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Orioles

Bergesen can set the tone for a new era

Luke Jones

Earl Weaver said it best about winning and losing in baseball. “Nobody likes to hear it, because it’s dull, but the reason you win or lose is always darn near the same – pitching.” The Hall of Fame manager’s words unquestionably fit the 2009 edition of the Baltimore Orioles.  Despite the positive feelings of a 6-2 start, the signs were there that it was only a matter of time before the hitting could not overcome the miserable pitching. Five games and 49 surrendered runs later, the Orioles hobble back to Camden Yards at 6-7, with the ineffective pitching, shaky fielding, and injuries beginning to mount.  The good vibes of the first 10 days of the season have all but vanished, as we realize the Orioles are exactly what we thought they would be. A disastrous four-game sweep in Boston should not be surprising, but it stings nonetheless.  After all, it’s April, and every fan dreams of that surprising season–1977 and 1989 come to mind–no matter how improbable it might be. It’s too early to lose all hope, isn’t it? But this season is not about wins and losses–general manager Andy MacPhail has made this abundantly clear, like it or not. 

Red Sox complete 4-game sweep, batter Orioles 12-1

Nestor Aparicio

1:50 p.m. — The Red Sox are getting well this inning off of the O’s bullpen. Mike Lowell just added another single. Update on Radhames Liz: 1/3 IP, 3H, 6ER, 1BB, 2HBP. His ERA is now: 67.50. 1:45 p.m. — The Bad News Bears weren’t this bad. Youkilis just sent a “seeing eye” pop that bounced an inch from the RF line to score another run. This one looked like it had a message of some kind. Just a crazy swing of the bat. Add another ER to Liz’s line… 1:39 p.m. — Liz just bounced one in front of David Ortiz that hit his leg. Here comes Matt Albers. He inherits the bases loaded and one out in the 7th inning. Liz: 1/3 IP, 3 H, 3 ER, 1 W, 2HBP … His ERA is now 47.25. Oh, and there’s three more ducks on the pond and Kevin Youkilis is awaiting like Alberts is raw meat. Jim Hunter just said: “Not a good outing for Radhames Liz.” Yeah, ya think? That’s a helluva observation, Jimmy! 1:36 p.m. — Another single, 9-1. Radhames Liz is NOT a Major League pitcher. Now Matt Albers is warming in the bullpen. At this

The Orioles try to avoid ‘the broom’ for breakfast

Nestor Aparicio

To say the weekend in Boston has been counterproductive would be an understatement. Yesterday at Fenway, Koji Uehara was very, very good, allowing just two runs in 7 innings in what was the best start of the year for any Orioles starter. But unfortunately, Jon Lester was even better, stifling the O’s bats and holding them to just four hits in seven innings while striking out nine Birds. Even Nick Markakis and Aubrey Huff stuck out twice in trying to solve the young lefty. Prior to yesterday’s quality start by Uehara, which also gave the bullpen a much-needed respite, the starting pitching has been dreadful of late but yesterday it was the bats that fell silent in taking the O’s down to defeat. The top of the order has been phenomenal but the bottom has been unacceptable, even on a bad NL team where the pitcher would be batting in the No. 9 hole. Gregg Zaun is hitting .129. Felix Pie is hitting .161. Cesar Izturis is hitting .162. And the one thing you never can count on but always looms large — good health — has become an issue with red-hot Adam Jones now out of the lineup with

Seven head-scratching stats from the first two weeks

Luke Jones

More so than any other sport, baseball thrives on statistics and how players and teams stack up to those of yesteryear. These stats are even more fun in the early stages of the season before the law of averages inevitably settles things down.  After two weeks, here are seven strange stats to ponder about the 2009 baseball season: 1.  To say that Yankees right-hander Chien-Ming Wang is off to a bad start would be an understatement.  Wang’s ERA (34.50) looks more like Dwyane Wade’s scoring average than that of the second starter in the New York Yankees’ rotation. Wang is 0-3 and might be skipped the next time through the rotation, as he would be scheduled to start against the Red Sox in Fenway on Friday.  Not a good place for righting the ship. 2.  Speaking of the Yankees, they opened the new Yankee Stadium on Thursday, and the media is already discussing how balls are simply flying into the right field seats. In the first four games at the new stadium (a series split with the Cleveland Indians), 20 home runs were hit, eight of them in the Yankees’ 22-4 loss on Saturday. In contrast, players are already groaning

Caps and O’s both lose again…

Nestor Aparicio

10:45 p.m. — The comeback came up short. In the end, it was the BoSox bullpen that held the lead that Josh Beckett delivered and quelled a 9th inning rally via Jonathan Papelbon. Orioles pitching surrendered 12 hits and four walks, losing 6-4 at Fenway Park tonight despite four innings of scoreless relief. It wasn’t a 22-4 whitewashing — like the Yankees suffered today at home to the Tribe — but it’s another loss, their third in a row, that has them at 6-5 on the season. Adam Eaton now has a 11.25 ERA on the season, going just four innings tonight and allowing nine hits and two walks. And again, the bottom of the order has been ineffective offensively with these anemic averages: Gregg Zaun .133, Felix Pie .179 and Cesar Izturis .162. Koji Uehara will go back to the hill tomorrow against Jon Lester at 1:35. 8:50 p.m. –One thing you CAN say: the dangerous hitting can chase down the bad pitching on a lot of nights. Josh Beckett is walking in runs and getting thrashed by orange bats here in the 5th inning. Four runs in, one runner on and nobody out. And, yes, we have activity

