Patterson Sent to the Cubs

No, not that Patterson

By Matthew Taylor

There will be a Patterson in the outfield at Wrigely again now that Corey's younger brother, Eric, has been called up to the Cubs to replace Alfonso Soriano, who was placed on the disabled list.

Patterson was batting .299 at Triple-A Iowa with 14 homers, 23 doubles, 62 RBIs and 16 stolen bases. He has primarily hit leadoff all season, batting .300 in the No. 1 spot in the order with a .365 on-base percentage.

Patterson, 24, began the season as a second baseman, but has played the past 10 games in the outfield in both left and center.

He is the younger brother of former Cubs outfielder Corey Patterson, who is now with the Baltimore Orioles.

Hank Aaron, Meet Eddie Murray

HOF sluggers could start a support group

By Matthew Taylor

Saturday wasn’t a very good day for Hall of Fame sluggers. Hank Aaron no longer sits alone atop the all-time home run list, and Eddie Murray’s ranking is falling fast.

With his two home runs on Saturday, numbers 504 and 505 for his career, Frank Thomas passed Eddie on the all-time home run list. That same afternoon, Alex Rodriguez became the youngest player to hit No. 500 and now sits just four home runs behind Murray.

Murray’s statistical status could drop even lower in the near future. Active players within striking distance of the Oriole legend include Jim Thome (490), Manny Ramirez (489), Gary Sheffield (478), and Carlos Delgado (424).

Three other Orioles besides Murray are ranked in the Top 50 of baseball’s career home run list: Frank Robinson (No. 7, 586), Rafael Palmeiro (No. 10, 569), and Cal Ripken (N0. 37, 431). O’s short-timer Harold Baines is No. 50 on the list with 384 home runs.

Delgado and Mike Piazza (422) are both within striking distance of Ripken.

Reflecting on Cal's Cooperstown Speech

Celebrating past accomplishments and future possibilities

By Matthew Taylor

Cal Ripken may as well have been quoting James Earl Jones last Sunday when he stood at the podium at the Clark Sports Center and remarked, “Today is about celebrating the best that baseball has been and the best it can be.”

James Earl Jones, playing the role of Terence Mann in the classic film, “Field of Dreams,” summed up the beauty of the sport in similar fashion: “This field, this game, is a part of our past, Ray. It reminds us of all that once was good, and it could be again.”

Jones’ classic rhetoric in “Field of Dreams” does well to describe my experience at Induction Weekend. His words, some of which are quoted below, speak to the innocence of youth, the peace associated with that period of life, and baseball’s ability to trigger memories of those treasured times, places, and feelings long past.

They'll arrive at your door as innocent as children, longing for the past. "Of course, we won't mind if you have a look around," you'll say. "It's only twenty dollars per person." They'll pass over the money without even thinking about it; for it is money they have and peace they lack.
…

They'll find they have reserved seats somewhere along one of the baselines, where they sat when they were children and cheered their heroes. And they'll watch the game, and it'll be as if they'd dipped themselves in magic waters. The memories will be so thick, they'll have to brush them away from their faces.

Some of baseball’s most accomplished players and managers appeared in Cooperstown for Induction Weekend. Many of them are connected with the game’s greatest moments. But for me, it was more about the hometown heroes whose presence brought to mind their more youthful, archetypal images and the pure joy of being a young fan.

Chanting “Ed-die” throughout an at-bat and believing all the while that enthusiasm conferred strength upon players. Only later did I learn that “Ed-die” was more than just an exhortation; it was an expression of gratitude as well.

Seeing Earl charge out of the third base dugout and knowing he would fight the good fight in theatrical fashion. There was a certain instructiveness in Earl's determination to right perceived wrongs.

Watching Cal range deep into the hole and make the difficult look routine. It took a while before the lesson set in that greatness can sometimes be subtle, defined more by consistency than flashiness.

Seeing Eddie, Earl, and Cal in Cooperstown also brought to mind simple, meaningful moments that extended beyond the field.

Soaking in my father’s own childlike excitement following the ’83 Series as he led an impromptu family victory celebration. He punctuated the celebration with a dash to the family car, where he repeatedly honked the horn.

Heading to visit my grandfather and eagerly anticipating his predictably grumpy response to the question, “How bout dem O’s?”

Leaving school early with dad to see the first-ever game at Camden Yards, an O’s-Mets exhibition on my birthday.

And a host of shared experiences that provide a consistent link to family and friends.

Inevitably, the sense of nostalgia I experienced during Induction Weekend was accompanied by sadness for days, people, and innocence lost. But Cal, like James Earl Jones, invited optimism from his audience by looking forward while celebrating the past.

