After months of competition, we have a first here in the O's Buzz in awarding our final 'Where in the Yard?' winner of the 2010 season. Amazingly, we haven't had any ties for the lead or repeat winners - at least until now. In beating the rest of Birdland to the punch three our of the four weeks in September (and thus securing an extra bonus point in three of the four rounds), Charles B from SP took home his second 'Where in the Yard?' crown during the final month of the Orioles'...

It's Thursday, it's raining...enough already. Way too soon to pass along postponement information, but I'd be shocked if we have a game tonight. I'd greatly appreciate final word coming before I drive to Camden Yards, but the chances of it happening are pretty slim. There might be a "window" somewhere later tonight. I'd keep it shut so the rug doesn't get wet. See what happens when you fill up Tropicana Field? The players freak out and they can't score. The Orioles took two of...

There are so many encouraging stats to pick from since Buck Showalter took over as manager of the Orioles. How about these: The Orioles went 1-14 in series vs. AL East foes before Buck and with Buck they won five of nine series vs. the East. Before Buck, they were 10-35 in games in the division and with Buck they went 14-13. O's record vs. AL East teams with Buck: *vs. Tampa: 5-4 *vs. NYY: 3-3 *vs. Boston: 3-3 *vs. Toronto: 3-3 The East seems like less of a Beast these days. Maybe...

Koji Uehara picked up his 11th save tonight to preserve a 2-0 victory over the Rays, striking out two more batters while retiring the side in order. Since allowing Alex Rodriguez's three-run homer on Sept. 17, Uehara hasn't given up a hit, run or walk in five appearances covering five innings. He's struck out 11 batters, many of them with the splitter that he abandoned in that game against the Yankees. Uehara has walked five and struck out 52 in 42 innings this season. I'll say it again:...

If this was Kevin Millwood's last outing in an Orioles uniform, he sure left on a high note. Millwood gave up just two hits, both bloop singles, over seven innings, as the Orioles beat Tampa 2-0, to win the series at Tropicana Field. O's pitching recorded two shutouts and allowed just 12 hits in this series. Millwood, who threw just 50 pitches over the first four innings, walked three with seven strikeouts. This was just his second win on the year in 27 starts vs. American League...

Kevin Millwood made it through the first inning without allowing a run and decided to keep going. Millwood has surrendered only one hit through five scoreless innings, walking one and striking out four. Matt Joyce reached on a two-out error on left fielder Corey Patterson, but Millwood fanned B.J. Upton. What is it about pop ups and shallow fly balls that perplex the Orioles? In his previous start, Millwood gave up six runs and seven hits over five innings at Fenway Park. A week later,...

Nationals second baseman Danny Espinosa is preparing to finish up the season strong and then play winter ball for one month in Puerto Rico for Ponce. Espinosa feels that playing winter ball will help refine his hitting skills and will give him more reps at second base after the major league season concludes. "I am very excited," Espinosa said. "I am really looking forward to the opportunity. I think that it is going to be great for my hitting, especially. That is the main reason I am...

"IT'S RAINING!" "Thanks, Roch." I know there's some curiosity over tomorrow's dreadful forecast and how it could impact the game against the Detroit Tigers that kicks off the final homestand of the season. It's too early to provide any definitive answers, but after checking around earlier today, I've learned that the two teams would likely play a doubleheader on Friday. Tomorrow night's tilt, meaningless as far as the playoff picture is concerned, wouldn't simply disappear from...

Orioles reliever Alfredo Simon had his suspension reduced from three games to two, and he'll begin serving it tonight. Simon appealed the original ruling from Bob Watson, MLB's vice president of rules and on-field operations, which stemmed from Sunday's incident in Toronto when Simon was ejected after hitting Jose Bautista with a pitch. Both benches had been warned after Bautista and Luke Scott were hit earlier in the game. The Blue Jays accused Simon of intentionally throwing at Bautista,...

For the Orioles: LF Corey Patterson 3B Ty Wigginton DH Nick Markakis 1B Luke Scott C Matt Wieters CF Adam Jones RF Felix Pie 2B Robert Andino SS Cesar Izturis RHP Kevin Millwood For the Rays: C John Jaso 2B Ben Zobrist LF Carl Crawford 3B Dan Johnson 1B Carlos Pena RF Matt Joyce CF B.J. Upton DH Brad Hawpe SS Jason Bartlett RHP Jeff Niemann