Rocky Coppinger

FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. -- "He was batting in the top of the first for the district championship, and we were playing at their field," said Rocky Coppinger's father, John. "This kid Gino was going to throw at Rocky right away, and the kids he went to school with had heard this.""I was sitting with the scouts on the first base side. They threw right at his head, and as he ducked the ball hit him in the right elbow and he had to pitch that game. All hell broke loose. I was going to kill their coach, and I'm not usually like that."

At Oriole Park at Camden Yards Day...................Time..................TV........................... Starters Tonight.............7: 05................54, 50..............LaTroy Hawkins (1-3, 10.89) vs. ........................................ ................................Sidney Ponson (0-2, 6.23) Tomorrow.........1: 35...................HTS.............Brad Radke (2-2, 4.73) vs. ........................................ ...............................

Opponent: Kansas City RoyalsSite: Oriole ParkTime: 7: 35 p.m.TV/Radio: Chs. 13, 50/WBAL (1090 AM)Starters: Royals' Chris Haney (4-5, 4.23) vs. Orioles' Rocky Coppinger (2-0, 6.55)Tickets: 250 remain.Pub Date: 6/21/96

Highlights and lowlights from the Orioles' 8-5 victory over the St. Louis Cardinals in Jupiter, Fla.Calvin Pickering: After over-swinging and hearing a collective yell from the Orioles' dugout, Pickering shortened his swing on the next pitch and crushed an opposite-field homer.Chris Fussell: Needs more seasoning in the minors. His stuff is too good to be struggling like this.Mike Murphy: Destined for a starting job in Triple-A, but the outfielder made his mark yesterday with two hits and two RBIs.

FREDERICK -- Sean Hugo drove in three runs and Rocky Coppinger allowed two hits over seven inning, leading the Frederick Keys to a 5-1 win over the Lynchburg Hill Cats in a Carolina League game last night.

OTTAWA -- First-inning wildness by left-hander Jimmy Williams proved to be the difference last night as the Ottawa Lynx edged the Rochester Red Wings, 1-0, and evened the best-of-five International League East playoffs at one game apiece.Williams, acquired by the New York Mets last month to complete the Bobby Bonilla trade, walked three batters and gave up a run-scoring single to Yamil Benitez. The left-hander got back on track and finished with a complete-game six-hitter, but the Wings' offense was shut down by left-hander Bob Baxter and three relievers.

On the field: Roberto Alomar missed the first two games of this series to rest his sore left ankle. Yesterday, he stole his first two bases.In the dugout: Manager Davey Johnson removed Scott Erickson after six innings and 111 pitches (65 strikes), bringing in left-hander Arthur Rhodes with the Orioles ahead 9-2.In the clubhouse: "I wish I knew what I could do to make him more relaxed, more focused on what he needs to do. I don't think he's 100 percent. He did throw harder a couple of years ago, but he also was lighter.

Van Poppel mystery to O'sTodd Van Poppel, the Tigers starter today, has struggled his entire career since being a prized first-round pick by the Oakland Athletics in 1990, and carries a 7.89 ERA into his start against the Orioles.However, none of the Orioles' sluggers have hit Van Poppel well. Cal Ripken is 2-for-18 lifetime, Rafael Palmeiro is 3-for-12 (but all three hits are homers), Hoiles is 1-for-12 and Brady Anderson is 4-for-18. Overall, the Orioles' regular starting lineup is a combined 12-for-73 (.164)

(Through Thursday's games)Ups and downsThe Orioles -- UP -- Should get fat on second-division feast this week, when they travel to Detroit and Kansas City.Roberto Alomar -- UP -- Has some big advantages in his quest for .400: He can bunt, run and switch-hit.Brady Anderson -- EVEN -- Tigers come and go and Anderson doesn't go deep. Dude, you can't hit homers all the time.Rocky Coppinger -- UP -- The savior. But remember, just 13 months ago, he was pitching in Single-A.Manny Alexander -- DOWN -- It's understandable he's not happy about not playing, but to play the race card is sort of silly, given the circumstances.

Highlights and lowlights from the Orioles' 8-5 victory over the St. Louis Cardinals in Jupiter, Fla.Calvin Pickering: After over-swinging and hearing a collective yell from the Orioles' dugout, Pickering shortened his swing on the next pitch and crushed an opposite-field homer.Chris Fussell: Needs more seasoning in the minors. His stuff is too good to be struggling like this.Mike Murphy: Destined for a starting job in Triple-A, but the outfielder made his mark yesterday with two hits and two RBIs.

CHARLOTTE, N.C. -- Like his friend Sidney Ponson is now, two years ago Rocky Coppinger was the new kid on the Orioles' pitching block.He took a lightning-like route through the organization, arriving in the majors in June 1996, less than two years after launching his career in rookie ball at Bluefield.Single-A. Double-A. Triple-A. No problem for the rampaging big guy from Texas who averaged more than a strikeout an inning after the Orioles beat the deadline to sign him out of the 1993 draft.

Les Miserables - DOWN - Felipe Alou owns an $11 million clubhouse and the ability to rip the Orioles' desire after a three-game sweep at Olympic Stadium. How much lower can it go?Rafael Palmeiro - UP - His numbers said he's a cinch for the All-Star Game, but a political and imperfect selection process left him out until Mo Vaughn begged out with an injury. Palmeiro's performance has forced the club to upgrade his contract status to a priority.Rocky Coppinger - UP - Amazing how a year away can raise a guy's stock.

FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. -- The fractious relationship between the Orioles and pitcher Rocky Coppinger suffered further strain yesterday when the club optioned the right-hander to Double-A Bowie, prompting Coppinger to press the team for a trade."

Hair cut high and tight along with a noticeably looser demeanor, Rocky Coppinger looks like a guy who has had a weight lifted from his shoulders.And his hips.And his gut.And just about any other place that sagged under the poundage of a ruinous 1997 season.Rocky Coppinger, the Orioles' 10-game rookie winner in 1996, missed the Baltimore Express last season. Actually, he threw himself off the train as a jumble of raw rotator cuff, painful right elbow and a fractured personal life. One season after living large as the Orioles' out-of-nowhere No. 4 starter, Coppinger became too large.

Statistics through ThursdayUps and downsGillick and Malone -- UP The Orioles' brain trust knows that another starter would have been nice, but Tuesday's grab for Harold Baines provides experience, balance and depth.Rick Krivda -- UP The 27-year-old left-hander took the long way home but has arrived in time to play an important role during the stretch drive.Roberto Alomar -- DOWN Was on a tear before suffering groin strain Tuesday night. How long he's gone is uncertain. The good news: His ankle is again healthy, and his left shoulder is close.