Alomar-Hirschbeck Reunion May Be Delayed

Roberto Alomar picked up right where he left off - facing questions about the night last September that he spit on umpire John Hirschbeck.

“The only thing I can say about that is it’s already over and I don’t even want to talk about it,” Alomar said Tuesday after reporting to the Baltimore Orioles’ camp in Fort Lauderdale, Fla.

“I don’t want to bring that issue up,” Alomar said. “It’s already over and I have to move on. I’ve said what I have to say about that whole situation. I just want to play the game of baseball and have some fun at the game.”

Alomar arrived on crutches, nursing a badly sprained left ankle that could keep him sidelined for a week or two.

Hirschbeck is scheduled to work the Orioles’ exhibition game against the Boston Red Sox at Fort Myers on March 17, but Alomar’s injury may shelve a possible meeting between the two.

Orioles owner Pete Angelos says Hirschbeck owes Alomar an apology, claiming the umpire provoked the second baseman with a profane epithet.

“If you take literally what he said to the kid, he accused him of having a sexual relationship with his mother,” Angelos told The (Baltimore) Sun. “Now, just because it’s used a lot, rarely does anyone make that statement to anyone in a confrontational manner. And in this case, it was.”

Alomar was suspended for five games and will serve it at the start of this season. Umpires, upset at what they thought was a lenient penalty, attempted to strike the postseason but were stopped by a federal judge.

West Texas vacation

San Diego Padres third baseman Ken Caminiti, still recovering from major surgery on his left rotator cuff, arrived in camp a day early even though his drive from Houston to Peoria, Ariz., was delayed for 17 hours when his pickup broke down in west Texas on Sunday.

Caminiti unloaded his Harley-Davidson motorcycle and drove about 40 miles to the nearest town. The auto parts store was closed, so he had to call an emergency number to get someone to open up and sell him the part he needed.

“I was about ready to pull over to the side of the road, get a flight in here and tell my wife I totaled the truck or something,” Caminiti said.

Survival of the fittest Darwin

Jeff Darwin, a 27-year-old reliever, is trying to stick with the team after pitching well for the White Sox during the second half of last season. In 22 appearances, Darwin was 0-1 with a 2.93 ERA.

Darwin just might have to beat out his brother, Danny, a 41-year-old veteran who has been pitching in the major leagues for 19 years.

Though they are brothers, Danny and Jeff never had a typical sibling relationship.

“I can remember changing his diapers, and he was 6 when I got married,” Danny Darwin said. “I was always gone and never got a chance to see him play in Little League or American Legion.”

Bell travels to visit wife

Manager Buddy Bell says his wife wants him at spring training, but he insists on making frequent trips to their Cincinnati home as she is treated for tonsil cancer.

“I’m glad to be here,” Bell said at Lakeland, Fla. “I think I would’ve driven Gloria crazy if I wasn’t (in Florida), but it’s good because it gets my mind off the situation for a while. Not completely. It’s something I’m always thinking about, but I’m really looking forward to the season, so it’s good to get started.”

Bell said he expects to miss a day or two out of every 10 during camp, although that could change.

“If I have to go home, then I’ll go home no matter what,” he said. “The club has been phenomenal about understanding that.”

Fernandez has doubts

Tony Fernandez is wondering whether he was right to sign with Cleveland.

“Had I known what I do now, I may have had second thoughts, Fernandez said at Winter Haven, Fla. “But I guess it’s too late now.”

Fernandez says he signed with the promise that he would be the second baseman, even though he has played mostly shortstop in his career.

Manager Mike Hargrove has said several players will get a chance to win the job as the regular at second. Fernandez is among the candidates. Others are Julio Franco, Robby Thompson, Enrique Wilson and Damian Jackson.