ERA

Trust workshop will discuss financing for historic homesThe Baltimore County Historical Trust Inc. will sponsor a workshop entitled "Where is the Money?" -- an overview of grants, loans, tax credits and financing for historic homes, plus 203(k) loans from 9 a.m. to noon Saturday at Goucher College.Speakers will be Tom Hess, a mortgage loan officer with Mortgage Finance Corp., and William C. Pencek Jr., deputy director of the Maryland Department of Housing and Community Development's Division of Historical and Cultural Programs.

Quote: "I didn't know that, but I will take anything positive out of pitching in Denver. My ERA is 10 everywhere else. I probably concentrate more at keeping the ball down here."-- Kent Mercker, Cardinals pitcher, on his 2.68 ERA in 26 2/3 innings pitched in Colorado. It's a fact: Jeff Bagwell's second double yesterday was the 300th of his career, fourth on the Astros' career list.Who's hot: The Cubs' Mark Grace has hit safely in 18 of his past 19 games, going 27-for-75 (.360).Who's not: The Rockies' Darryl Kile is 1-7 with an 8.50 ERA in his past 11 starts.

Until this season, he was known more for being "the other" Juan Guzman, a weak-hitting catcher who had been converted to pitcher, the same position as his namesake with the Orioles. He seemed more novelty than prospect after two rookie-league seasons, but that perception is changing.Guzman, 21, has been one of the few pleasant developments within Single-A Delmarva's season. Heading into the weekend, he was 2-0 with a 3.60 ERA in 10 relief appearances, saving three games and inching closer to a spot in the Shorebirds' rotation.

Quote: "If one guy doesn't get you, the other guy will."-- Twins manager Tom Kelly, whose club gave up a grand slam to Seattle's Edgar Martinez after an intentional walk to major-league home run leader Ken Griffey.It's a fact: The Yankees' Derek Jeter has reached base by hit or walk in all 44 games this season -- the longest streak by a Yankee since at least 1961.Who's hot: Since coming off the DL, Seattle's Alex Rodriguez is hitting .395 (19-for-48) with five doubles, six homers, 11 RBIs and 19 runs scored in 12 games.

Quote: "I'm not going to throw nine shutout innings and I'm not going to throw no-hitters, but I've always felt I could pitch well enough to keep us in the ballgame." -- Cardinals' Kent Bottenfield, who became the NL's second 11-game winner MondayIt's a fact: The Marlins have eliminated 5,500 seats for most games because they have poor sightlines, reducing capacity at Pro Player Stadium to 35,521.Who's hot: The Brewers' Hideo Nomo is 7-2 vs. the Giants with a 1.84 ERA and is 5-0 in San Francisco with a 1.12 ERA.Who's not: The Astros' Sean Bergman has lost three of his past four starts, allowing 15 earned runs in 20 2/3 innings.

WASHINGTON -- "Poets," noted G.K. Chesterton, "have been mysteriously silent on the subject of cheese." His point was that this was not mysterious: Cheese is not the sort of subject that summons poetic thoughts.Presidents have hitherto been mysteriously silent about child-safety seats. However, last Saturday President Clinton's radio address concerned an improved fastening mechanism for such seats in automobiles. This was the third time this president has used a Saturday address to talk about child-safety seats.

Quote: "There are certain lies in numbers. But numbers tell part of the truth, and part of the truth is that we are performing at a terrible rate."-- Tony Muser, Royals manager, on his bullpen, which has 21 blown saves and a 5.68 ERA.It's a fact: Before the Braves' Tom Glavine and the Yankees' Roger Clemens squared off last night, the only other time defending Cy Young Award winners faced each other in the regular season came Aug. 28, 1989, when Frank Viola...

Doug Drabek abstains from the word "retirement" but the 1990 National League Cy Young Award winner and Orioles starting pitcher concedes he has likely made the final appearance of a career as consistent as it was understated.In the same week that fellow Orioles starter Jimmy Key called an end to a 15-year career, Drabek said, "Everybody comes to that point, some sooner than others. You just have to realize when it is and try not to overstay your position where you're just hanging on."A free agent after 13 years, five teams, three division championships and 398 appearances, Drabek says he has received tepid interest from only two teams since struggling through an injury-marred 6-11 season.

WASHINGTON -- The Equal Rights Amendment lingers on, its pulse faint but its supporters determined. Their slender hopes arise from recent disrespect for the amending process.First introduced in Congress in 1923, the ERA says: "Equality of rights under the law shall not be denied or abridged by the United States or by any state on account of sex."In 1971, the year before Title IX prohibited sexual discrimination in education, the Supreme Court for the first time cited the Equal Protection clause of the 14th Amendment to invalidate a law on the grounds that it involved discrimination on the basis of sex.Despite this evidence that the ERA might be a legal redundancy (ERA supporters said it was needed to "put women into the Constitution")

It takes little prodding to find a frame of reference Oakland Athletics pitcher Jimmy Haynes uses when evaluating his success this season.The phrase "1996" pops effortlessly from the mouth of one of this season's pleasant surprises, a pitcher who takes a 7-3 record and 3.91 ERA into tonight's start against the Orioles.That was the year that Haynes tried splashing his way into a tough Orioles rotation, and flopped instead."It was the worst season I've ever had in pro ball," said Haynes, 25. "That's what makes it so memorable."