Said Cal: “And finally, as I experience another new beginning with this induction, I can only hope that all of us, whether we have played on the field or been fans in the stands, can reflect on how fortunate we are and can see our lives as new beginnings that allow us to leave this world a bit better than when we came into it.”

From his celebration of unheralded heroes who show up for work every day, to his call for people to help young people lead better lives, Cal demonstrated in his Cooperstown speech an understanding that baseball at its best is about more than what happens on the field.

Read Cal's entire speech at the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum website.

Cal Ripken's Predictable Greatness

An appreciation for No. 8 as he heads to the Hall

By Matthew Taylor

The following memory came to mind as I prepare to visit Cooperstown for Cal's Hall of Fame induction ...

Cal’s 2,131st consecutive game stands out among baseball accomplishments in many ways. One of the record’s simple beauties is that it was predictable. We knew entering the 2005 season that, barring serious injury and/or weather-related cancellations, Cal would break Lou Gehrig’s consecutive games streak on Sept. 6, 1995. Rarely is a historical baseball moment so predictable. For one season the game, like the player, gave us just what we expected.

I gained a greater appreciation for the predictability of Cal’s consecutive games record four years later when I attempted to be in the seats for the Iron Man’s 400th home run, a considerably less-knowable effort.

Cal hit home run No. 399 on Sunday, July 25, 1999, in an 8-7 victory over the (then) Anaheim Angels. Thirty-five games later, on Sept. 2, 1999, Cal homered in an 11-6 victory over the Devil Rays to reach the 400 mark. Cal always saved his greatest work for the month of September.

Sixteen of the 35 games between home runs 399 and 400 were played at Camden Yards. The game during which I thought Cal would go deep was a Thursday afternoon contest on July 29 against the Texas Rangers. I played hooky from work to see it happen. It wasn’t the Devil who made me do it; it was Ken Rosenthal.

I’ve written before about my rocky parasocial relationship with Rosenthal, the one-time Sun columnist who suggested on multiple occasions that Cal needed to end The Streak. However, on the morning of July 29, 1999, Rosenthal’s column did more to entice than incite. I can’t track down the original piece, but my memory of Rosenthal’s sentiments remains vivid.

Rosenthal painted a beautiful baseball portrait. When better for Cal to hit his 400th home run than today, the writer asked rhetorically, on a beautiful afternoon at Camden Yards, right before the team heads out on a six-game road trip? Baseball lore suggests he’ll do it before a home crowd. Today could be the day. Today will be the day. You don’t want to miss it.

Before that Thursday I had skipped work for baseball only once, on Oct. 15, 1997, Game 6 of the ALCS. (Skipping school is another story.) The Orioles lost 1-0 to Cleveland in extra innings, but it was well worth it. So, on July 29, I decided once more to ditch work and head to the ballpark.

In the bottom of the 3rd, Cal, batting seventh, strode to the plate to lead off the inning. The Birds trailed by a run. In keeping with baseball etiquette, the crowd rose to its feet and applauded the archetypal hometown hero. I, like 43,710 others around me, desperately wanted to witness baseball history.

Almost on cue, Cal ripped a screaming drive into the shadows of the left field line. From my upper deck seat I couldn’t tell if the ball had cleared the fence, which only heightened the sense of anticipation.

“Go to war, Miss Agnes?”

More like, “Go to second base, Mr. Ripken.”

Cal’s shot fell inches short of the seats. Instead of his 400th career home run, we were treated to his 22nd double of the season. It was his only hit of the day on a 1-for-3 afternoon.

More than a month later Cal hit the first of his final 32 career home runs, No. 400 of 431. My cousin, who rarely attends O’s games in person, was at Camden Yards that night. A stranger at a Westminster gas station randomly gave him his ticket.

Cal Ripken is one of only seven players to record 3,000 hits and 400 home runs. The latter achievement happened at home, as did games 2,130 and 2,131 of his consecutive games streak. I wasn’t at the ballpark for any of those history-making moments.

Nevertheless, I did witness many of Cal’s great nights at the ballpark during his 21-year career. Considering that the Iron Man is defined most by his consistency and workmanlike efforts, this seems fitting.

Thanks for the memories, Cal. All of them.


Read more fan memories in The Sun's special "Honoring the Iron Man" section.

What's It Worth To You?

It's difficult to determine the value of Ripken merchandise

By Matthew Taylor

I thought that baseball memorabilia was supposed to become more valuable over time, but a visit to E-Bay suggests otherwise.

The Cal Ripken rookie card, which I have at home, is apparently worth much less than the 2,131 bobbleheads they distributed for free at the ballpark on Tuesday.