O’s blow early 7-0 lead, lose 10-8 to Red Sox in Boston

Nestor Aparicio

These are the losses that bust you up, the ones you never understand. Except that over the years, evenings like tonight have become so commonplace that they’re shrugged off en route to 90 losses. The Orioles blew a 7-0 lead tonight, allowing the Red Sox 10 runs on 12 hits and even sprinkling in a devastating error by Aubrey Huff to lose 10-8 at Fenway Park tonight. The “BALTIMORE” jerseys were somehow absent tonight (good luck on the explanation for that one). The Red Sox were wearing bright red “warm up”jerseys and blue caps with the cartoon pair of Red Sox with white trim. They were sharp, but looked like a world championship softball team. But I’m sure they’ll sell some hats. The Red Sox have suffered the first two weeks with an anemic offensive attack and yet while David Ortiz continues to struggle — he struck out three times tonight — Jason Bay and Dustin Pedroia led the way for the Sox tonight battering Jeremy Guthrie out of the game in the 5th inning and hammering the bullpen led by Danys Baez. Matt Albers got into hot water in the 8th but escaped like Houdini. The Orioles are now

Jackie Robinson Day should be shared with others

Luke Jones

As Major League Baseball honors the heroic Jackie Robinson on the 62nd anniversary of his debut with the Brooklyn Dodgers, the decreasing number of African-Americans playing in the big leagues continues to cause concern for the National Pastime. Though MLB’s 2009 Racial and Gender Report Card reports an increase (2%) in African-American players in 2008 (the first time since 1995), only 10.2% of all players were African-American, a far cry from 1975 when blacks filled 27% of roster spots. The reasons for this sharp decline are many, ranging from overwhelming economic factors to the increased popularity of football and basketball in the last 30 years. Baseball has done a tremendous job in honoring Robinson, retiring his No. 42 throughout the big leagues in 1997 and allowing players or entire teams to wear his number on April 15 to honor his undeniable legacy. Robinson faced persecution and trials that are unimaginable in this day and age when we idolize professional athletes, deservedly or not.  He was the first black player to play in the modern major leagues, and for that, he should be honored. However, were there not other black players that cleared similar hurdles for their respective teams in the

Orioles are 6-2: Jones 2-run blast, big 10th inning lifts Birds to 7-5 win over Texas

Nestor Aparicio

Another exciting game. Another tight win. Another night where the bullpen was used and abused but this time — other than George Sherrill — the entire unit delivered in a 7-5 win in 10 innings in Arlington to push their record to 6-2. Alfredo Simon got hurt early. Homers were flying early. And the Orioles hung on. Blow by blow below… 11:29 p.m. — Dennis Sarfate admitted to having an inner-ear infection and basically said he was “really relaxed” during his effort and was “on cloud nine” after he got medicated from the staff during the game. Sarfate said he told Aubrey Huff, “Is that all you’ve got?” after Huff freight-trained him on a foul ball. Palmer said, “Whatever he’s on I want to be on!” It’s amazing they let Palmer keep his job. It really is. He’s priceless. I love it! 11:24 p.m. — Jim Palmer says it all. Don Stanhouse. Whole pack. “Mr Excitement”? Whatever you want to call him, fine. Let’s just give him the save and make the team 6-2 in the standings with their third series victory to start the season. Now Rick Dempsey is talking about Stanhouse. I have no idea how many listeners/readers

Orioles Magic goes to 5-2! Orioles almost blow six-run lead, hold on to beat Rangers 10-9

Nestor Aparicio

In a twisting, turning game that was long on offense, short on pitching and entertaining to the end, the Orioles outlasted the Rangers’ late attack to win 10-9 over the Texas Rangers in Arlington to go to 5-2 on the season. The Birds jumped ahead 2-0 in the first inning and had fallen behind 4-2 by the fourth inning. Led by four hits from Aubrey Huff and three from Brian Roberts, the Orioles scored eight runs in the 4th and 5th innings and held a 10-4 advantage and Koji Uehara was rolling into the 6th inning when he fell apart giving way to Danys Baez and the bullpen of arsonists. The Rangers scored five unanswered runs late in the game and had pulled within 10-9 by the 9th inning. The Rangers got two baserunners on in the 9th inning and even pulled off a double steal before George Sherrill gave everyone a Don Stanhouse-like scare (thrill?) before fanning Marlon Byrd to end a 3:16 epic. The game featured 27 hits — 16 by the Orioles, including four by Huff who is doing a nice interview with his co-worker Amber Theoharis. Great defense by Nick Markakis. Great defense by Brian Roberts.

