Here’s an update on former Orioles:

Jeff Conine
Played in Baltimore from 1999-2003, 2006

Conine retired from professional baseball before the beginning of this season, but that doesn’t mean he’s sitting back and relaxing.

According to an article in the Orlando Sentinel, the 41-year-old Conine has started training for the 2008 Ford Ironman World Championship triathlon on Oct. 11 in Hawaii. The article has a few interesting quotes from the 17-year veteran. He says his goal is to cross the finish line at the triathlon under his own power.

While the article says he doesn’t plan to pursue a career on the pro triathlon circuit, Conine hopes to remain involved in competitive sports.

“I will always be doing something competitive, even if I have to pick a different sport each year. Competition will always be part of my life,” Conine told the newspaper.

Eric Byrnes
Played in Baltimore in 2005

Last time we checked in on Byrnes, he was hitting .293 with three home runs and 14 RBIs through 20 games.

However, he’s been struggling at the plate recently. In 78 at-bats this month, Byrnes is hitting .154. He only has one double in May after hitting 10 in April.

His batting average has plummeted to .219 and he only has four stolen bases in 2008 after establishing a career high of 50 stolen bases last season.

It looks like Byrnes’ struggles can be attributed to a hamstring injury that the 32-year-old outfielder suffered before the start of spring training. According to the article on MLB.com, Byrnes originally tweaked his hamstring while running sprints with Arizona Diamondbacks teammate Chris Young.

The article says that Byrnes played through the pain by arriving at the ballpark six hours before each game to receive treatment. The Diamondbacks finally decided to place him on the 15-day disabled list yesterday.

Byrnes says he expects to be ready in 15 days, but it’s unclear how long the injury will actually keep him sidelined.

Erik Bedard
Played in Baltimore from 2002-2007

There’s an interesting article from the Seattle Post-Intelligencer that chronicles the struggles of the Seattle Mariners so far in 2008. The article includes a brief piece about Bedard and how his ERA has jumped from 1.82 on May 2 to 4.70.

Bedard allowed six runs in two innings against the Texas Rangers on May 12. Following a solid performance against the San Diego Padres (two runs allowed in eight innings) in his next start, he surrendered nine runs in 4 1/3 innings against the New York Yankees on May 23.

In May, Bedard is 1-3 with a 6.35 ERA. He’s scheduled to pitch tonight against the Boston Red Sox.

Miguel Tejada
Played in Baltimore from 2004-2007

Tejada hit his sixth home run of the season last night as the Houston Astros defeated the St. Louis Cardinals, 8-2.

In 53 games this season, Tejada is hitting .332 with 37 RBIs. He has 16 doubles and 43 runs scored. Tejada has committed five errors so far this season.

Jack Cust
Played in Baltimore from 2003-2004

Last week, the San Francisco Chronicle had a nice story about Cust’s journey to the major leagues.

After the Oakland Athletics took a chance on him last season, Cust had a breakout performance with 26 home runs and 82 RBIs. However, as the article states, he slumped at the beginning of this season and people wondered if last year was a fluke.

Cust currently leads the American League in walks (40) and he ranks second in on-base percentage (.418). He leads the Athletics in runs scored (28) and home runs (eight).

Kris Benson
Played in Baltimore in 2006

Do you remember how Benson was working out for several teams during the offseason in an attempt to make a comeback following the shoulder surgery that caused him to miss the 2007 season? What happened to him?

After a couple setbacks, the Philadelphia Daily News says that he’s finally ready to make a start in the minor leagues. According to the article, Benson threw 75 pitches in an extended spring training game recently and will make his first start for Class A Clearwater on Sunday.

The article also states that Benson’s original deal with the Phillies permitted him to opt out of the contract on June 1, which is – you guessed it – Sunday. The writer wasn’t able to contact Benson’s agent, Gregg Clifton, but it’s believed that Benson will remain with the Phillies at this time.

Todd Williams
Played in Baltimore from 2004-2007

Williams recently signed with the Long Island Ducks of the independent Atlantic League.

The 37-year-old reliever has allowed two runs (one earned) in 3 2/3 innings since joining the team last week. He’s walked three hitters and struck out two.

Williams has also thrown one wild pitch. There’s no word on whether the wild pitch occurred during an intentional walk.

Posted by Dean Jones, Jr. at 1:44 PM | Permalink | Comments (1)
                    

Here’s a look at how former Orioles have fared recently:

Erik Bedard, Mariners
Played in Baltimore from 2002-2007

Bedard threw a successful bullpen session before Tuesday’s game against the Orioles and has been cleared to return from the disabled list.

After missing two starts early in the season due to inflammation in his left hip, the Mariners placed Bedard on the disabled list on April 15, retroactive to April 9. That means he’s eligible to be activated on Thursday.

John Hickey of the Seattle Post-Intelligencer speculated Tuesday on a Mariners blog that Bedard could start Thursday’s series finale against the Orioles. Well, it won’t happen and the Orioles will have to wait even longer to face their former teammate.

The left-hander will have a second bullpen session before Thursday’s game. If everything goes well, Bedard will start Saturday against the Oakland Athletics. The Mariners are now listing left-handed pitcher Jarrod Washburn (1-3, 4.13) as the starting pitcher in Thursday’s game.

