Terry Crowley

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.

Orioles manager Sam Perlozzo tries to make the rounds in the clubhouse each afternoon to notify certain veteran players that they'll be out of the lineup the next day. It's more of a courtesy than a requirement. It also can become an issue if he accidentally skips someone. Third baseman Melvin Mora grew agitated yesterday upon learning from a reporter that he wasn't starting against Oakland Athletics right-hander Dan Haren. Mora criticized Perlozzo for a general lack of communication, and they engaged in an animated conversation near third during batting practice.

ANAHEIM, Calif. -- When Brian Roberts returned to his locker in Kansas City earlier this week, there waiting was a detailed analysis of his at-bats against Gil Meche, who was starting for the Royals the next day. The second baseman took a quick look at it and then tossed the reports into a clubhouse trash can. Roberts has always focused on himself, not the pitcher he is facing. And it doesn't seem to matter who Roberts is facing these days as he is in the midst of one of the best stretches of his career.

Highlights and lowlights from the Orioles' 3-2 victory over the Los Angeles Dodgers in Fort Lauderdale, Fla.UP- Doug Linton: Given scant notice that he was starting, Linton hung more zeros on the scoreboard. He'll be in Baltimore someday.DOWN- Terry Burrows: Manager Ray Miller didn't like the way he was throwing. No kidding.UP- Gabe Molina: Strikes out two to take Burrows off the hook in the sixth, then tacks on a scoreless seventh.DOWN- The offense: The bats were quiet, and it took some Dodgers blunders in the field to avoid a loss.

The unassuming King moves purposefully, head down, and quietly through the maze of first-floor arteries at Camden Yards. Terry Crowley has an appointment in the hitting tunnel with a future Hall of Famer. Time waits for no man, not even the King, and not even if the subject is timing.Known during his 15-year playing career as the King of Swing for his uncanny ability as a left-handed pinch hitter, Crowley now oversees Orioles hitters. During a protracted surge, they have reached second in the league in home runs, fourth in batting and fifth in runs despite a painfully sluggish April.

VIERA, Fla. -- Orioles third baseman Cal Ripken returned to work yesterday.Little more than 24 hours after his father -- former Orioles coach and manager Cal Ripken Sr. -- was laid to rest in Aberdeen, he suited up and joined his teammates for pre-game batting practice at Space Coast Stadium.It's a Ripken thing. The work ethic that was instilled in him by his father would not allow for a long mourning period. Ripken slipped back into his old routine. He even signed autographs before and after taking his place in the Orioles' starting lineup for last night's exhibition game against the Florida Marlins.

ANAHEIM, Calif. -- At some point in virtually every game a ground ball finds Mike Bordick. It finds him ready to take whatever hop it presents, ready to make an accurate throw and ready afterward to step back to his position with head down regardless of the play's difficulty.The Orioles shortstop is a stealth candidate for his first Gold Glove and the first Orioles shortstop to win the award since Cal Ripken in 1992.Bordick, 34, is enjoying a career offensive season. He finished last night's two-hit game against the Anaheim Angels with a .275 average, 20 points above his lifetime mark, with a career-best 70 RBIs and is three shy of last year's high of 13 home runs.

CLEVELAND -- Ray Miller said he would waste no time getting Cal Ripken back into the Orioles' lineup once the third baseman is activated. What he left unsaid is that rookie Willis Otanez hasn't exactly claimed the position in the Iron Man's absence.In the throes of an 8-for-51 (.157) slump, Otanez sat out last night in part because his manager believes the slump has begun to affect his defensive play as well. "He hasn't been reacting," Miller said.Sensing that Otanez is pressing, Miller gave Jeff Reboulet the start at third last night, as he had tried to do the past two games before scratching second baseman Delino DeShields from the lineup.

ARLINGTON, Texas -- Pitcher Doug Linton remained with the Orioles yesterday but not as part of their active roster. Officially optioned to Triple-A Rochester, he will accompany the team home after this afternoon's series finale against the Texas Rangers and then join the Red Wings in Charlotte.Linton, who compiled an 0-1 record and a 6.17 ERA in eight games, said he was bewildered over a role that shifted from starting to long relief last month and that his declining performance was influenced by the move.

OAKLAND, Calif. -- The Orioles and third baseman Willis Otanez officially parted ways yesterday when the Toronto Blue Jays claimed the 26-year-old rookie off waivers.The loss was noted by a number of Otanez's ex-teammates but manager Ray Miller downplayed the significance of his transferring to an American League East foe. The Orioles obtained Otanez through a waiver claim after the 1996 season and were resigned to losing him in the same manner when they attempted to remove him from the major-league roster earlier this week.