A Long Overdue Change

Luke Jones

When the Baltimore Orioles take the field against the Texas Rangers in Arlington on Monday night, the simple act of donning a new road jersey brings special significance to a city that has felt its baseball team become increasingly distant over the last 15 years. For the first time in nearly 40 years, the Orioles’ road jerseys will display “Baltimore” in script across the chest. It won’t be a throwback for Turn Back the Clock Day, or a novelty jersey for the official team store, but the regular 2009 road uniform top. It’s about time. Following the 1972 season, then-owner Jerry Hoffberger removed the city name from the road uniforms in a presumed attempt to regionalize the franchise after the Washington Senators had moved to Texas a season earlier. Hoffberger’s vision, which continued under successive owners Edward Bennett Williams, Eli Jacobs, and Peter Angelos, was to make the Orioles the baseball team for an entire region that would stretch from central Pennsylvania and Delaware to the Carolinas. Many fans began chirping immediately after the city name was removed, but the issue remained in the background, largely because the franchise was in the midst of one of the most successful 20-year

Eaton beaten badly, Bass was a fish — Birds lose 11-3 to Rays

Nestor Aparicio

All was not completely lost. The Orioles managed some offense — too little, too late — in the 9th inning as they eliminated the doughnut from behind a bad effort today in an 11-3 loss to the Tampa Bay Rays to cap their opening homestand at 4-2. Orioles pitching allowed a whopping 17 hits today and the Rays looked almost vengeful for the two beatings handed out by the Birds behind good pitching on Friday and Saturday. Keep in mind, the Rays beat the Orioles 15 of 18 times last year. A win today would’ve matched last year’s total. I wrote a live blog as I’ve turned an eye toward The Masters this afternoon, the one day of the year that I attempt to appreciate golf and culture. Below are my observations from a day of baseball with the O’s. 4:01 p.m. — I’ve been monitoring Phil Mickelson’s miraculous run this afternoon with one eye on the game. But I’ve now managed to switch over fast enough to see back-to-back homers by Evan Longoria and Carlos Pena. Brian Bass is making Dave Trembley and Andy McPhail look bad for sending Matt Albers away last night. It’s 11-0. The O’s have

Your 6-0 final…

Luke Jones

Here are my final thoughts on the Birds’ 6-0 victory over Tampa Bay tonight: – Jeremy Guthrie pitched well, turning in six shutout innings.  His velocity was right around 91-92 miles per hour according to the stadium radar gun, which should ease some concern about his health entering the season. After a terrible spring, Guthrie is 2-0 with a 2.25 ERA.  He would probably be no more than a good third starter on a contending team, but the Orioles are certainly glad to have him at the top of the rotation with so many question marks behind him. – Melvin Mora’s first-inning grand slam was the third of his career and his 82nd career home run at Camden Yards, fourth all-time.  Only Rafael Palmeiro (124), Brady Anderson (91), and Cal Ripken (85) are in front of him. – Jamie Walker looked like the pitcher from two seasons ago in his 1 1/3 innings, striking out one and getting Evan Longoria to ground into a double play in the eighth.  The left-handed specialist would be a huge lift to the bullpen if he can regain his 2007 form. – Chris Ray struck out the side in the ninth inning and looked

Rays and Niemann Steamin’ Early

Luke Jones

The Orioles just put up a five-spot in the bottom of the first with Melvin Mora hitting a grand slam into the Orioles bullpen off Rays pitcher Jeff Niemann. Though the offense is bound to cool off off, the Orioles will be one of the better hitting teams in the American League.  It’s scary to think how good this offense can be if Matt Wieters is as good as advertised. Jeremy Guthrie has a nice 5-0 lead and has retired the first six batters of the night as we head to the bottom of the second.

Feel the Magic: The O’s are beating the AL East’s best

Nestor Aparicio

So far, there’s not much to complain about. If the Orioles can just get a dozen more starts like Mark Hendrickson’s gem last night, this might turn into an interesting spring. There once was a time when beating Tampa Bay in April was meaningless. No mas… As I watch the rain fall today — and I can’t believe that they’ll actually play this evening but the forecast is for a late afternoon clearing and an “ontime” start —  the pitching advantage certainly benefits the Birds tonight with Jeremy Guthrie taking the ball against Jeff Niemann. The Orioles are now 3-1 and have managed to hold on late in all three games, contests that in previous years might’ve gone the wrong way. And the bullpen has really kinda stunk all week, which usually means “death knell.” Here’s all you need to know about the offense: Brian Roberts is hitting .438 and Adam Jones and Nick Markakis are stroking it at a .429 clip. The table is being set. I don’t love Jones in the No. 2 hole — he strikes out too much — but if he can continue to make contact and maybe even use his speed to bunt and

Orioles hold on again, beat Yankees 7-5 to start season with pair of wins

Nestor Aparicio

It shouldn’t have been so close in the end, but tonight was another “Oriole Magic” kinda night as the Birds jumped out to a big lead over the Yankees behind a nice starting effort from Koji Uehara and eventually held on to win 7-5 before a split crowd of orange and pinstripes. Nick Markakis got three hits and the bullpen got sloppy at the end, but the Birds are 2-0 and coming back to Camden Yards at 1:35 tomorrow with a chance to sweep the Yankees to start the season. Here’s my running blog from the game. As always, feel free to comment! 9:59 p.m. — Geez, not much has changed with Dennis Sarfate. Brought on to basically do a ninth-inning mop up, he’s now pushed my American Idol starting time back another 10 minutes and has forced George Sherrill into a game they’d probably rather have not used him. As my Pop would say, “the walks will kill ya!” The Yankees lineup is dangerous — as Derek Jeter just showed. Jim Palmer is railing about the 27th out. The crowd gave Teixeira the rasberries and he just poked an RBI double into the gap and this has gotten frightening.

