Joey Buttafuoco has been released from jail.

I know there's a joke in there somewhere, and it probably involves the Bengals.

I just checked with Sun beat writer Jeff Zrebiec, who says the Orioles haven't confirmed whether Jeremy Guthrie will take Jaret Wright's place in the rotation. The Orioles won't need a fifth starter for about 10 days, so they're flush with long relievers in the meantime.

And hey, you can never have enough left-handers, so welcome aboard, Kurt Birkins.

Let's see, that's Birkins, Jamie Walker, John Parrish and Brian Burres.

It wouldn't surprise me if Jesse Orosco and Mark Thurmond have been contacted, as well.

That's another new MLB rule you might not be aware of: The team with the most left-handed relievers wins the World Series.

Just when you think the Orioles have run out of strained oblique muscles, they had to put Double-A Bowie outfielder Nolan Reimold on the disabled list because of one. A team official confirmed it yesterday, in case you missed The Sun's minor league notebook that ran today.

Reimold had raised his average 46 points by batting .381 with six RBIs in 21 at-bats.

Posted by Roch Kubatko at 5:54 PM | Permalink | Comments (28)
                    

I'm not one to give advice, especially to NASCAR drivers, but I really don't think it's a good idea for Jeff Gordon to buy a house in Talladega and settle down. And by all means, don't hang your number in your front yard.

In case you missed it, the Rockies called up former Orioles pitching prospect Denny Bautista. I'm still waiting for this guy to be everything we imagined, and feared, after he was traded for Jason Grimsley.

The Orioles are facing Detroit's Jeremy Bonderman tonight. The guy still doesn't have a decision - just a 3.18 ERA.

If you're looking for encouragement, he's 1-3 with a 6.86 ERA in four career starts against the Orioles. Daniel Cabrera is 3-0 lifetime against the Tigers.

So what to do with Jaret Wright?

He's in no condition to start. At this point, put Jeremy Guthrie in the rotation. Brian Burres looks more than capable of being the long man.

And where, oh where, is Rob Bell? Talk about a lost opportunity. The guy was lights out in spring training, then gets sent to the minor league camp with an infected finger. He should be in this bullpen.

Otherwise, bring up Todd Williams. Put Wright on the DL until his shoulder heals, if that's possible at this point. There's no way Wright should get another start in his present physical condition.

The guy's trying. He's tough as nails. Pain is nothing new to him, and he'll take the ball and pitch through it. He's always feeling something in the shoulder, to varying degrees. But it's pointless to have him pitching right now.

Posted by Roch Kubatko at 1:19 PM | Permalink | Comments (37)
                    

Every hitter has to swing at the first pitch at least twice a game.

Apparently, the Orioles are the only team that got the memo.

I understand the theory that you might get only one good pitch to hit, so go after it, no matter the count. That's what I heard repeatedly after Miguel Tejada grounded out with the bases loaded to end one of the Oakland losses. But it always looks worse when you're down, say, 3-0, to Fausto Carmona.

I'm just giving you an example off the top of my head.

According to Sun beat writer Jeff Zrebiec, the Orioles had 14 groundball outs through six innings.

Jay Gibbons just flied to center in the seventh. I expected players to pour out of the dugout and mob him near first base.

Posted by Roch Kubatko at 2:45 PM | Permalink | Comments (49)
                    

Good news: Umpires just ruled that right fielder Ron Swoboda trapped Brook Robinson’s fly ball in the ’69 World Series. The Orioles actually won Game 4.

Other decisions I’d like to see reversed:

"Hey, I think we can get Glenn Davis if we convince Houston to take Curt Schilling off our hands!"

"Forget Davey Johnson. If we don’t hire Phil Regan today, somebody else is gonna get him!"

"Forget Davey Johnson. Tell him to take his Manager of the Year award and don’t let the door hit him on the way out!"

"You mean we can get Sidney Ponson back for only $22.5 million? It's like stealing!"

"I'm building the perfect baseball player using spare body parts. Somebody pass me Harold Baines' knees!"

"Welcome to OZ, Matt Riley. Yes, I'll grant you a wish, but unfortunately, I'm all out of brains. Would you settle for courage?"

"Nobody is offering David Segui more than two years? Make it four!"

"I honestly think we can get 162 games out of Marty Cordova! No, I don’t mean over the length of his contract!"