CLEVELAND - -In the first two weeks of September, the Orioles promoted six relievers and acquired another, left-hander Sean Henn, in a minor league trade. The hope was that the additions would bolster a tired bullpen and give several pitchers an opportunity to show that they belong at the major league level. What it has done instead is reveal a lack of organizational depth in that area and likely made several necessary offseason roster decisions much easier to make. In the first 21 games this month, the Orioles bullpen has a 6.43 ERA, having allowed 50 earned runs in 70 innings.

PLAYER AGE DRAFTED STATS SKINNY FUTURE RHP Jake Arrieta 23 2007, fifth round, Orioles 6-3, 2.59 ERA at Double-A Bowie; 5-8, 3.93 ERA at Triple-A Norfolk The only member of the highly touted "Big Three" who didn't make his big league debut in 2009, he ripped through Double-A before a few rough patches at Norfolk. Likely will start 2010 at Triple-A but could get an in-season promotion. OF Xavier Avery 19 2008, second round, Orioles .262 average, 2 homers, 36 RBIs , 30 steals at Single-A Delmarva Held his own in first full pro season despite age. Could have played running back at the University of Georgia.

SEATTLE -- -After getting picked off at first base with men on first and third and one out in the Orioles' five-run ninth inning on Wednesday, first baseman Aubrey Huff would have liked nothing better than to jog of the field and disappear into the dugout, not drawing any more attention to himself than he already had. Instead, Huff, who slipped and fell while in the rundown, was forced to limp off the field, flanked by Orioles head athletic trainer Richie...

Leadoff scoring The Orioles' leadoff hitters reached base safely and scored in each of their first four innings. Only one Orioles run was not scored by a player leading off an inning. The Red Sox didn't put their lead hitter on with a hit or a walk until the ninth, when they mounted a four-run rally to tie the game at 5. Boston's leadoff hitter in the 11th, Jacoby Ellsbury, doubled and scored the winning run. A scorching Ty Ty Wigginton, who hit his sixth homer of the season in the fourth inning, is batting .447 with three homers in his past 38 at-bats.

Only 10 teams in major league baseball won more games than the Toronto Blue Jays in 2008. Three of those clubs, however, were in the Jays' division. Toronto's 86 victories would have been enough to win the National League West, but in the brutal American League East it landed them fourth, 11 games behind the first-place Tampa Bay Rays and nine games out of the wild-card hunt. It was the third consecutive season the Blue Jays finished better than .500 and didn't sniff the playoffs. In fact, they haven't been to the postseason since manager Cito Gaston led them to World Series titles in 1992 and 1993.

Name, Pos. Key stat Grade Jeff Zrebiec's skinny Matt Albers, RP 28 games Inc. His season-ending injury in June was devastating to the Orioles. Randor Bierd, RP 4.91 ERA C- Was a totally different pitcher after returning from shoulder injury. Brian Burres, SP 1.66 WHIP D Started strong before losing ability to get major league hitters out. Freddie Bynum, SS .179 avg. F Given shortstop job, he was overmatched in most of 112 at-bats. Daniel Cabrera, SP 5.25 ERA D Nearly led league in walks, wild pitches and hit batters.

F. Rodriguez sets saves record baseball Francisco Rodriguez set the major league record with his 58th save this season, closing out the Los Angeles Angels' 5-2 win over the visiting Seattle Mariners last night. He struck out Raul Ibanez swinging with two on for the final out. Rodriguez immediately fell to his knees and pointed to the sky. Rodriguez two days earlier tied the 1990 mark of 57 set by Bobby Thigpen with the Chicago White Sox. He has blown six save opportunities this year. Thigpen blew eight chances in his record-setting season.

A recap of the Orioles' 9-4 loss to the Yankees last night: Liz returns, leaves early Radhames Liz made his return to the big leagues, but it wasn't a long one. He lasted just 4 2/3 innings, allowing three earned runs on nine hits and a walk. Liz, who had a 7.47 ERA in 10 previous starts before being demoted, lowered his ERA to 7.32. He was in position to get a win with a 3-1 lead in the fifth, but he allowed two solo homers before being chased. Liz was recalled from Triple-A Norfolk after going 2-2 with a 2.67 ERA in four starts.

Joba Chamberlain was placed on the 15-day disabled list yesterday by the New York Yankees with rotator cuff tendinitis in his pitching shoulder. The club said Chamberlain (4-3, 2.63 ERA) will rest for about a week before beginning a throwing program. Yankees manager Joe Girardi said he had no specifics to report regarding Chamberlain's examination by noted orthopedic surgeon Dr. James Andrews in Alabama. The right-hander was sent to see Andrews after undergoing a magnetic resonance imaging on his ailing right shoulder Tuesday.

KEVIN LINGERMAN CALVERT HALL Early-season arm problems slowed last year's All-Metro Player of the Year, but once he got going, the pitcher-third baseman had another outstanding season. The senior went 6-0 and completed his four-year varsity career by striking out 44 in 43 innings and walking 17. He led the team with the lowest ERA (1.95) for pitchers with at least 25 innings and tied Mike Dillon for most complete games (four). Lingerman batted .371 as the No. 2 hitter. He led the Cardinals in at-bats (97)