Boos for Teixeira and the ghost of Jeffrey Maier spark O’s to 10-5 win over Yankees

Nestor Aparicio

Well, whatever they did to keep away the New York fans and somehow get orange-colored sweaters into the seats worked. It was a major victory for the Orioles front office, keeping Opening Day from being ruined by a sea of pinstripers. Then, of course, the outcome, a 10-5 win over the Yankees, didn’t suck either. And the WAY they won, right? A stolen home run with all of the imagery of Jeffrey Maier. They chased the Yankees big-money starter C.C. Sabathia in the fifth inning. The bullpen folded just to the brink of collapse but the offense led the way late in the game. It was a blueprint for how they’re going to win this year (if they’re going to win). Get a solid start. Give way to the bullpen. Hit the ball. Don’t kick the ball around. And take their chances. No reason to do play-by-play here – I’m assuming you watched the game. Doesn’t everyone watch Opening Day? But the most compelling part of today’s game was the ability to stay into the game and it was a good dramatic start to the season and it gave Orioles fans everywhere some pride, a nice beatdown of the Yankees

A gloomy forecast — today and for the ’09 Birds

Nestor Aparicio

The sky is gray across the horizon in downtown Baltimore this morning as the Orioles kick off their 2009 campaign amidst a city full of Yankees fans and the inaugural appearance for Baltimore’s homegrown Mark Teixeira as a pinstriper. It was a dark day even before the clouds and scattered showers moved in from the south. The Orioles, who haven’t played a meaningful game since October 1997, appear to be about to put another 162 insignificant games into the record books as the “dark era” of Birds baseball continues, the longest stretch of inepetitude in the history of the storied franchise. The Las Vegas oddsmakers have the Orioles “win/loss” total at 71 1/2, which means if the Orioles play just “18 games under .500” you win the bet. I’m not a betting man, but based on what I’ve seen for six weeks in spring training regarding their pitching, I’d be jumping at the “under” on this proposition. That said, I like this team, these position players and the quality of the character it appears Andy McPhail has assembled. I want to cheer for Brian Roberts. I like Luke Scott and Adam Jones. I’m interested in Felix Pie, although I think

Drinking the orange Kool Aid at Fan Fest

Nestor Aparicio

There are two types of Orioles fans left in the Baltimore area and they are distinct groups: Those who drink the Kool Aid… And those, like me, who have examined the big picture of what’s happened to this franchise over the past 13 years and are pretty angry about its impact on our fun, our lives and the community. With Opening Day looming, everyone who has EVER loved baseball perks up and pay attention. Even if it’s only to notice: “Hey, its’ Opening Day!” Most people in Baltimore realize this team won’t contend but if you love baseball you’ll at least open one eye on Monday afternoon to catch the score. I’d venture to say that 75% of the city will wake up Tuesday morning at the office and know whether the Orioles won. (That number used to be more like 98% in 1998!) Those who unconditionally still drink the orange Kool Air or “want” to drink the Kool Aid probably went down to Fan Fast today at Camden Yards. I opted to not give Mr. Angelos any more money that he won’t spend to get the team a quality spring training facility. Instead, I’m sitting here watching the Fan

Orange fireworks: Players and Trembley flip Peter Angelos “The Bird” today in The Sun

Nestor Aparicio

I’ve been saying for years that Fort Lauderdale Stadium and the Orioles’ sub-par Florida spring training situation is by far the biggest sin of all of their many sins and finally the folks over on Calvert Street are doing some “investigative journalism” with the orange birds. The club’s No. 1 promise to the public is that it’s doing everything possible to commit all of its resources to fielding a winning team. That’s the goal in baseball: winning a championship. You always want to give your team the best chance to compete. The Angelos family hasn’t done that for the entire tenure of their ownership in regard to the significance of spring training as anything more than a line item expense. The mere fact that they’re the only organization in the sport to have “two camps” in Florida that sit three hours apart is telling enough. It’s bad business. It’s bad baseball. It’s just inexcusable, unacceptable and dumb. Fort Lauderdale Stadium is a dump. It’s a disgrace. It’s been a disgrace for the entire balance of the 15 years they’ve played there. I’ve worked many, many a morning and pulled many 12-hour days at Fort Lauderdale Stadium doing radio and covering

