The Daily Times from Salisbury, Maryland • 20

this Salisbury, Md. 20 Wednesday, April 14, 1999 THE DAILY TIMES Rangers stumble at start ARLINGTON, Texas (AP) The bad news for the Texas Rangers isn't that they ended their first homestand 3-4 it's the way they did it that should have them concerned about defending their AL West title. Three. fourths of the pitching Rangers' rotation has looked dreadful, forcing BALL manager Johnny Oates to get more innings out of his relievers than his starters. The Rangers are doing pretty well at the plate and for the most part look better in the field than they did last year.

But none of that matters without better efforts from the starters. "When you're not pitching, it deflates you," Oates said following Monday's 13-5 loss to Anaheim. you just can't go out day after day like that. There is only one option: better pitching. We can't score more runs; it doesn't work that way." Texas had high hopes for its rotation despite returning virtually the same crew that had the highest ERA in the AL last year.

The thinking was that an improved defense and an even more powerful offense would make it bearable. It's not happening, though, because the starters have been worse than ever. As a group, they're allowing nearly a run an inning and that's counting two great starts by Aaron Sele. The trio of Rick Helling, Mark Clark and John Burkett have a 13.50 ERA over five starts. Oates forced Clark to finish the fifth inning Monday because he was desperate for innings.

Texas was still within four runs when Eric Gunderson got in trouble in the eighth, but Oates basically decided to risk another loss rather than use more pitchers. Gunderson allowed three runs in the eighth and one in the ninth. "In the four games we have lost, we've had four 1-2-3 innings," Oates said. "It's not fair to the (other) pitchers." The most successful reliever Mike Morgan left the bullpen Tuesday to become the fifth starter. He was expected to be replaced by spring sensation Jeff Zimmerman, who started the year in Triple-A Oklahoma.

General manager Doug Melvin said the farm system doesn't have much more to offer, and trade possibilities are slim. Olson's comeback Former Orioles ace can't close the deal PHOENIX (AP) Gregg Olson struggled for five years to regain his form as one of the top closers in the game. Last year, with 30 saves in 34 tries with the expansion Arizona Diamondbacks, he was one of the year's big comeback stories. All of that unraveled in a nightmare first week of the season. On opening day in Dodger Stadium, then twice in Atlanta, Olson went to the mound in the ninth to protect a lead.

All three times he failed. Home runs, walks, bloop singles, grounders that dribbled through the infield and one costly error. Whatever could go wrong did. Worst of all, this most analytical of pitchers can't figure out exactly what the problem is, and he sees the closer role he so covets slipping away. The Diamondbacks used Darren Holmes, who was the closer a few seasons ago for Colorado, in the ARIL ZONE AP Photo Gregg Olson made the Arizona Diamondbacks off a spring training tryout, but had a terrible first week with the team in trying to complete his bid for a comeback.

ninth-inning mopup role of Monday night's 12-6 victory over Los Angeles. And there is continuing murmurs that Arizona might go after Mark Wohlers, once one of the best closers in the game for Atlanta a couple of years ago. Wohlers' control has vanished, and the Braves have said they will either trade him or release him outright after he refused assignment to the minor leagues. He could be available, although the Diamondbacks certainly would want him to work in the minors before getting a chance with the big club. "Right now he can't hit the batting cage," Arizona general manager Joe Garagiola Jr.

said. Olson has been around long enough to understand the situation. "If it's the best thing for the team that we go to somebody else, that's fine," Olson said. 'I would hope that when I get everything Chargers' Beathard out of bullets Beathard's out of bullets for draft-day dealing SAN DIEGO (AP) Bobby Beathard doesn't have next year's first-round draft pick to trade away. He did that last year.

He's not inclined to part with his No. 1 in 2001 yet. A rather boring Saturday is shaping up for the San Diego Chargers, who won't surface in the NFL draft until the next-to-last pick in the second round, the 60th overall. By then, some teams will already have made three picks. The Denver Broncos, who won as many games in last season's Ditka would give away his picks for Williams Whether at shortstop or third base, Hammond says he's happy to be with the Frederick Keys first we did it to increase his value as a utility player.

But, he did so well he is a real catching prospect. He has a great arm, quick feet, and the ability to relax. He just needs to recognize pitches better," said Etchebarren. HOOPER NEEDS TO HIT NOW. NEW ORLEANS The New Orleans Saints are only a running back away from greatness, according to coach Mike Ditka.

