AMERICAN LEAGUE AROUND THE HORN: ASK ALBERT: BELLE HAS HIS SAY.

Byline: Joe Haakenson Staff Writer

CHICAGO - Baltimore Orioles outfielder Albert Belle doesn't talk to the media. So if he's got something he'd like to get off his chest, he'll use his own Web site found at athletesdirect.com.

Last week, Belle got hit by a pitch thrown by the Cleveland Indians' Chuck Finley after Belle had homered in his previous at-bat. Belle had words for Finley, and Finley gave it back to him.

Belle, though, apparently believes that Finley has such good control, he never misses his spots. Never.

This is what Belle had to say on his Web site: ``The other night I was hit by Chuck Finley and I know it was on purpose. I have played against Chuck Finley for many years, including college, and he has always had pinpoint control. I do not think what he did was very professional and I acted accordingly. If somebody strikes me out, I don't run to the mound. Just because I got a hit off a nice pitch a couple innings before, I don't think I should be hit a couple innings later.''

OK, Albert. But along those same lines, just because a few writers wrote something about you that you didn't like, does that mean you should boycott all reporters? Isn't that stereotyping? We posed that question on the Web site's ``Ask Albert'' section. Stay tuned.

--Seeing is believing: Some say nutritional supplements like andro and creatine have done wonders to benefit hitters by given them added strength. Now, the latest trend is laser eye surgery.

Good eyesight is one of the most important facets to hitting, and the procedure gives players who wear contact lenses the option to not only correct what eye problem they might have, but give them eyesight that is even better than 20-20.

The American Academy of Ophthalmology reports that a small percentage of patients experience side effects like blurred vision or nighttime glare, but the New York Yankees' Bernie Williams went ahead with the procedure in November after extensive research.

``It's nothing short of miraculous,'' Williams said. ''I saw the success a lot of people have had with it. I did some research, I talked to doctors, other patients, other players who've have it, and I got enough confidence in the whole thing to get it done.''

Cost of the procedure is between $1,500 and $2,500 per eye.

--Nomo revival: The Dodgers gave up on pitcher Hideo Nomo, then the New York Mets did too. Nomo had a bit of a revival last season when he went 12-8 with the Milwaukee Brewers, but he wasn't the most sought-after free agent during the offseason, despite the lack of pitching throughout baseball.

So Nomo signed with the Detroit Tigers and is bringing a bit of Nomomania to the American League.

In three starts, he is 1-0 with a 1.35 ERA (sixth in the AL). Opposing batters are hitting .162 against him, which is third best in the league. He gave up three runs and three hits in his only victory against the Oakland A's on opening day, and hasn't allowed a run since.

In his two starts since the opener, Nomo gave up no runs and four hits in seven innings against the Orioles, then no runs and four hits in six innings vs. the Seattle Mariners. He got a no-decision in both.

--3,000: If Baltimore's Cal Ripken Jr. can get his 3,000th hit today, the Metrodome would become the first ballpark to host a 3,000th hit three times. Dave Winfield got his 3,000th while with the Minnesota Twins in 1993, and Cleveland's Eddie Murray got his 3,000th in the dome in 1995.

Two other parks have twice been the site for a 3,000th hit - Anaheim Stadium (the Angels' Rod Carew in 1985 and the Royals' George Brett in 1992) and Cleveland's League Park (the Indians' Nap Lajoie in 1914 and the Indians' Tris Speaker in 1925).

--Short hops: The top candidates to manage the 2000 Olympic baseball team in Sydney, Australia, are Tom Lasorda, Terry Collins and Jim Lefebvre. . . . The Minnesota Twins' payroll for 2000 is $16,519,500, less than $1 million more than Dodgers pitcher Kevin Brown's 2000 salary of $15,714,286. The Yankees have the top payroll in baseball at $92,538,260. . . . Sixty years ago today, Cleveland's Bob Feller threw the only opening-day no-hitter in major-league history, shutting out the chicago White Sox 1-0.