Oquist

Mike Oquist remains the Orioles' biggest puzzle.Oquist (2-1, 4.91 ERA) looks for his first major-league victory as a starter tonight as the Orioles look to climb back within a game of first place against the New York Yankees at Camden Yards.The 26-year-old right-hander was groomed in the minor leagues as a starter, winning 36 games in that role in the previous five seasons. During that same time, Oquist made just 15 relief appearances.With that background, the Orioles are trying to sort out his numbers this year.

Some numbers to ponder while waiting for the Orioles to pull out of this "slump":They have lost 24 of their last 30 games and 35 of their last 49 dating to last season.They're five games under .500 since sweeping the Braves 277 games ago in June 1997.Yes, that's a period that has included two front office regimes, numerous personnel moves and several blueprints, but still, the pattern is impossible to miss.You can keep calling their 4-13 start a slump or a phase or whatever, but the reality is the Orioles aren't a winning ballclub and haven't been for some time.

Orioles right-hander Mike Oquist was breezing so smoothly through the Minnesota Twins lineup early yesterday afternoon, it seemed as if he was in the midst of one of his quick long relief appearances.Then the third inning arrived and served as a reminder that this indeed was an Oquist start.The Twins scored six runs, all charged to Oquist, in the third and ripped their way to a sweep-averting, 10-4 victory over the Orioles in front of the 27th consecutive sellout crowd at Camden Yards, this one numbering 47,088.

Last season, former Oriole Mike Oquist had the worst road ERA in the majors at 7.79, more than a full run ahead of the Chicago White Sox's Jaime Navarro. Opponents batted .328 against him.Yesterday, he became the latest punching bag to flatten the Orioles.Oquist didn't allow a run in 5 2/3 innings. He also didn't record a strikeout but managed to pick up his 18th career victory as the Oakland Athletics defeated the Orioles for the first time in nine games, 3-0.This was Oquist's first career appearance against the club that brought him to the majors in 1993.

SEATTLE -- Mark McLemore booted the grounder with two outs in the eighth inning that led to the winning run in the Seattle Mariners' 7-5 victory over the Orioles late Monday night at the Kingdome.The Orioles squandered several early scoring opportunities against wild Seattle right-hander George Glinatsis, 25, who made his major-league debut just weeks after being promoted from Single-A to Double-A.Jack Voigt bobbled a ball in right field. Cal Ripken was thrown out by Ken Griffey at third base tagging on a ball in the second inning, a call disputed by the Orioles.

The 1989 summer free-agent draft included a highly-touted high school pitcher from California who became the third player picked.Seattle locked up Roger Salkeld hundreds of players before the Orioles got around to choosing University of Arkansas pitcher Mike Oquist on the 13th round.But when they oppose each other tonight at Camden Yards in the finale of a three-game series, they will be at a similar stage of their careers -- rookies trying to get a foothold.Salkeld might be further along than Oquist but for a setback that forced him to miss all of 1992.

Scheduled starter Sid Fernandez may not pitch for the Orioles tonight in Toronto because of an injury he believes he suffered in his last start.Fernandez feels pain in his right side, which may be due to a muscle strain in his rib cage.If Fernandez doesn't start tonight, the Orioles will send Mike Oquist to the mound.Oquist's last start was Sunday, a dismal afternoon that saw him exit the game in the third inning, which ended with six Minnesota Twins runs being charged to him.After the 10-4 loss, Oquist desperately needs a decent outing to help out his cause.

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. -- His window of opportunity is ajar these days, and Mike Oquist appears ready to squeeze through it.The Orioles' 25-year-old rookie, thrust more prominently into the picture because of the injury to Sid Fernandez, strengthened his case significantly here yesterday. The right-hander pitched four scoreless innings, allowing three hits and striking out four, as the Orioles defeated the Minnesota Twins, 5-2."I don't know what my situation is -- it's something I can't look at,"said Oquist, who appeared in five games with the Orioles last year.

He appeared destined for anonymity. The unknown Oriole. The 25th man who watches from the bullpen. And watches and watches, waiting for the phone call that never comes.Mike what's his name again?Mike Oquist. That's it. Oquist.A household name in his household only, Oquist made a name for himself last night before a sellout crowd of 47,194 at Oriole Park.He brought the audience to its feet for a peppy ovation when he walked off the mound in the middle of the eighth inning of the Orioles' 6-3 come-from-behind victory over the reeling Toronto Blue Jays.

The Orioles signed righthanded pitcher Mike Oquist and catcher Cesar Devares to major-league contracts yesterday, bringing to 19 the number of signed players on the 40-man roster.Oquist was 10-9 for the Double-A Hagerstown Suns last season and ranked second in the Eastern League with 136 strikeouts. Devares batted .251 with three homers and 29 RBIs for the Single-A Frederick Keys.The club continues to wade through the contract season. The first Orioles arbitration hearing is scheduled for Feb. 12 with second baseman Bill Ripken.

