Matos Hoping for Healthy Improvement

JUPITER, Fla., March 30 -- Sitting on a chair in a crowded clubhouse on Wednesday with his arms splayed and teammates crowded around him, Luis Matos took one look at a reporter and gave him the evil eye. He had an ice pack just below his left calf and his left arm was sore and ached.

"I don't want to talk to you," he joked.

Only hours earlier, Matos had spoken cautiously about how he was enjoying perhaps the best spring of his career. He was healthy and hitting, and even though the Baltimore Orioles had brought in a group of outfielders to compete for the center field spot, Matos had outplayed them all, hitting .364 with a .432 on-base percentage this spring.

But after Wednesday's 5-4 loss to the Minnesota Twins, Matos appeared as if he couldn't move after twice being hit by pitches. Still, he remained in good enough spirits to pretend he was angry about having jinxed himself in the interview.

"More than any other year, I've learned not to take anything for granted and not to expect to have a job here," he said. "I don't think it pushes you to play harder because you're always playing hard, but it gives you that wake-up call that if you don't do your job, then there is someone there to take your place."

While Nick Markakis impressed with his bat, his defensive skills were lacking. Though Corey Patterson showed better defensive skills, his approach at the plate still was inconsistent. And Matos said he had never felt better.

"This year, hopefully I'll totally be healthy," said Matos, who has missed significant time because of injuries in three of the past four seasons. "Maybe someday the day will come when I do a job during the season that satisfies the team."

Orioles Manager Sam Perlozzo clearly noticed. "I've seen the Luis we've seen in the past," he said.

It was not so long ago when Matos, 27, was considered a top prospect and his bat and defense were considered stellar.

"They used to compare me with Paul Blair," Matos said. "I have spent many years with this team and I'm sure they have very high expectations of me because I was such a prospect here. Remember they always assign certain stats they think people should have by a certain age. With the injuries I've had I'm sure I've not reached those numbers."

But injuries and inconsistency have tagged Matos with a negative reputation, one he is quickly trying to dispel. Last year, Matos missed more than a month with a broken right ring finger, and the Orioles were displeased with the outfielder's season. Matos hit .280 but had just four home runs and 32 RBI. At the end of the year, Perlozzo, then the interim manager, told Matos he had to be in better shape, that he needed to show a better attitude and that he needed play better defense.

"If a ball got hit in the gap, go get it," Perlozzo said he told him. "Don't just assume it's a double and then turn it into a triple. Show you're still running after the ball."

Matos said he doesn't believe he's regressed defensively.

"They are saying the defense hasn't been the same," Matos said. "Maybe it's been because of the injuries. Maybe it hasn't allowed me to go after balls like I used to. But I don't think I'm a bad defensive player. I know I'm a good defensive player. I'll try to improve on it to show them I'm capable of playing like I did in my first three years."

Matos has been mentioned in several trade rumors this spring, but the outfielder said he doesn't want to leave.

"This team gave me a chance and I want to do well for them," Matos said.

During Wednesday's game, Matos took a pitch on the left arm and then several innings later was struck by a pitch just above the left ankle, which caused him to bend over in pain for several moments. He finally got up and ran to first.

As he walked into the clubhouse on Thursday with a slight limp, Matos was asked about his health. He smiled this time, and though he wasn't in the lineup, he said two words that may describe his spring:

"I'm ready."