Punxsutawney Phil came out of his hole...

and saw Peter Angelos' shadow this morning. Six more years of losing.

Wieters, Markakis win Gold Gloves

First time since 1998 that multiple Orioles win a Gold Glove.

Shortstop JJ Hardy was also a finalist.

MLB PLAYOFF RACE: Will the Orioles knock the Red Sox out of contention?

The Wild Card race is now tied between the Boston Red Sox and Tampa Bay Rays, thanks to the Orioles, who have whipped playoff contenders this month.

There are only two games to play. The Red Sox play at Camden Yards through Wednesday, and the D-Rays are at home vs. the Yankees.

I'd be a happy fan (an extremely delighted fan) if Buck and the O's could knock the BoSox out of post-season...it'd be "Payback" for that brawl earlier this year in Fenway Park.

http://www.baltimoresun.com/sports/orioles/bal-guerreros-mileston-hit-sparks-os-rally-red-sox-tied-with-rays-for-wild-card-20110926,0,4517096.story

11:57 p.m. EDT, September 26, 2011
The first game of the season-ending "Fan Appreciation Celebration" at Oriole Park quickly turned into something completely different in the sixth inning on Monday night when Vladimir Guerrero kept his date with international baseball history.

Guerrero singled up the middle in his third at-bat of the Orioles' 6-3 win over the Boston Red Sox and passed Julio Franco to become the all-time major league leader in hits by a Dominican-born player. He also sparked a four-run rally that dragged the reeling Red Sox into a wild card dead heat with the surging Tampa Bay Rays.


His 2,587th hit brought the announced crowd of 21,786 to its feet for an enthusiastic ovation as Guerrero waved his helmet to the fans and his teammates – who lined the top step of the home dugout to applaud his magic moment. The night was made even more special for him because his mother, sister, nephew and cousin were in attendance.


"I've played for a lot of years – 16 years – so it felt very good, very satisfying to get that hit.'' Guerrero said through interpreter Rudy Arias, but he also pointed out that it is not something he has been consciously pursuing for a long time. "I didn't know about the record until Buck told me about it in Toronto."

No doubt caught up in all that excitement, Guerrero quickly stole his second base of the year and eventually scored the go-ahead run on a double by third baseman Chris Davis. Obviously, the Orioles got caught up in the moment, too, because they went on to score four times in the inning – the last three runs on an inside-the-park home run by Robert Andino.

Talk about an evening of interesting subplots. Andino's inside job was the first ever by an Orioles player at Camden Yards and it came with his father in the stands to see his son play for the first time ever in a major league game.

"That's almost as big a moment because his dad was here for the first time watching him play his first game,'' manager Buck Showalter said. "First time he ever saw him play. I'm not sure of all the dynamics of it, but I got to meet him today and I know what an unbelievable moment that would be for us. Can you imagine what it meant to him, regardless of the impact on the game? I was really hoping Robert would get a chance to do something to let his dad see what a good year he's had and what a good player he's become."

Andino was a little more concise.

"I've got no words,'' he said. "It's priceless."

And, of course, the Red Sox were desperately trying to hold onto their slim wild card lead over the Rays, but Boston starter Josh Beckett gave up six runs to the Orioles for the second time in six days and lost back-to-back decisions to Baltimore for the first time in his career. The Rays didn't cooperate either, defeating the Yankees, 5-2, at Tropicana Field.

If that wasn't enough intrigue for one night, Showalter had to be helped back to the clubhouse after the exchange of lineup cards with what the club reported to be an ankle injury. The injury apparently wasn't serious, because he returned to the dugout by the second inning and managed the remainder of the game.

The scoreboard watch had already started at that point. The Red Sox came into the game leading the Tampa Bay Rays by one game with three left for each to play. The Rays were at home against the Yankees and the two games were pretty much in sync, so the Sox could see that the Yankees took a two-run lead and then gave it back in the third inning.

