Orioles Depend on Palmeiro’s Punch

This season has been exasperating for the Baltimore Orioles.

The Yankees buried them (and the rest of the American League East) in May. All they hear is they’re overpriced and too old.

But first baseman Rafael Palmeiro has never been better.

He is the club leader in hits, home runs and runs batted in. Friday, he had a home run (his 29th of the season, 300th of his career), a double and a single, driving in all of the Orioles’ runs in a 4-1 victory over the Angels.

On a team loaded with big names, from fellow All-Stars Cal Ripken Jr. and Roberto Alomar to proven veterans B.J. Surhoff and Joe Carter, Palmeiro has been the Orioles’ best player.

“Even though this is a team game, it’s also an individual game,” Palmeiro said. “You have to do what you can do yourself in order to be a team player.

“We’ve had a hard year with injuries and bad luck. Everything has gone wrong for us. But I can’t let that affect my performance. I’ve learned through the years you have to stay focused through the good times, the bad times and the so-so times. The thing about this year, it hasn’t been fun. I haven’t enjoyed it.”

Palmeiro, 33 and in his 11th season, is in the last year of his contract. But this season isn’t being fueled by a salary drive. Baring an injury, he seems certain to hit 30 homers and drive in 100 runs for the fourth consecutive season, and the fifth time in the past six years.

“He knows how to control what he can control at the plate,” Orioles’ hitting coach Rick Downs said. “His pitch selection is very good, and when he gets a pitch to hit, he puts his ‘A’ swing on the ball.

“Most of his power comes from rhythm and timing. He’s not going to miss-hit a ball and mash it like a McGuire or Fielder. He’s more like Ken Griffey, in that ability to be smooth and under control.”

You can also count on Palmeiro to be in the lineup. Excluding 1987--when he broke in with the Cubs--and the 1994 strike-shortened season, Palmeiro has never played fewer than 143 games. This season Palmeiro and Ripken are the only Orioles to play in all 97 games.

Alomar describes him as “a total pro.” And Alomar, who, like Palmeiro, is likely to be moved if the Orioles decide to jettison some high-profile players by the July 31 trading deadline, marvels how Palmeiro remains unaffected by such distractions.

“Until a deal is made, rumors are just that--rumors,” Alomar said. “But you still have to come ready to play your best every day. And he’s played great. But he’s done that last year, the year before that and the year before that. It’s a shame he’s never gotten the credit he deserves.”

The Orioles’ nine-game winning streak has given Palmeiro the belief the wild-card spot may still be in reach. Palmeiro said the team’s veteran makeup has kept it from throwing the season away.

“We have so many guys who have been in situations where they struggled, they know not to panic,” he said. “I’m glad our front office has stayed with us so far. I knew we’d come out of our funk. And now that we have, we’re going to make the rest of the season a great season.”