The Commish

The Commish
Tigers Woods and his wife requested that police delay interviewing them about "the accident" until today. I didn't know you could do that. The next time I'm pulled over for a traffic violation, I'm going to request that the officer hold off writing the ticket until later. Give me some time to collect my thoughts. Somewhere, John Daly is breathing a huge sigh of relief (and destroying a breakfast burrito). For once, it isn't him. So who's backing up Dennis Dixon tonight? Cliff...
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Countdown to Indy

Countdown to Indy
We learned one thing about Ravens rookie linebacker Paul Kruger last night: He has tight end hands. That wasn't an easy pick, and it might have saved the Ravens' season. If I'm Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger, I'm pulling Hines Ward aside this morning, slamming his head with a 2-by-4 and asking whether he'll start on Sunday. The countdown to the winter meetings has officially started for me. I fly to Indianapolis on Sunday, which means I must check-in online exactly 24 hours...
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This and that

This and that
New nomination for most annoying commercial: The Hillshire Farms "Go Meat!" ads. They make me want to smash out the back window of my car with a kielbasa. Sports Illustrated has named Derek Jeter as its Sportsman of the Year. He's the first Yankee to be honored since the magazine created the award in 1954. Would you feel better about the choice if he played for the Royals? Is that look on your face a product of his pinstripes? I've always respected Jeter's work ethic and the way he...
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A time for sharing

A time for sharing
I'd like to step outside the MLB rumor mill for a few seconds and point out that the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim voted a full postseason share to the estate of Nick Adenhart, the rookie pitcher who was tragically killed in an automobile accident in April. A press release from MLB reported that a full share for the champion New York Yankees totaled a record $365,052.73, while the runner-up Philadelphia Phillies received $265,357.50. The value of each full share for the Angels came to...
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One fewer in front office?

One fewer in front office?
FOXSports' Ken Rosenthal, via Twitter, is reporting that Orioles special assistant Wayne Krivsky has accepted a job with the New York Mets. Says so right here. The Orioles haven't made an announcement and I'm trying to get confirmation at this late hour. Rosenthal doesn't include a new job title for Krivsky, the former Cincinnati Reds GM who joined the Orioles in November 2008. Update: It's apparently true (not that I ever doubted Rosenthal). Look for the Mets to make it official,...
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This and that

This and that
Triple-A Norfolk was 1-for-10 with runners in scoring position yesterday. Must be contagious. The Orioles have a variety of issues, including Brian Roberts' injury and late-inning bullpen implosions, but the lack of clutch hitting has destroyed the first week of their season. They're 9-for-54 (.167) with RISP after going 1-for-8 in yesterday's 5-2 loss. The Orioles are 1-5 for the first time since 2002, when they finished 67-95. They need to stomp on the brakes before they skid off...
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Swept away (with Trembley post game video)

Swept away (with Trembley post game video)
Swept by the Toronto Blue Jays. It's painful to type, it's painful to read. And it makes me want to burn my pocket schedule - while it's still in my pocket. Three home games with Tampa, followed by a West Coast trip that ends in Boston (I guess Adrian Beltre was right about Boston being on the West Coast.) Three home games against the Yankees and three against the Red Sox, the last two taking us into May. Anyone want to project the Orioles' record as they head to Yankee Stadium? Dave...
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Sudden reversal

Sudden reversal
One strike away from carrying his lead into the ninth inning, Kevin Millwood served up a two-run homer to Toronto's Jose Bautista, moving the Blue Jays ahead, 3-2, and quieting the debate over the closer issue. After hanging a curveball to Bautista, Millwood made another mistake pitch to Alex Gonzalez, who followed with his second home run today. Blue Jays 4, Orioles 2. The two-out rally began with Miguel Tejada's error at third base. Matt Albers has replaced Millwood, who never got that...
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Going deep in the game (updated)

Going deep in the game (updated)
Kevin Millwood has taken the mound for the top of the seventh inning, and he's showing no signs of surrendering the lead or the ball. Millwood's thrown only 61 pitches, 42 for strikes. One strike he'd like back is the long home run by Alex Gonzalez in the fourth inning. Millwood has held the Blue Jays to three hits, but the Orioles have left seven runners on base and cling to a 2-1 lead. We're debating who's going to pitch the ninth in a save situation. We know it won't be Mike...
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Getting Miggi with it

Getting Miggi with it
Don't look now, but your cleanup hitter has six RBIs. Miguel Tejada's one-out double in the first inning scored Adam Jones, who reached on an error. Nick Markakis raced home on Luke Scott's grounder. Both runs off Toronto starter Shaun Marcum are unearned. Orioles 2, Blue Jays 0. Anybody want to close out this game today? We're taking volunteers. Tejada, by the way, is 6-for-13 with a homer and six RBIs with runners on base. He's 0-for-9 with the bases empty.
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Turner heading here (updated)

