Sports News and Trade Rumors: Pro Sports Daily

Three O's executives to attend GM meetings

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November 7

Baltimore Sun

"The Orioles will be represented by three members of their front office at next week's general manager meetings in Chicago. President of baseball operations Andy MacPhail, special assistant Wayne Krivsky and director of baseball operations Matt Klentak will attend the meetings, which run Tuesday and Wednesday. Unlike the winter meetings in December, the general manager meetings are considered more of a low-key gathering in which little news is typically made. Free agents, for instance, cannot be signed by a new club until mid-November. Much of the time spent in Chicago will be in meetings with a "Major League Baseball-driven agenda," according to MacPhail. "I don't anticipate a great amount ..."

O's outright Hill, McCrory and Simon

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October 31

Baltimore Sun

"Rich Hill, Bob McCrory and Alfredo Simon, three pitchers who had arm surgeries this year, passed through waivers and were outrighted off the Orioles' 40-man roster Friday. Hill and Simon, along with outfielder Jeff Fiorentino and catcher Guillermo Rodriguez, who were outrighted Thursday, now have eight days to decide whether they want to elect free agency. It's expected that all four will become free agents, though they still will have the option of re-signing with the Orioles."

O's meet with Cuban lefty Chapman

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October 31

Baltimore Sun

"Orioles international scouting director John Stockstill met Friday with free-agent Cuban left-hander Aroldis Chapman and his agent Edwin Mejia in New York. Stockstill, who watched the highly coveted 21-year-old pitch in the World Baseball Classic in March, said he was impressed by Chapman. "He's willing and interested to come and visit Baltimore," Stockstill said. While the Orioles maintain interest, it's highly doubtful they will be serious bidders if Chapman's reported asking price -- between $40 million and $60 million in a long-term deal -- is accurate."

Hendrickson hopes O's won't wait

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October 31

Baltimore Sun

"When the World Series ends, the Orioles' exclusive 15-day negotiating window with would-be free-agent pitcher Mark Hendrickson will begin. And while that period usually comes and goes for most free agents without any serious negotiations, Hendrickson's agent is hopeful that his client's experience with the Orioles will be different. "We won't wait just for the purpose of waiting," said Joe Urbon of CAA Sports. "They have an exclusive window to talk and try to get something done, and I would hope that they'd use it because I know that's what Mark would like. "There have been indications and a vibe that there is an interest in the Orioles in having him back, and Mark has made it clear that ..."

Orioles decline Mora's 2010 option

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October 30

Baltimore Sun

"The Orioles announced Thursday that they won't exercise third baseman Melvin Mora's $8 million option for the 2010 season, an expected move that will likely end the tenure of one of their most productive and popular players over the past decade. The team could try to re-sign him for less, but that appears unlikely with Mora coming off one of the worst offensive seasons of his career and both sides seemingly ready to head in different directions. "We'll see how the offseason unfolds," president of baseball operations Andy MacPhail said. "There are a lot of twists and turns. You never say never." In a series of roster moves Thursday, the Orioles also declined the $850,000 option on catcher ..."

O's end season with four-game winning streak

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October 5

Baltimore Sun

"A walk-off win was the best possible way for the Orioles to end an otherwise disappointing 2009 season. But in typical Orioles fashion, the circumstances made it hard to get overly excited about the victory. There was no game-ending home run or even a game-winning single. The Orioles' 5-4 victory over the Toronto Blue Jays on Sunday was achieved when reliever Brandon League made back-to-back throwing errors on sacrifice bunt attempts in the 11th inning. "It was certainly a strange final day," Orioles second baseman Brian Roberts said. "You don't expect to play extra innings, and you certainly don't expect to end it on back-to-back bunt throwing errors. It's good for us to end with four ..."

Baltimore Closes On 11-Inning High Note

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October 5

Washington Post

"A walk-off win was the best possible way for the Baltimore Orioles to end an otherwise disappointing 2009 season. But in typical Orioles fashion, the circumstances made it hard to get overly excited about the victory. There was no game-ending home run or even a game-winning single. The Orioles' 5-4 victory over the Toronto Blue Jays on Sunday was achieved when reliever Brandon League made back-to-back throwing errors on sacrifice bunt attempts in the 11th inning. "It was certainly a strange final day," Orioles second baseman Brian Roberts said. "You don't expect to play extra innings, and you certainly don't expect to end it on back-to-back bunt throwing errors. It's good for us to end ..."

