Third Basemen

ARLINGTON, Texas -- Dean Palmer doesn't want to say too much about his hitting streak. He doesn't want to "break it down too much."But Rangers manager Johnny Oates knows why Palmer is so hot: "It's the haircut."Palmer, who was 8-of-13 (.615) during last weekend's series against the Boston Red Sox, has been sporting a buzz cut of late. He was batting .305 entering last night's game against the Orioles at the Ballpark in Arlington and was leading American League third basemen in home runs and RBIs.

We reporters are pretty predictable. The obvious story line rarely escapes us. So when Manny Machado, the Orioles' 20-year-old rookie third baseman hits a game-winning homer in the seventh and makes two good plays on defense on the night the franchise honors the best defensive third baseman in the history of baseball, Brooks Robinson, well, we couldn't let that rest. But I give Machado a whole lot of credit. It was kind of a loaded question, asking him whether it was fitting for him to come up big on Brooks Robinson statue night.

The O's will be wonderful this year if only they can come up with a super closer, a couple more starters, some middle relievers, a heavy hitting outfielder, good second and third basemen and some power on the bench.The House speaker will address the nation on television with one message: Buy my book!

Melvin Mora knew that his transition to an everyday third baseman wasn't going to happen overnight, but he didn't think it was going to take 100 games, either. That's how long Cal Ripken, who moved from shortstop to third base late in his career, told Mora that his own transition took. "I can't go that long," said Mora, recalling what he told Ripken during the conversation, which occurred outside the clubhouse early last season. "You are Cal Ripken. I'm Melvin Mora. I'd get fired before you."

Melvin Mora knew that his transition to an everyday third baseman wasn't going to happen overnight, but he didn't think it was going to take 100 games, either. That's how long Cal Ripken, who moved from shortstop to third base late in his career, told Mora that his own transition took. "I can't go that long," said Mora, recalling what he told Ripken during the conversation, which occurred outside the clubhouse early last season. "You are Cal Ripken. I'm Melvin Mora. I'd get fired before you."

Quote: "I've never done this situation before. I'm doing this on a volunteer basis. I'd like to get back out there and redeem myself a little bit."-- Tim Wakefield, who blew his first save as the Red Sox's emergency closerIt's a fact: There were five errors in the Chicago-Boston game, all by third basemen. The White Sox's Greg Norton had three and the Red Sox's Lou Merloni had the other two. Norton has 17 errors on the season.Who's hot: The Royals are 5-1 on this 10-game homestand after a 1-8 stretch.

Players selected in the expansion draft by the Colorado Rockies, with place in draft in parentheses:Pitchers(1) David Nied, Atlanta; (5) Darren Holmes, Milwaukee; (15) Scott Aldred, Detroit; (21) Willie Blair, Houston; (25) Andy Ashby, Philadelphia; (32) Doug Bochtler, Montreal; (34) Lance Painter, San Diego; (36) Butch Henry, Houston; (38) Ryan Hawblitzel, Chicago Cubs; (42) Brett Merriman, California; (46) Kevin Ritz, Detroit; (50) Keith Shepherd, Philadelphia; (52) Calvin Jones, Seattle; (56)

American League First basemen 1, Mark McGwire, Oakland, 912,052. 2, Cecil Fielder, Detroit, 3, Wally Joyner, California, 650,100. 4, Don Mattingly, New York, 568,457. 5, George Brett, Kansas City, 522,955.Second basemen 1, Roberto Alomar, Toronto, 1,661,039. 2, Julio Franco, Texas, 3, Steve Sax, New York, 683,563. 4, Mike Gallego, Oakland, 530,087. 5, Billy Ripken, Baltimore, 407,066.Third basemen 1, Wade Boggs, Boston, 1,651,716. 2, Kelly Gruber, Toronto, 3, Edgar Martinez, Seattle, 562,914.

Orioles bench and infield coach Sam Perlozzo was not asking Melvin Mora to become the next Brooks Robinson. He didn't even set the bar at winning a Gold Glove. With Mora's error total mounting and doubt creeping in earlier this season that the one-time utility player could handle being the Orioles' everyday third baseman, Perlozzo simplified things. "Once he started making mistakes, I sat him down and said, `Look, our goal here is to not worry about how many errors you have at the end of the year.

Results through Monday for the starting National League team for the 65th All-Star Game, to be played July 12 in Pittsburgh:Catchers 1, Kirt Manwaring, San Francisco, 183,735. 2, Mike Piazza, Los Angeles, 143,349. 3, Darren Daulton, Philadelphia, 127,944. 4, Benito Santiago, Florida, 38,951. 5, Scott Servais, Houston, 33,402. 6, Javier Lopez, Atlanta, 30,828. 7, Tom Pagnozzi, St. Louis, 25,809. 8, Rick Wilkins, Chicago, 24,129.First basemen 1, Gregg Jefferies, St. Louis, 234,379. 2, John Kruk, Philadelphia, 175,533.

