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Top 20 moments in Camden Yards history: No. 12

Winding down to the start of the 20th season at Oriole Park at Camden Yards, I take a look back at the top 20 moments in the history of the ballpark. Selected moments had to relate directly to the action on the field at the time. No orchestrated events such as World Series anniversary celebrations or Orioles Hall of Fame inductions were eligible. Previous selections: 20. Wieters’ debut 19. Nomo tosses only no-hitter in Oriole Park history 18. Orioles rally from nine-run deficit against Boston 17. 30-3 16. Showalter takes the helm 15. Palmeiro homers in Oriole debut 14. Griffey’s Warehouse shot 13. Sparring with Seattle 12. Eric Davis defies the odds – Sept. 15, 1997 It wouldn’t have mattered if Eric Davis never stepped foot on a baseball field again. This was worlds more important than pennant races, home runs, or winning a game played by children. But the sight of Davis trotting out to right field three months after being diagnosed with cancer and undergoing what was assumed to be season-ending surgery was a moment unlike any other in the history of Camden Yards. The man who had had a baseball-sized tumor removed from his colon in the

Memo to bucked up Showalter: Please just shut up!

While many of the few hearty souls left in the exuberant Orioles Nation will find great joy in Buck Showalter’s verbal tirade in Men’s Journal against the Derek Jeter and the Yankees and Theo Epstein and the Red Sox, I’m going to take an alternative approach today to a war of words with franchises that have been kicking our civic asses and taking over our city for the past 14 years. Buck, shut up! Please, just shut up! You’re embarrassing yourself and this fan base! In case you missed it, here’s his gem regarding No. 2: “The first time we went to Yankee Stadium, I screamed at Derek Jeter from the dugout,” Showalter told the magazine. “Our guys are thinking, ‘Wow, he’s screaming at Derek Jeter.’ Well, he’s always jumping back from balls just off the plate. I know how many calls that team gets – and yes, he [ticks] me off.” And this is what he had to say about a general manager who has won two more World Championships than he has: “I’d like to see how smart Theo Epstein is with the Tampa Bay payroll,” he said. “You got Carl Crawford ’cause you paid more than anyone

Top 20 moments in Camden Yards history: No. 13

As we count down to the start of the 20th season at Oriole Park at Camden Yards, I take a look back at the top 20 moments in the history of the ballpark. Selected moments had to relate directly to the action on the field at the time. No orchestrated events such as World Series anniversary celebrations or Orioles Hall of Fame inductions were eligible. Previous selections: 20. Wieters’ debut 19. Nomo tosses the only no-hitter in Oriole Park history 18. Orioles rally from nine-run deficit against Boston 17. 30-3 16. Showalter takes the helm 15. Palmeiro homers in Oriole debut 14. Griffey’s Warehouse shot 13. Sparring with Seattle – June 6, 1993 The next choice on the list would easily top a list of the ugliest moments in Camden Yards history, but it’s a scene those in attendance will never forget. After sleepwalking through the first two months of the season, the Orioles found themselves in sixth place and nine games out in the seven-team AL East when the Seattle Mariners came to town in early June. Baltimore took the first two games of the series and was thinking sweep with ace Mike Mussina taking the hill on a

Top 20 moments in Camden Yards history: No. 14

As we move closer to the start of the 20th season at Oriole Park at Camden Yards, I take a look back at the top 20 moments in the history of the ballpark. Selected moments had to relate directly to the action on the field at the time. No orchestrated events such as World Series anniversary celebrations or Orioles Hall of Fame inductions were eligible. Previous selections: 20. Wieters’ debut 19. Nomo tosses the only no-hitter in Oriole Park history 18. Orioles rally from nine-run deficit against Boston 17. 30-3 16. Showalter takes the helm 15. Palmeiro homers in Oriole debut 14. Griffey hits the B&O Warehouse – July 12, 1993 Since the opening of Oriole Park at Camden Yards, left-handed hitters have taken aim at the historic B&O Warehouse. The hard-swinging — and hard-missing — Sam Horn was the first slugger fans speculated might be able to reach it in the inaugural season. But in the 1,511 games played at Camden Yards (including 10 postseason games), no one has reached the 1,116-foot long, eight-story building on the fly. Few have even gotten close. Only 52 home runs have landed on Eutaw Street as entire seasons occasionally pass without a

Top 20 moments in Camden Yards history: No. 15

With the start of the 20th season at Oriole Park at Camden Yards only two weeks away, I take a look back at the top 20 moments in the history of the ballpark. Selected moments had to relate directly to the action on the field at the time. No orchestrated events such as World Series anniversary celebrations or Orioles Hall of Fame inductions were eligible. Previous selections: 20. Matt Wieters’ debut 19. Hideo Nomo tosses the only no-hitter in Oriole Park history 18. Orioles rally from nine-run deficit against Boston 17. 30-3 16. Buck Showalter takes the helm 15. Raffy goes deep in first game with Orioles – April 4, 1994 His disgraced name will forever be linked to steroids and the infamous pointing of a finger while testifying at a congressional hearing on performance-enhancing drugs months before failing a drug test in the final year of his career — as a member of the Orioles. He’ll likely never earn a spot in the National Baseball Hall of Fame or even induction to the Orioles Hall of Fame after serving a 10-day suspension for testing positive for the anabolic steroid stanozolol only days after accumulating his 3,000th hit in 2005.