Piling on the Orioles with Glenn’s Vegas odds

Nestor Aparicio

I noticed Glenn Clark’s blog about the Orioles’ Las Vegas odds of winning the World Series and it’s bad enough. But then I went further into the “futures” of Las Vegas and saw some more disturbing trends. Here are the division-by-division odds. Check out how out of whack the Orioles are in their own division, which is more of a reflection of how strong the AL East is in the minds of the gamblers. Odds to win the 2009 AL East Division New York Yankees                    6/5 Boston Red Sox                        6/5 Tampa Bay Rays                       5/1 Toronto Blue Jays                      5/1 Baltimore Orioles                       35/1 Odds to win the 2009 AL Central Division Cleveland Indians                       7/5 Detroit Tigers                             5/2 Minnesota Twins                        3/1 Chicago White Sox                    6/1 Kansas City Royals                   7/1 Odds to win the 2009 AL West Division Los Angeles Angles                   2/3 Oakland Athletics                      2/1 Texas Rangers                          8/1 Seattle Mariners                        8/1 Odds to win the 2009 NL East Division New York Mets                          7/5 Philadelphia Phillies                   7/4 Atlanta Braves                           3/1 Florida Marlins                           10/1 Washington Nationals                18/1 Odds to win the 2009 NL Central Division Chicago Cubs                            1/2 St. Louis Cardinals                     3/1 Milwaukee Brewers                    9/2 Cincinnati Reds                         8/1 Houston Astros                          20/1 Pittsburgh Pirates                      20/1 Odds to

Orioles continue to lie about WNST and press credentials

Nestor Aparicio

At some point, the Orioles will “get even” with me by winning. Maybe that’s in 2011? Maybe that’ll never happen, but that’s not even the point. The point is that they really believe “Nestor and WNST are out to get us.” Nothing could be further from the truth. No, I’m simply here to be honest and to continue to tell the truth about the way the ballclub is run, the way it functions and the way it continues to be a poor community partner for the city and the fans who literally BUILT the franchise between 1954 and 1994. The gobs of empty seats and a daily series of empty phone lines anytime we attempt to discuss the Orioles, their strategies or their rationales paints the true picture of how far the franchise has fallen. The opposite of “love” isn’t hate. It’s indifference. This year the Orioles will almost certainly continue a 12-year spiral downward as a franchise. They’ve all but admitted that there will be less people in the ballpark then there have ever been. I could write for hours or days about all of the lies and cover-ups and shenanigans that the team has pulled over the last

Live from Southern California…

Nestor Aparicio

It’s been a chilly trip all the way around. It’s cold in California this week. It was freezing at Dodger Stadium last night and Laguna Beach is no better. I’m spending the next three days here in Dana Point at the NFL Owners Meetings, chatting with coaches, executives and owners from around the league. Most of the media has commented that it’s “quiet” here this week, with no major rules changes or negotiations to be held. The only potential “landmark” concept is the notion of making the regular season a 17 or 18-game affair, with the elimination of those dreadful preseason games. It appears that changes to overtime possession aren’t coming right now. There’s too much support to keep the current (yet flawed) system. But it’s truly the calm before the potential financial storm as the NFL Players Association has named its new leader in DeMaurice Smith last week. Commisioner Roger Goodell is addressing the entire contingent this morning with a “State of The NFL” speech, which no doubt will be addressing the sagging economy and the paramount issue of a new collective bargaining agreement with the players, which could be a dog fight over the next 18 months as

Orioles pitching woes continue: Hill won’t be in rotation

Nestor Aparicio

Orioles pitching coach Rick Kranitz told the media this morning that LHP Rich Hill will not begin the season in the starting rotation due to lack of work. Hill threw 25 batting practice pitches earlier today but time is running short for the team to find five major-league worthy starters to begin the season as the Yankees come to Camden Yards in just two weeks. Read more here…

Just like the WNST logo: purple and orange together in one parking lot

Nestor Aparicio

Just got a press release regarding NFL Draft Day activities in downtown Baltimore. Looks like the Ravens continue to “cozy up” to the Orioles, who are in woeful need of some purple to fill up those empty green seats in April. Your Baltimore Orioles — finally reaching out to the community in the most obvious ways that have been ignored for 13 years. Ravens and Orioles Team Up for Double-Header Baltimore’s two biggest sports franchises have teamed up to offer fans a unique double-header. The Baltimore Ravens and the Baltimore Orioles have packaged together the Ravens’ Spring Football Festival with an Orioles’ home game against the Texas Rangers to offer fans two great events for one ticket. On Saturday, April 25, the Ravens will hold their 12th annual Spring Football Festival, presented by Verizon Wireless, at M&T Bank Stadium from 3-7 p.m. The family-friendly event consists of various elements in which fans can participate, including interactive on-field activities, a locker room tour, player autograph sessions, Poe’s Mascot Game and watching the 2009 NFL Draft live on SmartVision and TVs throughout the stadium. Immediately following the football festivities, the Orioles will host the Texas Rangers at Oriole Park for a 7:05

Brian Roberts feels at “home” in Team USA Jersey

Nestor Aparicio

I’m following up on all of the residue of the NCAA March Madness draw and filling out my own brackets and doodling this evening and my TV is tuned to the USA-Netherlands elimination game in Miami. In the same awkward ballpark that I watched the Ravens beat the Dolphins in the wild card round about 10 weeks ago, there are about 5,000 people — and I might be accused of kindness with that estimate — watching as the Orioles’ own Brian Roberts has been an 11th hour “call up” due to the Dustin Pedroia injury. It’s, of course, a preview of the kinds of crowds he’ll see at Camden Yards next month here in Baltimore. Lots of empty seats must help his game as he got a helluva good look at the ball in Miami. BRob — always the pro — singled to right field in his first at bat and went on to go 3-for-3 with a pair of walks in five trips to the plate in Team USA’s 9-3 win over the Dutch. Roberts also looks spiffy in his USA duds. The World Baseball Classic interests me more than it did last time because I’m actually planning on

Good news about the Orioles!

