Tartabull

NEW YORK -- The New York Yankees knew what they were getting when they signed Danny Tartabull to a five-year, $25 million contract in January. In a little more than six years with the Seattle Mariners and Kansas City Royals, Tartabull hit 152 home runs.But he also missed his share of games with injuries.History seems to be repeating itself this season. After nearly putting Tartabull on the disabled list earlier this season with a wrist injury, the Yankees announced last night that the 29-year-old left fielder would be out for at least the next 12 days because of a strained left hamstring.

CHICAGO -- Win or lose, good or bad, David Wells always has come out to talk with reporters after he pitches. But not last night, after one bad pitch cost him in the Orioles' 3-2 loss to the Chicago White Sox.The Orioles have lost 13 of their last 18 games, have fallen 3 1/2 games behind the New York Yankees, and should they lose tonight, their record will fall to .500 -- the first time they would have an even number of wins and losses since April 1,...

The Kansas City Royals will have to come up with at least $4 million a year if the team expects to sign right fielder Danny Tartabull for next season.The Royals have offered Tartabull, 28, three years at $3 million annually. But his agent, Dennis Gilbert, is using Pittsburgh Pirates center fielder Andy Van Slyke, New York Mets pitcher Dwight Gooden and Boston Red Sox pitcher Roger Clemens as a gauge in determining Tartabull's worth."Andy Van Slyke is making $4.2 million a year," Gilbert said.

CHICAGO -- Different lineup. Different venue. But for the Orioles, all too much of the same of what has been ailing this team.They cannot put together good pitching and good hitting. It's either one or the other. Last night, David Wells pitched eight solid innings and lost, 3-2, as Alex Fernandez held the Orioles to five hits and two unearned runs over eight innings. Roberto Hernandez pitched a one-hit ninth for his 10th save.The Orioles, who had Rafael Palmeiro hitting cleanup and Bobby Bonilla playing in right field and batting third, have lost 13 of their last 18 after their 11-2 start.

NEW YORK -- The New York Yankees' prime objective in their sudden whirlwind of activity is the acquisition of Pirates' slugger Barry Bonds, sources told the New York Daily News yesterday.A source close to George Steinbrenner said The Boss is hungry to acquire the flashy Bonds, knowing that outfield bookends of Bonds and recently signed free-agent Danny Tartabull likely would overshadow the New York Mets' flurry of activity during the winter meetings.The source said, "George really wants Bonds.

NEW YORK -- The New York Yankees have begun a belated pursuit of Danny Tartabull, the most attractive free agent still available.Their attempt to sign Tartabull, which began with a trip to Los Angeles by general manager Gene Michael on Saturday, is the first step in a plan that includes several potential trades, including one that would send an outfielder to the Montreal Expos for third baseman Tim Wallach.The sudden change in philosophy comes as Daniel McCarthy replaces Robert Nederlander as the Yankees managing partner and as George Steinbrenner maneuvers to return to that position.

The best thing to happen to the Orioles last night was the rain that interrupted the game after the third inning. But then it stopped, which was definitely the worst possible scenario.When play resumed, Danny Tartabull turned Camden Yards into his own playground as the Yankees rained hits in every direction while thrashing the Orioles, 16-4.By the time the long night came to a merciful conclusion, Tartabull had personally accounted for more than twice as many runs as the Orioles.The Yankees right fielder lofted a pair of home runs, his 20th and 21st of the season, and added a double and two singles for the first five-hit game of his career.

CHICAGO -- Win or lose, good or bad, David Wells always has come out to talk with reporters after he pitches. But not last night, after one bad pitch cost him in the Orioles' 3-2 loss to the Chicago White Sox.The Orioles have lost 13 of their last 18 games, have fallen 3 1/2 games behind the New York Yankees, and should they lose tonight, their record will fall to .500 -- the first time they would have an even number of wins and losses since April 1,...

CHICAGO -- Different lineup. Different venue. But for the Orioles, all too much of the same of what has been ailing this team.They cannot put together good pitching and good hitting. It's either one or the other. Last night, David Wells pitched eight solid innings and lost, 3-2, as Alex Fernandez held the Orioles to five hits and two unearned runs over eight innings. Roberto Hernandez pitched a one-hit ninth for his 10th save.The Orioles, who had Rafael Palmeiro hitting cleanup and Bobby Bonilla playing in right field and batting third, have lost 13 of their last 18 after their 11-2 start.