Top 20 moments in Camden Yards history: No. 16

As we approach the start of the 20th season at Oriole Park at Camden Yards, I take a look back at the top 20 moments in the history of the ballpark. Selected moments had to relate directly to the action on the field at the time. No orchestrated events such as World Series anniversary celebrations or Orioles Hall of Fame inductions were eligible. Previous selections: 20. Matt Wieters’ debut 19. Hideo Nomo tosses the only no-hitter in Oriole Park history 18. Orioles rally from nine-run deficit against Boston 17. 30-3 16. Baltimore Buck – Aug. 3, 2010 It was a four-month long nightmare that extended far beyond the misery experienced over the course of 13 consecutive losing seasons. The 2010 season crashed with a 2-16 start and claimed manager Dave Trembley’s job in early June with the Orioles holding an embarrassing 15-39 mark. Fortunes didn’t improve much under interim manager Juan Samuel over the next two months as the Orioles appeared destined to top the 1988 club’s record for futility (54-107). Meanwhile, president of baseball operations Andy MacPhail dragged out the search for a permanent field general, leaving players and fans to ponder a plethora of candidates. As the calendar

Point: I love Mike Bordick…just not in Orioles Hall of Fame

I guess this is what happens when your franchise has atrophied to the point of having few fans, few glaring All Stars and no hope of playing baseball in October for 14 consecutive years. When it comes to time to find Orioles “Hall of Famers” you begin to stretch and reach and embarrass the honor itself by attempting to find the next candidate to appear at your annual rubber chicken luncheon in August for the Oriole Advocates. I like Mike Bordick. I like Mike Bordick more than I like most people who have ever put on an Orioles jersey. Great baseball man, great family guy and a guy teacher of the game. But, if we’re considering numbers and contributions and Orioles “Hall of Fame” worthiness, then Mike Bordick can’t be taken seriously as a candidate or an honoree. Bordick played parts of six mostly-forgettable seasons of Orioles baseball and was once dealt away in the heart of the pennant race to play in the 2001 World Series with the New York Mets. He hit .236, .260, .277, .285, .249 and .232 in those five seasons. He was a wonderful role player and served as the man who replaced Cal Ripken

Top 20 moments in Camden Yards history: No. 17

Counting down to the start of the 20th season at Oriole Park at Camden Yards, I take a look back at the top 20 moments in the history of the ballpark. Selected moments had to relate directly to the action on the field at the time. No orchestrated events such as World Series anniversary celebrations or Orioles Hall of Fame inductions were eligible. Previous selections: 20. Matt Wieters’ debut 19. Hideo Nomo tosses the only no-hitter in Oriole Park history 18. Orioles rally from nine-run deficit against Boston 17. 30-3 – Aug. 22, 2007 Sometimes a picture tells you everything you need to know. It was a historic moment in baseball history, even if it came at the expense of the hometown team. Perhaps the most remarkable part of the Texas Rangers’ absurd 30-3 victory in the first game of a doubleheader was the fact that the Orioles led 3-0 heading into the fourth inning. If only they could have quit right there. With a score that looked more like a Cowboys-Ravens’ result — if not for the Ravens holding a 3-0 all-time record against Dallas — the Rangers became the first team in 110 years to plate 30 runs

Bordick elected to Orioles Hall of Fame

The man who drew the unenviable task of permanently replacing Cal Ripken at shortstop will now join the Baltimore legend in the Orioles Hall of Fame. Former shortstop and current minor league instructor Mike Bordick has been elected to the team’s Hall of Fame, the Orioles announced in a press release Saturday. Head athletic trainer Richie Bancells was named this year’s Herb Armstrong Award winner. Signed prior to the 1997 season to take over the shortstop position with Ripken sliding over to third base, Bordick spent six years with the Orioles and was named to the 2000 All-Star team before being traded to the New York Mets at the trade deadline that season. He re-signed with Baltimore that offseason, playing two more years with the Orioles. Bordick owns the third-highest fielding percentage (.982) among shortstops with at least 1,000 games played in major league history, trailing only Omar Vizquel and Jimmy Roberts. His defense was never better than 2002 when the veteran set big league records in fielding percentage (.998), fewest errors (one), consecutive games without an error (110), and consecutive errorless chances (543). His record-setting year, however, did not net him a Gold Glove award. Known primarily for his

Top 20 moments in Camden Yards history: No. 18

Leading up to the start of the 20th season at Oriole Park at Camden Yards, I take a look back at the top 20 moments in the history of the ballpark. Selected moments had to relate directly to the action on the field at the time. No orchestrated events such as World Series anniversary celebrations or Orioles Hall of Fame inductions were eligible. Previous selections: 20. Matt Wieters’ debut 19. Hideo Nomo tosses the only no-hitter in Oriole Park history 18. Orioles stage greatest comeback in team history – June 30, 2009 Another merciless pounding at the hands of Boston, or so it seemed. The Orioles had lost eight straight to the Red Sox, and their unruly traveling fans were basking in the glory of a 10-1 lead in the seventh inning. Most fans watching at home had given up on the massacre and flipped to reruns — hey, it’s hard to resist The Office — on a midsummer night of television. Nobody knew it, but the Orioles were about to thrill the few hometown fans remaining in the ballpark and stun the Sox supporters taunting those making their way to the exits. By the time the Orioles went to

