Talking to Bergesen

Talking to Bergesen
Brad Bergesen continued his running program yesterday, the third time he's picked up the pace without having any issues with his leg. Bergesen told me that he starts with a five-minute walk, then a five-minute run, then a five-minute power walk. "It all felt good," he said. "I've been doing my core training for three weeks now, going into a fourth. Everything's good. I still feel (the leg) a little, but I'm able to do everything. It's not like it's painful or anything." Asked if...
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To Dye for

To Dye for
A report from FOXSports.com that free-agent outfielder Jermaine Dye is willing to play first base next season, and how he could be "a right-handed hitting alternative at first for several clubs, including the Braves, Mets, Giants and Orioles," has stirred up some readers. It's important to stress that the report doesn't state that the Orioles are interested. They're just tossed into the mix because they need a first baseman and a right-handed bat for the middle of their lineup. Back on...
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Welcome Matt

Welcome Matt
I caught up to pitcher Matt Albers yesterday as he was heading to the Texans-Titans game (I didn't have the heart to tell him that I took Tennessee +4 ½). For the past two weeks, Albers and Triple-A Norfolk left-hander Troy Patton have been working out at a facility about 20 minutes north of Houston. "There are about 20 to 25 guys who either play pro ball or just finished," Albers said. Albers won't start throwing until mid-December, but it's more important for him...
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Updating Hendrickson

Updating Hendrickson
Free-agent pitcher Mark Hendrickson isn't preoccupied with thoughts of his next contract. He got married over the weekend, so his priorities have shifted. Hendrickson just told me that he remains encouraged that he'll re-sign with the Orioles, but nothing is imminent. "Right now, it's always kind of tough because it's the Thanksgiving week. Usually, everything slows to a crawl in the world of Major League Baseball," he said. "If I don't hear anything, we've already had discussions...
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Which Orioles rookie isn't Topps? (Updated)

Which Orioles rookie isn't Topps? (Updated)
Topps is unveiling its 51st All-Rookie team this morning, and a certain highly touted and much-publicized Oriole went ignored. Matt Wieters didn't make the list. I'll take my eggs over-easy, with a side of outrage. The New York Mets' Omir Santos beat out Wieters for top (or Topp) rookie catcher after batting .260 with 14 doubles, seven homers, 40 RBIs and a .688 OPS in 281 at-bats. Wieters batted .288 with 15 doubles, nine homers, 43 RBIs and a .753 OPS in 354 at-bats. I forgot that...
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Liz is gone (updated)

Liz is gone (updated)
The San Diego Padres have claimed pitcher Radhames Liz off waivers. Now he can be reunited with Oscar Salazar. Liz, 26, appeared in two games with the Orioles this season and allowed 10 earned runs in 1 1/3 innings. He was 4-1 with a 2.63 ERA in eight starts with Double-A Bowie, and 0-3 with a 5.68 ERA in 17 games (six starts) with Triple-A Norfolk. Live arm, bad mechanics. The Padres must figure out what to do with Liz, something the Orioles never did. Is he a starter or a two-inning power...
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Many thanks

Many thanks
Happy Thanksgiving to everyone. I hope you ate a light breakfast. Today is a marathon of eating, not a sprint. Pace yourselves. So is it the tryptophan in the turkey that makes you drowsy, or the carbohydrates in the potatoes and stuffing? Or maybe it's the boxed wine. That's my theory. We tend to blame the turkey, but it's apparently built around a myth. Says so here, too. I always eat too much and then collapse on the couch. My sister volunteers to turn me over every 30 minutes so...
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Not getting Miggy with it

Not getting Miggy with it
I'll be heading to Ocean Pines later today with my daughter, who retains complete control of the radio, to spend the weekend with my parents, sister and niece. I barely moved from my couch yesterday while going 1-2 picking against the spread. I guess somebody woke up the Broncos. Just my luck. I allowed my daughter to accept an invitation to spend Thanksgiving with her best friend's family. The kid suffers enough from my cooking. I figured that she deserved a break. And I knew she'd have...
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Kids in the Hall

Kids in the Hall
I received my Hall of Fame ballot earlier today from the BBWAA, which must mean I'm eligible to vote for the first time. Newcomers to the ballot include former Orioles Roberto Alomar, David Segui, Pat Hentgen and Todd Zeile. Alomar most certainly deserves induction, though perhaps not on the first ballot. He won 10 Gold Gloves and was a career .300 hitter with 2,724 hits, 210 home runs and 474 stolen bases. He also was named MVP of the American League Championship Series in 1992 and the...
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Tiger and Edgar

Tiger and Edgar
Until more details surface that might change my mind, I'm nominating the Tiger Woods "crash" as the biggest non-story of 2009. Early reports had Woods involved in a "serious automobile accident," as if it could be life-threatening. Later, we found out that he suffered "lacerations" to his face and was released from the hospital. Lacerations: n. A jagged wound or cut. See also: Scrape. It's like calling a bruise a "contusion." Sounds worse than it is. I don't care why Woods was...
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Selig's days numbered?

Selig's days numbered?
The Chicago Tribune is reporting that Bud Selig will step down as commissioner of Major League baseball following the 2012 season. According to sources, Selig informed owners of his decision last month during a meeting in Chicago. Andy MacPhail has been the rumored successor to Selig since the day he joined the Orioles' front office as president of baseball operations. As The Tribune's Phil Rogers notes, MacPhail would be a popular choice among owners. If MacPhail isn't the frontrunner...
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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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