There was a time earlier this season when the Orioles couldn't find playing time for Felix Pie. Now, with center fielder Adam Jones out for the remainder of the season with an ankle sprain and left fielder Nolan Reimold dealing with an Achilles tendon injury, missing Pie for the past few days has been a blow to the club's starting lineup. Pie, who hadn't played since leaving Friday's game with back spasms, ran, threw and swung a bat Monday and arrived at the park early Tuesday to swing again before pronouncing himself healthy.

NEW YORK - - Felix Pie began the season as the Orioles' everyday left fielder. He began Tuesday night without a plate appearance since July 1. Orioles manager Dave Trembley acknowledged that it has been difficult to get Pie in the lineup, largely because his team has faced a left-handed starter in 10 of its past 11 games heading into Tuesday night. Pie will start in today's series finale against the New York Yankees. Twenty days have elapsed since he last started - against the Boston Red Sox on July 1 - and he has appeared in just two games since.

Projected lineup Name Pos. Avg. HR/runs RBIs/steals 1. Brian Roberts 2B .296 107 runs 40 steals 2. Adam Jones CF .270 9 home runs 57 RBIs 3. Nick Markakis RF .306 20 home runs 87 RBIs 4. Aubrey Huff 1B .304 32 home runs 108 RBIs 5. Melvin Mora 3B .285 23 home runs 104 RBIs 6. Luke Scott DH .257 23 home runs 65 RBIs 7. Gregg Zaun C .237 6 home runs 30 RBIs 8. Felix Pie LF .241 1 home run 10 RBIs 9. Cesar Izturis SS .263 50 runs 24 steals Rotation ...

FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. -Not long after meeting Felix Pie and starting a working relationship the Orioles hope will turn the former can't-miss prospect into a quality major leaguer, Terry Crowley asked the former Chicago Cub to do him a favor. Crowley gave Pie the phone numbers of David Ortiz, Miguel Tejada and Daniel Cabrera, and suggested the 24-year-old outfielder call his fellow Dominican countrymen, who know the Orioles' longtime hitting coach well. "It wasn't so much, 'Ask about Crow as a hitting coach.

FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. -Outfielder Felix Pie stepped out of minor league director Dave Stockstill's rental car yesterday morning and right into the debate about how the former Chicago Cubs prospect will be used with his new team. Pie, whose arrival at Fort Lauderdale Stadium was delayed six days after he experienced passport problems in his native Dominican Republic, took his physical yesterday and said he's excited to have the opportunity to play every day in left field. "I've waited for that for a long time, to let me play every day," said Pie, who was acquired from the Cubs last month for starter Garrett Olson and minor league pitcher Henry Williamson.

Urban myth? Or Orioles legend? In the end, I wish I had never sent the e-mail and never asked the question. Ignorance isn't so bad, is it? At least not as it concerns Earl Weaver and his linguistic skills, dirtier than the Preakness infield on a rainy day. "I watch the YouTube clip about once a week, just to remind myself about Alice and her tomatoes," I wrote in an e-mail. "But a part of me has always wondered if it's real. And if it is, what's the back story?" Tom Marr was still on the air, but he fired back an e-mail within minutes.

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.

ANAHEIM, Calif. -- When Brian Roberts returned to his locker in Kansas City earlier this week, there waiting was a detailed analysis of his at-bats against Gil Meche, who was starting for the Royals the next day. The second baseman took a quick look at it and then tossed the reports into a clubhouse trash can. Roberts has always focused on himself, not the pitcher he is facing. And it doesn't seem to matter who Roberts is facing these days as he is in the midst of one of the best stretches of his career.

Orioles manager Sam Perlozzo tries to make the rounds in the clubhouse each afternoon to notify certain veteran players that they'll be out of the lineup the next day. It's more of a courtesy than a requirement. It also can become an issue if he accidentally skips someone. Third baseman Melvin Mora grew agitated yesterday upon learning from a reporter that he wasn't starting against Oakland Athletics right-hander Dan Haren. Mora criticized Perlozzo for a general lack of communication, and they engaged in an animated conversation near third during batting practice.

Hitting coach Terry Crowley Are you pleased with some of the signs that the offense has shown recently? "Basically, it's been a bit of a struggle offensively against everybody, be it a lefty or righty. There are some good signs and ... some things that we still have to work on."