ORIOLES NOTEBOOK
Hawkins Is Coming Up To Speed
Monday, August 14, 2006; Page E06
BOSTON, Aug. 13 -- Though his numbers might not look impressive, one bit of information may entice teams to consider seeking Baltimore Orioles reliever LaTroy Hawkins in a trade: his velocity has crept up to the mid-90s. Several times on Saturday during his two scoreless innings of relief, Hawkins touched 96 mph on the Fenway Park speed gun, a number he also has reached at Oriole Park at Camden Yards.
"I worry about location," said Hawkins, who has a 4.29 ERA. "I don't worry about how hard I throw. When I have better location, I have better results."
Orioles The O's fall for the 12th time in 13 games Monday after a 9-7 loss to the Devil Rays. Temporary workers at Camden Yards will begin a hunger strike on Labor Day as they demand a living wage. Cal Enters the HallCal Ripken Jr. speaks of family, philosophy and his duties as a role model in a 16-minute induction speech Sunday in Cooperstown, where he and Tony Gwynn are enshrined in the Hall of Fame. Boswell: Cal Ripken Jr. and Tony Gwynn -- and all the fans who came to Cooperstown on Sunday -- had an emotional journey. Read the transcript of Cal Ripken Jr.'s Hall of Fame induction speech. Photos: A Legend Enshrined Video: Ripken's Five-Year Plan BASICS
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Reports link Hawkins with several teams, though at this point it's uncertain whether the Orioles are close to a trade. Hawkins said he hasn't paid attention to the rumors.
"I haven't thought about it much since my grandmother passed," he said.
His 73-year-old grandmother, Leslie, died on July 27.
"She raised me," Hawkins said. "This is probably one of the toughest things I've had to go through. . . . It's difficult I can't call her. I go to my mama's house and she isn't there. I had no significant death like that in my career. I don't know how to approach it."
Hawkins said that he handles her death best when pitching.
"That's what she would have wanted me to do," he said.
It appears that Hawkins has done a good job of maintaining focus.
"I think with the exception of one outing last week, he's been as good as we've seen him this year," Manager Sam Perlozzo said.
Britton's Development
Perlozzo said pitcher Chris Britton, who allowed four runs on Saturday, needs to develop a third pitch -- to go with his fastball and change-up -- if he is to be considered for a late-inning relief job.
"If you're a straight fastball guy and you're not throwing 97 miles per hour, you better have something to get them off your heater," he said.
UP NEXT Tomorrow at Yankees 7:05 p.m. Bedard (12-8, 3.91) vs. Mussina (13-5, 3.50) Comcast SportsNet, WTEM-980 Wednesday at Yankees 7:05 p.m. Loewen (2-4, 6.41) vs. Lidle (9-8, 4.66) Comcast SportsNet, WTEM-980
