Scott Feldman settles in with the Orioles, looks forward to his next start for his new team

During the 2005 season, right-hander Scott Feldman made his major league debut for the Texas Rangers, who were managed by Buck Showalter. Now, several years later, he is reunited with his first big league skipper here in Baltimore. Feldman is settling in with his new team after the July 2 trade that sent him from the Chicago Cubs to the Orioles. He said he had heard he might be traded, but thought it would come closer to the July 31 trade deadline. "It was exciting to pick up a few games in the standings," Feldman said of the deal. "I did have a good experience in Chicago, I liked all those guys and that part was a little tough. But it was easy coming into an environment like this, a winning team and good group of guys." In his first O's start, he gave up two runs in six innings against the White Sox. In his second on Monday night, Feldman allowed seven runs and nine hits over 5 1/3 innings against his former Texas team. He is still looking for his first O's win. "There is definitely some room for improvement. I'd like to get deeper in the game, more than six innings. But I want to keep pitching the way I have been," Feldman said. "Stay confident and keep doing what I've been doing because it's been a pretty good year so far." Feldman was having a good year with the Cubs, with a record of 7-6 and 3.46 ERA in 15 starts at the time of the trade. He said the key to the good season was not a specific pitch, but more about experience he has gained in parts of nine seasons in the big leagues. "Just being smarter (helped me this year)," he said. "The more you are in the game, the more you learn about yourself and about the opposing hitters and the more confidence you can gain." Feldman is the third Hawaiian-born player in Orioles history, joining infielder Lenn Sakata (1980-85) and pitcher Sid Fernandez (1994-95). As he gets set for his third O's start, coming up tomorrow against Toronto, he wants to concentrate on command of his pitches for that outing. "Just hitting my spots. If I do that and am ahead in the count, that is usually when I'm having my better days," he said.