Provided the back is Ricky Williams. "I just believe this kid is the real deal," Ditka said. He said Williams is like Walter Payton, without as many moves, but with more power. "He's a good player and a good The Saints are willing to give up every draft pick this year a No. 1 and Nos.

3 through 7, plus picks next year and veteran players to get the Heisman Trophy winner. Talks with the Cleveland Browns, who have Saturday's No. Daren Hooper, the Orioles third round pick in the 96 draft couldn't hit breaking pitches last season with the Shorebirds where he hit .207. The book on him at spring training is that now he can't hit breaking balls or belt high fastballs. "The poor guy can't hit anything.

What a waste of money," a pitcher in the Oriole farm system told us. Hooper is staying in extended spring training and working with former Oriole catcher, Duffy Dyer. "He needs to make things by June or Hooper may be going home," said Etchebarren. JAYSON WERTH'S NEW BEST FRIEND. Jayson Werth was with the 40 man Oriole team for most of spring training and received some special attention from Oriole first baseman Will Clark.

cut up my shower shoes, spikes and socks. I have a good luck charm I keep in my locker. He'd hide it every day and make me play hot and cold to find it." Werth also said he took some ribbing about his hair and sideburns at the major league camp. At a press conference in Frederick. he put to rest rumors that the Orioles want to make him an outfielder, due to his great speed and strong arm.

"I played outfield in two games in high school. I don't really know how on hold going the right way, I'd get another opportunity to do it, but it's out of my Manager Buck Showalter hinted that Olson is no longer the absolute go-to guy. "Whether or not, with a one-run lead in the ninth inning, he comes in regardless of the situation, I've got my own feelings about that," Showalter said. "But I don't think it's something he needs to be reading in the paper. I think it's something he needs to hear from me." Olson, 32, said the situation is tougher to handle than any of his other trials, and there have been many.

After 140 saves in his first five seasons with Baltimore, he injured his right elbow and decided against surgery. When he was able to pitch again, he was no longer the pitcher he had been. He bounced from team to team Atlanta, Cleveland, Kansas City, Detroit, Houston, Minnesota and Kansas City again. He had to talk his way into an invitation to the Diamondbacks' spring training. The NFL Draft Super Bowl run as the Chargers have in three years, will have made two selections before the Chargers make their first.

"It'll be a long day Saturday," Beathard said, rather wistfully. Beathard usually livens up the draft and confouds the fans by giving away the following year's first-round pick for the chance to take a no-name player in the second round. That won't happen this year, because Beathard's literally out of bullets, the result Ricky Williams 1 overall pick, began Monday. Reportedly the Browns want this year's picks, plus the firstand thirdround picks Ricky next year and Williams a No. 1 pick in 2001.

"If you can get that blockbuster trade that gives you a combination of picks, presently and in the future, that can set you up for the next 12 years," said Browns: president Carmen Policy. "I think we would be very, very foolish not to give to play outfield," said Werth, who admitted he heard the same rumors right after he signed in 97, but he did not hear them last year with the Shorebirds. HIGH HOPES. Both Frederick pitching coach Larry Jaster and Etchebarren agree that the Keys' pitching staff for '99 may be one of the best they have seen. "Except for McNally, Palmer and Cuellar," said Etchebarren of the Oriole's top pitching staff from 1970 to 1972.

"Maybe not as good as Gibson, Carlton and Briles," said Jaster, referring to the Cardinal's staff he pitched on in 1967 and 1968. RILEY ROCKED. In Saturday's Frederick Keys' season opener former Shorebirds Matt Riley and Jeremy Halpin were hit hard as the Myrtle Beach Pelicans shutout the Keys, 8-0. Riley pitched well through of too much wheeling and dealing last year. "We could possibly change positions, but I don't really think we have ammunition to do it," Beathard said.

Not after including this year's first-rounder, along with last year's Nos. 1 and 2, plus two players, in the megadeal with Arizona that allowed him to move up one spot last April to claim quarterback Ryan Leaf with the second pick overall. Arizona, which made the playoffs, thus gets the eighth pick overall in this year's draft, plus its own at No. 21. San Diego, meanwhile, is serious consideration to that alternative." As much as Ditka covets Williams, he would not give up three No.