"Forget your fastball, Armando. Marquis Grissom can’t hit your slider!"

"Forget your fastball, Armando. Tony Fernandez can’t hit your slider!"

New Coke (I know it has nothing to do with the Orioles, but bad idea)

Rocky V (See above)

"I absolutely refuse to trade B.J. Surhoff to the Braves unless they include Trinidad Hubbard! And I’m not bending on this!"

"When my daughter grows up, I hope she marries a man just like Albert Belle!"

"I know things have taken a nasty turn with my daughter and Albert, but he’s certainly entitled to crawl under her car if he wants! Hang up the phone!"

"You want to do a little damage control and save your reputation, Raffy? Just blame the B-12!"

"If I’m you, Melvin, I’m bunting here!"

"Eddie Murray can wear a Dodgers cap to Cooperstown for all I care. This team isn’t going anywhere without Juan Bell!"

"You mean we can get Brook Fordyce AND Jason Lakman? Do it!"

"I don’t care if he’s only a few minutes late and he called ahead. The team charter waits for no one – even Cal Ripken!"

"And with their first pick in the 2001 draft, the Orioles select pitcher Chris Smith."

"Choosing again in the first round of the 1999 draft, the Orioles select…"

"Why are we still wearing Baltimore on our road jerseys? We’re not the Baltimore Baltimores! Get rid of it!"

"I know I’ve had a little too much to drink, wise-guy! That’s why I gave my keys to Doug Johns!"

"I’m well aware that you demand peace and quiet on the road. That’s why you’re rooming with Kevin Millar!"

"You need an emergency starter for today’s game? I’ve got two words for you: Richie Lewis!"

"Pitch every right-handed hitter inside. Make them pull the ball. Remember, we’ve got Jeff Stone in left field!"

"A home run would kill us right now. Get Bruce Chen up!"

OK, I’m spent. Feel free to jump in.

Posted by Roch Kubatko at 12:25 PM | Permalink | Comments (50)
                    

There’s definitely draft fever around here today. I went to a drive-thru and ordered a salad, and the girl criticized me for taking a need pick. She insisted that I select the best available sandwich on the board.

The Ravens will draft an offensive lineman, probably USC center Ryan Kalil, who can start immediately. And fans everywhere will yawn. Centers don’t excite us unless they’re 7-foot-4 and can run the floor.

I don’t mean to judge Wisconsin tackle Joe Thomas so harshly, but I hear that name and think of the Baltimore Colts’ rapid decline. I know it’s not his fault, and yet…

In another strange move, Lions general manager Matt Millen just traded the second overall pick for Joey Harrington.

Calvin Johnson will be a better pro than JaMarcus Russell. The Raiders could have taken him this year if they hadn't actually believed that Aaron Brooks was the answer last year.

Johnson should be catching Matt Leinart's passes this year. But at least Al David didn't try to lure Todd Marinovich out of retirement.

The Lions just can't resist taking receivers. In the second round, they'll choose Mel Farr.

Let’s simplify things here:

You can’t walk seven or eight batters a game and expect to win. You can’t lead the league in walks and expect to win. You can’t give teams opportunities to score as if you’re handing out tickets at a toll booth and expect to win.

Are you listening, Orioles? Throws strikes, fellas. Just don’t groove a fastball to Wily Mo Pena. But otherwise…

Manager Sam Perlozzo is in a difficult position right now with Jay Gibbons struggling so badly. Gibbons can’t get hot sitting on the bench, and he’s accustomed to starting against right-handers. But Kevin Millar did enough during Jay Payton’s absence that he shouldn’t be relegated to the bench. And we know he needs regular at-bats to produce. You get nothing out of him with sporadic play. Aubrey Huff has to stay in the lineup. Period.

It looks like Gibbons will be the odd-man out here, especially since I’d rather have Millar at first base than Huff, who should be getting most of his at-bats as the designated hitter. The Orioles can’t trade Gibbons unless they’re just going to hand him over. He’s not exactly in demand. It would be the equivalent of releasing him. Or maybe they can get Alberto Castillo back if somebody claims him.

Gibbons crushed a ball to the opposite field last night, which the Orioles want to see from him, and it died on the warning track. If he was hot, that ball clears the left fielder’s head. It probably clears the wall. But he can’t catch a break. He hit a blooper the previous night that Boston’s second baseman ran down in shallow right field. Again, that ball falls in if you’re not in a slump. He’s also had some of the worst swings and at-bats I’ve seen all year. And last year.