Fired GMs have different philosophies

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October 4

San Francisco Chronicle

columnist John Shea

"When Kevin Towers and J.P. Ricciardi were fired Saturday, it showed no method as a general manager is foolproof. Towers made his rise to the majors as a scout, Ricciardi as an assistant to Billy Beane. Both are good guys, accommodating and respected among their peers, and both had tall orders - positioned in divisions in which others spent much more. In San Diego, the Padres will always be the Dodgers' little brother, trying to outdo their northern rivals and sometimes one-upping them. Four of the Padres' five division titles came on Towers' watch, and this year's team, out of it early, did a nice job as spoilers while going 36-24 since late July. It wasn't Towers' fault that former owner ..."

Most Valuable Oriole a big deal to Roberts

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October 4

Baltimore Sun

"Orioles second baseman Brian Roberts said he didn't set out this season to justify the four-year, $40 million extension he signed in February. One year in, though, he admits it's a nice feeling to reward the organization for making the investment. For the second time in his career, Roberts is the recipient of the Louis M. Hatter Most Valuable Oriole Award, voted on by media that cover the team on a regular basis. He was presented with the award before Saturday night's game against the Toronto Blue Jays. Roberts, who turns 32 on Friday, established career highs this season in doubles, runs scored and RBIs and set a major league record for doubles by a switch-hitter with 56. "It's not ..."

Rise of young O's builds hope

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October 4

Baltimore Sun

"The Orioles needed a last-week winning streak to avoid the third 100-loss campaign in team history, their first since 1988. They were assured of a 12th straight losing season 3 1/2 weeks ago, even before the club dropped 13 straight September games, the longest losing streak in the major leagues in 2009 and the third longest in team history. Not only are the Orioles firmly situated in last place - they're 39 games back of the American League East-winning New York Yankees and 12 behind the fourth-place Toronto Blue Jays - they have also clinched the worst record in the AL. They were overmatched on the road (25-56) and overwhelmed (23-48) within their division. But when members of the ..."

Orioles needed to go in different direction

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October 4

Baltimore Sun

columnist Kevin Cowherd

"Bringing Dave Trembley back as the Orioles' manager isn't just surprising - it's shocking. How do you not change managers after another disastrous second-half collapse and one of the worst seasons in team history? How do you not change managers when the mandate was to get better as the season progressed and avoid the usual post-All Star Game meltdown - and neither one happened? How do you develop a winning attitude with your young players when there's no change in leadership after a season that included inconceivable base-running blunders, fundamental fielding mistakes and veterans who seemed to mail it in at the end? And how do you tell your shrinking and demoralized fan base after 12 ..."

Orioles avert 100-loss season

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October 4

Baltimore Sun

"As the losses continued to mount, most of the Orioles said that dropping 100 games didn't matter. They contended that it would be no different had they lost 95 games or any other bloated total that got them sent home for the offseason rather than to the playoffs. Yet, when they beat the Toronto Blue Jays, 6-3, before an announced 23,254 on Saturday night at Camden Yards and ensured that there would be no 100-loss season, a sense of relief permeated the Orioles' clubhouse. As it turns out, the current Orioles very much wanted to avoid becoming the third team in franchise history to lose 100 games. With their third-straight victory, the Orioles improved to 63-98 heading into this afternoon's ..."

Bitter end to Jays' season at hand

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October 4

Toronto Star

columnist Richard Griffin

"There was a certain feeling of finality regarding the Blue Jays' season. It felt as though it should be over. The general manager had been fired. The president and the owner had met with the players to thank them for their efforts. But at the conclusion of Saturday's sloppy 6-3 loss to the Baltimore Orioles it turned out there was still one more game to be played, with only a chance to finish at a disappointing 76 wins with a victory. It brings to mind the age-old baseball axiom, "It's not a sprint, it's a marathon." And, as with many marathon runners who hit a figurative wall somewhere near the end of the race, many among the Jays' rookie starting pitchers felt exhausted, including Scott ..."

