Van Poppel

There's an excellent chance that Oakland Athletics right-hander Todd Van Poppel could be pitching for his job against the Orioles tonight. It wasn't supposed to be -- and shouldn't have been -- this way.What has happened to Van Poppel is yet another classic example of what happens when on-the-job training takes place in the big leagues. At the age of 23, the right-hander should be getting himself established. Instead he's trying to keep his career from going into reverse.You'll recall Van Poppel was touted as the best available player in the 1990 draft.

Angels: Jason Dickson, who has won six straight decisions, is not expected to miss his next start despite having broken a bone in his right index finger. The right-hander (7-4) suffered a non-displaced fracture during batting practice on Wednesday but is scheduled to start Sunday against Texas. The Angels hadn't swept the Mariners since April 9-11 of 1991.Athletics: Oakland stranded 15 runners in yesterday's loss to Texas, two short of the club record. The A's left 17 on base in a 1982 game against the White Sox.Indians: Cleveland starters are 12-5 with a 2.64 ERA in the last 21 games.

Van Poppel mystery to O'sTodd Van Poppel, the Tigers starter today, has struggled his entire career since being a prized first-round pick by the Oakland Athletics in 1990, and carries a 7.89 ERA into his start against the Orioles.However, none of the Orioles' sluggers have hit Van Poppel well. Cal Ripken is 2-for-18 lifetime, Rafael Palmeiro is 3-for-12 (but all three hits are homers), Hoiles is 1-for-12 and Brady Anderson is 4-for-18. Overall, the Orioles' regular starting lineup is a combined 12-for-73 (.164)

Van Poppel mystery to O'sTodd Van Poppel, the Tigers starter today, has struggled his entire career since being a prized first-round pick by the Oakland Athletics in 1990, and carries a 7.89 ERA into his start against the Orioles.However, none of the Orioles' sluggers have hit Van Poppel well. Cal Ripken is 2-for-18 lifetime, Rafael Palmeiro is 3-for-12 (but all three hits are homers), Hoiles is 1-for-12 and Brady Anderson is 4-for-18. Overall, the Orioles' regular starting lineup is a combined 12-for-73 (.164)

Angels: Jason Dickson, who has won six straight decisions, is not expected to miss his next start despite having broken a bone in his right index finger. The right-hander (7-4) suffered a non-displaced fracture during batting practice on Wednesday but is scheduled to start Sunday against Texas. The Angels hadn't swept the Mariners since April 9-11 of 1991.Athletics: Oakland stranded 15 runners in yesterday's loss to Texas, two short of the club record. The A's left 17 on base in a 1982 game against the White Sox.Indians: Cleveland starters are 12-5 with a 2.64 ERA in the last 21 games.

Sid Fernandez goes after his second straight win as the Orioles close out their West Coast road trip tonight against the Oakland A's.The Orioles, coming off last night's 9-1 victory, also will be trying to close the 2 1/2 -game gap on first-place Boston. But making up ground in the potent American League East isn't easy. Last night, only Detroit lost among the five AL East clubs.Fernandez (1-0, 2.29) will be making his fourth start of the year after opening the season on the disabled list because of shoulder tendinitis.

OAKLAND, Calif. -- Imperfection finally found Orioles closer Lee Smith last night. But the first save that he lost turned into the first game that he won as Mike Devereaux's 10th-inning sacrifice fly gave the Orioles a 4-3 victory over the Oakland Athletics.Mark Williamson earned his first save with a 1-2-3 10th.Jack Voigt scored the winning run from third on Devereaux's fly ball to center off Edwin Nunez, the third of five pitchers for Oakland, which lost for the 14th time in 15 games.With Dennis Eckersley (0-3)

OAKLAND, Calif. -- David Segui knew he hadn't had much success against Oakland relief ace Dennis Eckersley.In fact, Segui knew he hadn't had any success against Eckersley."

The Orioles couldn't take the heat last night. They ran into the hottest team in baseball on one of the hottest nights of the year, so there was nothing to do but cool off.Reliever Mark Eichhorn, who took the mound with a string of 20 2/3 scoreless innings, gave up three runs in the sixth inning and the streaking Oakland Athletics went on to score a 6-4 victory before a sellout crowd of 47,722 at Camden Yards.Stan Javier delivered a game-tying double and Geronimo Berroa provided the margin of victory with a two-run single as the A's continued their impressive midseason recovery with their fifth straight victory and 19th in the past 22 games.