Top 20 moments in Camden Yards history: No. 19

To count down to the start of the 20th season at Oriole Park at Camden Yards, I take a look back at the top 20 moments in the history of the ballpark. Selected moments had to relate directly to the action on the field at the time. No orchestrated events such as World Series anniversary celebrations or Orioles Hall of Fame inductions were eligible. Previous selections: 20. Matt Wieters’ debut 19. Nomo’s no-no – April 4, 2001 Most top moments on the list fall in the Orioles’ favor, but it’s impossible to overlook something that had never happened before and hasn’t taken place since at Camden Yards. Nomomania had once gripped Chavez Ravine in the mid-1990s, but former Dodgers pitcher Hideo Nomo had seen the shine wear off the apple as he pitched for four teams in three years prior to his arrival in Boston in 2001. After being lit up in the Grapefruit League to the tune of an 11.37 ERA, no one knew what to expect as he took the hill in his first start for the Red Sox. After the Orioles had defeated the Red Sox in an 11-inning thriller on Opening Day, history would be made

Top 20 Moments in Camden Yards history: No. 20

With the home opener of the 2011 season less than three weeks away, it’s nearly impossible to believe Oriole Park at Camden Yards will open its 20th season on April 4th. Since opening in 1992, the retro-classic ballpark continues to be the standard by which new parks are judged. Nineteen baseball stadiums have opened since Camden Yards first became the new “old” place to enjoy a ballgame in the shadow of the B&O Warehouse in downtown Baltimore. Even with a few minor facelifts and the well-chronicled struggles on the field, the jewel that is Oriole Park still sparkles nearly 20 years after its birth at 333 West Camden Street. To count down to the start of the 20th season at Oriole Park at Camden Yards, I take a look back at the top 20 moments in the history of the ballpark. Pleasant memories have been few and far between since — potential spoiler alert — Cal Ripken’s retirement a decade ago, but numerous snapshots have been engraved in our collective baseball memories, good and bad. In an effort to create parameters for selection, moments had to relate directly to the action on the field at the time. Therefore, no orchestrated events

Do you really care about this NFL money brawl?

I saw all of this coming three years ago in Palm Beach, Fla. at the NFL’s annual winter meetings amongst owners, NFL front office leaders and coaches. The owner’s voted to terminate the collective bargaining agreement, the words “uncapped year” become all the rage and here we are now at the fringe of a full-scale work stoppage, meltdown and the end of the world as we know it. I’ve spent a LOT of time over the past three years talking to virtually everyone I know in the NFL community about every facet of this negotiation in the hopes that I’d somehow be “expert” on what’s happening down in D.C. this week. I really thought that fans would be thirsty for what’s really happening behind the scenes and that somehow, there could be a happy ending behind the red, white and blue shield for 2011 football. Now that the witching hour has arrived it’s become very clear to me that the issues that are making the fight — percentages, salaries, trust, open books, medical insurance and a myriad of other arguments that have made 66 rounds of negotiating feel worthless — none of these are of any interest to most NFL

Back in Peter’s arms: When corporate media does business with Orioles the fans lose the truth

On Tuesday night we learned what we’ve known for months – Peter G. Angelos and WBAL Radio are going back into business together once again for the 2011 Orioles season and beyond. The old man finally gets his eternal wish – to be the king of the AM band on summer nights on a dying radio station that no one listens to anymore but cadavers and people in his age demographic who still think a “smart phone” is one with an answering machine. Funny, this is the same WBAL-AM 1090 that was also wrongfully denied media credentials the past few seasons and was considered persona non grata the nanosecond that John Angelos cut the CBS Radio deal four years ago with 105.7 FM and only after Bob Phillips squandered the longtime rights to the Ravens and allowed Ed Kiernan and the boys on TV Hill to swoop in for the purple roadkill for 98 Rock after the brand was built on the FM dial. It’s like jumping in and out of sleeping bags for both franchises and these two corporate monoliths as a formerly lucrative revenue stream – local radio rights – continues to dry up as sports fans go

Is Vlad simply Sammy Sosa version 2.0 for Orioles?