With Win, O's Avoid Ignominious Milestone

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October 4

Washington Post

"Regardless of what the Orioles do in today's season finale, it still will go down as a bad baseball season in Baltimore. It just won't be remembered as a historically bad one. The 2009 Orioles ensured that they will not be the third 100-loss team in franchise history. They beat the Toronto Blue Jays, 6-3, before an announced 23,254 Saturday night at Camden Yards, to improve to 63-98 with just one game to play. They also secured their first three-game winning streak since June 19-21 when they swept the Philadelphia Phillies in one of the highlights of their season. With losses Saturday night and in Sunday afternoon's series finale, the Orioles would have been the franchise's first team to ..."

Aubrey, O's lift Trembley

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October 3

Baltimore Sun

"Orioles manager Dave Trembley was aware of what had happened the last two times he was given a vote of confidence by president of baseball operations Andy MacPhail: the worst loss in Orioles history in 2007 and one of the most embarrassing innings in recent memory in 2008. So, when MacPhail told Trembley on Friday afternoon that his option for 2010 was being picked up, the elephant in the room rumbled onto the field at Camden Yards. "When I was up in Andy's office, that topic was brought up," Trembley said. "'Make sure you don't repeat that performance tonight, Mr. Trembley.' But it wasn't said so gingerly by Andy." The fears were allayed as the Orioles bashed the Blue Jays, 13-7, thanks ..."

Orioles applaud Trembley news

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October 3

Baltimore Sun

"Moments after Andy MacPhail announced that embattled Orioles manager Dave Trembley would return for 2010, several of the players echoed the thoughts of their president of baseball operations. Trembley did the best he could in this disaster of a season. And next year's team has to be better, for his sake and theirs. "I like it. He has been put in a tough situation with injuries," right fielder Nick Markakis said of the decision to pick up Trembley's option. "This is the most young guys we have had come up at one time in a while. He has managed them well. Protected them well. Did his job. And next year, we will try to make the team better and go from there." Trembley will return for his ..."

Bringing back Trembley makes no sense

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October 3

Baltimore Sun

columnist Kevin Cowherd

"Bringing Dave Trembley back as the Orioles' manager isn't just surprising - it's shocking. How do you not change managers after another disastrous second-half collapse and one of the worst seasons in team history? How do you not change managers when the mandate was to get better as the season progressed and avoid the usual post-All Star Game meltdown - and neither one happened? How do you develop a winning attitude with your young players when there's no change in leadership after a season that included inconceivable base-running blunders, fundamental fielding mistakes and veterans who seemed to mail it in at the end? And how do you tell your shrinking and demoralized fan base after 12 ..."

Trembley: So now we know

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October 3

Baltimore Sun

columnist Peter Schmuck

"If you recall, there was a school of thought – related here – that the decision to retain Dave Trembley was made before Andy MacPhail traded away closer George Sherrill and cleanup hitter Aubrey Huff. I don't know if that was actually the case, but it was logical in the wake of earlier statements by MacPhail that Trembley's future would depend, at least to some degree, on the performance of the team during the final weeks of the season. The rationale: MacPhail is a fair man and it would not have been fair to put the carrot and stick in front of Trembley at the start of the season and then pull the rug out from under him in the second half. This decision certainly has disappointed a lot of ..."

O's keeping Trembley

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October 3

Baltimore Sun

"On the final weekend of one of the worst seasons in team history, Orioles president of baseball operations Andy MacPhail announced Friday that manager Dave Trembley will return for the 2010 season, ending rampant speculation that Trembley's tenure was nearing an end. The announcement that the Orioles had exercised Trembley's option came less than 24 hours after they broke a 13-game losing streak, the third-longest in club history, and hours before they defeated the Toronto Blue Jays to begin the season's final series. They still need to win one of two remaining games to avoid the third 100-loss season in team history. Terms of Trembley's deal were not announced. "I always felt that Dave ..."

