Steve Finley

Boston Red Sox star Curt Schilling laughs when he thinks about the morning he found out he was no longer an Oriole. It was a career ago, and he was a naive, 24-year-old kid who really didn't know what had hit him. "I remember it clearly," Schilling said. "I was sitting at home, eating breakfast with my wife - my girlfriend then - and [then-Orioles general manager] Roland Hemond called. He said, `Kid, I just wanted to let you know that we made a trade today.' "I thought that was pretty cool, calling me like that.

The day began 20 years ago with overcast skies and wisps of fog, a Friday. Despite the fact that the weekend is not expected to brighten, Baltimore baseball fans bask in a warm glow that has been building since April. Their team, the American League cellar-dweller just a year earlier, has a chance to win the pennant. Just one game back of the Toronto Blue Jays with three to play, the Orioles need a sweep at SkyDome to make everyone forget about the previous season, the one that began with 21 losses and ended with 107. "From the beginning, everybody figured they didn't have a chance," recalls Peter Angelos, still nearly four years away from becoming the owner.

Who's hot The Blue Jays are 43-32 since the All-Star break, which is fourth best in the major leagues. Who's not Antonio Alfonseca of the Cubs has blown nine of 28 save chances this year, in cluding three straight. Line of the day Steve Finley, D'backs CF AB R H RBI HR 5 2 3 5 2

Good evening, from Camden Yards in Baltimore, Orioles baseball on the radio presented for your enjoyment. This is Jon Miller, along with Joe Angel. Tonight, the Orioles, all alone atop the American League East standings, take on the last-place New York Yankees. "The Yankees, of course, have the worst record in baseball over the past 20 years under perpetually laid-back owner George Steinbrenner. What was the headline on the back page of yesterday's New York Post, Joe? `Steinbrenner to Yankee fans: "Chill, it's just a game!

There's little disputing that the 1993 Orioles are a talented team. But so are the 1993 ex-Orioles, especially on the mound:Starters: Dennis Martinez (Expos), Mike Morgan (Cubs), Curt Schilling (Phillies), Pete Harnisch (Astros), Jose Mesa (Indians)Relievers: Storm Davis (Athletics), John Habyan (Yankees), Jose Bautista (Cubs), Mike Boddicker (Royals)Catcher: Mickey Tettleton (Tigers)First base: Eddie Murray (Mets)Second base: Bill Ripken (Rangers)Shortstop: Juan Bell (Phillies)Third base: Rene Gonzales (Angels)

The reviews that precede Glenn Davis into Baltimore fall neatly under the "rave" category. By reputation, the newest Oriole is both a gentleman and a fence-bender. By implication, he is a man as active in his community as he is in the batter's box.The welcoming committee started lining up on 33rd Street yesterday with the news the Orioles had acquired power-hitting first baseman Glenn Davis from the Houston Astros. The cost was steep -- three promising young players -- and not without risk, with Davis eligible for free agency after this season.

L.A. Angels of Anaheim Record, finish: 92-70, 1st. Manager: Mike Scioscia, 6th season with Angels. Payroll: $93 million. Hot seat: Francisco Rodriguez. First Angels closer not named Troy Percival in 10 seasons. Best case: Vladimir Guerrero again puts the offense on his back the way he did in his first Most Valuable Player season last year. ... Steve Finley shows no signs of slowing down at the age of 40. ... Orlando Cabrera provides a big upgrade taking over for the popular-but-limited David Eckstein.

PHILADELPHIA -- Steve Finley is gone, but judging from th way scouting director Gary Nickels assesses two recent draft picks, the Orioles can't get him out of their minds.Nickels describes No. 5 pick Jim Wawruck as a "Steve Finley type," and hints No. 13 pick Jim Audley could advance in the same rapid fashion after a comparable college career.The original article, of course, now plays for Houston, where he ithriving as the regular leadoff hitter and centerfielder for a team every bit as bad as the Orioles.

A COLLEAGUE who recently took an automobile trip through six states to the north wonders what ever happened to that quaint old custom of driving to the right.Motorists know that they must stay right of the center line on ordinary roads, and they stay off the medians on divided highways.But what of keeping to the right on the multi-lane interstates?In some states like New Jersey, it's the law to keep right except when passing. Some drivers actually do it. Elsewhere, Maryland included, the fashion is to avoid the right-hand lane as if it were dangerous.