Three bobbleheads (1, 2, 3) have already been auctioned for $58, $61, and $66, respectively. Meanwhile, the rookie card, valued at less than $20 at the time of this posting, has a lot of catching up to do.

When We Were Winning - July 20, 1997

Cal's ejection reflects frustration of slumping Birds

by Matthew Taylor

It was too soon to panic in Charm City, but Birds fans were panicking nonetheless. The O's first place lead over the Yankees, which stood at eight games on July 4, was down to 3.5 games after the Orange and Black dropped a brutal 10-2 decision to the White Sox on July 20, 1997. It was Baltimore's 10th loss in 13 games.

O's starter Shawn Boskie, in his penultimate Major League season, gave up seven runs and 10 hits in just five innings pitched. Overall, the White Sox pounded out 19 hits against the Birds.

The O's avoided the shutout in the 9th inning when Tony Tarasco - whose name will forever be linked with Jeffrey Maier after the prior season's ALCS - hit a two-run homer off Chicago starter Jaime Navarro. Navarro went the distance and sent 47,800 fans at Camden Yards home unhappy.

Perhaps the most notable event for Birds fans was Cal Ripken's ejection for arguing balls and strikes in the bottom of the second inning. It was the third and final time during The Streak that Cal would be ejected from a game.

As good teams tend to do, the Birds followed the loss with a win streak. The team won nine of its next 10 games to extend its Division lead over the Yankees to six games by July 31. This was, after all, the Wire-to-Wire season.

Remember the Maine!

If only John Maine was Cuban. Or still pitching in Baltimore.

By Christopher Heun

He was a throw-in, along with Jorge Julio, in the deal for Kris Benson 18 months ago. But all John Maine has done since then is become one of the better pitchers in the National League.

Maine’s 2.91 ERA is fifth best in the Senior Circuit. Only two other NL pitchers have won more games. Those numbers would be even better if not for a poor start last Friday night, which Mets manager Willie Randolph attributed to too much rest over the All Star break.

I keep thinking this is all a mirage, that Maine can’t really be this good. As a frustrated Orioles fan, I wait for him to implode, but it hasn’t happened yet.

I thought the unraveling might have begun during his start last month in Los Angeles when he gave up three consecutive home runs, the final blow coming off the bat of the pitcher, no less.

But he’s kept rolling along. The New York Post proclaimed on its back page July 6: “Maine Reigns.”

Even dating back to last season, when Maine started Game 1 of the NL Division Series, he benefited from a base-running gaffe when two Dodgers were thrown out at the plate on the same play.

He followed that by out-pitching Cardinals ace Chris Carpenter in Game 6 of the NL Championship Series, throwing 5 1/3 shutout innings.

It would sound like sour grapes to say he’s been getting lucky. (Or to point out that Mets general manager turned around and traded Julio for Orlando “El Duque” Hernandez, thus getting two starting pitchers for Benson, who will not toss a single pitch this season for the Orioles because of torn rotator cuff).

But I’ll go ahead and say it anyway: Maine has been a recipient of good fortune this season. Only three other pitchers have held their opponents to a lower batting average. Someone more stats-wise than me explains the importance of this here.

Suffice it to say, “Pitchers with abnormally high or low BABIPs [batting average on balls in play] are good bets to see their performances regress to the mean.” In the case of Maine, that means an escalating ERA.

Whether or not Maine tanks the rest of the season or not, he has turned into a useful major league pitcher in Queens. The Orioles were wrong to trade him.

The Orioles front office deserves credit for recognizing the talents of Jeremy Guthrie, who’s stepped into the starting rotation this year and performed beyond expectations after the Indians gave up on him.

But the same guys in The Warehouse gave up on Maine. Maybe he’s just been lucky the past year and a half and it’s no big loss. I admit it: the Orioles fan in me wants to see Maine fail. Or have him back in Camden Yards and getting lucky.

O's Have All-Star History On Their Side

Team's All-Star Game record is rarely discussed

By Matthew Taylor

Sure, Ichiro hit the first inside-the-park home run in All-Star Game history on Tuesday, but did you see the Brian Roberts walk that started the rally?

It's a stretch for even the most dedicated Birds fan to brag on the O's after the 2007 All-Star Game ... even if Roberts did earn the AL's only base on balls and set the table for Ichiro ... but if you want to talk All-Star history, well, that's a different story. Prepare to pound your Orange and Black chest, my Bird-loving friend.

