JUPITER, Fla. -- Rich Amaral said yesterday that he still hasn't been cleared to take batting practice because of a sore back. He continues to receive treatments, staying behind again at the Fort Lauderdale complex during the Orioles' 7-3 victory over the Montreal Expos at Roger Dean Stadium.
Amaral, who hasn't played since March 16, had hoped to take BP on Monday after hitting off a tee the previous day. But he's still experiencing some discomfort in his back, a condition that flared up while taking ground balls before Wednesday's game.
He straightened to throw and felt a sharp pain that he said almost "paralyzed" him.
"It's still bothering me a little bit," Amaral said yesterday.
Amaral, who turns 37 on April 1, was signed mainly as an outfield reserve after eight years in Seattle. He began last season on the disabled list with a strained back.
Amaral's condition, and the tendinitis in Jeff Reboulet's left heel, could impact Chris Hoiles' status. Hoiles no longer can catch because of chronic soreness in his hip, and manager Ray Miller expressed some concerns yesterday about having too many bench players with physical limitations.
"Right now I'm just interested in Reboulet being healthy and Amaral getting back. If those two things happen, then maybe that changes the way you think about Hoiley's situation," Miller said.
"I just don't want to be in a situation where I've got too many people who aren't healthy. That's what I went through last year. I don't want to go through that again. If [Hoiles] can play, he can play. If he can't, he can't."
Asked about the possibility of Hoiles beginning the year on the disabled list, Miller said, "I haven't even thought about that. We've got to start thinking about it, but I haven't yet."
Hoiles replaced Will Clark at first base yesterday and went 0-for-2. He's hitting .172 with one homer and seven RBIs in 36 plate appearances this spring.
"He holding up in the hitting and running part," Miller said. "He's had a little trouble with movement at first base. We'll continue to give him plenty of at-bats."
Reboulet will start against the New York Mets tonight in Fort Lauderdale. He hasn't played since Sunday, and will get further rest from tomorrow's day off. He's still projected as the starting second baseman on Opening Day because of Delino DeShields' fractured left thumb, which he'll have X-rayed again tomorrow, but Miller has broached the possibility of Reboulet going on the DL if the heel doesn't improve.
No love for Alou
It became clear yesterday that Miller still harbors resentment over comments made by Montreal manager Felipe Alou last season.
Alou questioned the Orioles' effort while they were being swept by the Expos in an interleague series, one of the low points in a season filled with disappointments.
Miller referred back to Alou's harsh critique while talking about how he wants to avoid again being limited in personnel moves because of injuries.
"I don't want to be in the situation with ------- over here accusing my club of being dead last year when nobody could play," Miller said, nodding toward Alou while standing in front of the Orioles' dugout during batting practice. "I didn't have anybody on the bench who could play and two guys on the field were hurt. I'm not going to go through it."
Miller 'honored' by Cuba role
The countdown to Cuba has reached four days. As the historic exhibition game draws near, Miller talked yesterday of being proud to take part in baseball's expansion into other countries.
"It's going to be a heck of a spectacle," he said. "There will be 640 media passes and on television throughout the world, to countries that have never seen baseball. I don't think the proceeds will amount to anything, but I think what it does for baseball on a worldwide scope will be a great thing. I'm honored to be a part of that.
"We're going to be facing a world-class team. They play world-class baseball. I want to play our best team. I hope the atmosphere and media attention rises everybody to the occasion. I'm glad we didn't do it earlier in the camp because I'm not so sure you'd be physically ready."
Miller admitted there's a certain uneasiness attached to the trip, but he found comfort in talking to B. J. Surhoff, who was part of a group including majority owner Peter Angelos that went to Cuba in January to negotiate an agreement for the game.
"The fact B. J. went down there makes you feel better because he talked about how nice and friendly everyone was, and how he just walked around and everybody treated him nice," Miller said.
"I just know there's such a tremendous passion for baseball in the whole Caribbean, and probably even more so in Cuba. If this promotes baseball worldwide and creates more enthusiasm for baseball in the Caribbean, then that's wonderful.
"It's kind of an honor for you to be the team that's selected to do this. You're representing your country. It's pretty exciting. It's something to remember for the rest of your life. It's something to tell your grandchildren about."
No concessions? No way!
"How many hot dogs do the kids eat and how do we get them there?"
So barked Bob Hauptman while helping make last-minute plans for Sunday's Orioles game in Havana. Hauptman, a Washington-based consultant, was frantically working multiple phone lines yesterday to work out the details (kosher beef and otherwise) surrounding the game with the Cubans. "It may be on, it may be off," Hauptman said of the hot dog rescue mission.
U.S. organizers are planning to bring in their own baseballs and bats for pickup games between Little Leaguers from the United States and players from a Cuban youth league.
Add to that a possible airlift or boatload of more than 1,000 U.S.-made hot dogs and buns.
The question of the hot dogs is a burning one: The Latin American Stadium in Havana has no concession stands, which could prove torture for all those kids hungry from all that cultural exchanging. So, before the game, organizers hope for a massive ballpark barbecue.
Sun staff writer Ellen Gamerman contributed to this article.
Pub Date: 3/24/99