Jays get bombed by O's

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October 3

Toronto Star

columnist Richard Griffin

"With dissension swirling through the Blue Jays clubhouse as they waited for a meeting this weekend with beleaguered manager Cito Gaston, there was one thing that everyone could agree upon after Friday night's 13-7 loss to the Orioles: David Purcey (1-3) was not very good in his final start of the season. The struggling left-hander, whose hat has been tossed gingerly into the ring as a possible starting candidate in 2010, managed just 3 2/3 innings, his shortest outing since being recalled on Sept. 14. His final ERA rose to 6.19. "That's the furthest from how I wanted to end my season," Purcey said. "I was fighting myself all game in staying on top of the ball. I pitched well all season. ..."

O's Throttle Blue Jays, Trembley Retains Job

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October 3

Washington Post

"Once President of Baseball Operations Andy MacPhail picked up Manager Dave Trembley's 2010 option on Friday, putting an end to the biggest mystery of the Orioles season, another important question arose: Would the Orioles embarrass themselves again on a night in which Trembley received a vote of confidence, the way they have the past two seasons? In grand fashion, they didn't, bashing the Toronto Blue Jays early and often in a 13-7 victory before 16,921 drenched fans at Camden Yards. The Orioles hit three homers, including a two-run shot and a grand slam by rookie first baseman Michael Aubrey, pushing his season RBI total from eight to 14 in one night. The six RBI were a career high for ..."

O's Keeping Trembley

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October 3

Baltimore Sun

"Moments after Andy MacPhail announced that embattled Orioles manager Dave Trembley would return for 2010, several of the players echoed the thoughts of their president of baseball operations. Trembley did the best he could in this disaster of a season. And next year's team has to be better, for his sake and theirs. "I like it. He has been put in a tough situation with injuries," right fielder Nick Markakis said of the decision to pick up Trembley's option. "This is the most young guys we have had come up at one time in a while. He has managed them well. Protected them well. Did his job. And next year, we will try to make the team better and go from there." Trembley will return for his ..."

Orioles end losing streak, road trip

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October 2

Baltimore Sun

"For about 15 seconds, Orioles manager Dave Trembley felt as if time were standing still. It had been far too long since he last experienced the feeling; there had been far too much heartache since he last witnessed his players gather for the handshake line. It didn't come easily, but nothing ever does for Trembley and the Orioles. When struggling closer Jim Johnson gloved Akinori Iwamura's comebacker and threw to first baseman Michael Aubrey for the game's final out, the Orioles had a 3-2 victory over the Tampa Bay Rays, and a 13-game losing streak and the most trying stretch of Trembley's career had mercifully ended. "Oh my, I can't explain it to you. We've got the music on in the ..."

Tampa Bay Rays lose 3-2 to the Baltimore Orioles as Matt Garza tumbles to 8-12

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October 2

St. Petersburg Times

"As the Rays head into the final weekend of the season after Thursday's 3-2 loss to the Orioles, there are some questions - beyond what might have been had Carlos Peña's left hand not been broken the last time they faced CC Sabathia - that may never be answered. How could Pat Burrell have been so bad for so long, hitting .225 with 14 homers, 64 RBIs and a slugging percentage down to .374? What caused the dramatic dropoff in Dioner Navarro's play, from an All-Star catcher in 2008 to a potential nontender candidate with a .217 average and a .260 on-base percentage? And how could Matt Garza put up such good numbers, starting with a 3.95 ERA, and have only an 8-12 record to show for it? "I ..."

Tampa Bay Rays beat Baltimore Orioles for fourth win in a row

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October 1

St. Petersburg Times

"RHP James Shields was going good enough Wednesday that he couldn't resist having a little fun, hollering at former teammate Ty Wigginton as he circled the bases after hitting a two-run homer. Shields could afford to smile, putting a good finish on his disappointing year by working eight strong innings in the 5-3 victory over the woeful Orioles that ensured the Rays of their second winning record in franchise history. "It was a good way to finish my season off," said Shields, who went 11-12 with a 4.14 ERA in a career-high 2192/3 innings. "I felt really good out there, and that's always a positive going into the offseason." The Rays are finishing strong, winning their fourth straight to ..."

Orioles Are Still Stranded, Losing Streak Reaches 12

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September 30

Washington Post

"Dave Trembley was asked essentially the same question the previous night and the day before that, only it was far more difficult for him to answer Tuesday night. So the Orioles manager took a deep breath, gathered his thoughts and while staring at the wall in front of him, he tried to sum up the misery of his team's 12-game losing streak, secured by a 3-1 loss to the Tampa Bay Rays at Tropicana Field. "I can't give you an answer. I've run out of things to say. I think I've been cordial, direct, up front, dealt with it as best as we possibly can, but I really have no explanation, no excuse," said Trembley, whose team now owns the longest losing streak in baseball this season, and needs to ..."