This lineup would get a tremendous boost with a healthy and productive Gibbons hitting seventh every night. As far as we know, he’s still healthy. But will he ever be productive?

If you’re Perlozzo, do you bench Gibbons and just go with Millar at first and Huff at DH, with Payton playing every day in left? And if so, do you really expect to get anything out of Gibbons when you finally call upon him to pinch-hit?

It’s hard to work out of a slump from the sitting position. But it’s also hard to watch him labor so much at the plate.

Posted by Roch Kubatko at 12:26 PM | Permalink | Comments (36)
                    

Once again, the system isn't allowing me to respond to your comments, so I quickly pulled out a few, just so you know that I'm reading them:

Robert Windsor: I am aware that the Orioles' losing streak coincides with them facing Dan Haren, Curt Schilling and Josh Beckett.

You left out Dallas Braden.

Terry P.: The Orioles still have their clubhouse chemistry. But it's been a whole lot quieter in there after the last four games.

Tom D.: I'm with you on the whole "location, location, location" rant concerning Chris Ray last night. He needed to stay away from Wily Mo Pena, rather than come inside. But I'll still sweat every time a dead fastball hitter stands in against a closer who relies so heavily on his fastball. Bad things happen.

O's Fan in San Fran: First of all, great name. Major props to you. Second, Charlie Manuel wants no part of me. But Lou Piniella probably would go toe-to-toe with me. I just have a feeling.

Scott G.: I didn't lock my keys in my car, but I was trapped inside for 45 minutes this morning. Weird.

Another blood memorabilia item: The jersey Orioles reliever Brian Burres wore the night he had the nose bleed on the mound.

Does Mitch "Blood" Green count?

I also could include all the napkins I used to slow the bleeding when I had lunch at Chicken Kitchen in Fort Lauderdale last month, after I accidentally opened a small cut below my bottom lip while standing in line.

Anita Marks and her mother pretended it wasn't a big deal and kept eating. Meanwhile, I've seen less blood in a slaughter house. I looked like Dan Aykroyd doing his Julie Childs impression on SNL.

"Always save the giblets."

And finally, just for the sake of accuracy, Brian Roberts never said he eats lunch at Hooters. He likes to eat his lunch outdoors at the Inner Harbor. Sometimes.

Meanwhile, Roger Clemens said he'll make a decision by the end of May where he's going to go.

I have a few suggestions.

Posted by Roch Kubatko at 4:36 PM | Permalink | Comments (37)
                    

Just as I vowed never to use the words "Mora" and "bunt" again in the same sentence, the same goes for "Thorne" and "sock."

And here's hoping I'll never need to write "Pena" and "fastball" again.

It's really hard to get an accurate reading on how far Pena's ball traveled last night unless you factor in the layover in Charlotte.

The stadium radar gun routinely had Adam Loewen's fastball clocked at 89 mph. Seems a little low to me, but manager Sam Perlozzo didn't sound concerned. He noted that Loewen usually stays around 89-92 with his two-seamer. He certainly was on the low end last night.

The good news: The Orioles won two of three games at Jacobs Field last season.

The reality: They're 15-39 in the ballpark since it opened, and have lost 22 of the last 27.

On Sept. 3, 2000, Chris Richard matched a club record with 13 total bases, but the Orioles lost, 12-11, when Kenny Lofton homered in the 13th inning. Lofton stole five bases that day.

Ah, the memories.

I'm equally warmed by the recollection of that makeup game a few years ago, when the Orioles traveled to Cleveland for a one-game series and were blown out. Afterward, Luis Lopez spotted a small group of reporters standing in the clubhouse and yelled, "Ask your questions and get out!"

My first question: "What are you still doing in the majors?"

Did you know the Orioles lost 25 of their first 26 games in Cleveland, including an 0-11 record at Municipal Stadium in 1954? The Indians set a major league record by scoring eight runs without an out on July 6, 1954.

Afterward, Luis Lopez spotted a small group of reporters and...

Nevermind.

The Orioles must think the Indians' current rotation belongs to a 12-and-under team after they faced Curt Schilling and Josh Beckett the last two games. This series almost feels like a reprieve - except it's being played in Cleveland.