Nestor Aparicio

A friend of mine sent along a note about an “out of town” friend who had a good experience with the Orioles. Here it is…from Kristie from Nebraska, who I’m sure has never heard of me, but her annoying friend has been pestering me about this kind act from the Orioles and accusing me of “covering up” their good deeds. Nothing could be further from the truth. We need more “good deeds” from the Orioles. “Hello there! Please bear with me! I am a friend of a friend. Within the last year and a half, my 9yr. old daughter was diagnosed with a debilitating disease leaving her suffering with chronic pain on a daily basis. Making it difficult to enjoy life. For this reason, we sought help in Baltimore at John’s Hopkin’s with the encouragement of our neurologist there.  Needless to say we spent several months in Baltimore, and what may very well have been a totally bad experience, actually turned into a rather pleasant one in several different ways! Met several new friends..One in which, who introduced us to “The Ulimate Oriole’s Experience!”  Not only were we in “awe” of the beautiful stadium, but, also by all of the

Reminder: Tribute to Dads everywhere is two days away

Nestor Aparicio

As many of you know who have followed me and/or WNST through the years, March 5th is my Pop’s birthday. He was born in 1919, so this Thursday he would’ve been 90. As a tribute to him — and Dads everywhere — we have made a 17-year tradition of dedicating our March 5 shows to my father and your father as well. Just wanted to give everyone a head’s up because it’s the most asked-about day of the year. I’m in the process of recapaturing and platforming on WNST.net the text from my 2006 pre-Free The Birds 19-chapter book on why WNST exists, why I love sports and all that my Pop taught me about the world through sports and baseball. If you remember the book or any of the shows I’ve done in honor of my Pop, I hope you tune in on Thursday and share a story or two. I think my Pop would be proud that we stood up and did the right thing in regard to the baseball team almost 2 1/2 years ago and the book and that entire event was because of my Pop and his dedication to the Orioles and to Baltimore sports

Another bad news day for Orioles as Alomar & Tejada are front and center

Nestor Aparicio

There’s no doubt that “Roberto Alomar” and “AIDS” will be among the most googled phrases on the internet today, as these outlandish and crazy rumors start flying now that the N.Y. Post has outed a story of an ex-lover who has made allegations galore about the former Oriole All Star and potential future Hall of Famer, Roberto Alomar. Among them, the $15 million suit by his ex-girlfriend Ilya Dall alleges that Alomar had AIDS and had unprotected sex with her after being raped by two Mexican men. (Like I said, it’s a racy one!) There are links everywhere and no doubt this will be a bloggers’ paradise today on the world wide web. While you are reading about Alomar on the New York Post, be sure to click on the insert piece about Darryl Strawberry’s sex life, circa 1986 and a preview of his upcoming book, “Straw: Finding My Way.” Here’s a sample paragraph: Strawberry writes the goal on the road was to “tear up your best bars and nightclubs and take your finest women . . . The only hard part for us was choosing which hottie to take back to your hotel room. Lots of times you .

Maybe Barack has brought sanity to the Warehouse

Nestor Aparicio

A new president…a new show…could it be a “new” Orioles organization? For the first time in three years I attended an Orioles press event without being thrown out! Now, I don’t want to jump to conclusions and think that they might actually be “opening up the gates,” but I did make it into the Warehouse for a full hour of today’s Nick Markakis press conference and even got to ask a question without being escorted out by the orange police. Hey, it’s a start? I didn’t start the war or continue it. I just report on what I see and what I’m told and what I think. So far, so good. I’m gonna credit this “thaw” to President Obama. Markakis has grown his hair a bit and was his usual mellow self, very appreciative, quiet and honest in his assessment of the Orioles and their future. Andy McPhail gushed about Markakis’ future here in Baltimore and accurately said this was “the most important priority of the offseason.” I’ll write more later…back on the air at 2 p.m.

“The lack of organization. The lack of discipline. The lack of overall professionalism. I was shocked, and I couldn’t believe it.”

Nestor Aparicio

These are the words of Leo Mazzone, regarding his two-year prison sentence in Baltimore. Lemme start this blog by saying that I know Leo Mazzone and I got to know him a bit back when he was the Braves pitching coach and I was a baseball zealot in the 1990’s. I always traveled to do my show and because the Braves were always good, I was almost always around the Braves. And the Braves were loaded with Maryland talent — at one point having Arundel’s Denny Neagle and fellow Dundalkian Mike Bielecki on the same staff in the World Series. I’m still quite friendly with those guys and they had the kind of dispositions that made them just like me — they were pretty normal, regular Baltimore boys. John Scheurholz, another Baltimorean who got away, was always around and was fun to trade Baltimore stories with. And Mazzone was a Marylander and a huge football fan as well as the mentor to Tom Glavine, John Smoltz and Greg Maddux. Mazzone was the EXACT guy inside the game that the Orioles love to say they still appeal to with their “brand.” He loved the old Orioles Way and is one of

