FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. -- The inevitable struck camp yesterday. Albert Belle officially received the cleanup role -- and then refused to comment.

Reversing his initial impulse to bat one of the game's most prolific power hitters third in a predominantly left-handed lineup, Orioles manager Ray Miller assured Belle he would hold onto the spot he long occupied with the Cleveland Indians and Chicago White Sox. Miller made the announcement as a prelude to this afternoon's first of four intrasquad games.

While cautioning the lineup is subject to change, Miller said Belle's role is no longer up for debate. He described his decision about Belle as "set in gold" after considering the move "for about the last three months."

Perhaps more surprising, Miller indicated Brady Anderson will receive every chance to hold onto his role as leadoff hitter despite a subpar 1998 and suggestions from some quarters that second baseman Delino DeShields assume the role. DeShields will instead bat second.

"He's been a great player up until the last two years," Miller said of Anderson. "He's had some injuries. Now he's healthy. He's a great player who has some things to prove, and I'd like to start out without having anything else to worry about. Nothing is set here. All I've said is Albert Belle will hit fourth."

DeShields, who has batted .305 hitting second compared with .249 leading off the past five seasons, endorsed the move.

"To me, with the DH, a guy in the American League leading off should be a guy who can produce some runs an RBI guy as well. There aren't many Rickey Hendersons or Craig Biggios out there, but that's the type of guy," said DeShields, a career National League player until this season.

"In the American League, it doesn't necessarily have to be a speed guy. That guy is going to come up a lot with runners in scoring position. It's not like the National League, where the pitcher bunts a guy over and there are two outs."

Miller notified Belle of his decision during morning fielding drills. Belle, who had downplayed the issue while conceding he preferred batting cleanup, reacted nonchalantly.

Approached about the issue, Belle selected yesterday for his first no comment as an Oriole, repeatedly waving off reporters. Oddly, much had been made this spring about Belle's greater willingness to cooperate with media. In turn, several outlets have abided Belle's request not to be filmed or photographed during batting practice, an unenforceable policy if tested.

First advanced by Miller during December's winter meetings, the idea of batting Belle third struck many inside and outside the clubhouse as curious. With the departures of last year's regular cleanup hitter, first baseman Rafael Palmeiro, and right fielder Eric Davis to free agency, there exists no obvious power alternative. Miller initially projected first baseman Will Clark hitting cleanup behind Belle. Though Clark hit 23 home runs with the Texas Rangers in 1998, he has averaged only 15 the last seven seasons.

"Third, fifth, whatever it doesn't matter to me," said Clark.

Against right-handed pitching, the arrangement gives the Orioles three left-handed bats at the top of the order and Belle as the only right-handed hitter among the top five.

Belle -- the game's most productive hitter the past eight seasons -- repeatedly expressed a preference for the cleanup role while hastening that he would go along with whatever Miller decided. All but 33 of Belle's 2,803 at-bats the past five seasons have come from the cleanup spot.

Likewise, Anderson has long lobbied to retain the leadoff spot, even after hitting 50 home runs in 1996. The issue resurfaced last December when the Orioles signed DeShields, and new general manager Frank Wren immediately projected him as their leadoff hitter.

Constructing a batting order from a renovated clubhouse presents Miller one of his toughest challenges of spring. Not only must he deal with a lineup overloaded with left-handed hitters, but he also faces political pressure from veteran players accustomed to certain roles.

Miller said he sought help from his coaching staff and Wren and penciled mounds of possible lineups. Player sentiment eventually held sway.

Miller had met with Belle for 30 minutes earlier this week, but insisted his spot in the batting order wasn't an issue. Miller said he was only relenting to the reality of an unbalanced batting order and a desire to create a more aggressive base-stealing team.

Had Belle batted third, a stolen base by Anderson or DeShields would have served as an invitation to pitch around Belle, who may already find himself rarely challenged in Camden Yards.

"I was just sitting here thinking I want my first two guys to be aggressive and scoring 100 runs. If Brady hits a line-drive out and DeShields singles [with Belle hitting third], now I'm holding DeShields. It would be nice to get him to second, but then I'm taking away some quality pitches from Albert," Miller said.

"I think you'd probably be remiss if you have an outstanding major-league player and didn't consider what makes him comfortable," he said. "One of the jobs of a major-league manager is to put the best possible lineup out there with the people that you have."

Miller said Clark and left fielder B. J. Surhoff will be sandwiched around Belle against right-handed pitching.

Surhoff would consistently bat third for the first time since 1995, his last season with the Milwaukee Brewers. Vs. left-handers, right-handed designated hitter Chris Hoiles will appear in the No. 3 or No. 5 spot.

Miller projected Cal Ripken as returning to the No. 6 hole.

With Belle his offensive centerpiece, Miller intends to reduce the incessant shuffling that typified last season. Adjustments will be made based upon a right-handed or left-handed starting pitcher and occasional days off for regulars; however, there should not be a repeat of last summer's 132 lineups, which frustrated a veteran clubhouse. Only the Minnesota Twins and Tampa Bay Devil Rays were more unsettled.

"I think the biggest thing a good ballplayer wants is consistency," said Miller.

Projected lineups

The Orioles' projected batting order vs. right-handed starters and left-handed starters:

Vs. RHP Vs. LHP

1. Anderson 1. Anderson

2. DeShields 2. DeShields

3. Surhoff 3. Hoiles/Clark

4. Belle 4. Belle

5. Clark 5. Hoiles/Clark

6. Ripken 6. Ripken

7. Baines 7. Surhoff

8. Bordick 8. Bordick

9. Johnson 9. Johnson

Pub Date: 3/02/99