Errors

A recent article about two former Department of Public Works meter readers did not accurately reflect the proactive steps taken by DPW to reduce water meter billing errors ("City official: Lazy workers faked water meter readings," May 15). The agency's new quality control processes were instrumental in identifying, addressing and resolving the issue by removing the two employees from government service before the reporters' inquiry. The truth is that when a pattern of errors emerged in December of 2011, the former employees were confronted, and they were quickly removed.

A game anticipated because of the perfection demonstrated by North Harford and James M. Bennett that got them to the 3A Maryland Public Secondary Schools Athletic Association championship game Saturday, was anything but perfect. By the end of the third inning there were six errors split between the teams . But Bennett was able to rely on its pitcher Canaan Cropper to help the Clippers beat North Harford, 4-2, and secure their second straight championship. Cropper had 10 strikeouts by the fourth inning, while the errors behind him resulted in nothing for the Hawks.

Eighty-three games into the 2011 season, Orioles third baseman Mark Reynolds has hit 20 home runs and committed 20 errors, the most in baseball. The Orioles didn’t acquire Reynolds for his glove, but if not for his 13 home runs since June 1, his adventures in fielding would be scrutinized much more than they have been. "That part of my game has been frustrating," Reynolds said after committing error No. 20 in Monday’s loss to the Rangers . "I know it's frustrating a lot of fans, and frustrating [Orioles manager]

A recent article about two former Department of Public Works meter readers did not accurately reflect the proactive steps taken by DPW to reduce water meter billing errors ("City official: Lazy workers faked water meter readings," May 15). The agency's new quality control processes were instrumental in identifying, addressing and resolving the issue by removing the two employees from government service before the reporters' inquiry. The truth is that when a pattern of errors emerged in December of 2011, the former employees were confronted, and they were quickly removed.

If the penalties, misplayed returns and overall lack of focus didn't get the players' attention, Ravens coach Brian Billick certainly did after the game, yelling more loudly than most can ever remember in the locker room. The message, as a few players recounted: It's easy to point fingers at times like these, but be men and take accountability. The translation: The Ravens' season is teetering on the brink of disaster. Whether it was overlooking the downtrodden Buffalo Bills or looking ahead to the bye, the Ravens watched their playoff hopes take a major hit in a 19-14 loss before an announced 70,727 at Ralph Wilson Stadium.

Mount Hebron made only one error in a 15-inning loss to No. 6 Centennial on Monday. The Vikings did not field quite as well yesterday.Glenelg took advantage of five Mount Hebron errors to score six times on just two hits in the second inning, and the host Gladiators went on to post a 15-3 victory over the No. 13 Vikings in a Howard County game yesterday.Mount Hebron (2-4, 1-2) had lost all three of its games by one run and in extra innings. But the Vikings were never in this one, as they made nine errors -- all of which led to Glenelg (6-1, 3-0)

Karen Hay struck out seven, allowed just five hits, walked one, hit another batter and threw three wild pitches in seven innings' work in the opener of the Amateur Softball Association Junior Olympic Fastpitch tournament.Her counterpart, Jen Holsinger, walked seven, struck out five and yielded three wild pitches in seven innings last night at Columbia's Cedar Lane Park.Guess who got the win?Hay's Tangerine Machine, one of three Anne Arundel-based teams competing in the 18-and-under tournament, made mistakes at the worst possible moments, allowing Holsinger's Columbus (Ohio)

CHICAGO -- Being vulnerable to interest-rate fluctuations is a risk house buyers accept when they select an adjustable mortgage for its low initial rate. But some borrowers have found they also are vulnerable to an unexpected variable -- errors by lenders when they periodically adjust that rate.Just how many mistakes are generated by the intricacies of the adjustment process -- which may come annually, every six months or at some other interval -- is a matter of debate.Of the 9,000 adjustable-rate mortgages, or ARMs, that Lake Bluff, Ill.-based Consumer Loan Advocates audited in 1991, 47 percent had errors, with about 78 percent of the mistakes being overcharges, company officials said.

When asked about their single worst mistake as doctors, 90 percent of medical residents responding to a national survey said that the error had an adverse impact on their patient's health, and almost one-third said that the error contributed to the patient's death.Moreover, only about half of the residents -- 54 percent -- said they admitted their most serious error to their supervising doctor, and less than a quarter said they confessed the error to the patient or family.The authors of the study at the University of California San Francisco recommended that teaching hospitals create an atmosphere in which doctors can discuss and learn from their mistakes without fear of being ostracized.

