The Angels' Mike Scioscia was named the AL's Manager of the Year after receiving 15 first-place votes, 10 for second and one for third. Minnesota's Ron Gardehire was the runner-up. He received six first-place votes, 12 second and six third. The Yankees' Joe Girardi (four, three, five) finished third. Seattle's Don Wakamatsu and Texas' Ron Washington also received first-place votes. Detroit's Jim Leyland garnered two third-place votes. In the NL, Colorado's Jim Tracy took home the...

The Orioles have added six players to their 40-man roster: pitchers Brandon Erbe and Luis Lebron, and infielders Josh Bell, Pedro Florimon, Rhyne Hughes and Brandon Snyder. The roster is at its capacity. Teams must submit their rosters to the MLB office by Friday afternoon. The Orioles could create more room by the deadline and protect other players from the Rule 5 draft on Dec. 10 in Indianapolis, but it's not expected to happen. For now, at least, they've settled on their...

There are not a lot of Orioles producing quality stats so far. It's a short list. But pitcher Jason Berken is on it. In a mild surprise, Berken made the Opening Day staff as a long reliever. After going 6-12, 6.54 in 24 starts in 2009, this role is new to him. In 69 career minor league outings, the 2006 sixth-round draft pick made 66 starts. Last Tuesday, Berken pitched a scoreless inning vs. Tampa, then Wednesday, after Brad Bergesen's early exit, Berken pitched five innings of...

I just read The Sun headline on its Web site and did a spit-take before realizing my mistake. Funk continues as O's lose 4-2 to A's Maybe it's because I'm still half-asleep. In my haste to approve comments this morning, I accidentally deleted the three most recent that were filed (including one from JPA.) I can't retrieve them, so re-submit and I'll post them. And please accept my apologies. Another reminder that I've seen the FoxSports.com story from Ken Rosenthal and I'll try to...

Telling a sad tale: Oakland beat the Orioles 4-2 Friday night and has taken the first two games of this four-game series. The Orioles are 0-2 on a ten-game road trip. That's a 1-10 start and eight losses in a row for the Orioles. They are 1-4 in road games. The Orioles fall to 1-5 in games decided by two runs or less. The Orioles have lost now eight in a row at Oakland dating to July of 2007 and are just 1-12 in their last 13 vs. the A's. Oakland is 67-28 vs. Baltimore since 1999. No...

For the Orioles, it was another night of little offense and no victory. The Birds fell to 1-10 with eight losses in a row in a 4-2 loss at Oakland. The Orioles were held to a season-low five hits and went 0 for 4 tonight with runners in scoring position. The only Orioles runs came on Ty Wigginton's two-run homer in the 5th. The Orioles have scored two runs or less in six of their last seven games. They have scored three runs or less eight times in 11 games. Winning pitcher Dallas Braden...

Oakland left-hander Dallas Braden retired the first 10 batters before Nick Markakis doubled down the right field line in the fourth inning. Whew. As if we needed a perfect game on top of everything else. Ty Wigginton just hit a two-run bomb into the upper deck in left field to reduce Oakland's lead to 4-2 in the fifth. It looks like he'll continue to receive the starts at second base. Kevin Millwood has allowed four runs in four innings, and his pitch count is skyrocketing. It's already...

There isn't anyone who saw this coming. The Orioles' slow start is shocking and disappointing. The team that broke spring training was expected to be competitive - and still can be. But the players have to take stock and step it up in all phases of the game, especially with their approach. Physical mistakes are part of the game and happen to every team. But the Orioles have hurt themselves in this early part of the season with too many mental mistakes. It's time to refocus and increase...

Harrisburg Senators pitcher Jeff Mandel is looking to follow up an impressive performance in the Arizona Fall League with a step up to Double-A this season and the results are starting to show even this early in the season. Mandel bounced back from a tough first outing for a spectacular second start April 13th at Bowie. Jeff pitched 5 and 1/3rd innings, allowing 3 hits, no earned runs, 2 walks and 3 strikeouts. He dropped his ERA from 8.31 to 3.72 in one start. Mandel says pitching coach...

How many times has a late inning error and a quick deficit deflated the Nats the last two seasons? That is what happens to 100-loss teams everyday and twice on Sunday. Not this year. After Milwaukee went ahead 3-2 in the 8th on a throwing error charged to Alberto Gonzalez (because Cristian Guzman short armed the throw at first base), the Nats attacked the Brewers bullpen for three runs in the bottom of the 8th inning to take the lead 5-3. What!!!??!!! And they did it with the...