A.L. East

Sporting News, The, Sept 20, 1999

Teams are listed alphabetically

Wild-card showdown

Entering this week, the Blue Jays were 6 1/2 games behind the Red Sox in the A.L. wildcard race, but they have a chance to gain ground when they face the Red Sox in a three-game series beginning September 21 at Fenway Park.

Don't be surprised if Boston, 8-1 against Toronto this season, sweeps the series. Still, skeptics say the Red Sox are vulnerable because of their starting pitching, although they are almost unbeatable when Pedro Martinez is on the mound. Martinez is scheduled to pitch the second game of the series against the Blue Jays if the Red Sox stay with their five-man rotation.

Even if the Jays score runs against the Red Sox, they'll have won only half the battle. Toronto's pitching staff has been pounded by Boston all season. The Red Sox have scored 65 runs, or 7.2 per game, against the Blue Jays.

The Jays still are looking for consistency from their starting pitchers. None has an ERA under 4.00. It may be too late, but the team needs veteran lefthander David Wells to recapture the magic he had last season for the Yankees. Entering this week, Wells was 13-10 with a 5.19 ERA. --Paul Doyle

Baltimore

66-76: 4th

Riley gives team hope for a rebound in 2000

The arrival of LHP Matt Riley has created excitement in an otherwise futile September scenario. Riley, 20, lasted only 2 2/3, innings in his major league debut, but his velocity and makeup have the club optimistic for next season and beyond. He may not be ready for prime time next spring, but his rapid rise through the system has created at least the illusion of solid depth in the big-league rotation. The team will return next year with a nucleus of RHPs Mike Mussina, Scott Erickson and Sidney Ponson, and with hopes that young RHP Jason Johnson will make the rotation out of spring training. Riley's emergence could help the team rebound from two bad seasons.

BUM DEAL: The injury to 2B Delino DeShields has allowed the club to take another look at prospect Jerry Hairston, and it likes what it sees. But it isn't likely Hairston will start in favor of DeShields next season. DeShields will make $4 million and is in the middle of a guaranteed three-year contract. The club, though, will try to trade DeShields this winter.

SEE A DIFFERENT GAME: Brady Anderson isn't happy about his recent move to left field, but the club wants to get a good look at Eugene Kingsale, 23, in center field. Though Anderson is the top center fielder in the organization, it makes sense to evaluate Kingsale now instead of waiting until next spring, when he will be out of minor league options. If Kingsale proves competent, Anderson could stay in left, and B.J. Surhoff could move to third base. If Surhoff moves to third, Cal Ripken would be asked to fill in at designated hitter, first base and third base. Kingsale, however, has been injury-plagued in the minors. --Peter Schmuck

GRADING OUT

OFFENSE B

All eyes are on Cal Ripken, who still has a chance to get his 3,000th hit this year.

PITCHING B

No place to go this year, but Jason Johnson and Matt Riley give team hope for the future.

DEFENSE C

The additions of Jerry Hairston and Jesse Garcia have added spice to tasteless September.

                             ORIOLES

                    AVG     G    AB    R     H   HR   RBI

Ripken Jr.         .333    79   306   49   102   16    51
Surhoff( )         .317   142   596   94   189   26    98
(*) Kingsale(#)    .313    11    32    4    10    0     3
Conine             .306   123   389   49   119   13    72
Belle              .297   141   539   94   160   33   102
Anderson( )        .292   133   496   99   145   22    74
Amaral             .282    82   131   21    37    0    11
(*) Hairston Jr.   .281    33   114   17    32    3    13
May( )             .280    14    25    2     7    1     5
Bordick            .273   141   557   80   152   10    64
DeShields( )       .264    96   330   46    87    6    34
(*) Figga          .246    33    65    9    16    1     4
Johnson            .240   121   384   50    92   15    50
(*) Minor          .179    33    84    9    15    2     4
Reboulet           .171    86   146   23    25    0     4
(*) Garcia         .091    10    11    2     1    0     0
(*) Pickering( )   .000     9    10    0     0    0     0

                    OBP    SLG   SB    K   BB    E

Ripken Jr.         .356   .572    0   29    9   13
Surhoff( )         .353   .507    5   71   36    0
(*) Kingsale(#)    .389   .344    0    3    3    0
Conine             .349   .486    0   32   27    7
Belle              .400   .534   16   75   90    4
Anderson( )        .417   .494   34   92   91    1
Amaral             .346   .359    8   19   15    0
(*) Hairston Jr.   .333   .447    7   14    8    0
May( )             .321   .400    0    3    2    0
Bordick            .332   .391   12   84   48    9
DeShields( )       .339   .364   11   52   37   10
(*) Figga          .254   .354    0   17    1    5
Johnson            .330   .398    0   97   50    5
(*) Minor          .242   .298    1   25    7    1
Reboulet           .320   .199    1   29   31    2
(*) Garcia         .137   .091    0    1    1    0
(*) Pickering( )   .375   .000    0    4    6    0