Young Pitchers

The bad news for Arthur Rhodes is that he's still in Rochester. The good news for the talented but erratic left-hander is that he almost certainly will stay there until after the impending strike is resolved.The bottom line in this scenario is that Rhodes will continue to pitch at the Triple-A level, where his exposure has still been minimal, and he'll also continue to draw a paycheck. The same is true for Mike Oquist, who was sent to Rochester earlier in the week, and within the next two weeks the Orioles also will find a way to get Armando Benitez back to the minor leagues.

Orioles manager Buck Showalter said he didn't go old school by design. It was purely by necessity and circumstance that four of his young, inexperienced starters have ended up in the bullpen in September. "That's the way it used to be done," Showalter said. "You used to come up as a reliever, you build up all your innings as a starter in the minor leagues and then you came up. Ask Jim Palmer and those guys, you started out that way. You'd give them a little and see how much they could take.

FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. -- The Orioles' first formal workout of spring training went off without a hitch, or a bruise, or a pulled muscle, and that news was sweet music to the ears of manager Davey Johnson."

Though it went unsaid by the Orioles' front office, this season was never about wins and losses, or where the team finished in the American League East standings. Year One of club president Andy MacPhail's major rebuilding project was always going to be measured by individual progress and organizational development. When the Orioles' 11th consecutive losing season came to a merciful end yesterday and another pivotal offseason began, team officials were left to sort through mixed signals.

The Orioles were a triple short of hitting for the cycle yesterday against the Kansas City Royals' Jose Rosado -- after seven batters. And it didn't appear he'd stick around much longer before hitting the showers.Instead, he lasted until a downpour that soaked Camden Yards for about four minutes. By the time he left, it was too late for the Orioles. Their opportunity had passed.Rosado continued his success against the Orioles while interrupting his miseries since the All-Star break, allowing one run and four hits in seven innings in the Royals' 5-1 victory at Camden Yards.

CLEVELAND -- Orioles pitcher Jason Johnson met briefly with manager Ray Miller yesterday to clear the air regarding his abbreviated start Saturday.Johnson had questioned Miller's decision to pull him after two innings with the Cleveland Indians leading 5-1. The right-hander had thrown 62 pitches, including one that Jim Thome turned into a first-inning grand slam. Johnson struck out the last two batters in the second, then was informed by pitching coach Bruce Kison that he was finished.Johnson said he had just gotten into a groove and probably could have gone another four innings.

FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. -- Gabe Molina isn't sure what the Orioles have planned for him. Maybe they want to groom him as their closer. Maybe they just want to find a bullpen role for him. Maybe they're not even sure. Last season provided few hints. Molina recorded 18 saves at Triple-A Rochester after setting a record at Double-A Bowie with 24 in 1998. Recalled by the Orioles for the second time on July 2, Molina was given the chance to close out a win against Toronto by former manager Ray Miller, who had grown desperate for somebody to seize the opportunity while Mike Timlin struggled.

FORT MYERS, Fla. -- At times, Hayden Penn looked dominant. He buckled the knees of Boston first baseman J.T. Snow with two straight curveballs. He totally overmatched the next hitter in the Red Sox lineup, Dustan Mohr, on a high and tight fastball. Then there were other moments yesterday, when Penn reminded everyone that he is still 21 years old, still learning what it takes to get major league hitters out. He couldn't locate his fastball against Trot Nixon and he walked him. On his first pitch to All-Star slugger Manny Ramirez, Penn left a fastball out over the plate and watched it get slammed to right field for a single.

PHOENIX -- Like every other organization, the Orioles will lose at least two players in today's expansion draft that serves as an incubator for the Arizona Diamondbacks and Tampa Bay Devil Rays.At the same time, general manager Pat Gillick may be prepared to trade for Florida Marlins left-hander Al Leiter amid an anticipated flurry of deals after the draft.A deal likely would hinge on either expansion team drafting Leiter, then dealing him to the Orioles for a package of players. While Gillick acknowledges talks involving Leiter, he downplayed the possibility of anything imminent.

River Hill sophomore pitcher Shannon Jackson walked eight, hit two batters and threw nine wild pitches yesterday against visiting Howard.And won."She pitches well enough to win," said River Hill coach Dave Vitagliano after the No. 14-ranked Hawks beat Howard for the fifth straight time, 4-3, to stay unbeaten. "When it looks the bleakest, she seems to come up with the pitch to get the hitter out."No. 10 Howard (2-2 county) loaded the bases in the fourth, sixth and seventh innings but scored only once in those situations -- when one of Jackson's wild pitches let in a run in the fourth.