Browsing through the All-Star stats at BaseballReference.com reveals that O's players have won the All-Star Game MVP award most often in Major League history, a total of six times altogether: Brooks Robinson in 1966, Frank Robinson in 1971, Cal Ripken in 1991 & 2001, Roberto Alomar in 1998, and Miguel Tejada in 2005. Three teams are tied for second behind the Orioles with five MVP awards: the Giants, Reds, and Dodgers.

The O's might have had company in the All-Star record book had Barry Bonds put on more of a show this year for the local fans in San Francisco. Instead, the Birds stand alone.

Interestingly enough, three Orioles have been named the All-Star MVP during the team's current run of losing seasons - Alomar in '98, Ripken in '01, and Tejada in '05 - which speaks to the game's role as a showcase of individual talent.

MLB's showcase of team ability doesn't happen until October, and, needless to say, no Oriole has taken home the MVP hardware from those games in quite some time.

After all, there's no "O" in team.

Update (7/12/07): Wayward O has posed an interesting question in response to this posting (see "Comments" below).

It turns out that Cal is the only player to earn the All-Star MVP award in two different decades. The other repeat winners are Willie Mays ('63 & '68), Steve Garvey ('74 & '78), and Gary Carter ('81 & '84).

Ken Griffey, Jr., and his father earned the All-Star MVP in two different decades, Senior in 1980 and Junior in 1992. Bobby Bonds earned the award in 1973, but - Are we beating up on Barry too much? - his son still hasn't won the All-Star MVP.

Lowest of The Low

No, we’re not talking about Jay Gibbons’ batting average

By Christopher Heun

The Orioles have never been lower as an organization than they are right now.

That might seem like hyperbole, since the roster probably has more talent than five or six years ago and the farm system has improved since then.

But the results on the field haven’t changed in a decade. And the people making the decisions (or is it just one person, Uncle Peter?) haven’t learned from their mistakes.

They’ve fired their manager (for the third time in four seasons) but couldn’t convince the only guy they wanted as a replacement, Joe Girardi, to accept the job.

Just the thought of changing the manager proves that The Warehouse doesn’t get it: even with Earl Weaver at the helm, the Orioles are a bad ball club. They’re not a little luck and one big free agent signing away from contention. Not even close. Not when they can’t play .500 ball.

The only player on the roster who sensibly could be traded for meaningful prospects, Miguel Tejada, broke his wrist and won’t play again until after the July 31 trade deadline has passed.

If Peter Angelos really has accepted the need for a single person to be in charge of all baseball decisions, then he could have picked someone with success building a team from within. The man he named president of baseball operations, Andy MacPhail, has admitted he couldn’t develop position players in his 12 years in Chicago.

Breaking up the roster and acquiring as much young talent as possible is the only way the Birds will become contenders. But no one in The Warehouse seems to realize that. Otherwise, Tejada would have been traded long ago.

On top of that, two young pitching prospects who were supposed to blossom this season have spent most of their time on the disabled list. Adam Loewen is done for the year and Hayden Penn is turning into the second coming of Carl Pavano.

Daniel Cabrera, the third young arm always mentioned in the same breath as Loewen and Penn as the rotation of the future, has an ERA over 5.00. He's fully embraced his fate as the reincarnation of Bobby Witt.

In mid June, before Perlozzo was sent packing, I thought it couldn’t get any worse after the Birds were swept at home by the supposedly inferior Nats. Then they lost three more games, pushing their losing streak to eight. Then they fell into last place and 12 games under .500. Then Perlozzo was fired and the star player broke his wrist.

To be fair, newcomers Jeremy Guthrie and Brian Burres have stepped into the starting rotation and performed well, though much of their work has been wasted because of poor run support. Only two teams in the American League have scored fewer runs; only three have a lower slugging percentage.

No one should expect that to change anytime soon (Who’s excited about two more years of Aubrey Huff?) The only hitting prospect playing above Single A, outfielder Nolan Reimold, hasn’t played in nearly two months because of a strained oblique muscle. Georgia Tech catcher Matt Wieters, whom the Orioles drafted earlier this summer, will instantly become the club’s best minor league hitter once his agent, Scott Boras, allows him to sign a contract.

Some fans are holding their breath for Mark Texiera, a free agent after next season. Rather than meet the Rangers’ asking price in a trade, the Orioles would be wise to save their prospects and hope for the best once the first baseman hits the open market.

The good thing about hitting rock bottom is there’s no way to go but up. Now that the Birds have nestled into familiar territory, 10 games under .500, the bullpen will get better and some one-run games may go their way for a change. Even during their losing streak last month, they weren’t getting blown out.

The harder trick will be getting anything more valuable than AA relievers in return for mediocre veterans that predominate the Orioles roster. That’s a topic better left for another day.