"Boston's got somewhere they want to get to and there were a lot of Boston fans here, so it was pretty intense,'' Andino said.

The Orioles may not have anything tangible to play for during their final three games of the season, but Showalter said that the atmosphere in the ballpark and the intensity on the field gave the young players a taste of what September stretch-run baseball is all about.

"They (the Red Sox) are a good baseball team that played with a lot of effort tonight and was scratching and clawing the whole way,'' Showalter said. "Had the tying run at the plate. Beckett pitched well. They did the job out of the bullpen. It was a good baseball game with two teams playing at a high intensity level. Some nights it works out for us.

The Sox had taken the lead in the second, scoring a run on a two-out double by Jacoby Ellsbury when left fielder Matt Angle airmailed his throw back to the middle of the infield and allowed Marco Scutaro to score from first base.

Orioles catcher Matt Wieters responded quickly, launching a towering fly ball that just cleared the fence in left to tie the score in the bottom of the inning. It was his 21st home run of the season and his 65th RBI.

The Orioles knew it was going to be no easy task to crack Beckett, who was facing them for the fourth time this season and he had a score to settle after the O's scored six runs off him in that 6-4 victory at Fenway Park last Wednesday. He held them to just four hits through the first five innings before the game unraveled in the sixth.

Orioles starter Tommy Hunter was looking for his fourth victory as an Oriole in 11 starts since he was acquired from the Texas Rangers in the Koji Uehara trade, but he cut into his pitch count early working out of a bases-loaded jam in the first and battling to hold the Sox to just an unearned run in the second. The Sox regained the lead when third baseman Jed Lowrie led off the fourth inning with a home run onto the flag court.

Hunter's overall numbers (3-3, 5.00 ERA) since arriving in Baltimore may not look like much, but he has impressed manager Buck Showalter with his determination on the mound. Monday night's performance was only the second time he has failed to complete the sixth inning.

He gave way at the start of the sixth to Troy Patton, who worked 1 2/3 scoreless innings and was credited with his second major league victory. Rookie Pedro Strop worked out of a big jam in the eighth and Jim Johnson pitched a tense ninth in which the tying run came to the plate, but held on to record his 10th save.

* * * * * *

http://www.nj.com/yankees/index.ssf/2011/09/red_sox_in_fight_to_keep_sun_f.html

NEW YORK — A striking sunset turned the skies above Yankee Stadium into a canvas of oranges and blues tonight, a gorgeous touch to a satisfying day for those who wore pinstripes. Yet, for all its beauty, it could not rival the impact of another sunset, at least what could to be the makings of one, that revealed itself only in the visiting clubhouse.

It was there, with the residue of defeat still lingering in the air, that the Red Sox quietly ended a brutal day that featured a 9-1 loss to the Yankees.

Two days off had given the staggering Red Sox a chance to rest their weary legs, yet in a game they wanted badly to win, they looked every bit as flat as they have all month long. Manager Terry Francona juggled his starting lineup only to watch Yankees right hander Freddy Garcia neutralize it with his velocity-deficient arsenal.

The Yankees staked Garcia to a big lead and never looked back. At the end of their latest miserable effort, the Red Sox retreated from their dugout, into the tunnel that cuts through the concrete stadium, taking this sullen walk together. Frank Sinatra's familiar voice followed them through the passageway, the faint words of “New York, New York” almost audible even from the cramped office occupied by Francona.

The embattled manager — overseer of an epic 5-17 September collapse — used his fingers to clear his eyes before putting his glasses back over his face. He wore his exasperation the way he would his ballcap.

“We all want to win,” he said. “Now, it's up to us to go win. We know what's in front of us. We just have to play better.”

In the clubhouse, the players hardly spoke a word to one another. Within this space were telltale signs of a wake, from the zombie-like way the Red Sox spoke about their latest failure, to the dark blue towels slung over the clubhouse chairs. They looked black, which would have matched the mood.