Eric Byrnes, Diamondbacks
Played in Baltimore in 2005

Through 20 games, Byrnes is hitting .293 with three home runs and 14 RBIs. He has three stolen bases and 16 runs scored. He is currently tied for second in the National League with nine doubles.

Byrnes hit in 14 consecutive games, April 4 through Sunday. According to the East Valley Tribune, Byrnes was growing a mustache during the hitting streak. After going 0-for-4 to end the streak on Sunday, Byrnes shaved.

However, he vowed that there would be plenty of time to spot him with a mustache this season. “It was a good run. You guys have not seen the last of the ‘stache,” he told the newspaper.

Jerry Hairston, Reds
Played in Baltimore from 1998-2004

After a hot start at Triple-A Louisville, the Cincinnati Reds recalled Hairston on Monday. The 31-year-old utilityman was hitting .421 with three home runs and 15 RBIs in 14 games for Louisville.

Hairston batted leadoff and started in center field for the Reds Tuesday night. He was 4-for-5 with a double and three RBIs. Hairston was the first Reds player to get four hits in a game this season.

Chris Gomez, Pirates
Played in Baltimore from 2005-2007

Gomez is filling in nicely as a utility infielder for Pittsburgh this season. In 15 games, he is 9-for-30 with six RBIs and three runs scored.

Shortstop Jack Wilson is currently on the disabled list with a strained left calf muscle, so Gomez is getting plenty of chances to help the team.

According to MLB.com, the Pirates are impressed with his ability to play a key role on the field, as well as in the clubhouse. “He’s going to give you a professional approach at the plate and a professional day at the ballpark,” Pirates manager John Russell said.

Jack Cust, Athletics
Played in Baltimore from 2003-2004

After Cust collected 26 home runs and 82 RBIs with the Athletics last season, many Orioles fans were probably bemoaning the fact that the club allowed him to get away after the 2004 season.

It’s still early in the season, but Cust may be proving that last year was more of an anomaly. In 18 games this season, Cust is hitting .148 with one home run and six RBIs. Through Tuesday, Cust has yet to have a multi-hit game in 2008.

Posted by Dean Jones, Jr. at 1:41 PM | Permalink | Comments (1)
                    

Throughout the 2008 season, I’ll periodically take a look at several former Orioles that are scattered around the major leagues. Ideally, there will be four to six players in each update. If you’d like some information on a player, feel free to e-mail me at djones@baltimoresun.com and I’ll try to include them in future posts.

Here’s a look at how former Orioles fared in the first week of games:

Miguel Tejada, Astros

Three players received in exchange for Tejada have helped the Orioles jump in front of the AL East. Through Tuesday’s game, long reliever Matt Albers struck out seven hitters in 6 1/3 scoreless innings. Likewise, reliever Dennis Sarfate has pitched 3 1/3 scoreless innings. His fastball has been electrifying at times, reaching 99 mph on the radar gun. Outfielder Luke Scott hit his first home run of the season on Tuesday and he continues to hit around .500.

So how has Tejada fared in Houston?

He started the season 9-for-33 with three doubles, a triple and two home runs. Six of his nine hits have been for extra bases, including a walk-off home run to help the Astros beat the St. Louis Cardinals in their home opener on Monday. The shortstop has scored six runs and collected eight RBIs in the team’s first nine games. Still, the Astros are currently sitting in last place in the six-team NL Central with a 3-6 record.

Corey Patterson, Reds

While he normally hit lower in the batting order during his time in Baltimore, Patterson has done a good job so far this season as the leadoff hitter in Cincinnati. He’s 7-for-26 with three home runs and six RBIs in the Reds' first eight games.

Patterson had an RBI single and a game-tying home run in the ninth inning of Tuesday’s game against the Milwaukee Brewers, but the Reds lost the game in extra innings.

Mike Mussina, Yankees

Mussina allowed four runs (three earned) in 5 2/3 innings and suffered the loss in his first start of the season against the Toronto Blue Jays on April 2. The 39-year-old right-hander walked two and struck out two.

He picked up his first victory of the season on Monday by allowing only one run on two hits in six innings against the Tampa Bay Rays.

Paul Bako, Reds

With catcher David Ross on the disabled list with a back injury and backup catcher Javier Valentin bothered by a hamstring injury, Bako has filled in nicely as the temporary starter for the Reds.

Bako is 6-for-19 with a double and two runs scored in seven games this season. He had a game-winning infield single last week against the Philadelphia Phillies.

According to this article on MLB.com, the Reds are impressed with Bako’s ability of calling games from behind the plate.

B.J. Ryan, Blue Jays

Remember him? The former Orioles closer signed a five-year, $47 million contract with the Blue Jays following the 2005 season. He was impressive in 2006 for Toronto, but missed most of last season after having Tommy John elbow surgery.

Ryan has been pitching in the minor leagues as part of his recovery from the surgery. He’s expected to continue pitching on rehab assignments and will rejoin the Blue Jays toward the end of the month if everything goes right.

Another former Orioles closer pitched in the same game as Ryan on Monday. Armando Benitez followed Ryan with a perfect inning.

Posted by Dean Jones, Jr. at 1:41 PM | Permalink | Comments (3)