When We Were Winning - July 3, 1997

A recap of the O's most recent winning season

By Matthew Taylor

Even with the Birds' stirring victory last night, times are tough in Baltimore. But things haven't always been this bad.

As the O's head toward their 10th straight losing season, Roar from 34 will periodically take a look back at the team's most recent winning campaign, the 1997 Wire-to-Wire run. The "When We Were Winning" series is a reminder that things do change, and they hopefully will - for the better - with the Orioles.

Even just a decade ago - on July 3, 1997 - the game looked much different than it does today. The Tigers were in the AL East and still played in Tiger Stadium. The team was working on its fourth of 12 straight losing seasons.

Other franchises that are winning now but struggled then included the Red Sox (38-45, 17 games behind the O's in the East), the Twins (36-46, 7.5 out in the Central), and Oakland (36-50, 15 out in the West).

Here's what happened back in 1997, "When We Were Winning" ...

Twelve was the magic number for the Birds on July 3, 1997, as Jimmy Key picked up his 12th win of the season against the Detroit Tigers and Jeffrey Hammonds hit his 12th home run to power the O's to a 10-1 victory.

Key pitched eight strong innings, giving up five hits and only one run. Hammonds went 3-for-5, adding two doubles on top of his home run, with four RBIs. He also played all three outfield positions, not at the same time.

With the win the Birds' record stood at 54-27, putting them 7.5 games up on the hated Yankees. The Tigers fell to 38-43, dropping them to fourth place in the NL East, a game ahead of the last place Red Sox.

Attendance for the game at Tiger Stadium was 13,209.

Yankee Opponents: Hot or Not?

Jeter's explanation for his team's struggles doesn't add up

By Matthew Taylor

It appears that Derek Jeter doesn't read Roar from 34. I know, I'm just as surprised as you are. If Jeter did read RF34 he would know better than to make the following statement after Sunday's loss to the A's.

"It seems like every team that's playing us is playing pretty good. You try to stay positive but, yeah, it gets frustrating."

We already debunked the myth(s) surrounding New York's June winning streak, but now we're going to have to re-visit the topic.

The truth is exactly the opposite of Jeter's claim that "every team that's playing us is playing pretty good."

Consider that the A's had lost six of seven games headed into their series this past weekend against the Yankees. Or what about the Colorado Rockies? After sweeping the Yankees the Rockies went on an eight-game losing streak. San Francisco won two of three against New York and then promptly lost two of three to the Padres. And any O's fan can tell you that times have been, shall we say, a bit tough in Baltimore of late. The list goes on.

It's not just individual anecdotes that undermine Jeter's theory. Consider the combined June record of the Yankees' opponents last month: 105-136, a .435 winning percentage. Only three of the teams New York played in June had a winning record in the month: Arizona (15-13), Colorado (14-13), and Oakland (14-13). Clearly, the Yankees were losing to teams in June that were not playing very good baseball.

It all adds up to more myth making in the Bronx.

June records of Yankee opponents

Arizona: 14 – 13

Baltimore: 8 -17

Boston: 13 – 14

Chicago: 10 – 18

Colorado: 14 – 13

New York: 12 – 15

Oakland: 15-13

Pittsburgh: 10 – 15

San Francisco: 9 – 18

Combined record of Yankee opponents: 105 – 136

All-Star is Lone Star for Orioles

Roberts will go it alone in San Francisco

by Matthew Taylor

Congrats to Brian Roberts, who made the AL All-Star roster via the Player Ballot. He's the O's lone All-Star representative.

The Orioles official MLB website makes the case for Roberts:

"Roberts went into Sunday's game ranked first among his positional peers in on-base percentage (.412) and second in batting average (.326). As if that's not enough of a case, only one other American League second baseman with at least 200 at-bats had a higher slugging mark (.454). Roberts also leads the league with 25 stolen bases."

Dayn Perry of Fox Sports thinks Roberts should be starting instead of Placido Palanco.

Meanwhile, CBS Sportsline lists Jeremy Guthrie among its All-Star snubs.

Says Guthrie: "If you look around, there's a number of starters and relievers who are having really big years. It's just good to be considered."

By any measure, the AL pitching staff is a tough rotation to crack.

New Videos

Check out the sidebar for some new O's videos from YouTube, including a classic Earl Weaver tirade.

There's No "I" in Team

And there's only one "t" in Jeter, a fact that obviously was lost on a fan behind home plate at last night's O's game.

In other news from last night:

-The O's and Yankees are responsible for the rule change that cost the Birds a rain-shortened win. Or are they?

The AP and The Washington Post tell somewhat different stories about rule changes.

