Ripken, Orioles to Discuss Streak

Cal Ripken Jr. appears certain to extend his record consecutive games streak through the end of the season, but the Baltimore Orioles aren’t ready to concede him another 162 games in 1999.

Barring an improbable injury--or the unlikely chance that Ripken decides to take a day off during the season’s final week--the Oriole third baseman will extend the streak to 2,640 games by season’s end.

But Ripken will turn 39 next year, and Manager Ray Miller isn’t sure whether he will automatically pen Ripken’s name into the lineup on an everyday basis.

“That’s something we’ll talk about,” Miller said Saturday. “We’ll see the makeup of the team and see what happens.”

Miller will welcome Ripken to participate in the discussion.

“It’s common sense that we talk to him,” Miller said. “I would like to think it would be his option [to end the streak]. If a decision has to be made, it will be made. If [sitting him] is the right thing to do, it will be done.”

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Relief pitcher Steve Reed of the Cleveland Indians underwent surgery to remove a small blood clot from his right arm and will be sidelined five to seven days.

The clot had impaired blood circulation to the fingers in his right hand. The right-hander had complained of tingling and numbness in his hand for a week. Several days of tests were performed before the small clot was discovered.

Reed is expected to be released from the hospital and rejoin the team next weekend in Minnesota for the Indians’ final series of the regular season.