FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. -- Having already restricted clubhouse access in response to what he considers a violation of protocol, Orioles general manager Frank Wren yesterday blistered media coverage of outfielder Albert Belle's Thursday outburst at his locker.

An animated Wren likened Belle's tantrum to a "pimple on an elephant" and called it a "non-issue" while also accusing reporters of exercising a double standard against the temperamental slugger. As punishment, Wren indicated that clubhouse access would continue to be denied during games.

Belle hurled bats, his helmet and spikes after being called out on strikes in his third at-bat Thursday. With reporters interviewing pitcher Mike Mussina across the clubhouse, Belle's self-directed rant splintered one bat and left his shoes beneath a food table. The right fielder then composed himself and returned to the bench. None of his invectives was directed at any of the witnesses.

"It turned something that was very innocent and not a big deal into a national story,"

Wren said. "It hurt Albert because Albert has made an attempt [at cooperating with the media], and he's been outstanding all camp. And he's done nothing wrong. But he's being blasted all over the country."

Belle pledged upon signing a five-year, $65 million contract with the Orioles last December that he would become more approachable to the media. His checkered past includes threats against a Cleveland columnist and a profanity-laced dugout harangue against an NBC reporter during the 1995 World Series. However, Belle cultivated a more comfortable relationship with Chicago reporters during a two-year stint with the White Sox and had been accommodating on numerous occasions this spring, spurring accounts of an image makeover in Sports Illustrated and on ESPN.

Wren maintained that if any player other than Belle had exhibited similar conduct, the incident would not have been reported.

"To run with something as insignificant as a player throwing bats into his locker, I think is unconscionable," Wren said. "If you went around that clubhouse and took a poll about what names you would report about and what names you wouldn't report about, that's your litmus test. I would say there's 55 players in that clubhouse and I'd say if 54 players in that clubhouse had done the same thing, it wouldn't have made the papers. That's where I have the problem."

Wren met with Belle yesterday to make known his feelings. Miller met with Belle on Friday and was equally indignant about media accounts.

"I apologized to him. That's exactly what I did the next day," Miller said, adding, "I said, 'I'm sorry that got in the paper because you've been outstanding here.' And if you've been in the clubhouse every single game of every single season you would see guys walk in and throw something in the locker. That's why there's a five-minute cooling-off period during the season. Everybody's [angry]. Sometimes, you have words, you yell at each other, you throw something and it hits somebody and he wants to fight. That's all part of baseball, and that's all part of competitiveness."

Though the Orioles have counseled Belle about being more fan-friendly, they also have accommodated his training quirks. Photographers have repeatedly been ordered not to photograph Belle during batting practice and he recently denied interview requests by rights-holder Home Team Sports, among others. However, despite his singular preparation, Belle has attempted to blend with his new teammates, even accepting barbs from first baseman Will Clark.

At the same time, Belle's much-publicized surliness has made such outbursts almost cliched. He has likened each at-bat to "war" and often works himself into a fury before facing an opponent. This week's incident appears to have fed the sentiment.

Added Miller: "I wish everybody had the same intensity in every at-bat that Albert Belle does. Because if we do, we're going to be something to be reckoned with."

Belle promised several reporters Friday morning that he would have nothing to say to them the rest of this season. Approached by another reporter yesterday, Belle rose from a bench and walked away without comment. Wren sounded as if he endorsed the tactic.

"I can see why he's upset and why he wouldn't speak, because it's just not right," said the general manager.

Pub Date: 3/14/99