From the AP:

"Before 1980, the score would have reverted to the start of the inning, giving the Orioles a 6-4 win. But the rule was changed after a game on Aug. 13, 1978, when Baltimore led 3-0 after six innings and the Yankees scored five runs in the top of the seventh. "

From The Post:

"The game fell under a new rule enacted this offseason, which states that if weather halts a game mid-inning it becomes suspended and resumes from that point. If the game was official (with five innings in the books) and was called after a completed inning, it would have been over.

Had the game unfolded last season, the Orioles would have won. Under the old rule, the game is taken back to the last completed inning, and the result stands."

-Some player reactions to the umpires' decision to keep playing in the downpour:

Melvin Mora

"He just tried to make Jeter hit so they can score one run and they can get out of here. That's what I think," said Mora, making a comment that could draw attention from the commissioner's office.

Mora said that he couldn't even see the ball cross home plate, and told Tschida that before Jeter's at-bat.

"I just asked [Tschida], 'You don't think it's too wet?' And he just started yelling at me and cursing. I said, 'You don't have to curse at me for asking a question.' And he was upset. I said, 'This is worse than when you stopped the game when we were winning. Why aren't you going to stop it now? I can't even see the ball.' And he was just cursing and cursing and cursing, and I was like, 'OK, this is not good.'"

Chris Ray

"I've never pitched in rain like that before," Ray said. "I was just trying not to throw the ball to the backstop. When they called it in the seventh inning and we had something going and it wasn't raining nearly as hard, and then it's pouring down rain and we're just out there in terrible conditions."


Compiled by Matthew Taylor

The O's Get Snowed in the Rain

Decision to re-start game costs the O's a rain-shortened victory

By Matthew Taylor

It looked like the Orioles had taken the lead at just the right time on Thursday night. The team rallied to go ahead 6-4 in the 7th inning, the heavens opened, and the sweep of the Yankees seemed to be complete.

Instead, the game re-started after an 18-minute delay, giving the Yankees an opportunity to score four runs in monsoon-like conditions. The game was delayed - and later suspended - after New York took the lead. The teams will pick up where they left off (on July 27, according to The Sun) with New York leading 8-6 in the 8th inning. Presumably, the weather conditions will be different.

Here's the rule in question:

4.12 SUSPENDED GAMES.(a) A game shall become a suspended game that must be completed at a future date if the game is terminated for any of the following reasons: (1) A curfew imposed by law; (2) A time limit permissible under league rules; (3) Light failure or malfunction of a mechanical field device under control of the home club. (Mechanical field device shall include automatic tarpaulin or water removal equipment); (4) Darkness, when a law prevents the lights from being turned on; (5) Weather, if a regulation game is called while an inning is in progress and before the inning is completed, and the visiting team has scored one or more runs to take the lead, and the home team has not retaken the lead ....

Melvin Mora argued vigorously with umpires Tim Tschida and Jim Joyce at the start of the second rain delay that the game should've been halted sooner. Amen, Melvin. Amen.

Dempsey in Durham

MASN markets the Birds down South

by Matthew Taylor

The Durham Bulls have announced that Rick Dempsey will appear at the team's July 3rd game to sign autographs and throw out the first pitch.

Dempsey in Durham? It doesn't make sense on the face of it. The Bulls are affiliated with the Devil Rays; the Mudhens are affiliated with the Tigers. Check out the sponsor, though, and the picture becomes more clear.

It's a shrewd move by MASN to strengthen its ties to the North Carolina market. The Birds were the nearest Major League Baseball team until the Nats started playing ball in D.C., and O's games are regularly televised in the state.

Since MASN broadcasts both the O's and the Nationals, it doesn't matter which organization gets top billing at Durham Bulls Athletic Park (DBAP). However, the O's have more retired players with name recognition than do the Nats, and fans in North Carolina already have a history with the Birds.

If you haven't been to a game at the DBAP, it's well worth the drive. Having Rick Dempsey there is an added bonus. Time for a road trip.

"JULY 3RD CELEBRATION FEATURES FORMER MVP

Don't miss your chance to meet 1983 World Series MVP Rick Dempsey at the July 3rd game between the Durham Bulls and Toledo Mudhens presented by MASN. Before tossing out the ceremonial first pitch, Dempsey will host an autograph and photo session with from 6pm-6:45pm on the main concourse. Also during the game, the Bulls will wear special edition Red, White and Blue jerseys that will be auctioned off to benefit Meals on Wheels. Get your tickets here."
____________________
UPDATE: Turns out that MASN is actually fighting with Time Warner over channel position in North Carolina. The team - and perhaps more accurately, the network - needs all the positive publicity it can get, according to the News & Observer.