It may have come seven years too late, but the Orioles finally persuaded Vlad the Impaler to bring his free-swinging talents to Baltimore. And before you shout charges of negativity and raining on a feel-good parade — fans in this town deserve a celebration as much as any city in baseball after 13 years of hell — I’ll admit to sharing enthusiastic visions of Vladimir Guerrero raking baseballs into the left field seats at Camden Yards. Guerrero brings an imposing presence to the heart of the lineup and should — along with veteran first baseman Derrek Lee — offer the legitimate protection that Nick Markakis, Matt Wieters, and Adam Jones painfully lacked a season ago. He should make the team better in 2011, though how much is up for debate. My hesitation isn’t even about the $8 million price tag that so many statheads will whine about with accusations of the Orioles bidding against themselves and blocking Nolan Reimold and Felix Pie for the possible luxury of another two wins (in terms of WAR or “wins above replacement” for the sabermetrically-challenged). The reality is sabermetrics and responsible spending habits don’t exist in a vacuum when you’re playing the free-agent market

Orioles agree to 1-year deal with Duchscherer

President of baseball operations Andy MacPhail reiterated his desire at FanFest Saturday to add a veteran starter to the rotation mix with spring training just two weeks away. Just over 24 hours later, the Orioles appear to have found their man, agreeing to a one-year major league contract with veteran right-hander Justin Duchscherer — with all of 32 career starts — late Sunday night, according to multiple media outlets. The 33-year-old has a 33-25 career record in eight seasons with the Athletics and Rangers, spending most of his career as a reliever while making two All-Star teams (2005 and 2008). However, Duchscherer has battled health problems the last two seasons, pitching just 28 innings last season before undergoing hip surgery and missing the 2009 campaign with shoulder and back issues as well as a bout with clinical depression. His best season came in 2008 when he went 10-8 with a 2.54 ERA in 22 starts for Oakland. Duchscherer threw in a workout for the Orioles on Friday and had reportedly narrowed his options to the Nationals and Baltimore before agreeing on the one-year deal. Given his health issues in recent seasons, any deal with the veteran was expected to be

Orioles FanFest brings optimism, but questions remain for 2011

Thousands of Orioles fans flocked to the Baltimore Convention Center on Saturday to mentally thaw out from the recent snow and shift their attention to spring and another baseball season. As is the case every year at this time, the optimistic superlatives were flying from every direction. Buck Showalter received a standing ovation when introduced to the crowd, proving he’s still the toast of the town — at least in the baseball sense — after leading the Orioles to an uplifting 34-23 record in the final two months of 2010, avoiding the 100-loss mark for a team that appeared destined at the end of July to finish as the worst team in franchise history. Second baseman Brian Roberts declared himself as healthy as he’s been in two years after missing over 100 games with an injured back and dealing with concussion symptoms that lasted until Christmas. And numerous players and coaches spoke about the marked improvements in the lineup — and defensively — with the additions of veteran first baseman Derrek Lee, third baseman Mark Reynolds, and shortstop J.J. Hardy. Some even reminded everyone the Orioles had the best record in the American League East over the season’s final two

Here’s what I think about Derrek Lee

The signing today of Derrek Lee is a classic Orioles move. End of the year. Low dollars. Low risk. It gives the team an aging, qualified first baseman, who will be a nice fit on a potential 4th-place, 75-win team. He’s another Kevin Millar at this point in his career. Lee will hit .254 with 18 HR and 65 RBI. Big freaking deal. Peter Angelos just put $10 million back in his pocket that he didn’t give to Adam Dunn. Once again: Angelos wins in the pocket and the fans have a lousy baseball team and the city sits empty all summer. I’ve seen it for too long. Happy New Year, Orioles fans. Buck Showalter now once again has the worst first basemen in the AL East to try to win with.

Reports: Orioles agree to 1-year deal with 1B Derrek Lee

Determined not to start the new year without a first baseman, the Orioles have reached a one-year agreement with veteran Derrek Lee, according to several sources. The 35-year-old had been in talks with the Orioles and several other teams throughout the offseason after playing for the Chicago Cubs and Atlanta Braves last season. Lee hit .260 with 19 home runs and 80 runs batted in in 2010 before undergoing thumb surgery last month. Lee is a career .282 hitter with 312 home runs in his 14-year career with the Padres, Marlins, Cubs, and Braves. He is a two-time All Star and has won three Gold Gloves. Speculation persisted for several weeks that the Orioles were targeting Adam LaRoche after Lee had originally spurned the Orioles’ initial interest, but a diminishing number of starting first-base jobs likely persuaded the veteran to accept Baltimore’s offer. Lee becomes the third new member of the projected starting infield in 2011, joining third baseman Mark Reynolds and shortstop J.J. Hardy who were acquired in separate trades earlier this offseason.

As purple Festivus season is upon us, alas the real Grinch continues to be Peter G. Angelos

It’s been 51 months now since the initial “Free The Birds” campaign that we launched at WNST.net in “Year Nine of The Black Cat” and motivated more than 2,000 other brave souls who said “enough is enough” to Peter Angelos and the losing and nasty ways of the Baltimore Orioles. The holiday results are in yet again for another sad orange offseason and I’m feeling pretty confident — as is Las Vegas — that the Baltimore Orioles will not be a playoff team in 2011. And the real reason the team won’t win this year is the same as last year and the year before that: they won’t (or can’t) spend all of the millions of dollars they have managed to extract from this community via their incredibly wealthy and lean “regional sports network” called MASN. We’re talking about hundreds of millions of dollars in direct profit that was allegedly to be spent on improving the baseball team for the community to enjoy. But instead of the $150 million payrolls that were promised to “compete with the likes of the New York Yankees and Boston Red Sox,” that previously earmarked U.S. money donated by Middle Atlantic cable subscribers is in