Tampa Bay Rays ensure .500 season with win over Baltimore Orioles

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September 30

St. Petersburg Times

"If it wasn't for what the Rays did last year, this season actually wouldn't be half-bad. Tuesday's 3-1 win over the woeful Orioles gave the Rays their 81st win, ensuring at least a .500 record, with five more chances to finish on the winning side. For an organization that never won more than 70 games in its first 10 seasons, that would have been considered a significant milestone. "We'd be talking about how good this year was," veteran Carl Crawford said. But the reality is that after last year's thrilling run to the World Series, the Rays can find only minimal solace knowing their season ends Sunday. "Obviously the season has been a disappointment," manager Joe Maddon said. "We all ..."

Orioles shut down rookie Tillman

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September 29

MLB.com

"It's official: Chris Tillman's rough outing on Sunday was his last of the 2009 season. Orioles manager Dave Trembley announced prior to the series opener against the Rays at Tropicana Field on Monday that his 21-year-old rookie starter will be shut down for the final week of the season. It means Tillman will miss his final start, which likely would've come Friday, and left-hander Chris Waters will take his place. Jason Berken, originally scheduled to start Thursday's series finale, will be given an extra day, and Waters will go on Thursday -- following Mark Hendrickson, Jeremy Guthrie and David Hernandez. Tillman finished the season 2-5 with a 5.40 ERA in 12 starts for the Orioles. On ..."

With fate hanging in balance, Trembley soldiers on

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September 29

Baltimore Sun

"All the losses and the uncertainty eat at Dave Trembley, keeping him up late into the night and pulling him awake in the early hours of the morning. Each day seems to bring another agonizing defeat and more speculation that he is nearing the end of his tenure as Orioles manager. Trembley's fate will be decided by president of baseball operations Andy MacPhail in the next seven to 10 days, and until then, the embattled manager says he'll do what he has always done: stay positive, work hard and try to help his team win a few more. "You worry about it, but you try not to show it," Trembley said. "I can only imagine how difficult this has been for a whole lot of other people other than just ..."

Bullpen implodes as O's11th straight

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September 29

Baltimore Sun

"They led by three runs and had only nine outs to get to end a 10-game losing streak that added even more heartache to a season that had already been miserable enough. The Orioles received a quality start from Mark Hendrickson, a two-run homer from Brian Roberts and two rare two-out RBI hits. With the way things have been going, it was probably far too much to ask for the bullpen to protect a lead. Continuing the one-bullpen-implosion-per-night theme of the road trip, Matt Albers served up a game-tying three-run homer to pinch hitter Willy Aybar with two outs in the seventh inning, one of four Tampa Bay Rays' home runs. Pat Burrell then drove in the winning run with a sacrifice fly off ..."

Baltimore's Losing Streak Reaches 11-Game Mark

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September 29

Washington Post

"They led by three runs and needed only nine outs to end a 10-game losing streak that added even more heartache to a season that had already been miserable enough. The Orioles received a quality start from Mark Hendrickson, a two-run homer from Brian Roberts and two rare two-out RBI hits. With the way things have been going, it was probably far too much to ask for the bullpen to protect a lead. Continuing the one-bullpen implosion per night theme of the road trip, Matt Albers served up a game-tying three-run homer to pinch hitter Willy Aybar with two outs in the seventh inning, one of four Tampa Bay Rays' home runs. Pat Burrell then drove in the winning run with a sacrifice fly off Danys ..."

Tampa Bay Rays come back to beat Baltimore Orioles

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September 29

St. Petersburg Times

"The Rays' comeback Monday night wasn't nearly as dramatic as the one the day before. Nor was it as creative. While Tampa Bay's 7-6 come-from-behind victory against the worst-in-AL Orioles came in front of the smallest crowd at Tropicana Field this season (10,352), it didn't have any less meaning to the Rays, who are showing their trademark fight even when there's seemingly nothing to play for. "There's still no quit in here," starting pitcher Jeff Niemann said. "We're still playing for our pride, and we have a lot of it in here. We're still going out there to win every game." Tampa Bay (80-76) was coming off a dramatic win Sunday, when it scored seven in its final four outs and beat the ..."

