Tejada Promises He's 'Different' This Season

Last spring, the Orioles' Miguel Tejada played defense off the field as well, surrounded by questions about an offseason trade demand. (2006 By Joel Richardson -- The Washington Post)

FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla., Feb. 19 -- To prove that he really is a "Different Miguel," Baltimore Orioles shortstop Miguel Tejada arrived at camp a day early Monday, beaming, boisterous, slimmer yet stronger and promising he has changed.

"I'm going to be totally different," Tejada said. "I'm going to be more on time. I don't want to say that I'm not on time. But I'm going to be one of the first ones. I'm not going to say I'm going to be the first one, but every day I'm going to be one of the first ones to get to the field. I'm hungry to win. And I'm going to try to do everything I can to make this team win. . . . Something has to change because I haven't won the last three years."

Tejada's yearly arrival here always causes a stir. Three years ago, Tejada was the heralded offseason free agent signee, ready to rebuild the franchise. Two years ago, he faced questions about being named as a possible steroid user in Jose Canseco's autobiography. Last year, he gave a news conference in which he gave a puzzling litany of excuses for his offseason demand to be traded, among them that he had too many visitors to his house that week.

The news conference was the start of what was one of his most productive offensive seasons (.330, 24 home runs, 100 RBI), but his least productive season as a team leader. Tejada was chronically tardy -- once he arrived less than an hour before game time -- and he was fined several times. His effort on the field also was questioned, a stunning reversal for a player considered one of the most energetic in the game.

"I never try to change my game, but sometimes it's hard when you go into the game and you lose the game 10-2 or 10-3," Tejada said.

"Different Miguel" appears to be in better shape than his predecessor. Hiring a private trainer for the first time this offseason, Tejada lost weight around his midsection and gained muscle in his upper body. Tejada is not slim but is thinner, more in game shape than in previous springs. He seems committed to staying in shape: After most of the position players who reported early had finished batting practice, Tejada stayed behind to work out with the strength and conditioning coach.

Tejada stabilized his personal life by moving his offseason home from the Dominican Republic to South Florida. But Tejada did not abandon his roots. As he does every year, Tejada played the end of the Dominican Winter League season with the Cibao Aguilas, who won the Caribbean World Series, ending Tejada's title drought.

It was in this year's Caribbean World Series that "Different Miguel" first surfaced. Those who saw him said it had been years since he played with such fervor and skill, hitting .304. Even Tejada admitted he had more fun in that tournament than he has had in years.

"He definitely seems different," Orioles Vice President Jim Duquette said. "The conversations we had last year was repairing what he had said and apologizing. He was embarrassed. Totally different mind-set and place that he's coming from from last year to this year."

Tejada was so enthusiastic about this season that he called second baseman Brian Roberts several times this offseason and even asked Roberts for Jay Gibbons's phone number.

"I think Miggy was a little revitalized," Roberts said. "He talked to Gibby. He said tell Gibby to call me. It's like, 'What?' But no, Miggy is great. I've always loved Miggy and Miggy is a great teammate."

So confident and enthused is Tejada that he said he wanted to steal more bases this year if Manager Sam Perlozzo would allow it. Now that would be different.