Did you hear the one about the Oriole who went to the doctor the other day?"Doc," he says, grimacing, "I got this thing bugging me real bad.""Yeah, I know," the doc says, "but two aspirin can't cure a curveball."Ah, but we shouldn't be laughing. The Orioles can't help that they're so lousy. They're fundamentally challenged.They can't run the bases. They can't hit in the clutch. They can't steal bases or manufacture runs. They can catch and throw, but only periodically.The one thing they can still do is sell tickets by the barrel, no matter how high prices go or which direction seats point.

News Roundup •••• Just when you thought it was safe to think about football again, “Madden” confirms that “Tebowing” will be included in this August's release of the game. Look, this is getting out of hand. Everyone knows that Monty Python invented “Tebowing” when King Arthur fought the Black Knight. [ NFL ] •••• A partnership between Newcastle University and Limbs Alive, Ltd. uses a specially-designed video game with “next-gen” motion control technology to help stroke victims recover their motor skills.

First baseman Chris Davis was not in the starting lineup on Tuesday with lefty CC Sabathia on the mound. That alone probably is enough to sit the slugging left-hander, who is 0-for-2 with two strikeouts against Sabathia. But Davis has also been in a deep slump. Counting his 0-for-8 performance in Boston on May 6 - the 17-inning game in which he picked up a win by throwing two scoreless innings - Davis has just three hits in his past 28 at-bats, dropping his average from .326 to .274.

If a team is going to have one of those unforgettable, ridiculous, are-you-kidding-me kinds of seasons, then it has to beat clubs it's not supposed to beat and get contributions from players no one was counting on. It's too early to proclaim that these upstart Orioles are going to make noise all year, but as the quarter pole of the season grows closer, they are starting to win games in a manner that can make even the most cynical Orioles fan start...

People keep asking me about if I'm surprised about the Orioles' quick start. The answer is simple: Yes. Completely surprised. I can give you plenty of reasons this team should not be winning. Yet it is. Saturday night was another example. The Orioles had just six hits, they committed two errors and their starter couldn't get out of the sixth. Yet the Tampa Bay Rays' starter couldn't get out of the fifth. And the Rays committed a franchise-record-tying five errors -- and the Orioles score three runs by taking advantage of those.

Mark Reynolds is making his first start at first base this season this afternoon, but Orioles manager Buck Showalter said the move is simply another measure in taking advantage of the team's positional flexibility. Reynolds, who has made three errors in 10 games at third base this season after making 26 errors there in 114 games last season, met with Showalter two weeks ago and told him he'd be willing to play anywhere in order to help the team. Since then, Reynolds has had some days off and has DH'ed to help him get out of an 0-for-17 slump.

Some thoughts and observations from the Orioles' series in Anaheim: * Wei-Yin Chen is a major league pitcher. He throws strikes, he's not afraid of the competition. And he has good stuff. When a lefty can throw his fastball in the low-90s and locate it, he can pitch at this level. I also like the fact that Chen had a personal goal of lasting seven innings on Sunday. He didn't get there - he was pulled after 6 1/3 - but going deep into games is an important goal for any starter to have.

FREDERICK -- The Canton-Akron Indians scored five runs in the top of the 11th inning to hand the Bowie Baysox their first loss of the season, 8-3, yesterday at Harry Grove Stadium.The Eastern League game featured 10 errors, six by Bowie (6-1).TC With runners at second and third and no outs, Damian Jackson hit a grounder to Bowie shortstop Ken Arnold, who misplayed the ball, allowing pinch runner Ryan Martindale to score the go-ahead run.Curtis Goodwin gave the Baysox a 1-0 lead with a first-pitch, leadoff home run in the first.

Westminster's softball team benefited from strong pitching, good defense and timely hitting yesterday.Five North Carroll errors didn't hurt, either.Stephanie Harrell threw a six-hitter, and Westminster used the errors to score five unearned runs on the way to a 6-1 victory over No. 10 North Carroll in a Carroll County and Central Maryland Conference game at North Carroll Middle School.North Carroll (1-2 overall, 0-1 in county, 0-2 in conference) made the five errors in the first four innings.

Like a car salesman, the City of Baltimore started high, came down and ended up making a deal all sides could live with. The city has agreed to give Patterson Park homeowner Maureen Coyle about two years to repay $5,702 worth of property tax breaks that she didn't ask for and that she thought reflected a legitimate discount for being an owner-occupant, Coyle says. On Friday the city's law department emailed her a contract spelling out terms of the deal that will require her to repay $250 a month.

ANAHEIM, Calif. -- Brian Matusz's nightmarish stretch seemingly won't end as his personal losing streak tumbles on. The 25-year-old left-hander was touched up again in the Orioles' 6-3 loss to the Los Angeles Angels on Friday night and has now dropped 12 consecutive decisions – the longest active streak in the major leagues and second longest in the history of the franchise. "I thought he was better. A little better each time he has pitched since the first one," manager Buck Showalter said.