“What we've got to do right now is laugh just to see if you can fool somebody,” said David Ortiz, who at the moment, was fooling nobody. “The way things are going, you don't expect a good team like this to struggle the way we have.”

Red Sox starter Jon Lester, who isn't used to getting knocked around, received a mocking standing ovation from Yankee fans. He allowed a three-run homer to Derek Jeter and departed after giving up his second hit to rookie Jesus Montero, a two-run double in the third-inning.

In his last three starts, Lester has crumbled, going 0-3 with an ERA of. His ineffectiveness over his 2 2/3 innings triggered speculation about his health, though he sneered at the notion that he's been pitching through hidden pain. He countered by offering a much simpler explanation.

“I stink,” Lester said.

In that regard, he fits right into with the rest of his cohorts on the pitching staff. If the Red Sox go on to complete their crash landing, and they go down as one of the most disappointing teams in franchise history, it will be because of a September ERA of 6.15.

“I've been getting my ass kicked lately,” Lester said. “It's not a good time to have this stretch.”

With just five games left on the schedule, a questioner asked first baseman Adrian Gonzalez if time was running out on the Red Sox.

“Time’s running out on us?” he said, coating his words with defiance. “We’re in first place in the wild card. Time’s running out on Tampa Bay.”

The numbers say that the Rays still have just a 1-in-10 chance of sneaking in for the wild card. The eyeballs say those chances are higher. Nevertheless, the Red Sox hold their own fate in their hands, owners of a 1 1/2 game advantage heading into today's doubleheader against the Yankees. However slim, a lead is still a lead, though such things are easy to forget in the first fading light of a sunset.

“It seems like no matter what you do,” Ortiz said. “Things go bad.”

For more Yankees coverage, follow Marc Carig on Twitter at twitter.com/ledger_yankees

It's Almost Over

There are only 38 more possible games that the Orioles can lose this year.

Davey Johnson's return stirs memories for Oriole fans.

It’s great to see Davey Johnson back in baseball again, managing the Washington Nationals, but as a Baltimore Oriole fan, I’m torn.
Johnson, of course, was the last manager to lead the Orioles to a winning season, in 1997.
The Orioles lost to the Cleveland Indians in Game Six of the American League Championship Series that season.
They were in First Place every day that year, going wire to wire.
Apparently, the success did not meet the high standards of excellence set by owner Peter Angelos.
Johnson was named Manager of the Year, and abruptly quit a few hours later, via fax, citing an ongoing feud with Peter Angelos. Sadly, the Orioles haven’t had a winning season since.
In fact, they’re mired in 13 straight losing seasons, and they’re likely heading toward a 14th.
The veteran skipper has managed in New York, Cincinnati and Los Angeles, but he’ll always be revered for his short two-season stay in Baltimore.
That’s because when Oriole fans think of Johnson, they remember winning, something that hasn’t exactly been commonplace in Baltimore.
Johnson is a proven winner, just look at his record: he is 258 games over .500 (1,148-890). He has also managed in the Olympics and World Baseball Classic.
His last stint as manager was with the Dodgers in 1999-2000, where he posted a 163-161 record. Johnson’s only season below .500 was his first year in Los Angeles.
It’s ironic that Johnson is managing again, on a team whose games are broadcast by the Mid-Atlantic Sports Network - - - owned by the person (Angelos) that fired Johnson 13 years ago.
I hope the Washington Nationals play well under Johnson. They are the hottest team in baseball right now.
It’s just a downright shame that he’s no longer managing the Orioles. His resignation in 1997 was part of a series of personnel moves under Angelos, that still leave Baltimore baseball fans scratching their collective heads.
In 1996, Angelos let Hall of Fame broadcaster Jon Miller leave town, because he didn’t “bleed black and orange.“
Johnson left town in 1997.
One season later, Angelos refused to offer slugging first baseman Rafael Palmeiro a contract extension - - - until it was too late - - - and Raffy returned to the Texas Rangers. Ever since, the Orioles have had a gaping, long-term hole at first base, featuring Will Clark, Jeff Conine, Kevin Miller, Aubrey Huff, Garrett Atkins and now Derek Lee.
In 1999, Angelos decided that the Orioles would not sign ace pitcher Mike Mussina to a contract extension, and the Moose left for an American League East division rival: the New York Yankees. The Orioles have not replaced Mussina since that time. He only posted 270 career victories, and could make the Hall of Fame. If he does, it will likely be as a Yankee, and Oriole fans can thank Angelos.
The managerial position has been a revolving door under Angelos, featuring Johnny Oates, Phil Regan, Johsnon, Ray Miller, Lee Mazzilli, Sam Perlozzo, Dave Trembley, and Buck Showalter.
The 68-year-old Johnson hasn’t managed since 2000, when he was in the dugout with the Los Angeles Dodgers. He’ll take over a surging Nationals team, that was 40-39 entering Tuesday night’s game against the Anaheim Angels.
As an Oriole fan, I wish Johnson nothing but the best and for success in D.C. But he should still be in Baltimore.

