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So I'm watching The Sure Thing on WGN last night, and realizing it has nothing to do with the Orioles' first homestand of 2010. It's a 1985 film starring John Cusak and Daphne Zuniga, and directed by Rob Reiner, that I hadn't seen in years. Almost forgot the storyline. Cusak and Zuniga are hitchhiking to Los Angeles - she's meeting up with her boyfriend, he's being set up with a "sure thing," played by a very young and bikini-clad Nicollette Sheridan. A truck driver picks them up and...

The excellent pitching we've seen from Orioles minor leaguers so far this season continued in a stunning way on Wednesday afternoon and evening. All four O's affiliates won, three via a shutout. The four starting pitchers combined to pitch 23 scoreless innings. The O's four clubs are off to a combined 18-9 start. Jake Arrieta started for Norfolk in a 9-0 win over Charlotte. Steve Johnson started for Bowie in a 1-0, 12-inning win over Harrisburg. Rick Zagone was on the hill for...

It has been a pretty big week for Justin Maxwell. The Nationals outfielder and his wife welcomed a baby girl into the world earlier this week, and now a team source confirms the Nats will call up Maxwell from Triple A Syracuse to rejoin the team in Philadelphia as early as Thursday. The University of Maryland product Maxwell has batted .252 with 6 homers and 14 RBI in stints with the Nats in 2007 and 2009, hitting a dramatic walk off come from behind grand slam against Francisco Rodriguez...

Blown out: Today's 9-1 loss was the most lopsided of the year. The previous biggest margin of defeat was the four-run loss, 5-1 to Tampa on Monday. The Orioles completed a winless first homestand, going 0 and 6. They were outscored 37 to 16 during the six losses vs. Toronto and Tampa. Tampa outscored the Birds 22-8 during the three-game sweep. The 1-8 start is the worst since the 0-21 start in 1988. Tampa Bay is 5-1 vs. the O's on the season. Today's win evened the all-time series...

You want good news? The Orioles didn't give up a run in the eighth or ninth inning for the first time this season. That's progress. I respect the fans who applauded Luke Scott's one-out walk in the bottom of the ninth inning. I won't question their sanity. Way to stay in the game. Dave Trembley talks with the media after the O's 9-1 loss to the Rays Garrett Atkins followed with a little roller in front of the plate. The catcher picked up the ball and tagged Atkins on the foot for...

Any Orioles' mistake seems to be costly these days. In the first inning Wednesday, Tampa's Carl Crawford, batting second with one out, hit a popup on the infield. It was right near Cesar Izturis at short. But he never saw the ball. Miguel Tejada, playing third base, thought he heard Izturis calling to make the play. Tejada came over at the last moment and the ball popped out of his glove for an error. Of course, a few batters later Carlos Pena hit a three-run homer and all three runs...

Phillies catcher Brian Schneider taking on his former team in the Nats this week. He has played for the Nats, Mets and now Phillies in the last three seasons and is settling in as the backup catcher to Carlos Ruiz. When Brian was in D.C., he mentored a lot of young players for the Nats and was a leader on the field as well as in the clubhouse. I remember several times he would be walking off the field during batting practice with his arm around the shoulders of a Nats teammate telling him...

Manager Dave Trembley confirmed that Jim Johnson would "get that consideration" as Mike Gonzalez's replacement in the ninth inning. It's not a ringing endorsement, but it sounds like Johnson is the frontrunner to close. He brings a little experience, if not a lot of success, to the table. Gonzalez told Trembley that his shoulder has been bothering him the last couple of days. The club is awaiting the results of his MRI.

For the Orioles a winless first homestand. At least today there was no late-inning, gut-wrenching loss. The drama ended early. It was 6-0 after three and 8-0 after Tampa batted in the fourth. The final was 9-1, Rays. Brad Bergesen got rocked for eight runs in three innings plus. Mike Gonzalez went on the disabled list. The Orioles went 0 for 3 with runners in scoring position. They weren't exactly all over the bases today. They were outscored 37 to 15 during the 0-6 homestand and...