At Oakland ColiseumDay ... ... ... Time ... ... ... TV ... ... StartersToday .. .. ... 4:05 ... ... ... HTS .. ... Ben McDonald (11-6, 4.26) vs.... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... Ron Darling (9-9, 4.36)Tomorrow night ... 10:05 ... ... ... 54, 50 ... Mike Mussina (13-4, 2.94) vs.... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... undecidedSaturday .. ... ... 4:05 ... ... .. 54, 50 ... Sid Fernandez (6-4, 4.79) vs.... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... .. Todd Van Poppel (5-9, 6.51)

Members of the Oakland Athletics use the term "youth movement" to characterize the club's recent roster moves.That doesn't necessarily translate into a concession, however, especially in the era of the wild card.The Athletics, with last night's 7-2 victory, have won eight of 10 to draw within 2 1/2 games of Texas in the AL wild-card race."Realistically, I think we have as good a chance as anybody," said Oakland catcher Terry Steinbach. "I like where our momentum is, coming off a successful [7-4]

OAKLAND, Calif. -- He brain-cramped a bunt play, served two more home run pitches in one inning when ahead in the count, watched his ERA soar over five, lasted only three innings, allowed five runs, and lost.Not only that, but veteran left-hander Sid Fernandez also blasted himself after the Orioles lost, 6-3, to the Oakland Athletics yesterday at the Oakland Coliseum.He could have lived with the performance if he could write it off as just one of those days. He couldn't. Fernandez has viewed this as just one of those seasons, and that he can't dismiss so easily.

At Oakland ColiseumDay ... ... ... Time ... ... ... TV ... ... StartersToday .. .. ... 4:05 ... ... ... HTS .. ... Ben McDonald (11-6, 4.26) vs.... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... Ron Darling (9-9, 4.36)Tomorrow night ... 10:05 ... ... ... 54, 50 ... Mike Mussina (13-4, 2.94) vs.... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... undecidedSaturday .. ... ... 4:05 ... ... .. 54, 50 ... Sid Fernandez (6-4, 4.79) vs.... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... .. Todd Van Poppel (5-9, 6.51)

The Orioles couldn't take the heat last night. They ran into the hottest team in baseball on one of the hottest nights of the year, so there was nothing to do but cool off.Reliever Mark Eichhorn, who took the mound with a string of 20 2/3 scoreless innings, gave up three runs in the sixth inning and the streaking Oakland Athletics went on to score a 6-4 victory before a sellout crowd of 47,722 at Camden Yards.Stan Javier delivered a game-tying double and Geronimo Berroa provided the margin of victory with a two-run single as the A's continued their impressive midseason recovery with their fifth straight victory and 19th in the past 22 games.

Preparation that meets opportunity.These are the words that dictate Dwight Smith's life.As a constant reminder, Smith keeps this motto in his locker on a crinkled piece of folded Orioles' stationery. It is his reminder that luck doesn't exist. Success is achieved only by hard work."In baseball, we play every day; there's no such thing as luck," Smith said. "You better have skill."Smith's philosophies are from the dirt and sweat school of thought. He believes in reaping benefits from a job well done.

OAKLAND, Calif. -- Imperfection finally found Orioles closer Lee Smith last night. But the first save that he lost turned into the first game that he won as Mike Devereaux's 10th-inning sacrifice fly gave the Orioles a 4-3 victory over the Oakland Athletics.Mark Williamson earned his first save with a 1-2-3 10th.Jack Voigt scored the winning run from third on Devereaux's fly ball to center off Edwin Nunez, the third of five pitchers for Oakland, which lost for the 14th time in 15 games.With Dennis Eckersley (0-3)

OAKLAND, Calif. -- He brain-cramped a bunt play, served two more home run pitches in one inning when ahead in the count, watched his ERA soar over five, lasted only three innings, allowed five runs, and lost.Not only that, but veteran left-hander Sid Fernandez also blasted himself after the Orioles lost, 6-3, to the Oakland Athletics yesterday at the Oakland Coliseum.He could have lived with the performance if he could write it off as just one of those days. He couldn't. Fernandez has viewed this as just one of those seasons, and that he can't dismiss so easily.

If there was ever any doubt about which member of the new six-division format would be the strongest this year, it has been removed in a hurry. The top four teams in the American League East were a combined 19-6 last week. Even including the 2-4 mark posted by the last-place Tigers, they were 11 games over .500 against the rest of the league and are 16 games over for the rTC year. . . . Blue Jays rookie Carlos Delgado has begun to settle down and Orioles outfielder Jeffrey Hammonds is heating up. Go with Hammonds over the long run. . . . Why are the Red Sox going so well?

There's an excellent chance that Oakland Athletics right-hander Todd Van Poppel could be pitching for his job against the Orioles tonight. It wasn't supposed to be -- and shouldn't have been -- this way.What has happened to Van Poppel is yet another classic example of what happens when on-the-job training takes place in the big leagues. At the age of 23, the right-hander should be getting himself established. Instead he's trying to keep his career from going into reverse.You'll recall Van Poppel was touted as the best available player in the 1990 draft.

Sid Fernandez goes after his second straight win as the Orioles close out their West Coast road trip tonight against the Oakland A's.The Orioles, coming off last night's 9-1 victory, also will be trying to close the 2 1/2 -game gap on first-place Boston. But making up ground in the potent American League East isn't easy. Last night, only Detroit lost among the five AL East clubs.Fernandez (1-0, 2.29) will be making his fourth start of the year after opening the season on the disabled list because of shoulder tendinitis.