Shortstop

The Orioles restated their interest in free-agent shortstop Mike Bordick yesterday through a phone call to his agent, Joe Bick. Their next step is to assess which Bordick they are pursuing, the player whom they delighted in watching earn his first All-Star berth at 35 or the one who looked tired and ineffective with the New York Mets during September and the postseason. Bordick likewise must make his own evaluation: In the autumn of his career, does the Orioles' local appeal overcome an obvious retooling that makes them an unlikely contender for at least next season?

FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. - At 8:30 a.m. yesterday, the Orioles tentatively set their roster for Opening Day by placing John Valentin on waivers and retaining Jeff Reboulet and Jose Leon as their utility infielders. About seven hours later, it was much firmer - and missing Reboulet. The Orioles claimed shortstop Jose Morban off waivers from the Minnesota Twins and released Reboulet, who was running sprints in the outfield during the ninth inning when summoned into the manager's office. Reboulet was told in the morning that he was part of the 25-man roster, but circumstances might force a change.

The record for consecutive errorless chances by a shortstop is in good hands. All four of them. In the first game of yesterday's doubleheader, Mike Bordick moved into a tie with former Orioles teammate Cal Ripken at 428. He reached the milestone in the ninth inning by getting an assist on a ground ball from the Toronto Blue Jays' Eric Hinske. Bordick began the day tied with the Cleveland Indians' Omar Vizquel at 425 - the Orioles initially thought he passed Vizquel during Friday's game until checking with Elias Sports Bureau - and needing three to catch Ripken.

NASHVILLE, Tenn. - After exploring at least two potential trade avenues, the Orioles addressed their shortstop need last night when they signed free agent Deivi Cruz to a one-year, $1.2 million contract with an option for 2004. By going the discount route at shortstop, the Orioles also remained in position to sign free-agent catcher Ivan Rodriguez and perhaps one more impact player. The competition for Rodriguez appeared to dwindle yesterday when Chicago Cubs general manager Jim Hendry said the 10-time All-Star catcher was probably not feasible for his club.

PHILADELPHIA - By signing shortstop Miguel Tejada as a free agent last winter, the Orioles knew they were getting a legitimate run producer for the third spot in their lineup, a leader in the infield, a player with uncanny durability. Yesterday brought another realization: They also had an All-Star. Tejada will be the Orioles' lone representative for the July 13 game in Houston after American League manager Joe Torre selected him as a reserve. "I know I've been playing pretty good," Tejada said, "but I guess I'm surprised because there are so many good players at that position."

FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. -- Mike Bordick is coming off the best season of a nine-year career and is in the best shape of his life. So why is the Orioles shortstop experiencing a mid-career crisis? The answer has nothing to do with performance, health or attitude and everything to do with age and his obvious desire to remain with the Orioles beyond the upcoming season. A pending free agent, Bordick senses his future may be most closely tied to the team's near-term success. "Nothing has been discussed or negotiated" with the Orioles, Bordick said without inflection yesterday.

KANSAS CITY, Mo. - Citing a rookie's fatigue from an unprecedented number of games and the grind of major-league pressure, manager Mike Hargrove said last night that Brian Roberts will play fewer games at shortstop for the rest of the season. The organization will devote the rest of this season and this winter deliberating whether Roberts' future lies on the left or right side of the infield. Hargrove announced that Melvin Mora, the team's Opening Day center fielder, will assume a more visible role at shortstop, while Roberts "steps back and looks at things."

BOSTON -- Mike Bordick was about to set an American League record for errorless games by a shortstop on Friday night, when his glove broke. It happened in the fifth inning, as the Boston Red Sox's Trot Nixon hit a leadoff double and slid safely ahead of the throw by Orioles right fielder Jay Gibbons. Bordick took that throw, looked down and realized it had snapped one of the strings around the glove's pocket. Ninety-five consecutive games without an error, and there was Bordick, standing in the infield with a broken glove.

The Seattle Mariners activated shortstop Carlos Guillen before Game 1 of the American League Championship Series yesterday and immediately inserted him into the starting lineup against New York Yankees left-hander Andy Pettitte. Guillen had been sidelined since he was diagnosed with tuberculosis, but manager Lou Piniella wasted no time getting him back onto the field. Guillen batted in the second spot and went hitless in three at-bats, but played flawlessly at shortstop. "Carlos has had really good success against Pettitte, 7-for-15 coming into the series," Piniella said.

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.