What does the 1 and 5 start mean?

What does the 1 and 5 start mean?
So the Orioles have started the year 1-5. They have an injured star player who may be headed for the DL, a struggling closer and they are scoring on average just three runs per game. Oh yeah and they soon have a West Coast road trip and have yet to play the Yankees and Red Sox. Hard to predict a winning streak is in their near future. Here are several ways a fan could feel about this: *Just see a poor record and believe it's the same old Orioles and they stink. *Put most of the blame on...

Talking to Bergesen

Talking to Bergesen
Brad Bergesen continued his running program yesterday, the third time he's picked up the pace without having any issues with his leg. Bergesen told me that he starts with a five-minute walk, then a five-minute run, then a five-minute power walk. "It all felt good," he said. "I've been doing my core training for three weeks now, going into a fourth. Everything's good. I still feel (the leg) a little, but I'm able to do everything. It's not like it's painful or anything." Asked if...
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To Dye for

To Dye for
A report from FOXSports.com that free-agent outfielder Jermaine Dye is willing to play first base next season, and how he could be "a right-handed hitting alternative at first for several clubs, including the Braves, Mets, Giants and Orioles," has stirred up some readers. It's important to stress that the report doesn't state that the Orioles are interested. They're just tossed into the mix because they need a first baseman and a right-handed bat for the middle of their lineup. Back on...
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Welcome Matt

Welcome Matt
I caught up to pitcher Matt Albers yesterday as he was heading to the Texans-Titans game (I didn't have the heart to tell him that I took Tennessee +4 ½). For the past two weeks, Albers and Triple-A Norfolk left-hander Troy Patton have been working out at a facility about 20 minutes north of Houston. "There are about 20 to 25 guys who either play pro ball or just finished," Albers said. Albers won't start throwing until mid-December, but it's more important for him...
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Updating Hendrickson

Updating Hendrickson
Free-agent pitcher Mark Hendrickson isn't preoccupied with thoughts of his next contract. He got married over the weekend, so his priorities have shifted. Hendrickson just told me that he remains encouraged that he'll re-sign with the Orioles, but nothing is imminent. "Right now, it's always kind of tough because it's the Thanksgiving week. Usually, everything slows to a crawl in the world of Major League Baseball," he said. "If I don't hear anything, we've already had discussions...
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Which Orioles rookie isn't Topps? (Updated)

Which Orioles rookie isn't Topps? (Updated)
Topps is unveiling its 51st All-Rookie team this morning, and a certain highly touted and much-publicized Oriole went ignored. Matt Wieters didn't make the list. I'll take my eggs over-easy, with a side of outrage. The New York Mets' Omir Santos beat out Wieters for top (or Topp) rookie catcher after batting .260 with 14 doubles, seven homers, 40 RBIs and a .688 OPS in 281 at-bats. Wieters batted .288 with 15 doubles, nine homers, 43 RBIs and a .753 OPS in 354 at-bats. I forgot that...
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Liz is gone (updated)

Liz is gone (updated)
The San Diego Padres have claimed pitcher Radhames Liz off waivers. Now he can be reunited with Oscar Salazar. Liz, 26, appeared in two games with the Orioles this season and allowed 10 earned runs in 1 1/3 innings. He was 4-1 with a 2.63 ERA in eight starts with Double-A Bowie, and 0-3 with a 5.68 ERA in 17 games (six starts) with Triple-A Norfolk. Live arm, bad mechanics. The Padres must figure out what to do with Liz, something the Orioles never did. Is he a starter or a two-inning power...
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Many thanks

Many thanks
Happy Thanksgiving to everyone. I hope you ate a light breakfast. Today is a marathon of eating, not a sprint. Pace yourselves. So is it the tryptophan in the turkey that makes you drowsy, or the carbohydrates in the potatoes and stuffing? Or maybe it's the boxed wine. That's my theory. We tend to blame the turkey, but it's apparently built around a myth. Says so here, too. I always eat too much and then collapse on the couch. My sister volunteers to turn me over every 30 minutes so...
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Not getting Miggy with it

Not getting Miggy with it
I'll be heading to Ocean Pines later today with my daughter, who retains complete control of the radio, to spend the weekend with my parents, sister and niece. I barely moved from my couch yesterday while going 1-2 picking against the spread. I guess somebody woke up the Broncos. Just my luck. I allowed my daughter to accept an invitation to spend Thanksgiving with her best friend's family. The kid suffers enough from my cooking. I figured that she deserved a break. And I knew she'd have...
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Tiger and Edgar

Tiger and Edgar
Until more details surface that might change my mind, I'm nominating the Tiger Woods "crash" as the biggest non-story of 2009. Early reports had Woods involved in a "serious automobile accident," as if it could be life-threatening. Later, we found out that he suffered "lacerations" to his face and was released from the hospital. Lacerations: n. A jagged wound or cut. See also: Scrape. It's like calling a bruise a "contusion." Sounds worse than it is. I don't care why Woods was...
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Selig's days numbered?