Swept by Indians, O's hit a new low

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September 28

Baltimore Sun

"Perhaps it's impossible for a team that is more than 30 games under .500 and has been playing mostly meaningless contests for months now to hit rock bottom in the final days of a 162-game season. But leave it to the Orioles to find a way. The Cleveland Indians had only won three games the entire month when the weekend series began. They doubled that total with a series sweep of the hapless Orioles, secured with a 9-0 throttling Sunday in front of an announced 29,930 at Progressive Field. The result, which became a formality after the Indians scored six runs in the first inning off Chris Tillman in the rookie's final start of the season, leaves the Orioles with a 10-game losing streak and ..."

Aubrey gets big chance with Orioles

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September 28

Akron Beacon Journal

"At 27, Michael Aubrey finally has begun a major-league career that was stalled for years by injury. Aubrey was the Indians' first-round draft pick in 2003 but spent most of his first five years as a professional rehabilitating injuries: a strained quad in 2003, hamstring strain in 2004, stress fracture in his back in 2005, strained knee in 2006 and hamstring and abdominal strains in 2007. That didn't leave much time to play the game, and Aubrey didn't. Others in the Tribe organization began to pass him by, even though Aubrey hit at every level and was a solid defensive first baseman. With Matt LaPorta and Beau Mills in the pipeline, the Indians traded Aubrey to the Orioles in June, and he ..."

Cleveland Indians sweep Baltimore Orioles, 9-0, as Huff shines with eight strong innings

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September 28

Cleveland Plain Dealer

"On Friday, the Indians avoided tying the franchise record for consecutive losses (12). On Saturday, the Tribe guaranteed it would not lose 100 this season. With the heavy lifting out of the way and the pressure off, the Indians treated themselves to a blowout Sunday afternoon. Rookie David Huff gave up five hits in eight innings and benefited from a six-run cushion after the first inning as the Tribe pounded the Baltimore Orioles, 9-0, at Progressive Field. Catcher Kelly Shoppach cracked a three-run homer in the first and shortstop Asdrubal Cabrera went 4-for-5 with three RBI. The Tribe (64-91) has won three in a row for the first time since Aug. 22-24. It swept its first series since ..."

Indians Complete Sweep; Orioles Drop 10th Straight

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September 28

Washington Post

"Perhaps it's impossible for a team that is more than 30 games under .500 and has been playing mostly meaningless contests for months now to hit rock bottom in the final days of a 162-game season. But leave it to the Baltimore Orioles to find a way. The Cleveland Indians had only won three games the entire month when the weekend series began. They doubled that total with a series sweep of the hapless Orioles, secured with a 9-0 throttling Sunday in front of an announced crowd of 29,930 at Progressive Field. The result, which became a formality after the Indians scored six runs in the first inning off Chris Tillman in the rookie's final start of the season, leaves the Orioles with a 10-game ..."

O's, Johnson stumble

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September 27

Baltimore Sun

"Give Jim Johnson a little credit. During the most difficult period of his brief career, the Orioles' closer of two months hasn't lost his sense of humor or his self-deprecating way. "If there's a way to give up a run, I'll find a way," Johnson said after he served up the game-winning hit in the ninth inning of the Orioles' 9-8 loss to the Cleveland Indians on Saturday night in front of an announced 31,749 at rainy Progressive Field. What is also now painfully true for the Orioles is if there is a way to lose, they will find it. They dropped their ninth straight game in particularly gut-wrenching fashion, erasing a four-run deficit in the fifth inning, blowing a two-run lead in the seventh, ..."

Jhonny Peralta's walk-off single gives Cleveland Indians mini win streak, 9-8

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September 27

Cleveland Plain Dealer

"Not long ago, the Indians had forgotten how to win. Now they are refusing to lose. The pesky Tribe rallied from a two-run deficit through six innings and eventually defeated the Baltimore Orioles, 9-8, Saturday night at soggy Progressive Field. Jhonny Peralta singled to drive in Luis Valbuena from second with one out in the ninth. Peralta and Valbuena picked up Kerry Wood, who allowed two runs in the ninth to blow the save opportunity. Wood was credited with the victory to improve to 3-3. Friday night, Wood saved the Indians' 4-2 conquest that snapped an 11-game losing streak -- one shy of the franchise record. The Tribe (63-91) has won two in a row for the first time since Aug. ..."