A holiday message to Peter Angelos and the Orioles

Nestor Aparicio

The Baltimore Orioles can try to silence their critics today and attempt to ban the free speech of all of their many disgruntled customers and fans from posting angry diatribes on message boards like WNST on the internet, but there’s no getting around it if you’re Peter Angelos today. If you are from Baltimore and love Baltimore sports and you are celebrating any religious holiday from Christmas to Hanukkah to Kwanza to Festivus over the next 48 hours and anywhere from Highlandtown to Hong Kong, inevitably amongst so many family and friends with food and drink and cheer, you’ll be talking about two things: 1.    How much the Orioles suck and once again what a disgrace it is to be an Orioles fan (and/or a MLB fan in general) after this whole Mark Teixeira fiasco And … 2.    How much fun the Ravens have given us this year and whether they can win this Sunday against Jacksonville and whether they’ll go far into the playoffs and give us the thrill of a Super Bowl again Clear advantage: Ravens “WNST” has no control over any of your holiday conversations. There is no “WNST stance” at your dinner table. There are just

Teixeira goes to the Big Apple, signs with Yankees

Nestor Aparicio

In a move that was only rumored by our Drew Forrester last week, the New York Yankees became the “final” bidder for the services of Mt. St. Joe grad Mark Teixeira, inking the first baseman to an 8-year, $170 million contract today to open the new Yankee Stadium in the Bronx. Stories will abound and there will be plenty of hand-wringing at The Warehouse through the holidays, but once again Peter Angelos and the Orioles have been left at the alter as a bridesmaid to an AL East foe. A sad day for Baltimore. Another sad commentary about the pathetic state of the Orioles and their ability to compete at any level for top-notch talent. Another huge payday for a Scott Boras client. We’ll have plenty to say and plenty of chances to write and talk more about it. But prepare to see the Tex jerseys and the pinstripes. Ho, ho, ho…another Christmas with coal and switches and empty promises for anyone who loves the Orioles. Feel free to comment below…

I’m dreaming of Tex Christmas…ESPN says signing is imminent

Nestor Aparicio

But where? Where will Mark Teixeira sign today (if indeed, today is the day). Again, this has been the most following story since Palcyznski… ESPN’s Buster Olney says today is the day. Apparently the Orioles are still dangling seven years and $140 million. The Nationals are probably dangling more but it ain’t Ballmer, hon. And the Red Sox are definitely the “snake in the grass.” And Olney says the Yankees might also be quietly in the mix. Who knows where Scott Boras will take the Mt. St. Joe slugger? Will Tex be home for Christmas? Sign up for the WNST text service now, and you’ll be the first to know…GUARANTEED!

Angels the latest to pull rug on Boras and Teixeira

Nestor Aparicio

Who knows whether it’s posturing or business or an actual decision, but Arte Moreno and the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim have apparently pulled their eight-year offer to Mark Teixeira. The beat goes on and we’re now 72 hours out on Christmas and it doesn’t feel like Tex is getting any closer to making a decision and the Orioles are the only team that hasn’t said or done anything this week. As usual, because the communication from The Warehouse is still done by carrier pidgeon while the rest of the world is texting and using Facebook and the internet to get business done. I’ve been writing about it for two weeks and it gets more fascinating every day with the gamesmanship being displayed on all sides, allowing the fans into their dirty little world of $100 milion poker. Watching a bunch of rich, morally bankrupt guys try to bamboozle each other. It’s a whole “game within the game.” We’re not done with this by a long shot it seems, the Mark Teixeira sweepstakes. I’m gonna need more butter for my popcorn…

Christmas deadline for Teixeira? Not really…

Nestor Aparicio

Want the craziest true story I’ve heard in Dallas in my first 24 hours? Apparently, I missed running into Mark Teixeira and Scott Boras in the lobby of the Ravens team hotel here in “Big D” by 15 hours. As much as we’re following this Teixeira situation at WNST as a major Baltimore news story – it has been the most followed, camped-out  Baltimore media popcorn trail since Jayne Miller chased Jobie Palczynski through my old Dundalk stomping grounds of Berkshire (the neighborhood I played little league, in no less) back in 2000 – I never though I’d almost cross paths with the pair of them at their “Texas” hideaway when I boarded the plane. (I’m even getting people angered by giving them what I feel are “breaking news” stories on the Teixeira trail. Hey folks, news is news and we’re doing our best to be honorable as well. But who knows where the honor is amongst these baseball people who all lie as their lips move in these negotiations that involve crazy millions of dollars.) Here’s the worst part: I’m a lifelong reporter and journalist and had I bumped into “Tex” I don’t know if I would’ve even recognized

