JUPITER, Fla. -- Four days from now, Orioles pitcher Sidney Ponson will be back in Jupiter. A lesser man would cry.
Ponson made his 1999 spring debut here on Tuesday against the St. Louis Cardinals. David Howard tagged him for two home runs, and he didn't get the decision in the Orioles' 8-5 victory.
Ponson returned to Roger Dean Stadium yesterday to face the Montreal Expos, who share this beautiful facility with the Cardinals. It's an eyesore only to Ponson, who allowed back-to-back homers to Jose Vidro and Shane Andrews in the third inning. Again, he didn't receive the decision in the Orioles' 8-6 loss.
The Expos scored five times in the inning, which was Ponson's last. None of the runs was earned because Chris Hoiles dropped a low throw at first after replacing Will Clark, but there was nobody else to blame for a two-run triple by Vladimir Guerrero and the two long homers that followed.
"I didn't have everything with me today," said Ponson, who allowed six hits in three innings. "I was flying open on my slider. I didn't pitch good."
"He got a couple pitches up," said manager Ray Miller, "and that's what happens, whether it's here or at Camden Yards.
"Whether it's youth or you're older, with the extra out you have a tendency to overthrow. That's the maturation for every young guy."
Ponson has given up 11 hits in six innings. He's not assured of a spot in the rotation, even after winning eight games as a rookie last season.
"I put a little pressure on myself," he said. "I'm pushing too hard. I've got to get the feel back for being on the mound and facing hitters. I don't have a job here. I'm working hard for it."
Miller doesn't want Ponson worrying about it. Just pitch like he's capable, and the rest will take care of itself.
"I'd imagine he'd find his way on this club somewhere," Miller said.
If only Ponson could avoid finding his way back here on Friday.
"What can I do?" he asked. "I just have to do better."
Misadventures in outfield
This wasn't the day to be an outfielder, either, not with a strong wind blowing out to left as a wicked storm approached. The gusts didn't help Ponson, and they could have been a major nuisance to the players behind him.
Miller brought two-thirds of his starting outfield to Jupiter, with left fielder B.J. Surhoff remaining in Fort Lauderdale and Rich Amaral taking his place. Despite the conditions, the afternoon passed without any miscues.
That hasn't always been the case.
Albert Belle has struggled some while making the switch to right field so Surhoff can remain in left. He's been slow to get back on a couple balls to the warning track, and allowed another to fall in front of him Saturday.
Despite such misadventures, Miller said he's still committed to keeping the same alignment.
"He's all right," Miller said of Belle. "That ball [Saturday] hit a guy dead on the fists and the wind was blowing in about 900 feet. The ball just died on him and he didn't get to it. He'll be fine.
"One thing about the man, he has a lot of pride. If he messes up, he'll be out there working on it that much more."
"I'm satisfied with [the outfield] just the way it is," Miller added. "You have to remember, we play 81 games in a ballpark that's relatively small, especially in right field. And I have, perhaps, the best left fielder in the league."
Flexing muscles
The wind didn't hurt Clark, who hit an opposite-field homer in the third inning. What started out as a line drive toward the corner ended up being something more.
Clark's other homer this spring came in an intrasquad game. He's batting .455.
"He looks like what I expected of him. He doesn't give up at-bats, he uses the whole field, he'll take a walk. Good things," Miller said.
Charles Johnson hit his second homer and Belle clubbed his first, a two-run shot in the fifth that tied the score, 6-6.
Belle collected his first two extra-base hits of the spring. He also doubled in the third and raised his average from .222 to .316 (6-for-19).
No panic over Timlin
Miller will attempt to give closer Mike Timlin two innings in the middle of an future game. Miller hastened that the move isn't an improvisation brought upon by two poor outings but a way of guaranteeing time for an underworked role.
"I've said all along this is a tough time for a power reliever," Miller said. "It's just harder for those guys to get going. By giving him a couple of innings, it allows him to stretch out."
Timlin has yet to incorporate his slider into his repertoire. His sinking fastball has generated ground balls, but he has also been hurt by two home runs and most recently by indifferent defense from a minor-league infield. In three exhibitions, he has allowed five hits and four runs -- one earned -- over three innings. Willis Otanez and Calvin Pickering reached him for home runs in an intrasquad game.
It's old hat for Orosco
In the Orioles' clubhouse, there's a collection of young prospects who still are getting acclimated to life in a major-league camp. Still trying to blend in while unsure what the future holds.
Then, there's Jesse Orosco.
He'll be 42 next month, old enough to have past appearances broadcast on ESPN Classics. This is his 21st spring training, and by now the whole process has become pretty routine.
"I just woke up one day and it was time to go again," he said. "It's something I've been doing for a long time now. I'm used to it. Something clicks in when you do it over and over. In the off-season, I may wake up at 7 in the morning, or 10. Here, I automatically wake up at 8 or 8: 30, knowing I have to practice."
He needed some extra time to get acquainted with his new bullpen mates. Timlin has replaced Armando Benitez as the closer. Heathcliff Slocumb is here to help in a setup role, assuming some of the load carried by Alan Mills before he signed with the Dodgers over the winter. And Mike Fetters, signed to a minor-league contract in February, is poised to assist in the middle and late innings.
"I'm excited about it right now," said Orosco, who's entering his fifth season with the Orioles. "This is a really, really solid bullpen. We picked up three players who are quality, established relievers. And they've all closed. That's kind of nice. I've closed before on the left side and Arthur [Rhodes] has gotten a taste of it, also. I figure it's going to be a good situation for Ray and [pitching coach] Bruce Kison. They can shuffle us around, use us any way they want."
Orosco's role should stay the same. Enter a game in the seventh or eighth and retire a tough left-hander or two.
"I'm not the kind of guy who can go out there and throw three, four innings in relief," said Orosco, who pitched a perfect inning yesterday. "For quite a few years now, everybody's been plugging me in there for that one out, maybe a couple outs. There aren't too many directions they can go with me now. I never was physically strong enough and had that ability to throw three or four innings. I've been molded into one type of player."
One durable, dependable player.
Pub Date: 3/15/99