BASEBALL / ROSS NEWHAN : NAMES AND NUMBERS

* BIRDLAND: Having spent $173 million for the franchise and another $43 million for free agents, new Baltimore owner Peter Angelos can be excused for having high expectations and limited patience. Insiders say he has been on the verge of firing Manager John Oates despite having given Oates a two-year extension when he bought the club last year. Vice President Frank Robinson would apparently replace Oates, who replaced Robinson when Robinson was kicked upstairs with the Orioles 13-24 in 1991. The Orioles don’t seem to need a managerial change as much as an offensive awakening. Mark McLemore, Chris Sabo, Brady Anderson, Mike Devereaux and Chris Hoiles are batting .235 or worse, and Jeff Hammond is on the disabled list.

* OFF THE BLOCK: Despite a 2-9 record and 17 losses in his last 21 decisions, Andy Benes remains baseball’s most pursued pitcher. But with owner Tom Werner negotiating the sale of the San Diego Padres, another payroll-reducing move involving Benes might be delayed. Benes, amid his own frustration and discouragement, put in a word for Manager Jim Riggleman. “There’s no manager in the history of baseball who could do better (with this team),” Benes said.

* TURNING IT AROUND: Doug Drabek’s 7-1 record is not only a reversal of his 9-18 debut with the Houston Astros last season, it reverses his career pattern. Drabek is 45-49 before the All-Star break and 63-39 after it.

* ADD ASTROS: Erratic Mitch Williams is certain to be released or traded, if anyone will have him. A shouting match with Manager Terry Collins over Collins’ employment of John Hudek in the closer role is thought to be the last straw. The Astros would like to make room for Phil Nevin at third base and acquire outfielder Milt Thompson or Jim Eisenreich from the Philadelphia Phillies by trading Ken Caminiti. The Phillies, with Dave Hollins on the disabled list for six weeks because of a broken hand, are interested, but only if the Astros pick up some of the $7.5 million Caminiti is guaranteed through 1995, which conflicts with one of the reasons Houston wants to trade him. General managers Bob Watson and Lee Thomas have been talking about it in Philadelphia this weekend.