Shortstop

Activating Miguel Tejada from the disabled list yesterday was the easy part for the Orioles. Now they must decide where to bat him in the lineup and whether he'll return as their everyday shortstop. Tejada hit fifth last night after the Orioles and New York Yankees concluded their suspended game from June 28. Nick Markakis remained the No. 3 hitter and Kevin Millar continued to bat fourth. Interim manager Dave Trembley didn't give any assurances that Tejada would settle into the cleanup role, where he has started 43 games.

JUPITER, Fla. -- Ask Orioles manager Ray Miller whether Ozzie Guillen has looked comfortable bouncing from position to position in his new role of utility player, and you'll get varying answers."

If it's any consolation to Orioles shortstop Mike Bordick, he's off to a better start than last year. But the difference isn't as pronounced as his latest slump.Bordick has only two hits in 30 at-bats this season. Both came more than a week ago, in an April 7 win in Kansas City.So, where's the improvement? Last season, he didn't drive in a run until his 76th at-bat, compared to his 13th this season, on a groundout against Detroit.Bordick almost did a spit-take with his bottled water upon hearing this, pumping his fist in an exaggerated fashion and telling a visitor, "Thank you for pointing that Bordick out to me."

Braves: A scoring change after Tuesday's opening game meant Atlanta shortstop Walt Weiss picked up his 1,000 hit. John Smoltz threw 58 pitches, striking out five, walking one and allowing two hits in a rehab outing for Double-A Greenville, S.C.Cardinals: Cliff Politte, a 54th-round draft pick in 1995, allowed one run and two hits in five innings.Cubs: After reliever Rod Beck got his 200th career save, he said he planned to send the game ball to Lori Gardner, the wife of his former teammate, Mark Gardner.

In a book selecting baseball's best 100 players several years ago, author Maury Allen wrote: "His lifetime average is .228. He has 20 home runs in his career. He has batted under .200 four separate seasons and he once batted .186 with 53 hits as the regular shortstop for the Baltimore Orioles."What in the world is this Punch and Judy hitter doing with the big guys?"Did you ever see him field a ground ball? That's what Mark Belanger is doing on this list."Perfect.Quite simply put, Mr. Belanger was the finest fielding shortstop of his time.

WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. -- The mere mention of the Orioles possibly moving Cal Ripken to third base caused seemingly unending controversy in 1996, but the reality of it happening in 1997 is causing nary a peep.What's up with that? Simple. Mike Bordick is the right replacement for Ripken at shortstop.He is the only replacement, in fact, who could have made this delicate maneuver a go.Ripken wouldn't have signed off on the idea so happily if the Orioles had tried to replace him with erratic Shawon Dunston, swaggering Kevin Elster or any of the other debatable options they considered last winter.

When Monte Irvin joined the Newark Eagles in 1939 as a shortstop, he received some pointed advice from player-manager Willie Wells during infield practice his first day."Monte, shortstop is my position," Wells said. "I'm not ready to retire, so your best spot is center field. With your arm and power, that's where you belong."While Irvin went on to a belated but successful major-league career as an outfielder that landed him in the Hall of Fame in 1973, Wells was spurned until this year.He will be inducted posthumously tomorrow in Cooperstown, N.Y., with two others chosen by the 15-member veterans committee, longtime Los Angeles Dodgers manager Tom Lasorda and the late Nellie Fox, a scrappy Chicago White Sox second baseman.

PORT ST. LUCIE, Fla. -- Manny Alexander and Scott McClain && were penciled into the Orioles' starting lineup for yesterday's game against the New York Mets, then were scratched. They were going to make up the left side of the infield, but ended up making the trip back to Fort Lauderdale together.Shortly after arriving at St. Lucie County Stadium, Alexander and McClain were told by manager Davey Johnson that they had been traded to the Mets. The Orioles received right-handed reliever Hector Ramirez, who will report to their major-league camp today.

Every day, he comes to the park early. Every day, he takes extra hitting. Every day, he drains the most out of his ability.Shortstop Mike Bordick was a favorite of his new teammates and coaches even after he opened his Orioles career by going 75 at-bats without an RBI.His work ethic is that special.His game, too."Even if he hits .220, he's worth every penny," right fielder Eric Davis said after Bordick went 2-for-4 with three RBIs in last night's 7-1 victory over Oakland."When you're making plays when you're not going good [at the plate]

Astros: Derek Bell stole second in the third inning, giving Houston steals in 12 consecutive attempts. Six have been by Craig Biggio.Cardinals: Pokey Reese is batting .400 (6-for-15) since taking over for the injured Barry Larkin at shortstop. Deion Sanders is hitting .333 in June (18-for-54) and has hit safely in 13 of 14 games.Cubs: Brian McRae, 12-for-69 in June (.174), was given a day off.Giants: The cap day attendance of 46,937 was the team's biggest home crowd of the season.Pirates: Tony Womack stole a base, his 27th consecutive successful attempt since getting caught in his first try of the season.

the poll 1.Calvert Hall * Last season: 27-7, ranked No. 1 * The Cardinals will compete for a record fifth straight Maryland Interscholastic Athletic Association A Conference title, led by shortstop Patrick Blair and pitchers Mike Trionfo and Blake Geiger. 2. C. Milton Wright * Last season: 19-5, No. 3 * Coach Tony Blackburn returns to the state runner-up after a year away to spend time with his family. Look for the Mustangs to have a strong defense and above-average pitching. 3. North County * Last season: 14-7, not ranked * The Knights return eight starters, including senior shortstop Nick Benges, and strong, veteran pitching.

FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. -It was during another monotonous fielding drill last week when first baseman Aubrey Huff's attention was diverted to the left side of the infield. There, Cesar Izturis stood with his back to home plate, effortlessly fielding balls from third base coach Juan Samuel. "It was like he was getting so bored and it was so easy for him, he wanted to invent stuff out there so he started fielding balls behind him," Huff said. "It makes me jealous how somebody can be so good at fielding the baseball."

After having no shortstops on the 40-man roster as the offseason began and starting six players there in 2008, the Orioles headed into the winter with one of their most important missions clear: to fill the gaping hole in the middle of their infield. Yesterday, the Orioles officially accomplished that goal by announcing the signing of Cesar Izturis, an eight-year veteran and former Gold Glove Award winner who spent last season with the St. Louis Cardinals. Izturis, 28, signed a two-year deal for $5 million, which could increase to a total of $6.2 million based on incentives and awards.

Success for the Orioles isn't about big wins in the short term. It can't be because they're probably two or three years from translating off-field acumen into substantial on-field improvements. That's why we can't get too down if the club fails to hook this winter's big free-agent fish, Mark Teixeira. When dreaming about the offensive core for 2011, it would be nice to add Teixeira's name to those of Nick Markakis, Adam Jones and Matt Wieters. I'm not suggesting the Orioles would be better off without the Severna Park native or that they should be conservative in bidding for him. A losing team only gets so many chances to sign a long-term difference-maker, and this is one. That said, if the Orioles remain committed to young talent and avoid disastrous signings, I'm willing to call this offseason a modest success, Teixeira or no Teixeira.

The Orioles have talked to the representative for free agent Cesar Izturis, the latest indication that the slick-fielding shortstop is at the top of their list to fill the team's vacancy at the position. Izturis, 28, hit .263 this past season with one homer and 24 RBIs in 135 games for the St. Louis Cardinals. He's a career .260 hitter over parts of 10 major league seasons that also include stints with the Toronto Blue Jays, Los Angeles Dodgers, Chicago Cubs and Pittsburgh Pirates. Orioles president Andy MacPhail wouldn't comment on specific options, though he reiterated that finding a shortstop is one of his offseason priorities.

Today officially marks the beginning of the all-out, spend-it-if-you-got-it sweepstakes for Mark Teixeira, CC Sabathia, Manny Ramirez and major league baseball's other top free agents. This class of more than 180 players is one of the most talented and top-heavy groups in the past decade. Records in terms of average annual value and total money spent could be set this winter, though the market must overcome a downturn in the U.S. economy that could leave lesser-tier free agents desperate.

Team MVP: : Aubrey Huff, DH-1B. Booed in every at-bat on the Orioles' first homestand after his comments about the city in a radio interview, Huff rediscovered his stroke and established himself as the power-hitting cleanup hitter the Orioles have lacked. He finished with 32 homers and 108 RBIs and was near the top of most AL offensive rankings. : Best victory: : The Orioles had their share of comebacks early in the season, but one of them stood out, perhaps because it came against the New York Yankees.

The Orioles continue to make adjustments to their shortstop position, acquiring Juan Castro from the Colorado Rockies' organization yesterday for Triple-A infielder Mike McCoy and placing him on the 25-man roster. And they might not be finished. Castro, 36, would be the sixth player to start at shortstop for the Orioles this season. One of the others, Freddie Bynum, was sent outright to Norfolk and has 72 hours to accept his assignment or become a free agent. The trade was part of a busy day of roster shuffling for the Orioles, who also returned pitcher Randor Bierd from his injury rehabilitation assignment in the minors and activated him from the disabled list.

The Orioles' shortstop carousel took another spin yesterday, with Alex Cintron going on the disabled list and Freddie Bynum returning to the team a week after being designated for assignment. Where it stops, no one knows. The club remains in the market for a shortstop and has engaged in talks with the Washington Nationals regarding Felipe Lopez. The Orioles have also been scouting the Chicago White Sox's Juan Uribe. Lopez and Uribe play second base, but both have extensive experience at shortstop.

MILWAUKEE -- The Orioles knew they would struggle replacing shortstop Miguel Tejada after trading him to the Houston Astros in December. They just didn't anticipate it being this difficult. Their shortstop carousel continued yesterday as the Orioles designated for assignment slumping Freddie Bynum, who was anointed the starter at the position six weeks ago, and purchased the contract of right-handed pitcher Ryan Bukvich from Triple-A Norfolk. That returns the Orioles to a 13-man pitching staff and casts the shortstop position into further doubt.