&TC Ben McDonald's recovery from tendinitis in his pitching shoulder has taken a step backward.McDonald, who was placed on the disabled list July 25, postponed throwing in a simulated game yesterday because he experienced soreness in his shoulder on Tuesday.His rehabilitation assignment at Rochester, where he was scheduled to start Monday, also has been pushed back.It appears now that McDonald will not be back before September."There's no set timetable in these types of things. They told me that from the beginning," said McDonald, who rushed back from the disabled list after one week earlier this season and suffered a recurrence of the tendinitis.

On the field: Mike Oquist pitched 3 1/3 innings in relief of Jamie Moyer, allowing two hits and walking one, as he picked up his second victory of the year. Jesse Orosco and Doug Jones combined to pitch the last two innings.In the dugout: The Kansas City offense is to baseball what the Tampa Bay Buccaneers defense has been to football over the years. Therefore, when the Royals got back-to-back singles to open the game against Moyer, Kansas City manager Bob Boone ordered No. 3 hitter Greg Gagne to drop a sacrifice bunt.

NEW YORK -- Orioles pitching coach Mike Flanagan likes Mike Oquist, respects the way he goes about his business. When he got a chance, then, to serve as an advocate for Oquist yesterday, he did so.Oquist was one out from finishing the seventh inning, but into his fifth inning of relief. The New York Yankees had runners on first and second, two outs, and with Oquist losing his sharpness, Orioles manager Phil Regan was thinking about lifting Oquist for Alan Mills or Jesse Orosco.Flanagan asked Regan to leave him in, let him complete the inning.

NEW YORK -- Two weeks had passed since Brad Pennington last pitched for the Orioles, which is why the left-handed reliever walked into the office of manager Phil Regan yesterday morning and asked why."We talked about things," said Pennington. "I don't know if we got anything settled."The gist of their conversation was Pennington asking, politely and professionally, about his role and his future with the team, and Regan replying, politely and professionally, that Pennington should work hard and just concentrate on pitching well when he gets the chance.

Hold off on the weak weight jokes. And don't be calling the pizza palaces that specialize in the deepest dishes, crustiest crusts and mounds of cheese.Sid Fernandez did not lose his fastball and curve along with the 42 pounds he has shed since the end of last season. It just seems that way.The formerly portly left-hander has tried just about everything he could physically to get himself into the kind of groove the Orioles expected when they signed him to a $9 million, three-year contract after the 1993 season.

BOSTON -- Sometime this week, Orioles manager Phil Regan said yesterday, he and general manager Roland Hemond will sit down and try to figure out a way to reduce the club's roster from 28 to 25 players by Monday's deadline.It won't be easy, because of mitigating factors for several of those who are on the bubble -- outfielders Jack Voigt and Damon Buford, pitchers Mike Oquist and Jamie Moyer, and infielder Jeff Manto.Baseball sources indicate that Hemond is trying to move Moyer, but is finding little interest because of Moyer's $1.1 million salary.

The Baltimore Orioles signed right-handed pitcher Mike Oquist and catcher Cesar Devares to major-league contracts yesterday, bringing to 19 the number of signed players on the 40-man roster.Oquist was 10-9 for the Class AA Hagerstown Suns last season and ranked second in the Eastern League with 136 strikeouts. Devares batted .251 with three homers and 29 RBI for the Class A Frederick Keys.The club continues to wade through the contract season. The first Orioles arbitration hearing is scheduled for Feb. 12 with second baseman Bill Ripken.

The second time around against the New York Yankees was a truer -- and tougher -- test for Mike Oquist. And the fact that the game-time temperature was 97 degrees at Camden Yards last night was only a minor contributing factor.In contrast to his first appearance, a scoreless seven-inning stint in New York on May 21, this time Oquist had to face the Yankees' full left-handed-hitting lineup. For a right-hander like Oquist, it is a totally different game with Luis Polonia, Wade Boggs and Paul O'Neill in the lineup.

Mike OquistWhat he would be doing if there were no strike: Oquist, 26, would be in camp trying to re-establish himself in the Orioles' organization. Last year, he went 3-3 with a 6.17 ERA in 15 games for the Orioles, and 3-2 for Triple-A Rochester. In a normal spring, Oquist would have an outside shot of making the O's staff. Now, his chances are reduced.Where he is instead: At home in La Junta, Colo.How he's filling his time: From 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. every day, Oquist is working out at Otero Junior College, throwing batting practice and playing long toss and working out. Before and after his training, he is working for Valley Plumbing and Heating, a company started by his late father and now run by his two older brothers.

SYRACUSE, N.Y. -- Manny Alexander's RBI single in the 10th inning lifted Rochester over Syracuse in the Triple-A International League.Jim Dedrick (3-6) pitched two shutout innings for the victory and Mike Oquist worked the 10th for his third save.