Mike Timlin

The Orioles found a little bit of everything -- good, bad and worrisome -- in yesterday's 10-7 Opening Day win over the Tampa Bay Devil Rays.They rediscovered right fielder Albert Belle's bat and were rewarded with four RBIs, including a game-turning three-run homer in his second at-bat as an Oriole. They found the offense that had eluded them for much of an indifferent spring training.They happened upon more positive returns from new first baseman Will Clark. They even received a piece of clutch pitching from scrutinized closer Mike Timlin.

Highlights and lowlights from the Orioles' 6-4 victory over the Minnesota Twins in Fort Lauderdale, Fla. UP -- Brady Anderson: Launched a three-run homer to center field in the second inning. He led the Grapefruit League with 11 walks before yesterday, then drew his 12th. DOWN -- Albert Belle: A fly ball into the gap was turned into a triple as Belle had trouble getting over, then fumbled it on the warning track. DOWN -- Official scorer: Has to be able to recognize an error.

JUPITER, Fla. -- The question was asked of Ray Miller yesterday: When do your pitchers dial it up during spring training?"Any time after their first time out there," Miller answered dryly.Using Miller's Grapefruit League calendar, yesterday's exhibition against the St. Louis Cardinals was time for Mike Timlin to turn it on.The Orioles' new-and-improved $16 million closer offered a solid reply with a scoreless eighth inning in an 8-5 win, securing three ground-ball outs while ignoring his slider, his signature pitch.

PitchersDarin Blood: Acquired last July for Joe Carter, he underwent off-season elbow surgery. Possible midseason contributor.Ricky Bones: Pitching coach Bruce Kison pushed for journeyman's signing. Ticketed for long relief unless Scott Kamieniecki buckles.Rocky Coppinger: Uninspired winter ball experience. Orioles wonder: Is his time approaching or has it already passed?Radhames Dykhoff: Sidney Ponson's first cousin. Should add to 170 minor-league appearances at Triple-A Rochester.Scott Erickson: Has averaged 232 innings past three seasons, including league-high 251 1/3 last year.

Willing to give Mike Fetters a tryout in his own backyard, the Orioles followed through yesterday by signing the free-agent right-handed reliever to a minor-league contract but virtually assuring him a place in their retooled bullpen.Signing Fetters, a ground-ball pitcher suited to the tight confines of Camden Yards, guarantees that the club will begin the coming season with only three holdovers from last year's bullpen."I like the general makeup of our bullpen," general manager Frank Wren said last night.

Facing a potential break point in their off-season renovation, the Orioles have presented free-agent outfielder Brian Jordan with a modified five-year offer worth approximately $40 million, according to sources familiar with talks.The upgrade, representing the most lucrative contract in franchise history, apparently puts the Orioles in a showdown with the Atlanta Braves for the Milford Mill graduate and former Pro Bowl defensive back. While the Orioles have promised Jordan he will inherit center field should he decide upon a return to his hometown, the Braves reportedly have assured him they will meet or beat any offer.

The man hates baseball. Why won't someone just admit it? Jerry Reinsdorf hates major-league baseball, and he's doing everything in his power to destroy it.Just connect the dots:Reinsdorf was a driving force in the labor dispute. Reinsdorf disrupted the salary structure by giving Albert Belle $55 million. And yesterday, Reinsdorf gutted his team when it was only 3 1/2 games out of first place.To the list of terms previously used to describe the Chicago White Sox owner -- union buster, large-market bully, mind-blowing hypocrite -- make sure you add "quitter."

The Orioles rallied in the ninth inning for the second time in three games against Toronto last night to defeat the Blue Jays, 11-10, before 45,955 at Camden Yards.Bobby Bonilla delivered the decisive blow, a sacrifice fly to shallow left field that scored Brady Anderson with the winning run. Roberto Alomar, who didn't start because of his sprained left ring finger, had tied the game at 10 with a sacrifice fly three batters earlier.The Orioles blew an early 7-3 lead and lost an 8-7 advantage in the eighth inning, but Toronto's Mike Timlin (0-3)

TORONTO -- Might as well start trying to figure out the Toronto Blue Jays' 1994 roster, if only to get an idea of which players will be torturing the Orioles next season.Carlos Delgado? Alex Gonzalez? Rob Butler? They're familiar names only to baseball insiders, but at least one of them is sure to deliver a game-winning hit at Camden Yards.The Jays' World Series roster features 12 players who weren't with the club in the '92 postseason. The turnover this time figures to be about half that, but significant nonetheless.

ATLANTA -- The last pitch was thrown 50 minutes past a cool southern midnight. Otis Nixon dropped a bunt and 51,000 voices shrieked at the audacity. The ball rolled on the grass toward first base, with Nixon close behind, sprinting. From third base, the tying run ran for the plate.The run, the game, the entire World Series -- it all came down to a 26-year-old middle reliever named Mike Timlin, a tall Texan who started the year on the disabled list and was in Triple-A as recently as June.He jumped off the mound and ran for the ball.