The most shocking development in the playoffs for me, and I'm probably not alone, has to be the Rangers 2-0 lead over the Rays as the Division Series heads to Arlington.
How strange that two managers had never been ejected on the same day in the postseason until Joe Maddon and Ron Gardenhire were tossed yesterday.
Watching Matt Treanor behind the plate for the Rangers yesterday reminds me that the Orioles made a strong push for him at the Winter Meetings two years ago, but he rejected them....
It's been another relatively slow day, and I'm not complaining. I'm fine with the current pace after finishing up spring training and a 162-game season.
It's not dead around here, but you have to feel around for a pulse.
I called a few of the coaches to gauge whether they have a handle on their fates, and the universal answer is "no." They remain in a holding pattern and are still waiting to hear back from manager Buck Showalter, who flew home earlier this week.
Showalter wasn't...
Roy Halladay throws a no-hitter last night and I saw exactly four pitches - all of them from Cincinnati's Edinson Volquez in the second inning.
I have regrets.
Not every team is blessed with a true No. 1 starter. Go over all the rosters and pick out the pitchers who actually fit the description, and not simply because somebody had to take the ball on Opening Day (Rodrigo Lopez did it in Baltimore and nobody's calling him an ace.)
The Phillies happen to own three of them, but that's an...
Ernie Tyler, the longtime umpires attendant who was rushed to University of Maryland Medical Center Saturday afternoon, underwent successful surgery this morning to remove a benign brain tumor.
A team official said "everything went well" and Tyler is resting comfortably. No word on how long he'll remain hospitalized.
Tyler, a member of the Orioles' Hall of Fame, worked 3,819 consecutive home games at Memorial Stadium and Camden Yards.
It's not often that an umpires attendant achieves...
If I appear to be typing more slowly this morning, it's because I'm feeling a little dizzy.
I struck out at a bar last night and hit myself over the head with a beer bottle.
We're still waiting to find out which coaches, if any, will return in 2011. Each one has met with manager Buck Showalter within the past week.
"It's emotional for me," Showalter said. "You care. I'm just trying to be honest and sincere and paint a picture of what the timeframe is and what we're...
It's my understanding that second baseman Brian Roberts hasn't undergone a CT scan, and the club hasn't scheduled one at this time.
Roberts has complained of headaches and dizziness since Sept. 27 in St. Petersburg, when he slammed his helmet with his bat after striking out in the ninth inning. He missed the last six games, but his condition must be improving.
Manager Buck Showalter spoke yesterday with head athletic trainer Richie Bancells.
"That was a possibility that they were going...
Four Orioles minor leaguers have elected to become free agents: Infielder Scott Moore, first baseman Michael Aubrey and pitchers Cla Meredith and Alberto Castillo.
Moore batted .209 with three homers and 10 RBIs in 41 games with the Orioles. Meredith, acquired from the Padres in the Oscar Salazar trade, went 0-2 with a 5.40 ERA in 21 games. Castillo was 1-0 with a 10.13 ERA in 14 appearances.
Aubrey never made it to Baltimore this season. He batted .235 with 22 homers and 68 RBIs in 102 games...
Well, it's not raining this morning, but I woke up with the covers pulled over my head. I refuse to turn on the heat. It's not happening in the first week of October.
Meanwhile, my daughter sleeps with her ceiling fan on full-blast. Says it has to be "freezing" in her room. Apparently, it also has to be noisy, because the television stays on all night.
She's back in school today. Thanks for all the well-wishes and medical advice.
Taking New England -1 last night worked out well for me,...
Forget the standings that are running in your local newspaper and on-line. Derf did a little research, and a little match, and passed along the AL East standings since Aug. 3.
First, here's how the division stacked up before Buck Showalter arrived in Baltimore, including records, winning percentage and games trailing the leaders:
New York 66-39 .629
Tampa Bay 66-39 .629
Boston 60-46 .566 6 1/2
Toronto 55-51 .519 11 1/2
Orioles 32-73 .305 34
Here's the division since Aug. 3:
Orioles 34-23...
I hear the voice of Stewie from "Family Guy" every time I type or say that line.
The offseason has begun with me staring out the window at the rain and my daughter staying home from school with an upset stomach caused by the antibiotics she's taking to fight an infection in her thumb.
Swallowing the pills on a full stomach didn't work as promised. So now what do I do? Call the doctor and ask for the pills that don't upset my kid's stomach? I didn't realize that I needed to be so...
