Right Field

NEW YORK -- Right field in Yankee Stadium has never been kind to Bobby Bonilla, and yesterday was no exception.Bonilla, a native New Yorker, is the target of much abuse from the fans, both verbal and from thrown objects. Yesterday, the outfield wall itself did Bonilla in.Bonilla crashed into the wall trying to catch a drive by Tim Raines in the seventh inning. Bonilla had the ball in his glove momentarily, but dropped it after crashing into the wall, and left the game the next inning with a bruised left shoulder.

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.

On the field: The fans sitting in right field in Yankee Stadium are known as the loudest, most obnoxious and most obscene of any in baseball. They have a special affection for former Met Bobby Bonilla -- who grew up in the Bronx -- chanting lots of things that we can't print here. When the game was delayed briefly in the fourth inning, the fans focused their attention on Bonilla in right field, and he turned his back on them, crossed his arms and faced the right-field foul line.In the dugout: In the bottom of the ninth, Orioles manager Davey Johnson let right-handed-hitting Mike Devereaux bat against Yankees closer John Wetteland, who had struck out Devereaux to end Thursday's game.

VIERA, Fla. -- The hometown fans -- the Baltimore fans -- were unmistakable yesterday, from the "O" of the anthem to the final big hit as the Orioles played their first game of a promising 1996 season.In their black and orange hats and T-shirts -- and even their Orioles' team jackets, on what began as a cool, damp day -- they were spread out in the stands of the 7,200-seat Space Coast Stadium in this unincorporated "new town" between Cape Canaveral and Melbourne."We'd rather come to spring training than a regular game," said 66-year-old Jack Hild of Hampstead.

The Orioles' Chris Sabo made an impressive outfield debut in left at Fenway Park over the weekend, and made his right-field debut at Camden Yards last night.Sabo, becoming a fixture in the No. 2 spot in the batting order, said his back is in good shape."I'm running as good as I have all year," he said.The Orioles' right-field wall isn't the Green Monster, but the scoreboard stands 25 feet high."It's not an easy one to play for the simple reason that it's different than most," said Mark McLemore, who moved from the infield to right field last season.

This is comparable to the two-minute offense. Baltimore is on the move and closing in on touchdown territory. The National Football League hasn't yet given Baltimore the ball, as its rallying call proposes, but -- put it this way -- the city has appreciably advanced its hopes for gaining an expansion franchise.The succession of first downs it recorded yesterday at the meeting in Chicago means Baltimore has improved its situation immeasurably. It's "goal to go," to keep the language analogous to football.

FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. -- Chito Martinez knows that the arrival of left-handed hitting outfielder Mark Leonard could impact his playing time, but he is not complaining about the deal that has complicated the right-field situation."

MINNEAPOLIS -- The Orioles arrived at the Metrodome yesterday and soon were reminded why they went for something a little more traditional when they were picking out a new stadium.Baseball under the Big Top has never been their cup of tea, which is just one of the reasons why Oriole Park at Camden Yards was not built with an inflatable roof. The Orioles aren't much for artificial turf or shower curtain fences either.The Minnesota Twins have no such reservations. They love their little toy stadium and they have parlayed a decided home-field advantage into two World Series Championships during the past five seasons.

On Day One, perhaps you will notice the concrete -- surprisingly abundant after all this talk of steel beams and brick walls -- still wearing the sharp-edged grittiness of the freshly troweled sidewalk.And, maybe, as you enter the outer corridors by the festive concession stands beneath artfully exposed pipes and ducts, you will feel an uneasy pang that says, "Please, not another Harborplace."But then you will walk up a ramp and into the sunlight, and ease down onto one of the slatted green seats with all that leg room.

On Day One, perhaps you will notice the concrete -- surprisingly abundant after all the talk of steel beams and brick walls -- still wearing the sharp-edged grittiness of the freshly troweled sidewalk.And, maybe, as you enter the outer corridors by the festive concession stands beneath artfully exposed pipes and ducts, you will feel an uneasy pang that says, "Please, not another Harborplace."But then you will walk up a ramp and into the sunlight, and ease down onto one of the slatted green seats with all that leg room.