Olney reports that O’s have “fallen behind” with Teixeira

Nestor Aparicio

Not a big surprise here — I’ve been a skeptic all along because I believe Mark Teixeira and his agent Scott Boras aren’t foolish enough to sign with Peter Angelos and the Orioles — but ESPN’s Buster Olney is reporting that “unless free agent Mark Teixeira is willing to give the Orioles a major hometown discount, it does not appear he will be playing in Baltimore. Of course, this could be Boras whispering to Olney in the hopes of getting Angelos and lapdog Andy McPhail out of their cave to make their “best” offer. Don’t kid yourself: it’s all posturing at this point and certainly some weak attempts to fan the media flame to get a higher bid. Right now, it’s the LEAD STORY on ESPN.com. Word is (and has been all along) that the Washington Nationals have wowed Teixeira with the sheer amount of dough they’ve put on the table. Guestimated at $160 million for eight years by mlb.com. Like I wrote yesterday, it’s “almost” home. And it might be a better play for him and a better chance to win for Teixeira. And, of course, Angelos gets to still cash in from his MASN money with a Teixeira-to-the-Nationals

The Teixeira conundrum and Angelos conspiracy theory

Nestor Aparicio

Because this saga regarding Mark Teixeira and the Orioles and the Red Sox and the Nationals and the Angels has dragged on far too long it’s given me way too much time to think about it. And it’s really quite the mystery and little game from the media’s standpoint. And his uberagent Scott Boras just eats this up – when the media pits “offers” against each other with lots of zeroes. It’s gone so far that there were media people in the press box at the Ravens game with binoculars stalking down whether Tex was in the stadium and what sky box he might be in. Yes, it’s gotten a little nutty and I have been entertained if not totally perplexed by the whole thing. There are still people in Baltimore (and many in the media who are being handsomely paid by Angelos via CBS Radio, MASN, The Sun, Orioles Hangout, Pressbox and others to be, ahem, “optimistic”) who honestly believe in their soul that the Orioles might actually be involved in a pennant race again sometime this century. For the record, as long as Angelos is alive and owns this team and continues to run it like he has

Orioles deny Teixeira will be in their MASN skybox

Nestor Aparicio

This whole “Mark Teixeira will be attending the Ravens game today as a guest of Peter Angelos” rumor has taken on a whole strange life of its own in the modern day news cycle. Here’s the deal: Roy Firestone (or someone impersonating him) wrote on a message board that Teixeira would be a guest of Angelos at the game and would be taking a physical on Monday. Several message boards picked up on it. ESPN reported it this morning on “Sports Center” when Hannah Storm read it. I then fired off a WNST.net text to about 4,000 people about “many media outlets are reporting” the story. Alas, to the rescue comes the team’s official website, MASNsports.com and Roch Kubatko, who are refuting any existence of Teixeira in their box or that an invite ever existed. It’s pure fiction, the Angelos family tells their employee, Kubatko. Now this would be believable if the Orioles had the reputation for telling the truth. But they don’t have that to fall back on. So your guess is as good as ours as to whether this is real or imaginary. Teixeira could certainly be home this week and wanting to see the Ravens play the

Why should Teixeira sign a “hometown discount” deal here?

Nestor Aparicio

With all due respect to my colleague Drew Forrester, I have a different “conspiracy” theory on the Mark Teixeira chronicles that unfolded in Las Vegas last week and look like they’ll drag on for a few more days. Here’s the most simple, unasked question of the day: “If you were Mark Teixeira, would you sign up to be a Baltimore Oriole circa 2009?” I mean, honestly, what’s the upside for him? He’s going to get plenty of money wherever he signs and the No. 1 & No. 2 issues for him – besides the money – are “Can I win there?” and most importantly, “What are the odds I’ll be happy there?” With everyone and their mother now working for Peter G. Angelos Enterprises or sucking milk from the nipple of the baseball franchise, you aren’t going to EVER hear any REAL analysis in the “old media” about what’s happening in the Warehouse on this one. All you’ll hear from everyone from Steve Melewski to Mark Viviano to Bruce Cunningham to Scott Garceau to Roch Kubatko (and I apologize to the other dozen on the payroll who I’ve left off the list) is this: “The Orioles offered him a LOT

Teixeira to the Orioles for $180 million?

Nestor Aparicio

UPDATED! It’s the Baseball Winter Meetings. It’s not hard to find anglers, liars, crooks and agents. Oh, and there are some wheelers and dealers amongst the general manager and front office types as well. And the reporters are like lions looking for fresh meat. Here’s the best one we’ve heard so far today: The esteemed Los Angeles Times has a reporter named Mike DiGiovanna who has inked this story reporting that the Orioles have bandied a 9-year, $180 million deal in front of Maryland’s prime catch this week, Mt. St. Joe grad Mark Teixeira. But get this: he also reports that the Washington Nationals have offered him TEN years and $200 million. (Either way, it’s you and me footing the $3 a month bill to MASN to give Peter Angelos the money he so richly deserves for owning both media markets.) ESPN has followed with this story putting the Orioles offer to Teixeira at $150 million. Hey, it’s only a $30 million swing? Meanwhile, The Sun says it’s “between $140 and $150 million.” So, again, this could be Scott Boras and his group of thugs — hey, he got $252 million from Tom Hicks for Alex Rodriguez when the next

A Long Overdue Change

Luke Jones

When the Baltimore Orioles take the field against the Texas Rangers in Arlington on Monday night, the simple act of

Your 6-0 final…

Luke Jones

Here are my final thoughts on the Birds’ 6-0 victory over Tampa Bay tonight: – Jeremy Guthrie pitched well, turning

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