Orioles bench and infield coach Sam Perlozzo was not asking Melvin Mora to become the next Brooks Robinson. He didn't even set the bar at winning a Gold Glove. With Mora's error total mounting and doubt creeping in earlier this season that the one-time utility player could handle being the Orioles' everyday third baseman, Perlozzo simplified things. "Once he started making mistakes, I sat him down and said, `Look, our goal here is to not worry about how many errors you have at the end of the year.

American League First basemen: 1. Jason Giambi, Yankees, 376,307. 2. Carlos Delgado, Blue Jays, 211,209. 3. Kevin Millar, Red Sox, 200,234. 4. Rafael Palmeiro, Orioles, 165,674. 5. Mark Teixeira, Rangers, 146,190. Second basemen: 1. Alfonso Soriano, Rangers, 729,949. 2. Pokey Reese, Red Sox, 276,726. 3. Bret Boone, Mariners, 262,789. 4. Adam Kennedy, Angels, 117,501. 5. Ronnie Belliard, Indians, 99,185. Third basemen: 1. Alex Rodriguez, Yankees, 558,880. 2. Bill Mueller, Red Sox, 288,955.

Voting(Through Sunday) First basemen: 1, Mark McGwire, St.L., 1,019,332. 2, Andres Galarraga, Atl., 488,776. 3, Todd Helton, Col., 358,346. 4, Jeff Bagwell, Hou., 265,902. 5, Sean Casey, Cin., 131,423. 6, Mark Grace, Chi., 114,147. 7, J.T. Snow, SF, 112,207. 8, Todd Zeile, NYM, 88,979. 9, Erubiel Durazo, Ari., 71,108. 10, Ryan Klesko, SD, 67,843. Second basemen: 1, Craig Biggio, Hou., 452,863. 2, Edgardo Alfonzo, NYM, 387,893. 3, Jeff Kent, SF, 314,907. 4, Pokey Reese, Cin., 302,890. 5, Jay Bell, Ari., 240,995 6, Fernando Vina, St.L.

Quote: "I've never done this situation before. I'm doing this on a volunteer basis. I'd like to get back out there and redeem myself a little bit."-- Tim Wakefield, who blew his first save as the Red Sox's emergency closerIt's a fact: There were five errors in the Chicago-Boston game, all by third basemen. The White Sox's Greg Norton had three and the Red Sox's Lou Merloni had the other two. Norton has 17 errors on the season.Who's hot: The Royals are 5-1 on this 10-game homestand after a 1-8 stretch.

ARLINGTON, Texas -- Dean Palmer doesn't want to say too much about his hitting streak. He doesn't want to "break it down too much."But Rangers manager Johnny Oates knows why Palmer is so hot: "It's the haircut."Palmer, who was 8-of-13 (.615) during last weekend's series against the Boston Red Sox, has been sporting a buzz cut of late. He was batting .305 entering last night's game against the Orioles at the Ballpark in Arlington and was leading American League third basemen in home runs and RBIs.

In a position-by-position analysis, the Boston Red Sox and Orioles stack up very closely in the American League East, with the New York Yankees not far behind. The Detroit Tigers are a distant fourth and the Toronto Blue Jays somewhere just above Triple-A.First basemen1. Mo Vaughn, Red Sox: Vaughn won AL MVP last year, hitting .300 with 39 homers and 126 RBIs. But he struck out 150 times and is a defensive liability.2. Rafael Palmeiro, Orioles: He is a very, very close second. Palmeiro is better defensively, and his production is almost identical -- .310 average, 39 homers and 104 RBIs.

Results through Sunday for the starting National League team for the 64th All-Star Game, to be played Tuesday, July 13 at FTC Baltimore:Catchers 1, Darren Daulton, Philadelphia, 277,841. 2, Benito Santiago, Florida, 159,503. 3, Greg Olson, Atlanta, 83,790. 4, Mike Piazza, Los Angeles, 79,424. 5, Don Slaught, Pittsburgh, 75,384. 6, Tom Pagnozzi, St. Louis, 66,631. 7, Kirt Manwaring, San Francisco, 66,588. 8, Joe Oliver, Cincinnati, 44,988.First basemen 1, Will Clark, San Francisco, 205,114.

Third baseman Leo Gomez and second baseman Bret Barberie, who opened the 1995 season as half of the Orioles' starting infield, agreed to minor-league contracts with the Chicago Cubs yesterday and were invited to major-league spring training camp.Gomez, 29, batted .236 with four home runs and 12 RBIs during a disappointing season in which he lost his place in the starting lineup to journeyman Jeff Manto in May and suffered a season-ending ankle injury in August. The Orioles toyed with the idea of signing him to a Triple-A contract this off-season, but the acquisition of free agent B. J. Surhoff left little room for him on the major-league roster.

What does the consecutive-games record mean?Lots of things.It means Cal Ripken has been very lucky.It means he has been very good.It means that since May 30, 1982, he never has suffered an ailment serious enough to keep him out of the lineup, be it a pulled hamstring, ingrown toenail or broken ankle, stomach virus, sore shoulder or twisted knee.It means that he has been productive enough to merit 2,131 consecutive starts. That his managers -- six of 'em -- always could rely on him. And that ground balls to the Orioles' shortstop almost always result in outs.