Auto racingChampionship Auto Racing Teams -- Announced official name of racing series will be changed from CART to IndyCar.Stavola Brothers Racing -- Released driver Rick Wilson. Added Dick Trickle.BaseballColorado Rockies -- Agreed to terms with OF Jamie Arendt on a minor-league contract.Florida Marlins -- Announced that Birdie Tebbetts, 79, will work with the expansion team's scouts. He'll also continue to work as an Orioles adviser.Houston Astros -- Agreed to terms with former Orioles OF Steve Finley (.285, 8 HRs, 54 RBI)

SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. -- More than an inch of rain soaked the Valley of the Sun the past two days, putting an exhibition game yesterday between the San Francisco Giants and the San Diego Padres in doubt and the 2006 left-field debut of Barry Bonds, the Giants' controversial star, in jeopardy. The sun returned after the area's first rainfall in nearly five months, the field at Scottsdale Stadium drained sufficiently and Bonds, who had been limited to only two at-bats as a designated hitter in spring training, took another step toward regaining his status as the game's most feared slugger.

L.A. Angels of Anaheim Record, finish: 92-70, 1st. Manager: Mike Scioscia, 6th season with Angels. Payroll: $93 million. Hot seat: Francisco Rodriguez. First Angels closer not named Troy Percival in 10 seasons. Best case: Vladimir Guerrero again puts the offense on his back the way he did in his first Most Valuable Player season last year. ... Steve Finley shows no signs of slowing down at the age of 40. ... Orlando Cabrera provides a big upgrade taking over for the popular-but-limited David Eckstein.

Boston Red Sox star Curt Schilling laughs when he thinks about the morning he found out he was no longer an Oriole. It was a career ago, and he was a naive, 24-year-old kid who really didn't know what had hit him. "I remember it clearly," Schilling said. "I was sitting at home, eating breakfast with my wife - my girlfriend then - and [then-Orioles general manager] Roland Hemond called. He said, `Kid, I just wanted to let you know that we made a trade today.' "I thought that was pretty cool, calling me like that.

Who's hot The Astros, after making 13 errors in their first 13 games, have just six in their past 18. Who's not Kris Benson of the Pirates al lowed six runs in 2 1/3 innings and has lost four times in his past five starts. Line of the day Steve Finley, D'backs CF AB R H RBI HR 3 4 3 4 2

SAN DIEGO PADRESWhere they're coming from: They finished in last place with a 47-70 record but had the best record in the NL West after May 22.Where they're going: The 12-player trade with Houston makes the Padres the divisional front-runners.Key newcomers: 3B Ken Caminiti (.283), SS Andujar Cedeno (49 RBIs), CF Steve Finley (.276), 2B Jody Reed (.271).What must go right: The balky left knee of RF Tony Gwynn must hold up. Starters Andy Ashby and Joey Hamilton must pitch as well as they did a year ago. 1B Eddie Williams must produce no fewer than 85 RBIs.

A COLLEAGUE who recently took an automobile trip through six states to the north wonders what ever happened to that quaint old custom of driving to the right.Motorists know that they must stay right of the center line on ordinary roads, and they stay off the medians on divided highways.But what of keeping to the right on the multi-lane interstates?In some states like New Jersey, it's the law to keep right except when passing. Some drivers actually do it. Elsewhere, Maryland included, the fashion is to avoid the right-hand lane as if it were dangerous.

Mercedes will need late rush to add to batting-title collectionWith a little more than two weeks left in the International League season, the race has begun.Not the pennant race. The Rochester Red Wings still have arithmetic on their side, but that's about all, as the Pawtucket Red Sox held a magic number of nine going into last night's doubleheader.The batting race is about to become the hot topic in the Red Wings clubhouse. Outfielder Luis Mercedes, winner of titles the past two years in the Eastern and Carolina leagues, had a 16-game hitting streak and trailed the Syracuse Chiefs' Derek Bell by 15 points going into last night's games.

More than ever the Orioles will reflect the identity and wishes of hometown ownership. A new law firm, Piper & Marbury, will represent them, and production of the game program will return to French-Bray, a union printing shop that had a longtime association with the team and earned a reputation for quality work.New owner Peter Angelos, attending an AFL-CIO meeting, told its membership changing from French-Bray to a non-union, out-of-Maryland firm was "done last season without justification after the company had been doing work for the Orioles for over 30 years" and had been buying tickets for games all the way back to International League days.