Turner heading here (updated)
Infielder Justin Turner is leaving Triple-A Norfolk and coming to Baltimore today, which would indicate that the Orioles are ready to place second baseman Brian Roberts on the disabled list. Turner's primary position is second. He's also on the 40-man roster. Turner is 2-for-8 with a run scored, two walks and three strikeouts in two games with the Tides. He hit .300 in 108 games with Norfolk last season, and .167 with three RBIs in 12 games as a rookie with the Orioles. Julio Lugo figures...
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Updates on Uehara and Roberts

Updates on Uehara and Roberts
Koji Uehara will throw 25 pitches off a mound today unless his allergies act up again. Seriously, though, he's finally got a bullpen session scheduled in Sarasota after being restricted to throwing off flat ground. He's eligible to come off the disabled list today, but it won't happen anytime soon. He hasn't faced batters in a long time. Brian Roberts will be reexamined today, and it's possible that the club will place him on the disabled list after today's game. Manager Dave Trembley...
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Today's lineups

Today's lineups
For the Orioles: Felix Pie LF Adam Jones CF Nick Markakis RF Miguel Tejada 3B Luke Scott DH Matt Wieters C Ty Wigginton 1B Julio Lugo 2B Cesar Izturis SS Kevin Millwood RHP Second baseman Brian Roberts is listed among the reserves again today. So is Craig Tatum, who figured to start following a night game, but remains on the bench. For the Blue Jays: Bautista RF Gonzalez SS Lind DH Wells CF Overbay 1B Buck C Encarnacion 3B Snider LF McDonald 2B Marcum RHP
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Post-game remarks (with Trembley video)

Post-game remarks (with Trembley video)
Here's the opening statement from Orioles manager Dave Trembley: "(David) Hernandez pitched well, but their guy pitched better. That's it. We didn't score any runs. Had limited opportunities. Needed a couple hits and didn't get them. I'll take the way Hernandez pitched. We'll win some games if he pitches like that." Looking at the first five games of the season, Trembley said, "We played competitive baseball. The games are close. We've had, for the most part, well-pitched games out...
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So much for that idea (updated)

So much for that idea (updated)
With two outs in the fourth inning and first base open, the Orioles decided to walk Travis Snider intentionally and bring No. 9 hitter Jose Molina to the plate. Not a bad plan - except David Hernandez drilled Molina to force in the tie-breaking run. Blue Jays 1, Orioles 0. Hernandez's 93 mph fastball hit Molina in the fleshy part. No need to get specific. Just know that it was Molina, so it was fleshy. Maybe the pitch was retaliation for Blue Jays starter Dana Eveland nailing the...
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The heat is on

The heat is on
David Hernandez might want to get that fastball down in the zone. He was living the high life in the first inning, which is dangerous. but his velocity seemed fine. Hernandez was pumping his fastball at 94-95 mph in the first inning, when he stranded two runners to keep the game scoreless. He got two strikes on Lyle Overbay with 94 mph heat, then induced a pop up on an 84 mph slider to end the inning. Jose Bautista struck out on an 81 mph slider before Adam Lind doubled with two outs and...
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Still updating Gonzalez (because I can)

Still updating Gonzalez (because I can)
Closer Mike Gonzalez sounds encouraged after going over some video with pitching coach Rick Kranitz and conferring with him about the mechanical flaws that, they hope, are causing him to fly off the mound and mishandle leads. "I definitely saw some things that I couldn't see, obviously, when you're on the mound," Gonzalez said. "I was doing some different things that I hadn't done prior in the years that I've been doing this. It was a big difference and I'm thankful that Kranny was...
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Still updating Roberts (because I can)

Still updating Roberts (because I can)
Second baseman Brian Roberts estimated that it could be four to six days before he's ready to play, but he remains hopeful that he'll avoid a trip to the disabled list. Roberts said he feels "actually a little better than I thought." "I was definitely pretty sore last night, but woke up feeling encouraged. The recovery process is a little better than I thought." This is Roberts' first strained abdominal muscle. We'll all remember where we were the day it happened. "I don't know if...
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Blue Jays lineup

Blue Jays lineup
Mike McCoy 2B Jose Bautista RF Adam Lind DH Vernon Wells CF Lyle Overbay 1B Edwin Encarnacion 3B Alex Gonzalez SS Travis Snider LF Jose Molina C Dana Eveland LHP
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Trembley talks about Gonzalez

Trembley talks about Gonzalez
Orioles manager Dave Trembley and pitching coach Rick Kranitz met with beleaguered closer Mike Gonzalez before the clubhouse opened to the media today. Trembley and Kranitz discussed the video they watched of Gonzalez last year, compared to what he's shown in three appearances this week. "I don't think it has anything to do with pressure. I don't think it has anything to do with injury," Trembley said. "I don't believe it has anything to do with anything other than the fact that he...
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