On Hardy(ness)

J.J. Hardy may not be a great shortstop, but he's playing one on TV.

The Baltimore Orioles are 6-2 in the 8 games Hardy has started at shortstop. One of the 2 losses was the game in which Hardy left after one AB to go on the DL.

In his return from the DL, he went 4-5 with a HR. The Orioles have won 2 straight from Seattle with Hardy's return, beating rookie sensation Michael Pineda and 2010 Cy Young winner Felix Hernandez.

Defensively, he has good range, deft hands and a strong arm. He has yet to commit an error.

Offensively, he's hitting .348 with an OBP of .444 and Slugging at .609.

The downside is Hardy's brittleness. He's been plagued with trips to the DL each of the last 3 seasons, counting the current season. This is, of course, the reason the Orioles were able to acquire him. Hopefully, the Chesapeake Bay humidity will soften the brittle Hardy to a robust suppleness because, in the 8 games he's been on the field, he has been the Orioles best player.

On the Over/Under

Through 21 games Baltimore Orioles pitching is last in Earned Run Average in the American League. 13th in Home Runs allowed.

Offensively, the O's are last in Hits in the American League. 12th in Batting Average and 12th in Runs.

They are 7th in Fielding.

Their record stands at 9-12 and they are rightfully in last place in the AL East. However, they are only 3 1/2 games behind the division leading Yankees (4 in the loss column). 1 1/2 games (1 in the loss column) out of 2nd place in the division.

Are the Orioles over-achievers? or under-achievers?
	Yes
	No
	Present
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On Turds

In 2010, the O's were 9 games back of the division leaders thru 14 games.

In 2011, they are only 3 games back.

In 2010, the O's needed 10 games to fashion a 7 game losing streak.

In 2011, it took 14.

In 2010, the O's sent Kevin Millwood to the mound to break the 7 game skid. He lost and the skid continued for 9 games.

In 2011, the O's send a struggling Chris Tillman to the mound to break the current 7 game skid.

In 2010, Brian Matusz beat the Oakland A's 8-3 to break the 9 game losing streak.

In 2011, Brian Matusz is on the DL.

After a euphoric first 7 games during which the O's went 6-1 and starting pitchers retired opposing hitters with impunity, the O's have settled in with a punchless offense, unreliable starting pitching and a shaky bullpen.

Tonight the O's square off against Francisco Liriano (0-3, 9.42 ERA) and the Twins in Baltimore. Will the O's offense get healthy facing a struggling Liriano? or will Liriano start his turnaround facing the hapless Baltimore offense?

Even if the O's offense comes to life, it may not be enough as the O's send Chris Tillman (0-1, 7.30 ERA) to the mound. Tillman has surrendered 10 earned runs spanning 6 1/3 innings over his last two starts. However, the Twins are the only team in the AL to have scored fewer runs than the O's thus far, so, Tillman vs. the Twins offense also poses some intrigue.