Orioles limp to season-worst eighth straight loss

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September 26

Baltimore Sun

"What was initially thought to be a scheduling quirk - the Orioles' making their first and only trip to Progressive Field on the penultimate weekend of the season - suddenly looked like a scheduling gift. In the Cleveland Indians, the Orioles found an opponent that was actually playing worse than them. But even what appeared to be a favorable matchup wasn't enough to break the Orioles out of a funk that has them spiraling dangerously close to the third 100-loss season in franchise history. The Orioles played another poor all-around game Friday night, and they were beaten, 4-2, in front of an announced 33,472 in a result that ended one dubious losing streak and continued another. With just ..."

Tribe casts off burden of an epic losing streak

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September 26

Akron Beacon Journal

"History will have to wait. The 2009 Indians soundly rejected the chance to enter the hallowed pages of the record book, proclaiming with a victory over the Baltimore Orioles: ''We don't need no stinkin' losing streak.'' The number of consecutive Tribe defeats had reached 11 going into the game, one less than the franchise record, set in 1931. But the Orioles came to town with a losing streak of their own, which reached eight games after Friday night's 4-2 defeat at Progressive Field. Were the guys happy? For the first time in almost two weeks, the stereo was playing in the clubhouse. ''It's good to hear music,'' said Kerry Wood, who earned his 20th save of the season. ''They could be ..."

Indians win, snap 11-game slide

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September 26

Cleveland Plain Dealer

"To Kerry Wood -- and, no doubt, his teammates and the Indians' coaching staff -- the noise in the postgame clubhouse rarely has sounded so good. Wood and the Tribe had just disposed of the Baltimore Orioles, 4-2, Friday night at Progressive Field to snap an 11-game losing streak. "It's nice to walk into the clubhouse after a game and hear music playing instead of crickets," said Wood, who earned his 20th save with a 1-2-3 ninth. The louder, the better. "I don't even know who's playing, but it sounds good," Wood said. "It could be in German, for all I care." The Indians (62-91) avoided tying the franchise record for consecutive defeats. Earl Averill's 1931 Indians lost 12 straight. ..."

Former Indians' first-round pick Michael Aubrey starts for Orioles

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September 26

Cleveland Plain Dealer

"Michael Aubrey, a first-round pick of the Indians in 2003, started at first base and batted eighth for the Orioles on Friday. It was his first start against the Indians. Aubrey knew how to square the baseball but was plagued by injuries during his time in the organization. He finally made his debut in Cleveland last year and batted .200 in 15 games over two stints with the Tribe. He was acquired by Baltimore for a player to be named on June 24 of this season. Aubrey entered Friday batting .308 with one homer and six RBI in 21 games. He went 0-for-1 in the Orioles' 5-2 victory over the Tribe in Baltimore on Aug. 30."

Orioles Fall to Indians, Drop Eighth in a Row

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September 26

Washington Post

"What was initially thought to be a scheduling quirk -- the Baltimore Orioles making their only trip to Progressive Field on the penultimate weekend of the baseball season -- suddenly looked like a scheduling gift. In the Cleveland Indians, the Orioles finally found a team that was playing worse than them. But even a little generosity wasn't enough to break the Orioles out of a funk that has them spiraling toward the third 100-loss season in franchise history. The Orioles were beaten, 4-2, by the Indians in front of an announced 33,472 on Friday in a result that snapped one dubious losing streak and continued another. With just their second victory in their last 17 games, the Indians ..."

More baseball wild cards might spice up stretch drive

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September 24

Toronto Star

"Would the presence of another couple of teams in baseball's wild-card derby really have made last night's Blue Jays-Orioles game any kind of great attraction? It's predictable at this time of year, particularly with a shortage of stretch-drive drama across the major leagues, that the cry rises in various constituencies, including this one, to expand wild-card participation and increase the interest level. Cito Gaston was asked the question, before his Jays swept away the Orioles with a 7-3 breeze, and Gaston opts for more inclusion. That's not surprising, given the presence of the two elephants in the division, the rich and mighty Red Sox and Yankees."