I won't make any predictions, but if the Orioles take two of three, they should cover the lockers in plastic and break out the champagne.

Would it surprise anyone to know that John Parrish routinely is the first Oriole to arrive at Camden Yards each day? The guy's already there at 1 p.m. for a 7:05 p.m. start.

Posted by Roch Kubatko at 10:26 AM | Permalink | Comments (44)
                    

The ball Wily Mo Pena hit for his grand slam traveled 430 feet into the visiting bullpen.

It would have gotten there faster if it didn't stop to refuel.

Pena is a fastball hitter. Chris Ray said he didn't want to get beat with his second-best pitch, so he threw a fastball.

A Boston writer approached me in the press box after the game and wondered why Ray would throw the only pitch that Pena could crush.

"The guy couldn't hit a beach ball if it had any spin on it like a breaking ball," he said.

Pena was 1-for-20 against right-handers before the game, but he's usually much better. He doubled off Danys Baez in the seventh. And then...well...you know.

The Orioles took a 1-0 lead in the first inning. What's the big deal? It was their first lead in 27 innings.

They've lost 22 of their last 25 games to the Red Sox. Ted Williams' head could go 4-for-4 against them.

Since I wrote a glowing entry about this team on Sunday, it hasn't won a single game. And since I wrote that I can't stop writing about the bullpen, I now want to stop writing about the bullpen.

Jim Johnson should be sent down. The Orioles don't need another long man anymore with Jeremy Guthrie out of the rotation, and Johnson would benefit more from starting at Triple-A Norfolk. Bring up Todd Williams. Bring up somebody so Danys Baez doesn't have to pitch the seventh and Chris Ray isn't needed for a five-out save.

A deep bullpen suddenly seems more shallow without Scott Williamson - even though he hasn't exactly been a workhorse this year.

At least the Orioles get to play three games at Jacobs Field, which has been a house of horrors for them.

Anybody seen where I put my optimism?

Maybe it's locked in my car with my keys.

Posted by Roch Kubatko at 12:29 AM | Permalink | Comments (38)
                    

Nobody is warming in the Orioles' bullpen. The eighth inning belongs to John Parrish.

I thought we might see a six-out save from Chris Ray, but manager Sam Perlozzo doesn't want to place that burden on his young closer this early in the season.

I would have pinch-run Freddie Bynum for Jay Gibbons in the seventh.

UPDATE: Ray began to warm after the last out in the seventh.

Posted by Roch Kubatko at 9:13 PM | Permalink | Comments (55)
                    

Adam Loewen did a nice job retiring David Ortiz and leaving the bases loaded in the third inning, but I would have brought in Danys Baez. What was Sam Perlozzo thinking?

Loewen already has thrown 58 pitches in three innings. That's just not going to cut it.

He hates the media fixating on negative stats when he's 2-0 with a 3.72 ERA, but he allowed 40 baserunners in 19 1/3 innings before tonight.

And that's what we do in the media - we fixate on the negative.

For the record, I'm putting Curt Schilling's bloody sock a few notches below Kirk Gibson's home run in the 1988 World Series, but I see where it's part of baseball lore.

I still want the whole controversy to go away. It's been milked enough for one day.

Also for the record: I'm typing with a small cut on my left palm after pinching my hand in a closet door. And it's real blood, folks, no matter what Joe Angel might be saying right now. 

Posted by Roch Kubatko at 8:06 PM | Permalink | Comments (7)
                    

Gary Thorne and Doug Mirabelli both agree that the bloody sock conversation was just a big misunderstanding. Thorne thought Mirabelli was serious when the Red Sox catcher commented on how much publicity his team received. Mirabelli said he was joking.

Can we please put Sockgate to rest?

It isn't THAT big a deal. It's not like Thorne floated the theory that Barbaro faked his own death and is living with Elvis and Jim Morrison. He didn't use his best judgment, but the story is being blown way out of proportion. I can't believe how much media attention it's generated in one day.

Let it go.

This won't surprise many of you, but Kevin Millar has a red spot drawn on his sock. Look closely for it tonight while he's sitting on the bench.

Ramon Hernandez convinced manager Sam Perlozzo that he was ready to play tonight, rather than needing another day.

"Taking BP, I didn't feel anything, so why wait longer?" he said. "Just come out and play. That's the only way to see if it's totally right or not. Playing every day is the only way I'm going to figure it out.

