ORIOLES NOTEBOOK
Payton Is Hoping to Stay Course
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Saturday, July 28, 2007; Page E04
BALTIMORE, July 27 -- Outfielder Jay Payton signed a two-year contract this offseason with the Baltimore Orioles, but never considered buying a house here. He did so once, in San Diego when the Padres signed him for two years, but they traded him after the first season.
"Everybody says buying a house is like the kiss of death," Payton said. "I wanted to stay, so I didn't buy anything."
Payton understands he could be traded again, as his name has been bandied about in trade rumors as Tuesday's non-waiver deadline approaches. Payton said Friday that he wants to remain an Oriole.
"My preference is to stay here and help them get better," said Payton, who has twice been traded in midseason. "I came here in hopes to turn this program around. They had had nine losing seasons, and my thought in coming here was help them get on the winning track.
"You play the game to win championships. You don't play the game to be a .500 team. At the same note, when you've had such a history of losing, it's also fun to be a part of turning that around."
A Crowded Field
In somewhat of a surprise, the Orioles sent outfielder Jon Knott to Class AAA Norfolk to make room for Miguel Tejada, keeping shortstops Brandon Fahey and Luis Hernandez. The move creates a logjam, and interim manager Dave Trembley admitted it would be difficult finding playing time for all three.
One solution would be occasionally playing Tejada at designated hitter, which Trembley said he would do Sunday. Still, Tejada has indicated his preference to play shortstop.
"You know I don't like to DH," Tejada said. "I'm not a DH. I like to play in the field every day. My mind is to play every day. If the manager decides I can take a day off, I'll take it."
UP NEXT Today vs. Yankees7:05 p.m. Burres (4-4) vs. Clemens (3-4) WJZ-13, MASN2 Tomorrow vs. Yankees1:35 p.m. Cabrera (7-10) vs. Wang (11-5) WJZ-13, MASN2
