Brad Bergesen's meltdown in the third inning of the Orioles 8-2 loss to the Seattle Mariners Monday night was one of the saddest sights you'll ever see on a baseball diamond.

As the Mariners' hitters smacked him around endlessly en route to a 7-0 lead at Safeco Field, Bergesen was a picture of anguish on the mound.

He muttered to himself, hung his head, stomped around, slammed the ball into his glove and set the major league record for most tugs on a cap in a single inning.

His forehead glistening with flop-sweat, he looked utterly lost and confused.

And when manager Dave Trembley finally took the ball from him, the TV cameras lingered on Bergesen as he took the long walk off the mound and through the dugout to the clubhouse, his face reflecting complete dejection.

Last season he was one of the few bright spots (7-5 record, 3.43 ERA) in the Orioles rotation.

 Now, with an 0-2 record and 12.19 ERA,  he's a mess. And he's been sent down to Triple-A Norfolk to straighten out his pitching mechanics and get his head on straight.

Whatever the reason for his struggles -- and you have to blame both the batted ball he took off his shin that sidelined him last season and the strained shoulder he suffered filming a "This is Birdland" commercial over the winter -- Bergesen looks hurried with his delivery and awkward with his arm slot.

He's a good kid. I hope he gets his act together soon.

But in what has started out as another lost season for the Orioles, the downfall of Brad Bergesen has been the most painful thing to watch so far.