Jaret Wright still says he's ready to start on Sunday.

Posted by Roch Kubatko at 6:55 PM | Permalink | Comments (12)
                    

Doug Mirabelli was on the field taking early batting practice today when he began walking toward the visiting dugout. A Red Sox fan, part of a ballpark tour, yelled for Doug to come over and sign an autograph.

"I have to go talk to Gary Thorne," Mirabelli said. "I'll be right back."

Funny guy.

Mirabelli actually did talk to Thorne, I'm told. Thorne hasn't been available to the media today, but I'm sure he'll address the issue during MASN's telecast.

Meanwhile, I'm accusing Trent Green of faking his concussion this season.

The Orioles activated Ramon Hernandez from the disabled list today and designated Alberto Castillo for assignment, since he's out of minor league options.

"I'd like to see us keep him," manager Sam Perlozzo said.

Here's the lineup:

Brian Roberts - 2B

Melvin Mora - 3B

Nick Markakis - RF

Miguel Tejada - SS

Aubrey Huff - 1B

Jay Payton - LF

Jay Gibbons - DH

Ramon Hernandez - C

Corey Patterson - CF

Adam Loewen - P

If Hernandez hadn't missed so much time, I'm guessing he'd be batting sixth and Payton eighth.

Posted by Roch Kubatko at 4:48 PM | Permalink | Comments (10)
                    

Every time I see a replay of David Ortiz's single last night, I expect the ball to be caught. It looks pretty routine leaving his bat.

One reason I love sports is because we can all watch the same game and have such varying opinions. I'll go to my grave - probably within the next few months if I keep eating at Taco Bell - believing Jamie Walker had to face Ortiz in that situation, regardless of the numbers. We're not talking 37-for-38 lifetime. And it's not like Ortiz launched a 500-foot homer. He blooped a single on the 11th pitch of the at-bat.

And many of the same people who were calling for Danys Baez last night were complaining about him a few days ago, as if the guy couldn't be trusted in a close game. As if he was the weakest link in the bullpen.

Now he's Mariano Rivera?

I love this game!

Bring on Josh Beckett tonight. You know, the guy who doesn't throw a gyroball, but could be 5-0.

I'm waiting to hear whether Gary Thorne accuses him of faking his fastball.

Corey Patterson's sensational catch last night ranked No. 3 on ESPN's top plays. I expected it to go a little higher.

The more I watch the replay, the more I'm convinced the ball would have hit the fence, rather than go over it. But it's still a great play. And if it came in a tie game, or preserved a lead, you'd be hearing a lot more about it.

The ultimate irony: Jake Peavy goes to a singles bar last night and strikes out.

If anyone needs a right-handed reliever, Jim Brower's available.

Pretty soon, the same might be true of Sidney Ponson, who's allowed 44 baserunners in 21 1/3 innings.

B.J. Surhoff, if you're reading: Stop by the Yard sometime and say hello. You're missed around here.

I'm still convinced you could slip on a uniform tonight and go 3-for-4. And stew afterward over the one out you made.

The Wizards haven't sold out their home playoff games. That's probably because fans who were going to attend have a better chance at being added to the roster.

Posted by Roch Kubatko at 9:35 AM | Permalink | Comments (52)
                    

I'll praise Jamie Walker for the way he battled David Ortiz tonight, but Walker would rather kick himself repeatedly for not doing a better job. Reach over to pat him on the back at your own risk. I'm not going there.

"I really didn’t make good pitches, and obviously it turned the game around," Walker said. "He’s a good hitter. I’ve got to tip my hat and come out and get his (butt) tomorrow. The last thing I want to do is give him a cookie there. It didn’t work out, unfortunately.

"I was (angry) because I had him 0-2 and I end up going 3-2. When I have a hitter like that 0-2, I’ve got to bury him. I’m never happy when I give up a hit. I’m pretty much a hornet. But I went after him. The last thing I wanted to do was walk him and load the bases. You can’t walk these guys. Every one of them can go yard. I just went right after him, being aggressive. I know he’s aggressive. He won that battle, but tomorrow’s a new day."

I had to clean up his quotes. With bleach and a scrub brush. I like a scrappy left-hander, and this guy is as scrappy as they come.