1s to get him. "We're already giving the orchard away for the apple tree," Ditka said. "Now they want us to give 10 orchards away." The Saints expect Cleveland to take Williams if a deal can't be made, but they're also making their pitch to the other top five teams in the draft, in case Cleveland goes for a quarterback. The Browns have been considering Tim Couch of Kentucky and Akili Smith of Oregon. New Orleans has the No.

12 pick in the first round. The Saints three innings, but was knocked out in the fourth when he issued a lead off walk and then gave up five hits, including a double to 1998 South Atlantic League MVP Marcus Giles. "I started out leaving the ball up in the fourth and they made me pay for it. It's early and I feel good about what I did in the first three innings," said Riley of his worst professional performance to date. "I have made mistakes that I have to learn from.

They can hit the balls here up (Carolina League) that they coudln't hit in the South Atlantic League." Halpin also looked sharp in his first inning of work, retiring three straight, two on strikeouts. But in the eighth Giles touched Halpin with a leadoff double, which was followed by a homer, a single and then another towering home run to left field marking the end of Halpin's evening. SALISBURY AMOCO AMOCO 828 S. Salisbury Boulevard MD State Inspection Station 6190A Auto Service Repair Foreign Domestic Car Specialist Certified Technicians ENGINE TUNE UP 'OIL, LUBE FILTER' BRAKE SPECIAL 95 400. $1995 095 4 Cyl.

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Expires With this coupon. Expires still waiting for Leaf to grow up and produce. The Chargers even had to go out and sign Jim Harbaugh to help get through 1999. One round after raking in Leaf, Beathard just couldn't resist going even deeper in debt, trading his 2000 first-rounder to Tampa Bay for the right to take 6-foot-5 wide receiver Mikhael Ricks in the second round. Ricks got into Kevin Gilbride's doghouse, was liberated by June Jones, showed promise, but dropped too many balls.

Even after a 5-11 season, Beathard doesn't second-guess himself. He'd still rather forfeit a future first-round pick. don't have a second-round choice; that was traded to St. Louis for wide receiver Eddie Kennison earlier this year. New Orleans hasn't had a yard rusher since Dalton Hillard in 1989.

Lamar Smith was the Saints' leading rusher last year with 457 yards. He asked to be traded after the season, unhappy with Ditka's tendency to yank players every time he gets mad. Williams would not only give the Saints a dangerous ground game, he would give them a marquee name that would help bring back disgruntled fans, said Bruce Lemmerman, director of college scouting. That's a big consideration for a team that hasn't had a BOATING Tops Curtains Cushions Frames Day Service SALISBURY AUTO TRIM SHOP Columbia Salisbury AP Photo San Diego Chargers' GM Bobby Beathard has only so many draft picks left to use. winning season since 1992 and just hiked ticket prices on every seat in the Superdome.

"I think he would give us some respect on the field," Lemmerman said. "And he would give us some recognition around the country." Ditka likes Miami's Edgerrin James, but not well enough to make him a first-round pick. Get your DIAL SPORTS information faster! Select from the options below at any point in the menu, then choose from' the selection of active sports. Press 1 for scores Press 2 for game previews and summaries Press 3 for injury reports Press 4 for odds Press 5 for the latest sport news Return to the main menu at any time just press the key twice: Dial Sports' TM SPORTS UPDATES AT YOUR FINGERTIPS By John Hoffmann Special to the Daily Times In January, former Bluefield Oriole manager and new Frederick Keys skipper Andy Etchebarren said Joey Hammond was best suited to play second base or shortstop. Etchebarren added that if he had any say in the matter Hammond would not return to third base.

Apparently Etchebarren didn't have much voice concerning Hammond, as the 21-year-old is starting at third base for Frederick. The manager sounded a little frustrated when he said that he was "told" to play Hammond at third. He also admitted that when Delino DeShields returns to the Orioles roster from the disabled list, former Shorebirds Richard Paz and Hammond could feel the ripple effect. Paz is starting at shortstop for Bowie. "All spring I played at second said Hammond.

"I'd rather be at Frederick at third than at Delmarva at second. I'm not complaining. I just need to get used to third base again." said Hammond, who is living with his parents in Frederick. DAEDELOW CATCHES ON. Craig Daedelow and Howie Clark arrived at Andy Etchebarren's door step in Florida two weeks before spring training for a crash course in catching.

Clark did well enough to be listed as a backup catcher for Bowie. while Daedelow, the Shorebird's starting catcher. won his teacher's praise. "To be honest with you he is better than half our catchers. At 1-900-737-7676 Only 75 cents per minute.

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