AMERICAN LEAGUE UPDATE: ROBINSON WANTS RECORDS REMOVED.

Byline: Joe Haakenson Staff Writer

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. - Figure this one out.

The Orioles' Rafael Palmeiro, who tested positive for steroid use recently, received a mix of boos and cheers with every at-bat in games against the Angels earlier in the week at Camden Yards, his home ballpark. Among those booing was a fan wearing a No. 25 Yankees uniform with the name ``Giambi'' on the back.

While Yankees fans have never been accused of being geniuses, intelligence has never been a prerequisite for Hall of Fame entry either.

Take Frank Robinson, Hall of Fame player and current Washington Nationals manager.

While there is ongoing debate as to whether Palmeiro, with 569 home runs and 3,020 hits, is worthy of Hall status considering his positive drug test, Robinson wants to take it a step further.

Robinson was quoted this week saying all of Palmeiro's statistics should be wiped from the record books. His frustration with the steroids problem is understandable, but his solution as to how to handle the situation is ridiculous.

It would be impossible to determine what was in a player's bloodstream at the time of each hit or each home run, and as of now there are no plans to implement a blood-screening test in the on-deck circle.

``Frank's a legend in the game,'' Angels manager Mike Scioscia said. ``Guys like him, Hank Aaron and Willie Mays, they played the game a long time. And now some of their accomplishments are being threatened by guys who used illegal substances.''

Indeed, Robinson's career home run total of 586 ranks No. 5 on the all-time list, only 17 ahead of Palmeiro's 569, which ranks ninth.

Baseball writers will eventually determine whether Palmeiro is inducted into the Hall of Fame, but the numbers certainly will stand, no matter the question of their legitimacy.

``It's a touchy subject,'' Scioscia said. ``It's a quagmire for the (Hall of Fame voting) writers to swim through to determine what numbers were accomplished under illegal substances. It's tough to discard what a player like Rafael Palmeiro has done.''

--Ghost busters: The Angels' 2002 World Series championship may have exorcised their demons of past failures, but there is no escaping the claims that the hotel they and other major-league teams stay in St. Petersburg, Fla. when playing the Devil Rays is haunted.

According to a hotel employee who asked not to be identified, guests have claimed the water in their shower and sinks have gone on and off, and felt a presence in the seventh floor hallway. The employee said guests say the ghost is a woman.

According to FloridaGhost.com, Red Sox reliever Scott Williamson said last season he was visited at night by a spirit that pressed on his back and awakened him. He said he saw a man in a top hat and long coat standing beside his bed.

When he refocused his vision, the man was still there. He rolled over to turn on the light, and when he turned around, the man was gone.

Angels reliever Scot Shields joked he'd ``go looking'' for the ghost during the team's stay there this weekend.

--Youth will be served: The Cleveland Indians are a major league-best 18-6 in August, and are in the thick of the wild-card race with the A's and Yankees. But will their youth and inexperience catch up to them in September? They seem to think not.

``Everyone says we're too young to be a playoff team, I say no,'' Jhonny Peralta told the Cleveland Plain Dealer. ``We're doing everything good right now.''

Joe Haakenson, [phone]

joe.haakenson(at)sgvn.com

Box:

1) AROUND THE HORN

COMPLETE COVERAGE OF THE WEEK IN MAJOR LEAGUE BASEBALL 

- Rich Hammond

(2) Daily News/CBS 2/KCAL 9 SPORTS CENTRAL POWER RANKINGS

- Matt McHale

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