On Throwing Strikes

Reliever Koji Uehara has compiled 46 strikeouts since his last walk.

It is the 5th longest streak since 1954.

Aye, There's the Rub

The O's streaked out of the gate this season at 4-0 and have gone 2-3 since to stand at 6-3 and holding onto first in the AL East. They travel to New York today to start a 3 game set with the Yankees tomorrow.

The 6-3 start highlights both the strength and weakness of this team.

During the 4-0 run, the staff ERA was 1.00. Starters pitched 26 innings (72 %) and the bullpen tossed 10.

During the 2-3 run, the staff ERA was 5.2. Starters pitched 25 1/3 innings (56%) and the bullpen tossed 19 2/3.

This pitching staff has the talent to perform ala the 4-0 stretch and the inexperience to perform ala the 2-3 stretch. Too much of the latter and the O's go into the toilet, as they have for the previous 13 seasons. Just enough of the former and the O's will be quite fun to watch.

Bring on the Rangers!

The Texas Rangers come to the "Land of Pleasant Living" for 3 games and I'm looking forward to the series with uncustomary glee!

O's pitching leads the AL in ERA. Ranger pitching is 3rd.

The O's have Vladimir Guerrero. The Rangers do not.

The O's are 5-1. The Rangers are ... 6-0.

O's are 11th in the AL in Batting Average. Rangers are ...... 3rd.

The O's are trying to reverse 13 years of losing baseball. The Rangers are............are defending AL champs.

umm............. Bring on the Red Sox!

On the O's

The O's swept the Rays in the season series opener. O's starters posted a 0.45 ERA over 20 innings. The staff ERA is 1. The offense scored 12 runs in the 3 game series while facing Price, Shields and Wade. Showalter has the O's ready to play right out of the gate.

The last time the O's started a season 3-0 was 1997. They won the AL East.

The last time the O's started a season 3-0 on the road was 1970. They won the World Series.

Detroit comes to Baltimore for a 3 game set. The Tigers scored 19 runs in their series opener with the Yankees. Tiger bats are heated up and ready to go. This will likely be a stiffer test for the O's pitching staff than the opening series with the Rays.

The Tigers will send Porcello, Verlander and Penny to the mound in the 3 game set. With the exception of Verlander, this is not as tough a task as Price, Shields and Wade. It's still no cakewalk and O's bats better heat up for this series. I suspect 2 runs will not win any games in this set.

Twas the Night Before Christmas: Baltimore Orioles Version

Twas the Night before Christmas, and all through the Yard,

Not an Oriole fan was cheering, it just got too hard.

The mits were hung on the outfield wall with care,

in hopes that a great team would soon be there.

With MacPhail non-committal, and Angelos doesn't give a crap,

they had just settled down for their usual afternoon nap.

When down the field, there was such a clatter,

I threw open the Skybox window, to see if it was a new Free Agent batter.

What to my wondering eyes should appear,

It was a new owner, and a six-pack of National Beer.

The new Owner was an Orioles fan and a Pal,

I knew in a moment, it must be Saint Cal.

He slid down the flagpole with such grace and ease,

I knew many fans would be so pleased.

With his balding head, and a twinkle in his eye,

the first thing Cal did, was trade Felix Pie.

The trades and Free Agents, they came abound,

the winning and Playoffs would soon be around.

He flew up the Foul Pole from which he came,

I heard him shout aloud, in Orioles Land, there will be a better game!

As his Lexus drove out of sight,

he said "On Garza! On Fielder! On David Wright."

"Let's give those Red Sox and Yankees a good fight!"

Merry Christmas to all, and to all a good night.

On Arrivals

In Luke Scott's last 67 games he is hitting .320 with 19 HR and 45 RBI. Scott has always been a feast or famine streak hitter, however, 67 games is by far the longest hot streak he's ever had.

