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| BALTIMORE (AP) -- By adding Sammy Sosa to an already formidable batting order, the Baltimore Orioles can salvage a disappointing offseason and give their young pitching staff more margin for error. "Maybe I'm putting my foot in my mouth,'' Orioles pitching coach Ray Miller said Saturday, "but if you give me eight runs a game, I'll figure out the rest.'' The deal to obtain Sosa from the Chicago Cubs for second baseman Jerry Hairston and at least two minor league prospects had not been finalized yet. But Baltimore can already envision a lineup with Sosa batting cleanup behind Melvin Mora and Miguel Tejada and ahead of Rafael Palmeiro and Javy Lopez. "We'll probably hit him fourth, though we haven't talked about it yet,'' hitting coach Terry Crowley said. "It's a big addition. It will make us better; I'm just not sure how much better.'' |
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Sosa could bring fans flocking to Camden Yards, but not everyone's convinced the deal is a good one for the Orioles. Bill Nellies, 40, a former mini-plan season ticket holder, said, "Sammy Sosa walked out on the Cubs because they were eliminated. The Orioles will be eliminated by June. Will he still show up? For the money we'll end up spending on Sosa, we could have gotten a pitcher who's better than anything we have now.'' |