My Sarasota report: Falling in love with the Orioles and spring training all over again…

I made a fatal yet beautiful mistake this weekend. My mother in law has a place near Sarasota area and my wife and I used the mini-bye weekend to “visit Sarasota” just like all of the ads I saw on MASN all summer said. And you know what? I fell in love with the concept of the Orioles and spring training and Sarasota once again. A proud franchise, steeped in tradition and local lore with the likes of Brooks Robinson, Jim Palmer, Frank Robinson, Eddie Murray and Cal Ripken never saw a training facility like the one that is quickly getting erected off 12th Street in Sarasota. [youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J-bldNihn68[/youtube] I walked around. I checked it out and I dreamed the dream of the orange Kool Aid. No doubt it’s a personal source of pride for the lovely Janet Marie Smith as she once watched Oriole Park at Camden Yards rise above the ashes of a dusty industrial wasteland six blocks west of the shining Inner Harbor 20 years ago. She is now overseeing this long-overdue re-working of the Orioles ways of spring and much like her predecessors, she’s abruptly stopped returning phone calls and emails from WNST.net. Work for a thug,

A gut-wrenching flashback for Orioles fans during ALCS

The second inning of Game 4 of the American League Championship Series between the Texas Rangers and New York Yankees brought back an excruciating memory for Orioles fans tuning in on Tuesday night. [youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WmEH7r85yrU[/youtube] Yankees second baseman Robinson Cano’s drive into the right field bleachers was ruled a home run by umpire Jim Reynolds despite the protests of Rangers right fielder Nelson Cruz and manager Ron Washington. It was eerily similar to one of the worst memories in Baltimore sports history — also taking place in the Bronx — with Tony Tarasco as the right fielder and Davey Johnson as skipper. You might want to scroll down if you have a heart condition or other stress-related conditions. [myspace]http://vids.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=vids.individual&videoid=15623423[/myspace] Unlike the blown interference call by umpire Richie Garcia in Game 1 of the 1996 ALCS, umpires are now afforded the luxury to review a home run in which there is possible interference. Despite a fan clearly making contact with Cruz’s glove in the field of play, the umpires made no attempt to use instant replay to see what really happened, if even to confirm Reynolds got the call right. Was it a clear case of fan interference? Maybe not, but it

Live from Camden Yards: Game 1 of Showalter Era, Orange Crush Chat at 7 PM!

BALTIMORE — After weeks of speculation and a 40-minute press conference on Monday, we’ll witness the start of the Buck Showalter era in Baltimore as the Orioles (32-73) host the Los Angeles Angels (54-53) at 7:05 this evening. Showalter spoke to the media immediately after holding his first team meeting. You can hear Showalter’s first pre-game press conference with the media as well as reaction from Nick Markakis and Ty Wigginton in the BuyAToyota.com Audio Vault. It was a quiet clubhouse as Showalter met with his new team for the first time, but the new manager wasn’t surprised at the response given the way the season has gone and the changes the team has undergone since early June. “I tried to get a little feedback, but a little quiet right now,” Showalter said after meeting with his players. “We’ll do that one-on-one, but it was good. It was fun for me. I try to keep in mind [this] is the third time they’ve been through this, so I’m sensitive of that.” Showalter will spend the coming days trying to get a feel for the players on a different level from what he’s watched on television over the last few weeks.

Showalter impresses, but MacPhail’s actions will tell real story

New Orioles manager Buck Showalter said all the right things when he was introduced to the Baltimore media on Monday afternoon. Showalter spoke with conviction and respect for the organization’s storied past, citing a desire to involve former players with the present organization. He stressed the goal to win as many games as possible—for the rest of this season and beyond. He talked about the only way to get people to return to the ballpark—a winning product. Showalter even plans on making Baltimore his permanent residence, embracing the fabric of the local community. As for playing in the top-heavy American League East? He insists it cannot, and will not, be an excuse for failing. He reminisced about his first trip to Memorial Stadium and his affection for late Orioles manager Johnny Oates—a friend and mentor of his—and how he’ll wear No. 26 in his memory. And despite the stoic, hard-nosed reputation that precedes him, Showalter showed a warm sense of humor in his first appearance as Orioles manager. However, through all of the rhetoric, one statement struck a chord more than any other throughout the 40-minute press conference. “One common denominator of all great organizations that are able to sustain

Here’s Buck…so where’s Peter?