In an e-mail, Time Warner spokeswoman Melissa Buscher said that the cable provider believed Orioles and Nationals games were "of little interest" to its customers in North Carolina.

"MASN has insisted on carriage on our basic tier, which would result in almost all of our customers having to pay for a service which very few have any interest in," Buscher said.

Orioles games had been available in the Triangle for more than two decades until MASN obtained the baseball rights to this market from FSN South this season.

"When MASN pulled the rights to these games from Fox Sports Net in 2006, we received virtually no calls from customers," Buscher said.

The Return of the Feel-Good Moment

One series doesn't make a season, but it sure does feel good

by Matthew Taylor

They say in Annapolis that it doesn't matter what Navy's football team does any other game of the year as long as they beat Army. It's not exactly the same situation in Baltimore, but I do find that a Birds series win over the Yankees helps heal some of this fan's constant baseball pain.

Each series against New York is almost a season of its own, which means the O's are doing pretty well in 2007. Here are some of my favorite moments from the the first two games of this week's match-up with the Yankees:

-Rick Dempsey butchering player names in "O's Extra," including my personal favorite, Milk-y Cabrera.

-Learning that the Yankees have the fewest saves in baseball this season; yes, even fewer than the Orioles.

The only objective Yankee fan I know told me during the team's recent win streak that he didn't think they could catch the Red Sox - or even make the post-season, for that matter - because their bullpen is so bad. That's not something you commonly hear about the Yankees, but it has a nice ring to it.

-Zero strikeouts for Roger Clemens, ending his streak of 200 consecutive starts with at least one strikeout.

As usual, Joe Torre provided plenty of spin for the Rocket: "I think Roger, knowing the conditions, always has a plan. There was never really a situation where he needed a strikeout Roger was thinking more about contact than striking people out, though it was an oddity."

I hope the Rocket is sharing some of his ridiculous wealth with Torre for the manager's PR efforts.

-Denying Clemens win No. 350.

-My wife's comment after Aubrey Huff's three-run home run on Wednesday night: "I'm going to have to change my opinion of Aubrey Huff. I'm not used to him getting big hits."

No, hon, you were right in the first place.

-O's fans yelling "I got it" to Alex Rodriguez as he ranged into foul territory for the final out of the 7th inning.

-Chad Bradford ringing up Jorge Posada with a wicked third strike on a full count in the 8th inning. With two runners on, one out, and the tying run in the on-deck circle, the setting was starting to look all too familiar.

-Hearing cheers for the Birds in Camden Yards during a series against New York, including a very audible "Yankees Suck" number late in the game.

-With absolutely no apologies to John Sterling: "Orioles win! Theeeeeeeee Orioles win!"

-Waking up Thursday morning and reading an AP story with this wonderful lead:

"This was one personal accomplishment that Roger Clemens really wanted, mostly because it would provide the New York Yankees with a lift they desperately needed.

It was a win-win situation. Clemens earns his 350th victory, and the Yankees end a three-game losing streak.

Unfortunately for Clemens and the Yankees, that scenario did not play out Wednesday night at Camden Yards.

Clemens was denied his milestone win, his streak of consecutive starts with a
strikeout ended at 200, and the Yankees lost to the Baltimore Orioles 4-0."

Beltway Baseball Wasn't Always So Bad

37 years ago today it would've been fun to be at the ballpark

by Matthew Taylor

The present ain't so good, the future's not so bright, so why not relish the Orioles' glorious past?

On this day in 1970 Frank Robinson hit two grand slams for the Birds as the O's defeated the Washington Senators 12-2. Check out the box score for the game, and you'll see the 8 RBIs next to Robinson's name. For his career, Robinson hit eight grand slams.

According to Baseball Almanac, only 12 players have hit two Grand Slams in a game, and three of them were Orioles: Jim Gentile (May 9, 1961); Robinson; and Chris Hoiles (Aug. 14, 1998).

Overall, Robinson batted .306, with 25 home runs, and 78 RBIs in 1970. He had a .398 on-base percentage, and a .520 slugging percentage. He walked just one less time (69) than he struck out (70), impressive numbers for a slugger.

As for the Birds, they won 108 games in 1970, taking the division by 15 games over the Yankees and beating the Cincinnati Reds in the World Series. The team featured three 20-game winners (Jim Palmer, Mike Cuellar, and Dave McNally), three Gold Glove winners (Brooks Robinson, Paul Blair, and Davey Johnson), three future Hall of Famers (the Robinsons and Jim Palmer) and the AL MVP (Boog Powell).

