Orioles Fire Oates as Manager

Johnny Oates, whose high-priced lineup did not produce enough to satisfy ownership, was fired as manager of the Baltimore Orioles.

The Orioles were 63-49, second in the American League East, under Oates when the players went on strike Aug. 12. But new owner Peter Angelos expected more because of free agents Rafael Palmeiro, Sid Fernandez and others.

The Orioles did not announce Oates’ replacement. They reportedly have been interested in Oakland’s Tony La Russa, whose contract expires soon, and will ask the Dodgers for permission to talk to former Oriole Rick Dempsey, the manager at triple-A Albuquerque.

Oates took over as manager when Frank Robinson was fired in May of 1991. In his first full season, the Orioles went 89-73 in 1992 and finished third. They were 85-77 and tied for third in 1993, marking their first consecutive winning seasons since 1984-85.

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Striking baseball players vowed to stay unified against owners and briefly discussed the possibility of a league of their own during a 3 1/2-hour meeting in Chicago. Union chief Donald Fehr said there has been no progress in negotiations with management.

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Reserve outfielder Thomas Howard and backup infielder Lenny Harris agreed with the Cincinnati Reds on two-year contracts, the first major league deals announced since the players struck.

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Jim Speros, owner of Baltimore’s Canadian Football League franchise, said he has joined a group trying to bring major league baseball to northern Virginia in 1998. The group is seeking a National League expansion team to play in a new baseball-only stadium to be built south of Washington, D.C.

Basketball

The Minnesota Timberwolves agreed to terms with first-round draft pick Donyell Marshall on a multiyear contract. The 6-foot-9, 220-pound forward out of Connecticut was the fourth overall pick in the June NBA draft.

Dale Davis, the Indiana Pacers’ leading rebounder last season, has signed a contract worth a reported $20 million over five years.

DePaul’s basketball team was put on probation for a year by the NCAA for violations involving a booster who provided free apartments and meals to some players. The team remains eligible for postseason tournaments and faces no television sanctions. The penalties include a reduction in scholarships, official visits and off-campus recruiting.

Motor Sports

A driver was killed in Salem, Ind., when his car slammed into the third-turn wall during the Salem Superstock Series, a track spokesman said.

Ray Hannah, 34, of Westchester, Ohio, suffered head injuries in the crash Sunday and died on the way to the hospital, police said.

Miscellany

Jennifer Capriati will not make her tennis comeback in the European Indoors tournament at Zurich, Switzerland, next week because of a groin injury, officials confirmed.

The United States will play Saudi Arabia in soccer Oct. 19 in Dharhan, Saudi Arabia. It will be the U.S. team’s second game since the World Cup, after a 2-0 loss to England Sept. 7.

Manuel Medina of Tijuana effectively used his reach advantage to score a unanimous decision over Jose Martinez to win the NABF featherweight title at the Forum.

Oliver McCall, who upset Lennox Lewis to win the heavyweight championship, will fight Peter McNeely in December in Boston, a Boston television station reported.