As we watch the next press conference welcoming yet another Orioles manager to Baltimore amidst more rhetoric about the farm system, young players and how “tough” things are in the AL East, I’ll be wondering where the owner of the team is to take accountability for this 2010 meltdown. Now in their 13th year of nonstop losing one thing has remained constant — the man who is responsible for all of this civic tragedy, Peter Angelos, will be absent once again. [youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=STRgnJzuHxc[/youtube] And once again, Angelos’ many employees in the media will be front and center to ask their newest co-worker, Buck Showalter, softball questions and lay-ups while the team flounders, the downtown business community decays and the team is 32-73. Today will once again illuminate the difference between the baseball team and the football team. When the Ravens hire, fire or take on water, owner Steve Bisciotti shows up for the press conference and sometimes painfully has to accept responsibility for failures at season’s end. Today, with the Orioles 13 years into a black hole, their owner Peter Angelos and his family will act the roles of cowards and  scarecrows — fingers pointed in every direction except the mirror

Orioles deal Tejada to San Diego, get a Wynn in return

The Orioles may have only two wins since the All-Star Break, but they’ll be getting a Wynn on Thursday night. Multiple outlets are reporting third baseman Miguel Tejada has been dealt to the San Diego Padres in exchange for minor league pitcher Wynn Pelzer. The 24-year-old is 6-9 with a 4.20 ERA in 22 games for Double-A San Antonio. Tejada signed a one-year, $6 million deal to return to Baltimore in January but will now compete in a pennant race for the first-place Padres. The 36-year-old hit .269 with seven home runs and 39 RBI in 97 games for the Orioles. The deal is pending league approval, indicating the Orioles will likely pay a portion of Tejada’s remaining salary to acquire the right-handed Pelzer from the Padres system. With Tejada being dealt, third baseman Josh Bell will be recalled from Triple-A Norfolk to presumably become the everyday starter at third base. Bell is hitting .263 in 19 at-bats for the Orioles this season in two brief stints in Baltimore.

Orioles finally hire Buck Showalter as next manager

After weeks of speculation, the Orioles have finally hired Buck Showalter as their next manager. Currently on pace to finish with the worst record in franchise history, the Orioles (31-70) will hedge their bets on Showalter—and his .514 career winning percentage (882-833)—to steer a sunken ship for the remainder of 2010 in hopes of making improvements in the offseason. “My job with ESPN allowed me to follow this organization closely over the last several years, and although the current record may seem to indicate otherwise, I see enormous potential with this club,” Showalter said in a statement released by the Orioles. “I look forward to the challenge of competing in the American League East. Baltimore is a tremendous baseball town with passion and pride in its club and my family and I look forward to making it our new home.” Showalter will reportedly take over the club next Tuesday, Aug. 3 when the Orioles begin a seven-game homestand against the Los Angeles Angels. Reports indicate he has agreed to manage the club for the rest of the season and will receive a three-year contract through 2013. “Buck Showalter’s proven track record makes him the right choice for manager of the

Orioles roster moves: Gonzalez back, Patton promoted (and demoted)

With the bullpen completely spent after extensive work in the last three games, the Orioles needed immediate relief help. The Orioles announced a series of roster moves prior to Wednesday’s game against the Tampa Bay Rays. Lefty reliever Mike Gonzalez has been reinstated from the 60-day disabled list, left-handed pitcher Troy Patton has been recalled from Triple-A Norfolk, and third baseman Josh Bell has been optioned to the Tides. To make room for Gonzalez on the 40-man roster, Jim Johnson has been moved from the 15-day disabled list to the 60-day disabled list. Gonzalez was placed on the disabled list on April 10 with a strained left shoulder. At the time of his injury, Gonzalez had recorded one save in three appearances, much to fans’ chagrin. Patton was 6-9 with a 4.91 ERA in 18 starts for Norfolk this season. He posted a 3.44 ERA over his last nine outings for Norfolk. This will be Patton’s first stint in the big leagues since 2007. Patton’s stay with the Orioles could be brief, as Kevin Millwood is expected to return from the disabled list to make the start on Thursday night. Patton will wear uniform No. 54. Bell batted .263 (6-19)

Orioles option Tillman to Norfolk

Chris Tillman is heading to the minors—again. After being hammered for eight runs in 2 2/3 innings in Monday night’s loss to the Tampa Bay Rays, the 22-year-old has been optioned to Triple-A Norfolk. Tillman is 1-4 with a 7.92 ERA (25.0 IP, 22 ER) in six starts with the Orioles this season. He made two starts after being promoted for the second time this season on July 10, going 1-1 with a 7.20 ERA (10.0 IP, 8 ER), including a victory in which he pitched a career-high 7 1/3 innings on July 10 against the Texas Rangers. A corresponding roster move will be announced prior to tomorrow’s game against Tampa Bay. The most likely candidates are veteran starting pitcher Kevin Millwood (on the 15-day DL) or reliever Mike Gonzalez (60-day DL). It was announced earlier Tuesday that Millwood would make his returning start on Thursday night.

Orioles reinstate Scott from DL, demote Mata to Norfolk

As expected, the Orioles have activated outfielder Luke Scott from the 15-day disabled list. To make room for Scott on the roster, right-handed reliever Frank Mata has been optioned to Triple-A Norfolk. Scott has been on the disabled list since July 1 with a strained left hamstring. At the time of the injury, Scott was batting .274 (61-223) with 12 home runs and 30 RBI in 66 games for the Orioles. Mata pitched to a 7.79 ERA (17.1IP, 15ER) in 15 games for the Orioles after making his major league debut on May 26. He allowed just one earned run in his first seven appearances for the Orioles, but has given up eight earned runs in his last four appearances (5.1 innings).

