Pitching Staff

The Orioles fired pitching coach Pat Dobson yesterday, and are on the verge of hiring former Orioles pitching coach Ray Miller, according to league sources.The hiring of Miller, 51, could be made final as soon as today. The Seattle Mariners have offered Miller a two-year contract, but the Orioles -- who will have an organizational meeting today -- are expected to at least match the Seattle offer.Miller was the pitching coach of the Orioles from 1978 to mid-1985, and in that time the team went to the World Series twice, had five 20-game winners and two Cy Young Award-winners.

The next trading deadline is less than two weeks away, but Orioles officials have been downplaying speculation that the club might make a significant move to upgrade the pitching staff.General manager Pat Gillick has cast doubt on his ability to acquire a premier starting pitcher and manager Davey Johnson insists that he does not want to gamble the future of the franchise on one big-name player, but there still is some sentiment within the organization to pull out all the stops and try to guarantee a trip to the World Series in 1997.

BOSTON -- When last seen in Fenway Park, Frank Viola was answering to the nickname of "Sweet Music" and pitchingTC shutout for the Minnesota Twins. But that (a 10-0 win, June 23, 1989) was then, and this is now.In between, Viola had a contract dispute and was traded to the New York Mets in a deal that helped the Twins solidify the pitching staff that earned them a World Series title last year -- and then left the Mets as a free agent after the 1991 season.He came back to Fenway yesterday in the Red Sox's home opener, and the only tune playing sounded like an off-beat drum roll.

CHICAGO - Oakland pitcher Barry Zito sat behind a table at the All-Star headquarters hotel yesterday, expecting the usual questions about being an All-Star and how the winner of this year's game receives home-field advantage in the World Series. Pretty standard stuff, really. So imagine Zito's surprise when reporters began filtering to his interview station, seeking his reaction to being taken off the American League's roster. They had no idea they were breaking the news to him. "I haven't gotten official word yet," he said, "but everyone keeps telling me I'm not pitching."

OAKLAND, Calif. -- The Oakland Coliseum is no place for a visiting team in a pitching slump, but the Orioles tried to appear unconcerned about the 10-game turnaround that has inflated their team ERA to its highest level of the year.The team ERA was a league-leading 2.88 on May 17. It was 3.71 when Bob Milacki took the mound last night to face right-hander Mike Moore and an Oakland Athletics team that swept a three-game series at Camden Yards little more than a week ago."I don't know of too many teams that have finished the season with an ERA under 3.00," manager Johnny Oates said.

Brad Pennington recently allowed eight consecutive runners to reach base, a spell that a year ago would have triggered a case of Rochester phobia for the young left-hander from Salem, Ind.Not this season, Pennington insists, though he realizes his is the most tenuous spot on the pitching staff."

THE ORIOLES are talking about other moves, now that Sammy Sosa's presence in the lineup and right field gives them flexibility. But these moves are about first base, center field, catcher. Pitching? Months after Tim Hudson flashed on the radar screen, we're still waiting. In theory, it's admirable that the Orioles want to give far greater weight to drafting and developing young talent, particularly pitchers, than acting on impulse for short-term gain. This is why the Orioles don't have Hudson for the 2005 season.

CARL PAVANO or Tim Hudson would have been nice. Richie Sexson, Carlos Delgado or Magglio Ordonez would have been sweet. But what is Opening Day if not for an inspired bout of amnesia? So, we'll forget what was, or wasn't, to be. Instead, let's dwell on the positive, because salvation comes in all forms, shapes and sizes. On that note, we'd like to officially welcome to the bullpen The Two Steves -- veteran relievers who could prove to be the Orioles' most important additions this season.

The Orioles have completed the second stop on their road trip back to reality, which has featured five losses in six games and a number of fine pitching performances delivered for naught. They have four games left in Kansas City before they play the division-leading Boston Red Sox on Monday, so a weekend recovery is not out the question, but this seems like as good a time as any to bail on the notion that 2008 might be some kind of miracle season. I'm tempted to go a step further and announce that I'm giving up on the ballclub - particularly after that little bit of reverse psychology worked so well with Daniel Cabrera during spring training - but let's not get carried away.

Pitching coach Dick Bosman became the latest victim of the Orioles' reorganization yesterday, joining the ranks of baseball's unemployed less than 48 hours after the club fired manager Johnny Oates.Bosman, who became pitching coach in 1992 after spending four years as the club's minor-league pitching instructor, apparently asked for an early decision on his uncertain status and was informed early yesterday by general manager Roland Hemond that he would not be re-hired for the 1995 season.