TAMPA, Fla. - Baltimore Orioles shortstop Cal Ripken, baseball's all- time ironman, looks like a man who can play a little boy's game forever.

Despite thinning hair whose primary color is gray, Ripken is physically vigorous with a youthful enthusiasm for the game. His consecutive- games streak is at 2,153 and counting.

"Spring training is always a very optimistic time," he said in the visitors' dugout at Legends Field before Monday night's New York Yankees- Orioles game. "We're all tied for first place. There's a lot to get excited about."

A similar love of the game once epitomized former Yankees captain Don Mattingly, who retired in December.

It was once thought Mattingly also could play forever. But to Ripken' s chagrin, it was not to be.

"It's going to be really strange playing the Yankees without him down at first base," Ripken said. "Don was always one of my favorites. He brought certain intangibles to the game that aren't quantified in statistics: leadership, experience, competitiveness."

When told Mattingly is eligible to sign a free-agent contract on May 1, Ripken said with a hopeful smile, "I hope to see him back."

For Ripken, entering his 16th season, an expected three-team race in the American League East among the Yankees, Orioles and Boston Red Sox won't be the same without Mattingly.

It seemed apropos for batting coach Rick Down to don the Orioles' black road jersey before Monday night's game. Down's departure last year after seven seasons as a coach in the Yankees' organization was shrouded in darkness.

George Steinbrenner, citing a supposedly objectionable remark by Down, gave Buck Showalter an ultimatum: Fire Down or don't come back as manager.

Down, a college and pro coach and manager since 1976, said he doesn' t know what inappropriate comment he allegedly made. Two phone calls to Steinbrenner in October provided no answer.

"I wanted to find out what it is he didn't like about Rick Down," he said with a shrug. "It's his ballclub. It's his prerogative who he wants back.

"Rumors and innuendoes happen in every profession. I'm just going to turn the page."

Under Down's tutelage, the Yankees led the major leagues in team batting in 1993 and '94.

"Rick has probably been the most influential person in my development as a hitter," center fielder Bernie Williams said.

Williams, who first worked with Down at Class AA Albany in 1990, is a budding star with a $3-million contract.

"The main thing he taught me was that you play the way you practice, so you should have good work habits, good mechanics at the plate and you should always use video to see what you're doing at the plate, " he said.

With an endorsement from a former pupil and a new start in Baltimore, Down has no worries, only a mild regret.

"After having a taste of the playoffs last year with the Yankees, it would've been interesting to see what would've happened had we continued," he said.

Cecil Harris

Copyright 1996, Gannett News Service, a division of Gannett Co., Inc.