Melvin Mora

In his first opportunity to speak in person to fans and the Baltimore media, starting pitcher Kevin Millwood disputed the notion that he's unhappy being an Oriole. That perception is "wrong," said Millwood, who was acquired by the Orioles from the Texas Rangers in December for reliever Chris Ray . "If you're looking for me to get real excited, it's not going to happen. I'm the same way on the mound. If I'm getting my brains beat in, I'm not going to get too down about it, and if [I'm pitching well]

Orioles Hall of Famer Brooks Robinson was released from the hospital Friday after abdominal surgery Dec. 28. "The surgery was successful, and I anticipate a full recovery," Robinson, 72, said in a statement issued by spokeswoman Diane Hock. "I have assured my wife, Connie, and my doctors that I will take it easy over the next few months. I thank you for the outpouring of prayers, compassion and concern." Hock said Robinson, who returned to his Baltimore home, considered the surgery routine, and that it was not related to the cancer he battled earlier in the year.

This time last year, Aubrey Huff and Melvin Mora were heading into their contract years with significant momentum. Huff was the 2008 Most Valuable Oriole and the American League Silver Slugger Award winner at designated hitter after batting .304 with 32 home runs and 108 RBIs. Mora hit 23 homers and tied his career best with 104 RBIs while batting .376 in the second half of 2008. One disappointing season later, however, Huff and Mora are without jobs as spring training approaches.

Melvin Mora 's 10-season stint with the Orioles is over, but it's still not known what is next for the 37-year-old third baseman. Mora's agent, Eric Goldschmidt , said Monday that "three teams have a fair amount of interest in Melvin. It's a matter of balancing playing time with the competitive nature of the club and salary." Goldschmidt wouldn't specify the teams involved, but two are in the National League and one in the American League. The Colorado Rockies reportedly were interested in December.

Melvin Mora's 10-season stint with the Orioles is over, but it's still not known what is next for the 37-year-old third baseman. Mora's agent, Eric Goldschmidt, said Monday that "three teams have a fair amount of interest in Melvin. It's a matter of balancing playing time with the competitive nature of the club and salary." Goldschmidt wouldn't specify the teams involved, but two are in the National League and one in the American League. The Colorado Rockies reportedly were interested in December.

The Orioles will be short one lieutenant at baseball's winter meetings next week and for the foreseeable future now that special assistant Wayne Krivsky has left for the New York Mets. Krivsky, 55, previously the Cincinnati Reds' general manager, joined the Orioles as a special assistant to president of baseball operations Andy MacPhail in November 2008. He is taking a similar position under Mets general manager Omar Minaya ; Krivsky worked for Minaya as a special assistant in 2008.

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. - -Melvin Mora was on the Orioles' 2004 team that, before last night, had recorded the longest stretch of defeats during the organization's 12 consecutive years of losing. That stretch, he thought, was rock bottom. But in likely his last week as an Oriole, Mora is experiencing something even more demoralizing. The veteran third baseman had two hits and was robbed of a third by a leaping Evan Longoria, but he struck out to end the Orioles' 13th consecutive loss, a 5-3 defeat by the Tampa Bay Rays before an announced 10,554 Wednesday night at Tropicana Field.

Melvin Mora was not in the starting lineup for the first game of the four-game series against the Detroit Tigers on Monday, and you have to wonder whether he succeeded in talking himself off the team with his verbal attack on manager Dave Trembley on Sunday morning. Guess we'll find out today, when the club has to make room for heralded pitching prospect Brian Matusz. That would be sad. Mora has been a fixture in the Orioles' lineup for most of this decade and has conducted himself honorably and charitably in the community throughout his career here.

The nine-year marriage between Melvin Mora and the Orioles appears headed for a nasty divorce. Out of the lineup Sunday for the third time in the past four games, the veteran third baseman said that he feels disrespected by Dave Trembley, wondered whether the manager has a personal problem with him and conceded that it's time for him to "move on." "I don't appreciate the disrespect, because I've been playing hurt for a guy who won't respect you. I don't deserve it," said an emotional Mora.