One of the most important at-bats of the night came from Kevin Youkilis, who was down 0-2 before drawing a walk against Daniel Cabrera. That's when Walker entered to face Ortiz. And you know the rest.

"It was a little frustrating because I'm supposed to take that guy out," Cabrera said.

I can't fault Perlozzo for bringing in Walker, despite Ortiz's past success against him. This is exactly why you're paying $12 million for the guy. He has to pitch in that situation. If Perlozzo leaves in Cabrera and he gives up a bomb, everyone is ripping the manager for not bringing in the left-hander.

John Parrish threw 33 pitches yesterday. You want Brian Burres in there? It's Walker's guy.

Here's a quote from Boston manager Terry Francona: "You ask me now and I say their starting pitching is real good. So much revolves around your starting pitcher. Their bullpen is a lot deeper than last year."

Corey Patterson made a sensational catch to rob Manny Ramirez in the ninth. Patterson said he couldn't tell if the ball would have gone out.

Ramirez certainly thought it was gone, the way he tossed the bat and posed. He turned toward the Orioles' dugout on his way back after the catch. I'm guessing he was catching some heat.

Posted by Roch Kubatko at 11:18 PM | Permalink | Comments (15)
                    

Lots of Red Sox fans here tonight, as usual. But the Orioles' faithful are plenty loud.

An 11-pitch at-bat ended with David Ortiz blooping a single into left field that broke a 1-1 tie, and with Jamie Walker kicking at the air in frustration.

It was quite a battle. Walker kept feeding Ortiz curveballs, and you know that guy will eat anything. Ortiz ran the count full, fouling off pitch after pitch, before dropping a single in front of left fielder Jay Payton.

Manager Sam Perlozzo will make that move every time. This is why Walker is here. And he had Ortiz down 0-2.

Alex Cora's home run was the first one allowed by Daniel Cabrera since Howie Kendrick took him deep on Sept. 6, a span of 57 2/3 innings.

I didn't realize it had been that long.

Miguel Tejada hadn't homered since Opening Night.

I realized it had been that long.

Posted by Roch Kubatko at 9:11 PM | Permalink | Comments (30)
                    

If the Orioles lose this game, 1-0, Daniel Cabrera can spend the rest of the night, and most of tomorrow, wondering how he let Alex Cora beat him.

Cora pulled a 2-2 curveball into the right field seats in the third inning for his first home run this season. Cabrera had struck out Manny Ramirez with a 95 mph fastball to end the first and Jason Varitek with a 96 mph fastball to end the second.

Then he hangs a curevball to Alex Cora.

Cabrera retired Julio Lugo for the second out and started walking toward the dugout. Realizing that nobody else was following him, he stopped abruptly and headed back to the mound.

Oops.

Posted by Roch Kubatko at 8:10 PM | Permalink | Comments (14)
                    

Finally, a bench to brag about:

Melvin Mora, Jay Gibbons, Freddie Bynum and Alberto Castillo.

Once Ramon Hernandez returns later this week, you can substitute Paul Bako for Alberto Castillo.

Jaret Wright will throw a side session tomorrow, and he still expects to start on Sunday.

Remember John Halama? He's going to pitch for the Long Island Ducks of the Atlantic League.

He's in spring training with the team in Lakeland, Fla.

Yeah, it just keeps getting better.

One of Halama's teammates is Carl Everett.

Posted by Roch Kubatko at 7:10 PM | Permalink | Comments (6)
                    

Melvin Mora is out of the starting lineup. Chris Gomez is at third base, and the top four hitters are Brian Roberts, Nick Markakis, Miguel Tejada and Aubrey Huff.

Manager Sam Perlozzo said he's just giving Mora a rest, which comes with Curt Schilling on the mound. Mora is 3-for-25 with nine strikeouts against Schilling in his career.

Posted by Roch Kubatko at 4:44 PM | Permalink | Comments (16)
                    

The Orioles think they've got problems? I'm still in recovery mode after downing five crunchy taco supremes with hot sauce at 11:30 p.m.

You've got to admit, Taco Bell rules as midnight approaches. Who's with me here?

Curt Schilling and Josh Beckett the next two nights. I'd feel a lot better about the Orioles' chances if someone named Dallas Braden didn't tie them in knots yesterday.

If I'm Sam Perlozzo, I'm doing a rain dance in my office - behind closed doors, of course.

