Right Field

ATLANTA -- As usual, Jeff Conine wandered over to where the Orioles' lineup was posted in the visiting clubhouse at Turner Field yesterday, checking to see if his name was among the batters who would take their cuts against four-time Cy Young Award-winner Greg Maddux.What Conine found was most unusual: He was occupying right field and the cleanup spot, the previous domains of Albert Belle.Two nights after he was confronted by Belle in the dugout at Florida's Pro Player Stadium and lured into a heated exchange, Orioles manager Ray Miller made the decision to start Conine, a .357 (10-for-28)

It was a hot and steamy night at Camden Yards. Every fan in the outfield bleachers hoped he or she could catch Cal Ripken's 400th home run. A few sought something they considered even more elusive, a tip of the cap from Albert Belle.Two days after he blasted three home runs in an Orioles victory and then broke a four-month silence to rip into critical fans and media, Belle remained a hot topic at Camden Yards. A sampling of patrons in right field found those who said everyone should get off his back, and some who wondered where he went to charm school.

FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. - Without learning everything, Chris Richard learned enough during January's FanFest. The Orioles had just signed David Segui to a four-year, $28 million contract, seemingly incongruous with public comments about getting younger and committing to rebuilding from within. But that was before manager Mike Hargrove sought out the 26-year-old during the team's winter festival to tell him things would work out. "He told me I'd get my 350 or 400 at-bats," Richard said. "He didn't have to tell me that, and I didn't have to really hear it, but it was nice to know."

BOSTON -- Right field continues to resemble a battle zone for the Orioles. Eric Davis and Jerome Walton are nursing leg strains. More prominently, Davis suffered a shoulder contusion diving for a ball last week. And yesterday, the club received another scare when Jeffrey Hammonds aggravated a tender groin while making a catch on Mo Vaughn's sinking liner in the eighth inning."It didn't help," said Hammonds, who was able to jog gingerly back to the dugout. He returned for the ninth inning but did not bat again.

A smiling Boog Powell walked into the Orioles clubhouse last night and headed straight to Jeffrey Hammonds to congratulate him on two outstanding catches Thursday night.Jim Palmer had a smile and some kind words for Hammonds.Fans in town are suddenly treating the red-hot outfielder with a lot more respect wherever Hammonds goes around his downtown home.Cal Ripken said last night "the best is yet to come" for Hammonds."Jeffrey's a super talented player," said Ripken. "Everyone was able to see that from the beginning.

It's not an issue now because Jay Gibbons' balky right knee has left him unable to play the outfield. But some time this offseason, the Orioles are going to have to decide what position Gibbons is going to play in 2007. Nick Markakis moved from left to right field when Gibbons went down with an injury, strengthening the Orioles' outfield defense. At this point, club officials are unlikely to move him. That leaves Gibbons' status uncertain heading into next year. Gibbons said that he would play first base, a position he has played sparingly as an Oriole, but he isn't thrilled with the idea of being the team's everyday designated hitter.

ARLINGTON, Texas -- As last year's pitching coach, Ray Miller fretted over how to stretch four starting pitchers into a five-man rotation.As this year's manager, Miller now handles rotation problems of a different, perhaps more subtle, sort. He must concoct a way to satisfy four veterans with two spots in his lineup.The issue already has flared despite the club's solid start. Rotating Harold Baines, Joe Carter, Eric Davis and Jeffrey Hammonds exclusively between right field and designated hitter threatens to become a claustrophobic fit. Miller said this spring that he hopes to keep Davis on a 100-game pace while giving Carter about 400 plate appearances.

COLUMBUS, Ga. -- The Olympic softball competition was supposed to be an American cakewalk, but the gold-medal game almost turned into an international incident.The U.S. women's team won the gold as expected, but its 3-1 victory over China last night turned on what can only be described as a Mike Devereaux moment.Shortstop Dot Richardson hit a game-breaking, two-run home run in the third inning that passed so close by the right-field foul pole that it wasn't clear whether it was fair.Right-field umpire Geralyn Lindberg of Sweden immediately signaled home run, sending the pro-American crowd at Golden Stadium into hysterics and the Chinese team into histrionics.

Pity the conservative rock fan. So many musicians are ganging up on the president. Bruce Springsteen is on tour playing protest songs. The Dixie Chicks just put out a new album with a song - "Not Ready to Make Nice" - that finds them standing firm against President Bush. And Mick Jagger released a song last year that called the president a hypocrite. But to prove that there is still some music out there for conservative rockers, National Review has published a list of the 50 greatest conservative rock songs.

VIERA, Fla. -- Jeffrey Hammonds has been trying to stay inside the ball this spring, hitting it where it's pitched and not falling into the trap of wanting to do too much. Yesterday, that approach and a strong wind produced his third and fourth home runs of the spring, both to the opposite field, in the Orioles' 6-4 win over the Florida Marlins.Hammonds had a pair of two-run shots after entering the game in the fourth inning, tying him with Eric Davis for the club lead in RBIs with 16. Three of the right-handed hitter's home runs this spring have gone to right field.