ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times
DATE: Tuesday, July 16, 1996 TAG: 9607160056
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B-1 EDITION: METRO
DATELINE: BALTIMORE
SOURCE: Associated Press
Cal Ripken's reign as the Baltimore Orioles' shortstop is over.
Orioles manager Davey Johnson, in an effort to shake up his slumping team, started Ripken at third base in Monday night's game, an 8-6 victory over Toronto.
Ripken flawlessly handled four grounders at his new position. He went 0-for-4 at the plate, but reached on an error in the ninth inning to start a five-run rally.
The switch ended Ripken's string of 2,216 games as Baltimore's starting shortstop, a streak that began July 1, 1982. On July 9, Ripken started his 13th consecutive All-Star Game at shortstop.
Ripken played that game with a broken nose, and he jokingly made a reference to that before taking the field Monday night against Toronto.
``Yes, I will be playing third base tonight against the wishes of my nose doctor, who deems third base a whole lot more dangerous than shortstop,'' he said.
Manny Alexander played shortstop and did not have a single chance in the field.
Clearly, Ripken was not distressed over the idea of returning to the position he played when he broke into the majors in 1981.
``It's not really a sad day for me. I'm playing a baseball game,'' Ripken said. ``I'm going to be in there in the lineup like I always am. I'm going to look at it as a challenge, to see if third base is as comfortable as it was years ago.''
Johnson hinted about making the move earlier this year and followed through with his plan Monday, in the wake of a five-game losing streak that dropped the Orioles 10 games behind first-place New York in the American League East Division.
``I'd rather do it and be done with it,'' Johnson said. ``My concern is with 25 players, not just Cal Ripken, as great as he is. To me, this is not that big a change, except that it involves a Hall of Fame player.''
Ripken, who played in his 2,244th consecutive game Monday, was replaced at shortstop by Alexander, 25, who has spent his entire career in the Orioles' organization operating in Ripken's formidable shadow.
Alexander is a lifetime .235 hitter, but Johnson has said for months he would like to see how the 5-foot-10 shortstop would fare if he played every day.
``We're 10 games out. I need to look at and see if Alexander is going to be an important part of the ball club,'' Johnson said. ``It's difficult playing behind a guy when he likes to play every inning and is the best at his position.''
Johnson said the move was in no way a reflection on Ripken's performance. Ripken, 35, entered Monday's game with a .289 average and nine errors.
``He's done a great job, no question about it,'' Johnson said. ``He's been a solid player. He'll be a solid player at third base. He's got the best hands of any shortstop in the league, but his range is limited. He's not a fast guy.''
Johnson knew the move would be criticized, but decided it would be best for the team.
``I've still got a great player in the lineup, and we're going to find out about one of our younger players,'' he said. ``If that's so bad, I'm sorry.''
Said Ripken: ``I had a few months to get used to the idea. I don't take it as any sort of criticism of me. I can't play shortstop any better than I've played, and I can't hit any better than I have over the last couple of months.''
Johnson told Ripken that the switch would not necessarily be permanent.
``I was told it's really a temporary situation in which to evaluate Manny Alexander as a shortstop,'' Ripken said. ``It's something they're set on doing.''
Alexander was delighted to finally get a chance to play the position he is most comfortable at. He has been tried at second base, third base and in the outfield this season and even pitched in the Orioles' 26-7 loss to Texas on April 19. But he had only 37 at-bats this season before Monday.
``I'm excited because I'm playing shortstop,'' he said. ``I didn't come here to take anyone's position, but it's been tough, not playing.''
The early arrivals at Camden Yards for Monday's game were surprised at the news of the big switch.
``He belongs at shortstop because that's where he's been,'' said Dan Lankford, 14, of Westminster. ``But I thought it would eventually happen. It's best for the ballclub.''
David Hamilton, 48, of Greensboro, N.C., figured he was watching a bit of history.
``He's the reason I'm here. Cal Ripken is the epitome of baseball,'' he said. ``But if it has to happen, I'm lucky it's tonight, when I'm here.''
LENGTH: Medium: 96 lines ILLUSTRATION: PHOTO: AP The Orioles' Cal Ripken comes up throwing to gunby CNBdown the Blue Jays's Charlie O'Brien after making a diving stop at
third base, his new position. color. KEYWORDS: BASEBALL