Plucking the good from yesterday's mess, let's not forget how Jeremy Guthrie should have been working on a shutout. All four runs scored because of misplays in the field. And he was hitting 97 mph on the stadium radar gun, which he said isn' t unusual. What stood out to him was his command of the pitch.

Leo Mazzone made sure to point out how good Guthrie threw as he passed reporters on his way out of the clubhouse. The guy was practically beaming.

The Orioles should have won both games. They weren't beaten. They determined their own fate, which is infuriating until you consider the alternative - being dominated by a "better" team, which usually happens around here.

I'm hoping to go an entire day without using the words "Mora" and "bunt" in the same sentence, though I will say that the Oakland clubhouse was almost unanimous in it's opinion that Mora made the right decision, but didn't execute it properly.

OK, enough on that topic.

No Dice-K in this series, but 40 members of the Japanese media are credentialed. I can't wait to hear their rendition of Sweet Caroline.

Posted by Roch Kubatko at 11:13 AM | Permalink | Comments (35)
                    

It's apparent that manager Sam Perlozzo believes Miguel Tejada should have been covering second base on Jason Kendall's ground ball to Brian Roberts with the bases loaded and two outs in the sixth. Roberts flipped the ball to Tejada, who wasn't on the bag, and a run scored. Another one crossed on a bases-loaded walk.

"I think if we had somebody covering, (Mark Ellis) would have been out," Perlozzo said.

Tejada, meanwhile, said he was surprised that the ball came his way, given the situation. Otherwise, he would have tried to get there quicker. And Roberts clearly was frustrated by the incident and gave the shortest answers I've heard from him since he's been in uniform.

"It doesn't matter what happened," he said. "I made two mistakes and we lost the game."

Melvin Mora sat with his head in his hands and a plate of food in front of him. Clearly, this wasn't a good day. He took responsibility for his error in the first inning, and for not covering third base. Jeremy Guthrie, meanwhile, said he should have covered third.

Perlozzo didn't see any reason to lecture his players afterward or go on a tirade, which everyone appreciated. This isn't the NFL.

"My daddy died 26 years ago, so that’s when [people] stopped yelling at me," Mora said. "Nobody yells at me. Everybody is a grown man in here. We make a mistake and we paid for it."

"We know we made mistakes and we've got to fix them," Jay Payton said.

Jeremy Guthrie's fastball was topping out at 97 mph.

Nick Markakis' 10-game hitting streak came to an end.

Oakland has won 13 of its last 15 games at Camden Yards.

The A's set a major league record today by not allowing a first-inning run for the 20th straight game.

No numbers were dropped from the warehouse.

Posted by Roch Kubatko at 7:09 PM | Permalink | Comments (45)
                    

Today's paid attendance: 14,452. That equals the number of mental mistakes by the Orioles today.

The latest: Brian Roberts just fielded a ground ball with the bases loaded and two outs in the sixth and flipped to shortstop Miguel Tejada for the force - which he would have gotten if Tejada actually had been on the bag. He wasn't, and everyone was safe, increasing Oakland's lead to 3-1.

A bases-loaded walk by John Parrish made it 4-1.

This is a game the Orioles had to win, with Curt Schilling and Josh Beckett facing them the next two nights.

Jeremy Guthrie's line: Five innings, four hits, two runs (one earned), one walk and three strikeouts. He threw 72 pitches, 51 for strikes.

The April 15 game against Kansas City that was rained out has been rescheduled for Monday, Sept. 24, at 7:05 p.m.

Nick Swisher left today's game with a strained left hamstring.

Tejada is playing in his 1,100th consecutive game. Four more and he passes Joe Sewell for sixth place on the all-time list. Billy Williams is fifth at 1,117.

"The first day that I started it, I didn't believe I could play in so many games," he said. "But like I've said, I like to play every day, and every day I thank God for not being in pain and not being hurt. I'm just happy to see my career going one day at a time.

"God is the one that started this, and he's the one that will stop it. I'm not doing it because I want to catch Cal. I'm just doing it because I'm healthy, I want to play and I think I can play every day. One day, it's going to stop, but God's going to decide it. I'm not going to decide it, because if I'm never hurt, I'm going to be in the lineup every day if the manager decides to put me in there."

Posted by Roch Kubatko at 4:46 PM | Permalink | Comments (29)