This is Scott's 6th ML campaign.

Has he matured into a dangerous hitter? Should the O's plan on having Scott in the middle of the lineup in 2011? or is this just a long hot streak and the O's should trade him this winter at his peak value?

On Mysteries

The Baltimore Orioles are 6-1 under new skipper Buck Showalter, having completed a 7 game homestand hosting the Angels and White Sox. It is only their 3rd winning homestand of the season and the only one where they played well in each game. Now they get their first road trip under Showalter as they head to Cleveland for 3 and Tampa Bay for 3 more.

The O's record is 38-74 on the season, the worst in ML baseball. 24-34 at home and 14-40 on the road, both worsts in the AL. However, they are 10-3 in extra inning contests and 21-16 in one run games.

So can they actually play ball and just haven't? Has the arrival of Buck Showalter at the helm flipped some "play good" switch? Has the coincidental return of Brian Roberts to the lineup been the catalyst? The departure of Miguel Tejada?

The Orioles are 6-1 under Buck Showalter. In those 7 games, the O's have pitched, fielded and hit well.

I don't know what the hell is going on.

On Relief

Since a miserable 2-16 start to the 2010 campaign, the O's have gone 8-8 in their last 16 games. These against Boston (4-0), New York (1-5), Minnesota (2-2) and Seattle (1-1).

The biggest difference has been the back end of the bullpen. Alfredo Simon was converted from starter to bullpen for 1 week while still at AAA Norfolk, then promoted and plugged into the O's bullpen as closer. He's got 4 Saves and 1 Hold in 5 Appearances.

Koji Uehara was activated from the DL and has 3 Holds in 3 Appearances.

Will Ohman has taken over the 7th inning role and has yet to allow a Run in 11 IP.

On Satisfaction

Baltimore swept a 3 game series from Boston over the weekend. It is the first O's series sweep of Boston in Baltimore since 1974.

And with Julio Lugo sitting on the Orioles bench:-)

On Second Firsts

Cla Meredith and Alfredo Simon recorded their first career Major League saves in back to back games this past Sunday and Tuesday, respectively.

The last time two Orioles recorded their first career saves in back to back games was May 7th and 8th, 1977 by Mike Flanagan and Scott McGregor.

On Respite

The O's get a much needed day off today (needed for me, anyway) before starting Boston's turnaround tomorrow in Fenway Park.

While the pitching is much improved over last year, the snakebitten O's have 4 blown saves, the closer they traded for in the offseason is on the DL and their best pitcher from 2009 has been demoted to AAA Norfolk.

The defense started well, committing one error in the first 7 games, however, they've committed 9 more in the last 9 games.

The offense is horrible. With no sign of improvement. Leadoff hitter Brian Roberts is on the DL. Felix Pie replaced Roberts at the top of the lineup and hit .400 til he went on the DL. No one is hitting. No one advances runners. No one can bunt. No one takes pitches. Everyone makes outs. Quickly. The O's offense is painful to watch, but at least it's over quickly.

On Nostalgia

My nephew took me to the O's game last night for Matt Wieters T-shirt night. Brian Matusz took the hill for Baltimore and for 7 1/3 innings he was masterful, twirling a 2 hitter (both were bunt singles), striking out 8 and generally mystifying Rays hitters.

I even went so far as to advise my nephew to appreciate the pitching performance he was witnessing and remarked on how I use to see this kind of thing twice a week back in the McGregor/Flanagan days.

But, with one out in the 8th, the Rays abruptly solved the rookie and strung together 4 consecutive hits, 3 of them on first pitches, plating one run and loading the bases. Two more hits off of Orioles relief pitching turned a 3-0 O's lead into a 5-3 deficit. The O's eventually lost 8-6 in 10 innings.

Oh well, at least I got to see Julio Lugo on the O's bench:-)