Selig's days numbered?
The Chicago Tribune is reporting that Bud Selig will step down as commissioner of Major League baseball following the 2012 season. According to sources, Selig informed owners of his decision last month during a meeting in Chicago. Andy MacPhail has been the rumored successor to Selig since the day he joined the Orioles' front office as president of baseball operations. As The Tribune's Phil Rogers notes, MacPhail would be a popular choice among owners. If MacPhail isn't the frontrunner...
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The Commish

The Commish
Tigers Woods and his wife requested that police delay interviewing them about "the accident" until today. I didn't know you could do that. The next time I'm pulled over for a traffic violation, I'm going to request that the officer hold off writing the ticket until later. Give me some time to collect my thoughts. Somewhere, John Daly is breathing a huge sigh of relief (and destroying a breakfast burrito). For once, it isn't him. So who's backing up Dennis Dixon tonight? Cliff...
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Countdown to Indy

Countdown to Indy
We learned one thing about Ravens rookie linebacker Paul Kruger last night: He has tight end hands. That wasn't an easy pick, and it might have saved the Ravens' season. If I'm Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger, I'm pulling Hines Ward aside this morning, slamming his head with a 2-by-4 and asking whether he'll start on Sunday. The countdown to the winter meetings has officially started for me. I fly to Indianapolis on Sunday, which means I must check-in online exactly 24 hours...
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This and that

This and that
New nomination for most annoying commercial: The Hillshire Farms "Go Meat!" ads. They make me want to smash out the back window of my car with a kielbasa. Sports Illustrated has named Derek Jeter as its Sportsman of the Year. He's the first Yankee to be honored since the magazine created the award in 1954. Would you feel better about the choice if he played for the Royals? Is that look on your face a product of his pinstripes? I've always respected Jeter's work ethic and the way he...
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A time for sharing

A time for sharing
I'd like to step outside the MLB rumor mill for a few seconds and point out that the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim voted a full postseason share to the estate of Nick Adenhart, the rookie pitcher who was tragically killed in an automobile accident in April. A press release from MLB reported that a full share for the champion New York Yankees totaled a record $365,052.73, while the runner-up Philadelphia Phillies received $265,357.50. The value of each full share for the Angels came to...
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One fewer in front office?

One fewer in front office?
FOXSports' Ken Rosenthal, via Twitter, is reporting that Orioles special assistant Wayne Krivsky has accepted a job with the New York Mets. Says so right here. The Orioles haven't made an announcement and I'm trying to get confirmation at this late hour. Rosenthal doesn't include a new job title for Krivsky, the former Cincinnati Reds GM who joined the Orioles in November 2008. Update: It's apparently true (not that I ever doubted Rosenthal). Look for the Mets to make it official,...
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Stats, stats and more stats

Stats, stats and more stats
The O's team ERA is 4.13 right now, a season best. They have allowed just 5 ER the last two games. The O's starters' ERA is 3.89 and O's starters have allowed 2 ER or less four times already. The Orioles have three quality starts. Last year they didn't pick up their third quality start until game 12. The team ERA after six games last year was 5.67. There's been good pitching on the farm too. The team ERA's. 3.00 - at Norfolk, 4th in the International League 2.91 - at Bowie, 4th...

Millwood comments on his outing

Millwood comments on his outing
David Hernandez gave up two runs Saturday and lost the game. Today, Kevin Millwood allowed just one earned run and took the loss vs. Toronto. "I felt good, still felt strong in the eighth. Just got a couple of balls up that they put good swings on." Millwood said the two-out, Miguel Tejada error in the Toronto 8th that was followed by his yielding back-to-back homers did not impact him. "No, not at all. We're going to make errors, that's just how it is. Sometimes you have to pick...

Tejada talks about his error in the 8th

Tejada talks about his error in the 8th
When a team is going bad sometimes it looks like every mistake they make will cost them. Today, the Orioles first error of the year led to three unearned runs in the 8th that propelled Toronto to a 5-2 win. No one felt worse than third baseman Miguel Tejada when, with two outs in the 8th, a John McDonald grounder to his left took a tricky hop at the last moment and went for an error. Back-to-back homers vs. Kevin Millwood followed and the Jays came from 2-1 behind to lead 4-2. "I wish I...

Just amazing (updated)

Just amazing (updated)
It's sunny today, except for the dark cloud that must be hanging over the Orioles. Kevin Millwood, pitching a gem, gets a two-out grounder to third in the 8th. The ball takes a bad hop for an error on Miguel Tejada. Three pitches later, Jose Bautista hits a 356-foot homer to left to give Toronto a 3-2 lead. One batter later, Alex Gonzalez hit his second solo shot of the day for a 4-2 edge. The two-out error makes the three runs off him in the 8th unearned. He gave up one earned run today...