In his final post-game media session for 2010, manager Buck Showalter was asked when he'd start getting itchy for spring training.
"Probably a couple hours," he replied.
Spring training tends to make me itchy, but I digress...
Showalter met briefly with his players before heading to the interview room.
"Like I told the players, you need to get away from it," he said. "We're so close to it every day. It's right there in your face every day. Sometimes, you've got to back off and take...
Orioles second baseman Brian Roberts will likely undergo a CT scan tomorrow to determine the cause of the headaches and dizziness that prevented him from playing in the last six games of the season.
Roberts noticed that the symptoms began after he hit his helmet with his bat in frustration after striking out in the ninth inning of Monday's game. Bad idea when you're still wearing the helmet.
"It's something I've done a million times," he said. "I still can't tell you for sure if...
Today's attendance: 23,914.
The season total of 1,733,019 in 80 dates is the lowest in Camden Yards history.
The Orioles just gave up a critical run with two outs in the ninth inning when Brandon Snyder, inserted into the game at first base, failed to catch Robert Andino's throw, increasing the Tigers' lead to 4-2. Andino moved to shortstop after Corey Patterson pinch-hit for Cesar Izturis in the bottom of the eighth, and Ty Wigginton moved to second.
I expected Julio Lugo to replace...
Cesar Izturis committed his ninth error today, bobbling Austin Jackson's ground ball leading off the top of the fourth inning. Jackson stole second, but held as Brad Bergesen retired the next two batters.
Ryan Raburn followed with a grounder up the middle that looked like it would produce the Tigers' first run, but Izturis ranged far to his left to make the pickup, and his throw narrowly beat Raburn for the final out.
Raburn is the only Detroit baserunner. Bergesen has thrown 42 pitches, 27...
My favorite Kangaroo-brand pita chips, homemade chocolate chip cookies...
Many thanks.
Now I'm really sad that the season is ending.
Too bad Peter Schmuck isn't here today. I usually rely on him to eat the crumbs off my shirt.
Third base umpire Jerry Crawford is working his last regular season game. He's retiring after the playoffs.
Manager Buck Showalter took the lineup card to home plate, which is unusual after the first game of a series, because he wanted to honor...
Robert Andino 2B
Nick Markakis RF
Adam Jones CF
Luke Scott DH
Ty Wigginton 1B
Felix Pie LF
Matt Wieters C
Josh Bell 3B
Cesar Izturis SS
Brad Bergesen RHP
Longtime umpires attendant Ernie Tyler is resting comfortably at University of Maryland Medical Center after being diagnosed yesterday with a benign brain tumor. Tyler's son, Jimmy, the home clubhouse manager, joked that his father is "still running the place."
Surgery is pending, but an exact date hasn't been set.
Brian Matusz fell behind, 1-0, on Brandon Inge's home run in the second inning before clamping down on the Tigers and turning over the game to the bullpen after the sixth.
Matusz went 6-0 with a 1.57 ERA in his last eight starts, allowing eight earned runs and 29 hits in 46 innings.
"We've had two games in a row where a young starter gave up a home run early to go down and came back and pitched effectively, and that's impressive," manager Buck Showalter said. "I thought he was as crisp...
Jim Johnson retired the Tigers in order in the eighth inning - with a lot of help from his friends.
The Orioles put on an amazing defensive display, beginning with Cesar Izturis' diving backhanded stop and throw to retire leadoff hitter Will Rhymes.
Nick Markakis followed with a diving catch near the right field line to rob Austin Jackson and again bring the crowd to its feet.
Johnson struck out Alex Avila to end the inning and preserve a 2-1 lead.
The teams have combined for five hits,...
Tigers starter Armando Galarraga retired the first 10 batters he faced and checked to make sure umpire Jim Joyce wasn't working the bases tonight.
His bid for perfection ended with one Nick Markakis swing in the fourth inning.
Markakis drove a Galarraga fastball an estimated 344 feet to the flag court in right field to tie the game.
Markakis, who placed third in the MVO voting, has 12 homers and 59 RBIs.
Orioles left-hander Brian Matusz surrendered a bases-empty shot to Brandon Inge in the...
Luke Scott received a nice ovation before the game while accepting his award as Most Valuable Oriole. And it was obvious from the way he smiled and thanked reporters at his locker that the honor meant a great deal to him.
"Good choice," manager Buck Showalter said. "And there are some other people you could make a case for, too, but Luke, I think he's starting to grasp that he doesn't have to defend a foul ball and he's OK with passing the baton a little bit. He gives us a lot of...
