BASEBALL NOTES : At Least the Orioles Didn’t Hire Don Zimmer or Dick Williams

The dismissal of Frank Robinson probably won’t go down as one of the Baltimore Orioles’ finer moments, but give the club credit for not making the worst of a bad situation by hopping right back on the managerial merry-go-round.

This was not the time to recycle a Don Zimmer or a Dick Williams, if such a time ever exists.

The Orioles managed to retain some organizational continuity with the appointment of John Oates, who proved himself a very capable manager in the minor leagues and also has paid his dues as a major-league coach. He was an excellent choice, though there may not be a man alive who could be expected to win consistently under the conditions that exist in the Orioles clubhouse.

Robinson was the first to point out that Oates cannot be expected to work miracles. But Oates can be expected to work well within the organizational framework that already is in place, which will promote stability.

The Orioles need to avoid the appearance that they are starting over. They have been rebuilding since the mid-1980s, so a fresh start is the last thing they need. Oates helped develop this club when he was managing the Class AAA Rochester Red Wings in 1988. Now, it’s up to him to re-instill confidence in what remains of the Orioles youth movement.

It will not be easy. He said so himself. But he is the man for the job. The question is whether he will get enough time -- and enough front-office support -- to prove it.

It Can Be Done Dept.: The Seattle Mariners are proving that it is possible to stay in contention in spite of a rash of injuries and a penchant for non-productivity. They entered the weekend right in the thick of the American League West race, though key pitchers Scott Bankhead, Erik Hanson and Mike Schooler have been on the disabled list and three players with 100 or more at-bats are hitting at .205 or below.

How have they done it? By getting an occasional contribution from each player on the roster. Eleven different players have had game-winning hits, five relievers have at least one victory and four have recorded saves.

The Houston Astros tentatively are scheduled to make a record 26-game road trip next year while the Astrodome plays host to the Republican National Convention. The trip, which will start July 26 and end Aug. 23, will take them to Atlanta (three games), Cincinnati (4), Los Angeles (3), San Diego (3), San Francisco (3), Chicago (4), St. Louis (3) and Philadelphia (3).

The club originally had hoped to play some home games at the Louisiana Superdome in New Orleans, but the Major League Players Association nixed that. Instead, the Astros will travel 9,231 miles in 28 days while the Republicans rubber stamp President Bush as their 1992 presidential candidate.

“If you’re trying to field a contending team, playing a 26-game trip is tough,” player rep Jim Deshaies said. “I’ve seen teams fall apart on a two-week trip. Who knows what will happen when you go out for 26 games. But it’s certainly better than playing the games at a neutral site.”

Who knows, indeed. The longest road trip on record was a 23-game swing made by the 1916 New York Giants. They won the first 17 games of that trip.

A tale of two pitchers: It appears that Fernandomania still is alive in Southern California. When Fernando Valenzuela pitched in a minor-league game for the Angels’ Class A club in Palm Springs last week, it was standing room only at tiny Angels Stadium.

The game drew 5,188, many of whom had to sit in a marked-off area in the outfield. It also drew 135 members of the media. By comparison, the game the night before drew 604 fans and three reporters.

Valenzuela isn’t the only big-name pitcher working his way back in the minor leagues. Dodger pitcher Orel Hershiser has made three minor-league appearances (16 innings, one run) and is expected back in the major-league rotation this week.

The Dodgers just have to decide who to replace in the rotation. It figures to be highly paid newcomer Kevin Gross, whose 5.93 ERA is the second highest in the league (behind Houston’s Jim DeShaies) among pitchers who have made at least six starts.

Everyone has heard the official explanations, but here’s a top 10 list of other reasons why Frank Robinson was fired as the manager of the Baltimore Orioles:

10: Should have communicated better with players. Apparently, many thought he wanted them to give up five runs in the first inning.

9: Did not play Joe Orsulak enough to suit local media.

8: Needed more time to devote to stadium construction and scouting.

7: Had developed annoying habit of telling the truth.

6: Somebody had to take the blame and he just happened to be at the stadium Thursday.

5: Team’s poor performance during royal visit may have cost Eli Jacobs knighthood.

4: Made just too damn much money.

3: Failed to brief players on proper groin care.

2: Couldn’t hit for them. Couldn’t pitch for them.

1: His inability to diagnose rare nerve disorder forced club to spend thousands on doctors for Glenn Davis.

Jim Essian’s first move as Chicago Cubs manager was to put shortstop Shawon Dunston at the top of the lineup for Wednesday’s game against the New York Mets.

Sounds logical, until you consider that Dunston was batting .200 with a .238 on-base percentage when the move was made.

“I said, ‘Oh, shoot, what’s going on,’ ” Dunston told reporters after he saw the lineup card. “I hope he didn’t see my last 40 at-bats.”

Then Dunston went out and got two hits and stole a base.

The Cleveland Indians moved the fences back at Municipal Stadium this year, hoping to help the pitching staff and take advantage of speedy Alex Cole, but it hasn’t worked out that way.

The club’s ERA at home is significantly higher than it is on the road Cole was nowhere in sight until he was activated Saturday. He had played just 15 games before a rehabilitation assignment at Class AAA Colorado Springs.

Meanwhile, the new fence dimensions are frustrating the Cleveland offense, which has been outscored, 90-56, at home and outhomered, 12-5.

“You can see the frustration on their faces, when they hit a ball they think should be out and it’s caught at the track,” veteran pitcher Tom Candiotti said. “They’re going to have to adjust and realize that if you don’t pull the ball, it’s not going to go out.”

Detroit Tigers outfielder Pete Incaviglia finally made contact against Boston Red Sox ace Roger Clemens Thursday.

Incaviglia had struck out in all nine of his career at-bats against Clemens going into the game and whiffed his first two times up, but he doubled home a run in the seventh inning.

“I told him during the offseason to give me my birth certificate back,” Incaviglia said. “He’s owned me for the last couple of years.”

Someone informed Clemens after the game that he had struck out Inky 11 consecutive times before the double.

“No wonder he was smiling pretty good at second,” Clemens said.

Incaviglia tried to explain.

“I told him, ‘This is the first time I’ve seen the back of your jersey.’ ”

St. Louis Cardinals shortstop Ozzie Smith has yet to make an error and he has been very hot with the bat. He is hitting .402 since April 24 (35 for 87) and leads the team with 13 RBI.

Smith has been rumored to be on the trading block this year, but he continues to be one of the Cardinals’ most valuable players.

“What he’s doing,” teammate Pedro Guerrero said, “is showing you that the man isn’t worn out like everybody thinks.”

Kansas City Royals outfielder Kirk Gibson still hasn’t gotten comfortable at the plate at Royals Stadium. He had a career .190 average there when he signed with the Royals as a newlook free agent. He’s hitting .167 (11 for 66) there since.

Minnesota Twins pitcher Jack Morris couldn’t have expected much more from the fans at Tiger Stadium last week. He was booed constantly in his first appearance since becoming a free agent and leaving the Tigers, and he deserved it. He gave up a three-run home run and a grand slam in the first inning of a blowout loss.

“The first time I started here, 45,000 people showed up and booed because Mark Fydrich wasn’t pitching,” Morris said. “I’ve heard the boos and I’ve heard the cheers. What’s the difference?. Should I have pulled an Albert Belle and threw the ball at them? I can’t do that. They pay my salary.”