. If he has a good fastball, he'll throw inside to right-handed hitters.Rogers of late: Rogers pitched poorly against Texas in the Division Series, lasting only two innings. He had problems early in the year because he wouldn't throw inside enough to set up his slow stuff away, but Rogers started doing more of that toward the end of the season, including 5 2/3 shutout innings against the Orioles Sept.

At Yankee Stadium, 7: 35 p.m.Scott Erickson (12-11, 5.18) vs. Andy Pettitte (21-8, 4.13)What Erickson throws: One of the best sinking fastballs in baseball and a slider.Erickson of late: He has won his past four starts, all caught by Mark Parent, continuing his career trend of dominating games in September (lifetime mark of 20-7).Yankees he loves to face:................. Avg. ... Hits ... ABDerek Jeter ..... .167 ... 1 ...... 6Luis Sojo ....... .188 ... 3 ...... 16Cecil Fielder ... .233 ... 10 .....

SEATTLE -- About a month ago, Philadelphia Phillies manager Jim Fregosi told Pete Incaviglia he probably wouldn't play much the rest of the year. The Phillies were going with a youth movement, and Incaviglia, 32, isn't young anymore.Figuring he had nothing better to do with his time, Incaviglia began his usual off-season regimen at the end of July. Lots and lots of weightlifting, the kind that builds muscle in his upper body, and some running.And now Incaviglia is huge, as large as he would be at the start of spring training.

CLEVELAND -- Luis Polonia's career as an Oriole is over. And that's just fine with him.Designated for assignment yesterday, Polonia sharply criticized the way the Orioles play, saying that while they have the talent to win, they won't unless they approach the game more unselfishly."

The Boston Red Sox began to rally in the ninth inning yesterday, and some of the Orioles immediately went into stress-management mode. Mike Mussina, the Orioles starter who left after eight innings with a six-run lead, paced in the clubhouse. Manager Davey Johnson sat on the bench, his body contorted as always, and wished he never quit chewing tobacco.Boston scored four runs, had the potential tying run on base and masher Mo Vaughn at the plate with two outs -- and closer Randy Myers retired him on a flyout to left.

The salary per year and amount lost per canceled game for Orioles players:Player .. .. .. .. .. ..Salary .. .. .. .. ..DailyCal Ripken .. .. .. ...4,800,000 .. .. .. ..26,230Rafael Palmeiro .. .. .3,500,000 .. .. .. ..19,126Mike Devereaux .. .. ..3,375,000 .. .. .. ..18,443Brady Anderson .. .. ..3,000,000 .. .. .. ..16,393Sid Fernandez .. .. ...3,000,000 .. .. .. ..16,393Ben McDonald .. .. .. .2,675,000 .. .. .. ..14,617Chris Hoiles .. .. .. .2,000,000 .....

The 1994 salaries for players on the Orioles' Opening Day roster and disabled list. Figures were obtained by The Associated Press from management and player sources and include salaries and prorated shares of signing bonuses and other guaranteed income.Player .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. ..SalaryCal Ripken .. .. .. .. .. .. ...$5,665,822Rafael Palmeiro .. .. .. .. .. ..5,469,479Mike Devereaux .. .. .. .. .. ...3,375,000Sid Fernandez .. .. .. .. .. .3,333,333Brady Anderson .. .. .. .. .. ...3,083,333Ben McDonald .. .. .. .. .. .. ..2,675,000Chris Hoiles .. .. .. .. .. .. ..2,000,000Chris Sabo .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .2,000,000Harold Baines .. .. .. .. .. .. .1,800,000Lee Smith .. .. .. .. .. .. .. ..1,500,000Mark McLemore .. .. .. .. .. .. .1,000,000Mike Mussina .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .750,000Lonnie Smith .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .750,000Jamie Moyer .. .. .. .. .. .. .. ..725,000Tim Hulett .. .. .. .. .. .. .. ...550,000Mark Eichhorn .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 525,000Leo Gomez .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .500,000Alan Mills .. .. .. .. .. .. .. ...500,000Mark Williamson .. .. .. .. .. .. .350,000Jim Poole .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .270,000Arthur Rhodes .. .. .. .. .. .. ...230,000Jeff Tackett .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .162,500Jeffrey Hammonds .. .. .. .. .. ...150,000Jack Voigt .. .. .. .. .. .. .. ...150,000Damon Buford .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .130,000Brad Pennington .. .. .. .. .. .. .130,000dl-Paul Carey .. .. .. .. .. .. ...115,000dl-Manny Alexander .. .. .. .. .. .109,000