Yankees Find Fools Gold

June record is as deceiving as Torre's explanation for it
By Matthew Taylor

Yankee fans will boisterously tell you that the franchise is the best at, well, everything. Modesty does not come in pinstripes.

One thing in particular that the Bronx Bombers are good at is myth making. The organization has more legends - real and imagined - than perhaps any other professional sports team. From announcers to managers to players, myth making in New York is part of the job description.

On Saturday, Joe Torre attempted to add to Roger Clemens' real legend with what, if you're being generous, could be called hype. If you're being realistic, it's called propaganda. Pinstripe propaganda. More myth.

Asked to explain his team's recent run of success during one of Fox baseball's "informative" in-game interviews, Torre used the opportunity to blandish the Rocket. In short, Torre's thinking went, Clemens is the reason the Yankees have turned things around this month. Which, of course, is exactly what Clemens wants people to think. Too bad it's not true.

If Torre were being honest he could've offered a much simpler explanation for the Yankees' 14-6 record in June prior to Saturday's game against the San Francisco Giants: weak competition.

Aside from the Red Sox, whom the Yankees took two of three from to start the month, the combined monthly record for Yankee opponents in June is 46-71, good for a .393 winning percentage. Overall, those teams (the White Sox, Pirates, Diamondbacks, Mets, Rockies, and Giants) are a combined 209-225 for the season, good for a .481 winning percentage. In other words, the teams the Yankees have played during their win streak are either (a) not very good (the White Sox, Pirates, and Giants) or (b) they are slumping (the Mets).

Sure, the Mets are battling for first place in the NL East, but they headed into the Yankees series riding a four-game losing streak and having lost 10 of 12. The Yankees beat a slumping team.

Or consider the Rockies, the one hot team the Yankees have played since ripping off nine straight wins. Colorado came into the Yankees series having won 10 of 15 and continued their winning ways by sweeping the Evil Empire, who had previously won 10 of 12.

The truth is that the Yankees aren't as bad as their early-season run of futility would indicate. But they're also not as good as their June record suggests. And the Rocket is just a small part of it all.

Next up for New York: the Orioles. The trend continues.
____________________________________

Monthly Records of the Yankees' June Opponents (through Friday, June 22)
*Red Sox not included

White Sox: 5-15
29-41 overall, next to last place in the AL Central

Pirates: 8-12
31-42 overall, next to last place in NL Central

Diamondbacks: 10-9
42-32 overall, tied for second in the NL West

Mets (2 of 3): 5-14
39-32 overall, first place in the NL East

Rockies: 13-6
38-36 overall, next to last in the NL West

Giants: 5-15
30-42 overall, last place in the NL West

Combined opponents' records

June: 46-71, .393 winning percentage

Overall: 209-225, .481 winning percentage

And a Pitching Coach to Be Named Later

Mazzone, and the O's as a jilted lover

By Matthew Taylor

We don't know if the Orioles will lose Leo Mazzone when his contract expires after the 2008 season, but we do know who the Birds lost in order to acquire Mazzone: current Myrtle Beach Pelicans Pitcher Moises Hernandez.

Hernandez, the older brother of Seattle Mariners Ace Felix Hernandez, currently leads the Carolina League with nine wins. Hernandez (9-2, 3.09 ERA) was named to the Carolina League All-Star roster this season and pitched in the Carolina League vs. California League All-Star Game on June 19, hurling one inning and allowing two runs on two hits.

The Birds signed Hernandez in 2001. He was sent to the Atlanta Braves as compensation for Pitching Coach Leo Mazzone leaving to join the O's.

Attendance decline continues at Camden Yards;
Fans busy "washing their hair"

Is it just me, or is the Orioles' search for a new manager starting to resemble a bad dating experience?

Joe Girardi and Dusty Baker have both stated in some form that: they're flattered by the team's interest in them; the timing isn't right; and it's just not the right fit.

Girardi: In an interview with The Sun yesterday, Girardi, 42, didn't get into specifics, but said repeatedly that the job just wasn't a good fit for him right now.

"I was flattered that the Orioles called me," said Girardi. "It's a great city, a great organization. I have the utmost respect for Andy. As a coach or a player, I always loved going there [to Baltimore]. I am not going to get into a whole lot, but it just wasn't the right time for my family. I was impressed. But timing-wise, it just wasn't right."

Baker: "To me, the Orioles are a great organization and everything, and my passion is baseball," Baker said. "I want to get back into managing, but only if the right situation comes. Right now, it's a bit early for me. At this point, I would probably say it's not the right fit right now."

Next, Davey Johnson will tell Peter Angelos, "It's not you, it's me."