Highest batting averages July 1-7 ... ... ... ...G... AB... R... H... Pct. Boggs, Bos ... ...6... 23... 11.. 11.. .478 Alomar, Clev.. ...7... 21... 2... 10.. .476 Reed, Bos .... ...7... 30... 8... 14.. .467 Seitzer, KC... ...6... 23... 4... 10.. .435 Sax, NY .. ... ...7... 29... 6... 12.. .414 Alomar, Tor... ...7... 26... 2... 10.. .385 Rivera, Bos... ...7... 26... 7... 10.. .385 Canseco, Oak.. ...7... 29... 6... 11.. .379 Devereaux, Balt.

FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. -- Danny Tartabull has survived three years of potential turmoil with the New York Yankees without his placid nature becoming the least bit disturbed.There was the night at Camden Yards in September 1992 when he had nine RBI in a blowout of the Orioles and declined a chance at breaking or tying the major-league record of 12 RBIs in a game by allowing manager Buck Showalter to remove him from the lineup in the late innings as the game got out of hand.There was the night in Milwaukee in September 1993 when the Yankees were trying to stay in the American League East race with Toronto and owner George Steinbrenner suggested Tartabull needed to assert himself more and not be so quick to come out of the lineup because of minor injuries, a charge the outfielder-DH has faced most of his 11 seasons in the majors.

All of the Orioles' attention during this off-season, at least publicly, has been focused on adding another hitter and improving their pitching depth. But there is another area that also needs to be addressed before spring training.The departure of Mike Pagliarulo, who took a megabucks offer to play in Japan, and the presumed departure of Harold Reynolds leaves the Orioles' glaringly short of infielders. Counting Mark McLemore, who spent most of last year in right field, and Manny Alexander, a solid prospect who could use another year in Triple-A, the Orioles have only three middle infielders on their major-league roster.

NEW YORK -- Outfielder Mark Leonard was optioned to the Triple-A Rochester Red Wings on Monday night, but he never got there. He was recalled 17 hours later when the Orioles placed Sherman Obando on the 15-day disabled list with a strained left hamstring.The club had optioned Leonard to make room on the roster for hot-hitting Red Wings first baseman Paul Carey, then learned that Obando had suffered the hamstring strain during the Orioles' 8-6 victory over the New York Yankees Monday night.

One game, taken singularly, does not measure the worth of Rick Sutcliffe to the Orioles' efforts in 1992.And it might not be terribly fair to place the burden of keeping the team in the pennant race squarely on his broad shoulders.Yet, in the aftermath of last night's 16-4 pasting at the hands of the New York Yankees at Oriole Park, manager Johnny Oates allowed that, beginning with tonight's finale with the Yankees, Sutcliffe will be the foundation upon which the Orioles try to build their American League East title hopes.

The best thing to happen to the Orioles last night was the rain that interrupted the game after the third inning. But then it stopped, which was definitely the worst possible scenario.When play resumed, Danny Tartabull turned Camden Yards into his own playground as the Yankees rained hits in every direction while thrashing the Orioles, 16-4.By the time the long night came to a merciful conclusion, Tartabull had personally accounted for more than twice as many runs as the Orioles.The Yankees right fielder lofted a pair of home runs, his 20th and 21st of the season, and added a double and two singles for the first five-hit game of his career.

NEW YORK -- The toughest part of signing a $27.5-million free-agent contract, being asked to carry a ballclub, yearning for recognition as one of baseball's elite players and having to do it on the bright stage that is New York is the furniture. You see, Danny Tartabull has none, at least none of his own yet.His new home in Saddle River, N.J., has some pieces of rental furniture. But they are so few in number that Tartabull had to laugh when he described the decor as unintentionally minimalistic.

One game, taken singularly, does not measure the worth of Rick Sutcliffe to the Orioles' efforts in 1992.And it might not be terribly fair to place the burden of keeping the team in the pennant race squarely on his broad shoulders.Yet, in the aftermath of last night's 16-4 pasting at the hands of the New York Yankees at Oriole Park, manager Johnny Oates allowed that, beginning with tonight's finale with the Yankees, Sutcliffe will be the foundation upon which the Orioles try to build their American League East title hopes.

NEW YORK -- The New York Yankees knew what they were getting when they signed Danny Tartabull to a five-year, $25 million contract in January. In a little more than six years with the Seattle Mariners and Kansas City Royals, Tartabull hit 152 home runs.But he also missed his share of games with injuries.History seems to be repeating itself this season. After nearly putting Tartabull on the disabled list earlier this season with a wrist injury, the Yankees announced last night that the 29-year-old left fielder would be out for at least the next 12 days because of a strained left hamstring.