Orioles place Millwood on DL, activate Pie

As speculated after his miserable outing on Monday, starting pitcher Kevin Millwood has been placed on the 15-day disabled list with a strained right forearm (flexor mass). Millwood is 2-8 with a 5.77 ERA (107.2 IP, 69 ER) in a team-high 18 starts for the Orioles. The move will surely cloud his future as the Orioles were expecting to shop Millwood at the July 31st trading deadline To fill Millwood’s spot on the roster, the Orioles have activated outfielder Felix Pie, who has been on the disabled list since April 16 with a strained upper back muscle. Pie was batting .400 (8-20) with two doubles, a home run and one RBI for the Orioles at the time of his injury. By activating Pie from the 60-day disabled list, the Orioles’ 40-man roster is at capacity. The left-handed outfielder is scheduled to play left field and bat seventh in the lineup against Detroit on Tuesday night. With Millwood going to the DL, third baseman Josh Bell and reliever Frank Mata appear safe for now, though the Orioles will need a starting pitcher for Saturday night. If you’re on the WNST Text Service, you received the Kevin Millwood news first! Be sure

Enduring the second half: What I’d like to see from the Orioles (Part 1 of 2)

With the Orioles officially reaching the halfway point of the season on Sunday, the second half of the schedule began much like the first—with a 12-9 loss in Detroit on Monday afternoon. It’s no secret that much of Baltimore has shifted its attention to the Ravens and the upcoming start of training camp with the Orioles appearing destined to finish with the worst record in franchise history. Whether you choose to persevere through the season’s final three months or tune out in hopes of regaining your sanity after the horrid first half, much needs to be accomplished between now and October—on and off the field. The most critical question of whether Andy MacPhail and Peter Angelos will commit to significantly improving the roster via free agency and trades in the offseason will linger long after October—and beyond—but in the mean time, a plethora of other issues can be addressed, some by the organization and others by players themselves. If I had a crystal ball to predict what will unfold over the final three months of 2010, here’s what I’d like to see: 1. A new skipper is hired This one is a no-brainer, but it’s imperative that the Orioles bring

Three on the 4th: What do Peter Angelos, Al Davis & George Steinbrenner have in common?

Well, since I’ve gotten your attention on the hot, sticky holiday here’s an amazing statistic that I think I sorta kinda knew, but could only be reminded of on the 4th of July. On July 4, 1929 BOTH Al Davis and Peter Angelos were born. Yes, same day, same year! And, just 365 days later, on July 4, 1930, Yankees tyrant George Steinbrenner was born. Three of the biggest jerks of their respective eras. Three sports owners. Three wealthy men. Three widely unpopular men. And currently, all three are in various states of illusion, disillusionment and/or failure in their communities to some degree. Of course, we could say that Steinbrenner — only after being banned and disgraced by his fellow owners — came out of the “dark ages” of the pinstripes with championships galore over the past 15 years. And, apparently his mental health is failing so we’ll try to be as tasteful as we can be about a guy who volumes of books were written about his eccentricities and temper over the years. But this is some “club” huh, these three wack jobs… Well just thought it was worth noting — other than comical efforts at public relations at

Orioles promote 3B Josh Bell, place Luke Scott on DL

The Orioles have placed Luke Scott (left hamstring) on the 15-day disabled list. We saw that coming. What we didn’t see coming was a promotion for Triple-A Norfolk third baseman Josh Bell, but he will surprisingly take Scott’s spot on the 25-man roster. Bell batted .266 (76-286) with 24 doubles, 10 home runs and 44 RBI in 74 games for the Tides. In 24 games in June, Bell hit .272 (25-92) with nine doubles, four home runs, 19 RBI and a .500 slugging percentage. Bell’s 24 doubles are second-most in the International League and tied for 12th-most in all of minor league baseball. He is tied for 10th in the league in homers. He was acquired on July 30, 2009 along with pitcher Steve Johnson from the Los Angeles Dodgers for closer George Sherrill. Bell will wear No. 25, most recently worn by Garrett Atkins. Update: Bell was 1-for-4 in his debut and made a throwing error at third base in the Orioles’ 8-1 loss to the Athletics Thursday night.

Ripken, Orioles still talking about a future role

While most attention remains on the Orioles’ continued search for a manager, Cal Ripken continues to have discussions with Peter Angelos—and Andy MacPhail—about the current state of the organization. Ripken told MASN and The Sun that he continues to have an open dialogue about a future role with the club, but it’s unclear how involved he will become. “We have had some talks about learning and advising and being available when you can,” he said. “It’s sort of a secondary position or an advisory position. There’s a fairness on both sides–how much can you give, can you be involved as much as you need to be, or can’t you? Some of those issues need to be looked at.” Ripken did not rule out accepting a secondary position and working his way up the proverbial front office ladder below MacPhail. Of course, the continued discussions build on a Ken Rosenthal story from earlier in the season that claimed Ripken had asked for job only to be turned town by the club. One job Ripken won’t be taking is the Orioles’ current managerial opening, citing all of the travel conflicting with his desire to be close to home over the next two