O's Swept by Blue Jays For 7th Loss in a Row

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September 24

Washington Post

"In another season of consistent failure, the Orioles hit a new low on Wednesday night by reaching a season high with their 7-3 loss to the Toronto Blue Jays. It marked their seventh consecutive defeat, their worst skid in a 2009 season that has been futile for months. The Orioles (60-92) now have been swept twice this year in a three-game series by the Blue Jays (69-83) and finish the season 1-8 at Rogers Centre. They must win at least three of their final 10 games to avoid their first 100-loss season since 1988. "We're trying to battle to the end, and I think guys are doing a great job of that. I actually didn't know we had lost seven in a row," said Orioles starter Jeremy Guthrie, who ..."

Jays teasing in autumn as usual

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September 23

Toronto Star

"A week ago MLB and the Jays released their 2010 schedule and the first question became: "Why?" The Jays are having enough trouble keeping fans interested in this current one without getting a year ahead. Four straight home crowds, including last night's 11,869 have been the lowest in the history of baseball at the Rogers Centre. The Jays, after dozing with their fans through most of last night's 6-5 win over the last-place O's, finally awoke in the eighth. They fought back from four runs down to send the game to extra innings. The hero of the comeback was Edwin Encarnacion, batting third for the first time as a Jay."

Baltimore's Bullpen Falters Against Toronto

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September 23

Washington Post

"The Orioles received one of their most efficient performances of the season from a starting pitcher and some key hits from their offense, but in the end they lost again in their dome of horrors, the Rogers Centre. The Toronto Blue Jays completed their inspired comeback and 6-5 victory when Aaron Hill doubled home Jos? Bautista in the bottom of the 11th. "I am concerned about everybody at this particular point in time and I feel just awful that we didn't win the game and the guys didn't get it done," Orioles Manager Dave Trembley said. Trailing 5-2, the Blue Jays scored two runs in the eighth, another in the ninth and then added the winner against Dennis Sarfate (1-0) to heap more misery ..."

Nats, Orioles: Divisional punching bags

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September 22

Washington Examiner

"Want a really good reason why baseball in the Baltimore/Washington, D.C. area has been so abysmal this season? How about the Orioles and Nationals routinely getting destroyed by the best teams in their respective divisions. The Orioles are an ugly 2-16 against the Red Sox. They are not quite as bad against the Yankees -- but still sit at 5-13. That adds up to a 7-29 overall record against their two American League East rivals and shows exactly how far Baltimore has to go to catch those two powerhouses. Meanwhile, the Nats have served as a punching bag for the defending world champion Phillies all season. Washington is 3-15 against Philadelphia and was outscored 15-3 during a three-game ..."

Oriolesfifth in a row

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September 22

Baltimore Sun

"One thing that has distinguished rookie phenom Chris Tillman from other heralded young Orioles pitchers in the past is that he generally throws strikes. He hadn't walked more than three batters in any of his first 10 big league starts. On Monday, in a 9-2 beating by the Toronto Blue Jays, the Orioles' fifth straight defeat, Tillman again walked only three. But they were issued consecutively in Toronto's three-run third, the turning point in what later became a blowout courtesy of the Orioles' bullpen. "That was one of those things that all of a sudden hit you and then it was gone. How did that just happen? What just happened?" Tillman said of the three walks. "I got in the dugout after ..."

O'sanother to Red Sox

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September 21

Baltimore Sun

"They will not play the Boston Red Sox again in a game with any sort of meaning until late April of next season, giving the Orioles more than seven months to lick their wounds. The Orioles' final game against their tormentors in 2009 played out like so many before it. The Red Sox pounded an Orioles starting pitcher, secured a seven-run lead and were never threatened in a 9-3 victory Sunday at half-empty Camden Yards, where the only disappointment for the legions of Boston fans at the stadium came when the final score of the New York Jets-New England Patriots game appeared on the scoreboard. Completing a mind-boggling display of dominance over the Orioles, the Red Sox won 16 of 18 games in ..."

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