Daniel Cabrera

SEATTLE -- The question has been asked about Daniel Cabrera frequently the past couple of seasons, and it's being discussed again during one of the best three-start runs of his enigmatic career. Has Cabrera, the imposing 26-year-old pitcher who has dazzled the Orioles over the past four seasons with his talent and dismayed them with his lack of consistency and control, finally turned the corner? Cabrera prefers to focus on his next start, cautiously avoiding big-picture pronouncements.

Orioles@Mariners 10 p.m. [MASN2] The Orioles' West Coast trip means staying up late to catch the game. Daniel Cabrera is scheduled to start for the Orioles, and he has put together back-to-back strong performances, giving up just three earned runs in his past 12 2/3 innings. Although his record is just 1-0, the team has won all four of his starts.

A recap of the Orioles' 4-2 loss to the Mariners last night: TIED NO LONGER The bottom of the eighth inning of a tie game started ominously for Orioles starter Jeremy Guthrie, who gave up a leadoff double to Yuniesky Betancourt. However, Guthrie quickly retired the next two Mariners without Betancourt advancing. The Orioles then decided to walk the hot-hitting Raul Ibanez and face Adrian Beltre, who was 0-for-12 with four strikeouts in his career against Guthrie. However, Guthrie walked Beltre, loading the bases for Jose Vidro.

We're still waiting, but what choice do we really have? Daniel Cabrera made his first regular season start of 2008 and wasted little time reminding everyone why he is known as one of the most enigmatic players in the major leagues. Of course, when I say everyone, I'm talking about the all-time-tiny Camden Yards crowd of 10,505 fans who braved the 55-degree chill to see the Orioles bounce back from their disheartening Opening Day loss to the Tampa Bay Rays. They were also hoping to see a new and improved Daniel Cabrera but had to settle for a slightly more determined version of the erratic guy who has been bedeviling the organization for the past four years.

The nerves officially left Matt Albers when he made the jog down the orange carpet during pre-game introductions on Opening Day. By the time bullpen coach Alan Dunn told him to start getting loose, Albers was more than ready to make his Orioles debut Monday. And it showed as he relieved an ineffective Jeremy Guthrie and threw 2 2/3 perfect innings, providing one of the few highlights in the Orioles' 6-2 loss to the Tampa Bay Rays. After an off day yesterday, the series resumes tonight.