It’s March 25, 1996, and the O’s dropped a 4-3 exhibition game to Cleveland, the defending American League champs. Opening Day is just a week away, and with most of the roster spots spoken for, there’s a lot of attention being paid to backup infielders. It’s seeming likely that the Birds may keep three utility infielders, Jeff Huson, Cal Ripken’s brother Billy, and former top prospect Manny Alexander. Alexander is out of options, meaning he can’t be sent to the minor leagues without going on waivers, so there are rumors the O’s may look to trade him.

The shine has worn off Alexander over the last couple years — he was once seen as maybe being Cal’s heir apparent at shortstop. But with great range and a rocket arm, Alexander is still too valuable to cut. He also has had a tantalizingly good spring, so it seems like he will be the primary backup at shortstop and second base — and serve as a late-inning pinch runner — when the season starts. Perhaps there is still some upside there for him to be more than that, too.

Manny Alexander was born in March of 1971 in San Pedro de Macoris, Dominican Republic. Shortly before his 17th birthday, he signed with the Orioles. Though he never hit much, he steadily progressed through the minors, making his major league debut at just 21 years old, when he came in as a late-inning defensive replacement for the Iron Man in 1992. 

He bounced between the majors and minors — and injured list — for years, before becoming a semi-regular in Baltimore in 1995. He primarily played second base, but also appeared at third and short. Through it all, he didn’t hit much. 

Even though he seems like a marginal major leaguer at this point, the hype hasn’t completely worn off. Earlier this spring, The Baltimore Sun’s Ken Rosenthal speculated that the O’s best defensive lineup could be Alexander at short, with Ripken moving to third. While he brushed off that idea, new manager Davey Johnson was high on Alexander all the same.

“I like him a lot,” Johnson said, before his grammar started slipping. “He’s a good little player. He’s got bat potential. He’s got a great arm. He runs good. He fields good. It takes you about five minutes to see that.” (Baltimore Sun, p. 7D, March 4, 1996)

Alexander wants to play short, but he knows that Ripken is locked in there. “Junior will be here forever,” he sighed.

For now, Alexander is focused on just making the team, and he seems in position to do that. How much he plays once he makes the team? That’s another question altogether.

The Academy Awards were held tonight — Monday night, if you can believe it — and Braveheart was the big winner. It won five Oscars, including Best Picture and Best Director for Mel Gibson. I believe it is still the only Best Picture to focus on a Scotsman driven to become a revolutionary by prima nocta. National treasure Nicolas Cage won Best Actor for Leaving Las Vegas, and Susan Sarandon won for her role in Dead Man Walking. Kevin Spacey (The Usual Suspects) and Mira Sorvino (Mighty Aphrodite) rounded out the acting awards. 

Whoopi Goldberg hosted. Oprah greeted folks on the red carpet. Quincy Jones produced the show. You can relive the opening here:

Welcome to a recurring segment where I find fun things in today’s (in 1996) Baltimore Sun!

Local stargazers have been eagerly looking to the sky the past couple nights as Comet Hyakutake buzzes within only 9.5 million miles of Earth, making it the first naked-eye comet visible from Maryland in quite some time.