Manfra

DOWN -- Jerry Hairston The second baseman needed only one day to land in his manager's doghouse by missing part of an early workout, getting benched, then committing a mental gaffe to end Thursday's loss as a pinch runner. UP -- The Iron Man The All-Star Game long ago sold out to the networks' desire for a show over substance, but Cal Ripken's third-inning home run Tuesday provided an indelible memory. DOWN -- McStarter Chuck McElroy began the season in the Orioles' starting rotation hopeful of landing a contract extension.

Do you plan to listen to the Orioles' first non-televised game on the radio tonight? Remember the movie "Pride of the Yankees" where the little sick kid sits by the radio because Lou Gehrig promised to hit a home run for him? It won't be like that. Jeff Mariner Phoenix If I'm in the car during the game, it will be on the radio. Joe Angel, Jim Hunter and Fred Manfra do a great job painting pictures in the minds of listeners. Baseball is probably the best radio sport there is. Jim Kirby Columbia Let's see. It's not the final game of the season.

O's fans crowded into the Baltimore Convention Center ballroom to honor several of their heroes at the 16th Oriole Advocates Hall of Fame Luncheon. Former Birds pitchers Tippy Martinez and Eddie Watt were on the receiving end this time, as they were inducted into the Advocates Hall of Fame, along with late Orioles executive Jack Dunn III. Some 320 admirers came to meet and fete their heroes -- and listen to folks like Orioles broadcaster Fred Manfra, and...

When you find daisy rings, daisy bracelets and peace signs scattered across your mod-colored dinner table, you know you're at some groovy happening, man. The National Kidney Foundation of Maryland's 16th annual "Gift of Life Gala" was right on. After all, the evening's highlight was a performance by "1964" The Tribute, a band that simulates the Beatles. Mingling among this in-crowd of 420: Mindy and Steve Geppi, event chairs; Cindy and Jonathan Hazman, event co-chairs; Walter Sondheim Jr., corporate honorary chair; Marlene Manfra, Richard Pretl and Rosie Weiner, event committee members; Dr. William L. Henrich and Pearl Lewis, event honorees; Larry Berger, National Kidney Foundation of Maryland board president; Zeke Ayele, D. Stuart Bowers, Michael H. Jessup Jr. and Dr. Edward S. Kraus, board members; Raquel McGuire, foundation executive director; Aleta Powell, Fund for Education Excellence development director; Curtis Spriggs, RMS Lifeline intervention technologist; Lori Pinson, WBFF-TV meteorologist; Dr. David Spector, Johns Hopkins Bayview Medical Center nephrologist; Dr. Hamid Rabb, medical director of Johns Hopkins Hospital kidney and pancreas transplants; Dr. Ligia Peralta, University of Maryland pediatrics associate professor; Vic Broccolino, Howard County General Hospital president / CEO; Mike Ciatti, King & Spalding attorney; Richard Lorenzet, Northrop Grumman contracts manager; and Julie Ward, Fujisawa Healthcare senior products specialist.

Fat Tuesday is still months away. But the National Kidney Foundation of Maryland got an early start with a Mardi Gras theme for its 14th annual Gift of Life Gala. Mask and bead centerpieces spilled over metallic tablecloths in the Hyatt Regency Hotel ballroom. But the 490 party-goers were the most elaborately decorated, courtesy of a body-painting artist.Reveling in the razzle-dazzle: Marlene Manfra and Dr. Ian and Rosemary Weiner, event co-chairs; Drs. Gary and Martha Hill, honorees; Tim Craig, foundation board president; Dick Pretl, Mary Murphy, Chris Rachuba, Mindy Stout, Zeke Ayele and Jon Hazman, board members; Dr. Kevin A. Rossiter, medical advisory board chair; Rachel McGuire, foundation executive director; Larry Snyder, president of Valley Lighting; Stanley Levinson, owner of Sol Levinson & Bros.

The memorial service for Hall of Fame manager Earl Weaver was held Saturday afternoon in Davie, Fla., near where Weaver spent his retirement years. Former Orioles attending the service included: Brooks Robinson, Frank Robinson, Jim Palmer, Eddie Murray, Rick Dempsey, Bill Swaggerty, Scott McGregor, Dennis Martinez, Tom Shopay, Boog Powell, Ken Singleton and Don Buford. The current Orioles were represented by executive vice president Dan Duquette, ownership representative Louis Angelos, Doug Duennes, the club's executive vice president of business, communications director Greg Bader, team radio announcer Fred Manfra, and batting practice pitcher Rudy Arias.

Joe Angel, the radio voice for the Orioles for the past six seasons, confirmed Sunday that he will return to that role for the 2010 campaign. Fred Manfra is also expected to be back as Angel's partner, though the Orioles have yet to make an official announcement. "This is where I want to be," Angel said in a telephone interview. "I've left Baltimore twice and come back twice, so this obviously is where I want to be. I'm ready to go." During the past month, Angel was under consideration for a similar role with the Los Angeles Angels, who are searching for a replacement for the late Rory Markas.

JIM PALMER was engaging in absolutely no equivocation during last night's Orioles game on Comcast SportsNet. He stated his point of view clearly and forcefully. The subject wasn't Rafael Palmeiro, however. Though Palmer let everyone know he thought the umpires blew the call in giving the Tampa Bay Devil Rays' Eduardo Perez a homer on a ball that replays showed hit off the wall, the Orioles analyst more mildly took a position on the story of the day. His strongest comment during the game?