Showalter says Orioles have “some great pieces” on Baseball Tonight

Buck Showalter has been tight-lipped about last week’s interview for the Orioles managerial position, but he broke his silence on ESPN’s Baseball Tonight Sunday evening, sharing his impressions on the current state of the Baltimore Orioles. For anyone hoping to get a legitimate read on Showalter’s thoughts, you’ll probably have to wait as he was hesitant to discuss specifics, citing his respect for interim manager Juan Samuel and not wanting to comment specifically about “his” job. The 54-year-old former manager did, however, confirm his interest in the position. Despite the Orioles’ league-worst 23-52 record, the former big league manager acknowledged there is some talent with which to work in Baltimore. “It’s a tough situation, but the one mistake people make, I think, is just because a club has lost X number of games that everything there is bad,” Showalter told Karl Ravech on Baseball Tonight. “There are some great pieces there.” When asked why he would consider taking a managerial job in Baltimore given its current state and having to play in the toughest division in baseball, Showalter said any managerial job is a rare privilege. “We’ll see where it takes us and what’s presented to somebody. And you take

Live from Camden Yards: Marlins players in “shock” over Gonzalez firing

BALTIMORE — While the Orioles (19-51) prepare for the second of a three-game set against Florida (34-36) tonight at 7:05 p.m., the opposition is dealing with the surprising dismissal of manager Fredi Gonzalez earlier this morning. The Marlins clubhouse was filled with shock and disappointment regarding the firing, as first baseman Gaby Sanchez described it as a “shock” and Jorge Cantu did not learn of the news until this morning just like everyone else. Triple-A manager Edwin Rodriguez takes over on an interim basis as it appears Bobby Valentine will eventually become the next manager of the Marlins. He and owner Jeffrey Loria have known each other for 20 years, dating back to their days with the Texas Rangers. And, of course, if you’re on the WNST Text Service, you received the news that Valentine had official withdrew his name from consideration for the Orioles’ managerial position. It’s certainly no coincidence as Marlins president David Samson confirmed  the club had contacted Valentine earlier today about the job. The Marlins’ situation is certainly a stark contrast from the Orioles’ recent firing of Dave Trembley, who seemingly flapped around in the wind for weeks before finally receiving his walking papers. In Orioles

A staggering look at the numbers as Orioles drop to 19-51

What more is there to say that hasn’t already been said after the previous 50 losses this season? The Orioles lost 10-4 to the Florida Marlins on Tuesday night. Jeremy Guthrie was plagued by a four-run second inning, retired 13 of 14 batters, and then walked Chris Coghlan to begin the seventh before giving up an RBI-double to Gaby Sanchez. That marked Guthrie’s exit as he fell to 3-9 on the season. The bullpen was awful, giving up three earned runs in three innings to put the game even further out of reach than it already was. On a bright note, Matt Wieters hit a three-run, opposite-field homer in the second inning on a typical Baltimore summer night in which the ball was really carrying at Oriole Park at Camden Yards. The struggling catcher now has 6 RBI in his last two games despite a .225 average. It was also the Orioles’ first three-run home run since May 1. Instead of analyzing why the Orioles lost again (it doesn’t take a rocket scientist, does it?), here’s a glimpse at some staggering numbers and scenarios: – The Orioles are now 19-51, a .271 winning percentage that now puts the club on

Live from Camden Yards: Jake Fox to O’s, Tillman optioned to Norfolk

BALTIMORE — As reported earlier today, the Orioles have acquired infielder/outfielder Jake Fox from the Oakland Athletics in exchange for minor league pitcher Ross Wolf and cash considerations. It’s a move that’s sure to excite few but isn’t a bad gamble if you take a look at Fox’s career minor league numbers. And, oh yeah, he’s a former Cub, which Andy MacPhail seems to like for some reason. Interim manager Juan Samuel intends to use the 27-year-old Fox in a utility role off the bench and as a third catcher to help spell Matt Wieters—who could then be the designated hitter on occasion—and backup Craig Tatum. That’s fine for now, but Fox needs to receive regular opportunities at some point. Regardless of whose playing time suffers as a result, there’s no such thing as “stepping on anyone’s toes” when the club is 19-50. “He’s an added bat,” Samuel said. “We’re going to do everything we can to get him in there and get some offense. That’s just an extra guy to help us off the bench, to pinch hit if we need to throw him in against a left-hander. … I’m going to try to play as many guys as

Orioles managerial search: Now, later, or both?

With Buck Showalter scheduled to interview with the Orioles on Wednesday and Eric Wedge receiving a callback in the near future, the search continues for a permanent manager while Juan Samuel steers a sunken ship for the time being. Bobby Valentine whisked through town with an apparent “thanks, but no thanks” after taking a glimpse at a team currently 31 games below .500 and 24 games out of first place on the first day of summer. It’s no secret this job is an incredibly difficult—if not impossible—sell to any experienced name attached to the managerial search. And with Andy MacPhail proclaiming the organization’s preference for an experienced skipper, the Valentines, Showalters, and Wedges of the baseball world would need an incredible amount of hubris to willingly jump aboard now to manage a team on track to become one of the worst in the history of the game. Waiting until the off-season would not only provide an expanded field of candidates but also remove the stigma of having the eventual manager attached to whatever the final record will be for the 2010 edition of the Orioles. However, with Nick Markakis’ recent comments questioning the direction of the organization, stretching the process

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