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MacPhail happy to wait, watch for now

May 30, 2008|By Jeff Zrebiec , SUN REPORTER

The team is 12-8 in one-run games after going 13-31 last year. The Orioles have come from behind from two runs or more to win 12 times, a major league high. And they've been particularly good at home with a 16-8 record at Camden Yards, the third-best home record in the AL. That includes a combined 6-2 home record against the New York Yankees and Red Sox.

"That's really important," MacPhail said of the team's home success. "If we're going to have so many people in here rooting for the Yankees and Red Sox, and that's certainly their right ... our job is to keep them quiet."

MacPhail praised manager Dave Trembley and his coaching staff for preparing the team and fostering a sense of togetherness. That has been exhibited in the players flipping up the brims of the caps after games saved by George Sherrill, mimicking the closer. It also showed when players got together to record a music video.

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"I went into the clubhouse and [Nick] Markakis has an Adam Jones T-shirt on, Guillermo Quiroz has a Markakis T-shirt on," MacPhail said. "I don't know what's going on exactly with that or the hats or the video. But those are all signs of cohesiveness. Regrettably, it takes more than cohesiveness to win the AL East. But I think the people that have watched us, they have to be satisfied with some of the subtle things we've shown."

jeff.zrebiec@baltsun.com

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