ORIOLES NOTEBOOK
Markakis Still Getting Acclimated
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Monday, April 17, 2006
BALTIMORE, April 16 -- It has been almost two weeks that Baltimore Orioles outfielder Nick Markakis has been in the majors and teams are learning as much about him as he is about them. The rookie had one hit Sunday and is hitting .257 with two home runs. The rookie sent a hard ground ball toward the opposite field, which was gloved by third baseman Edgardo Alfonzo. Markakis beat the throw.
Markakis and Manager Sam Perlozzo both said they have noticed the rookie is being pitched to differently recently. Opposing pitchers are now pounding inside fastballs at Markakis, who has had some trouble turning on those pitches.
"I'm not going to change my approach," Markakis said. "I'm going to take pitches and make them throw."
The knock on Markakis by those who had seen him in spring training is that he would have trouble with inside fastballs. Other teams have finally caught on.
"They're kind of mixing it up on me," Markakis said.
It has been two weeks of adjustments for the rookie. He has also had some trouble in center field.
"There's more ground to cover and you have to concentrate a little more," he said.
No. 200 for Conine
First baseman Jeff Conine hit his 200th career home run in the fifth inning of Sunday's loss. Conine has hit 72 of those home runs with the Orioles. "It was a milestone you wish would have come in a victory and not in a loss," he said.
After slumping to start the season, Conine has two hits in his past two games. . . .
Starter Kris Benson, who allowed four runs in five innings, blamed most of his problems on pitch location. "Overall, I was over the plate too much and the ball was up," said Benson, who is 1-2 with a 3.32 ERA. . . .
Reliever Tim Byrdak, whose ERA ballooned to 18.00, allowed four runs in just two-thirds of an inning. "He's throwing fastballs in the middle of the plate and it's not moving," Perlozzo said. "The whole package needs to get better."
UP NEXT Today vs. Angels 7:05 p.m. Weaver (0-1, 6.57) vs. Cabrera (0-1, 11.37) WNUV (Channel 54), WTEM-980 Tomorrow vs. Indians 7:05 p.m. Johnson (1-0, 2.13) vs. Chen (0-1, 4.97) WNUV (Channel 54), WTEM-980
