Orioles Pitcher

Erik Bedard, Orioles pitcher Are you surprised how little the ball is carrying at Camden Yards? No. Once you see it get hotter, you'll see the ball fly out more. It's been cold. The ball really hasn't been flying out of anywhere you go. Wait till it gets hot and then ask me the same question.

FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. -- Orioles pitcher Sidney Ponson ignored the two heaping plates of doughnuts sitting on a clubhouse table. He walked past the tray of bagels and cream cheese. Reaching into a bowl of fruit, he grabbed a pear and took a bite.Veteran move.Ponson, 21, is out to show the Orioles all the good that came from his two-week stay at Duke University's Diet and Fitness Center. He claims to have lost 13 pounds and about three inches around his waist over the past month, displaying the commitment to conditioning that Orioles officials have sought since signing him as a free agent in 1993.

All the teams owned by Maryland Baseball Limited Partnership Inc. have banquets scheduled this month, with the Bowie Baysox luring former Orioles broadcaster Jon Miller as their featured speaker.Bowie's banquet will be held Jan. 21 at Martin's Crosswinds in Greenbelt, beginning at 6 p.m. Fans interested in tickets can call the Baysox's offices at (301) 805-6000.The guest list also includes Orioles pitcher Rick Krivda and Atlanta Braves pitcher and Dundalk native Mike Bielecki.The Frederick Keys will hold their third hot stove banquet Jan. 16 at the Holiday Inn, Francis Scott Key Mall, with Sun columnist John Steadman as the guest speaker.

Orioles pitcher Mike Mussina has been very good during his six full seasons in the major leagues.Last night, he was almost perfect.Mussina retired the first 25 Cleveland Indians batters to flirt with the first perfect game and the sixth no-hitter in Orioles history, but Indians catcher Sandy Alomar broke it up with a solid base hit to left field with one out in the ninth inning, deflating the sellout crowd of 47,759 but not diminishing an impressive one-hit...

The Orioles continued their postseason harvest yesterday when pitcher Mike Mussina and first baseman Rafael Palmeiro were named recipients of the Gold Glove Award given to nine players in each league for defensive excellence.The award was Mussina's second straight and Palmeiro's first. This year marks the second season in a row -- but only the second time since 1978 -- that the Orioles have won more than one award. Last year, Mussina and second baseman Roberto Alomar were named.The Gold Glove Awards are presented by Rawlings in conjunction with The Sporting News, which polls managers and coaches from both leagues to determine winners.

FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. - Orioles pitcher David Wells was released from North Ridge Medical Center yesterday afternoon, after preliminary tests revealed no abnormalities in his heart. Wells was admitted for tests Monday after experiencing an accelerated heart rate.Assuming further examination of his test results don't show any problems, Wells is expected to resume his workout schedule later this week, and he tentatively is scheduled to pitch in the Orioles' exhibition Saturday against Atlanta.

The pending collective bargaining agreement in baseball could have a negative effect on the Orioles' bullpen next season.Left-handed setup man Jesse Orosco has solidified the Orioles' relief corps the last two seasons, and the team has made no secret of its desire to bring the 39-year-old reliever back next year.But according to Orosco's agent, Alan Meersand, the Orioles might have some competition for the veteran if a new collective bargaining agreement is signed.Meersand said under the proposed CBA, the Orioles would lose their repeater rights to Orosco, making him a free agent eligible to negotiate with any team.

He didn't say much. Six games into the 1988 season, his father, Cal Ripken Sr., was fired as the Orioles manager. It erased 31 years of service to one organization and ended a family dream.It was obvious that Cal Jr. was bitter. He publicly acknowledged that but went no further. Cal Jr. reacted to the biggest disappointment of his career by retreating into silence. Prideful, professional silence."He got real quiet when that stuff happened," former Orioles pitcher Scott McGregor said.McGregor had watched Ripken grow up over the previous six years.

Dear Mr. Baseball:What players are being inducted into the Hall of Fame this year?Joseph HumphreyDundalkDear Joseph Humphrey:Your letter comes at a time when Mr. Baseball is completing plans to attend yet another Hall of Fame ceremony, July 30 in Cooperstown, N.Y. As always, Mr. Baseball will be lodging at the home of close friend and renown baseball performer Max Patkin, a distant cousin of the former San Diego Chicken.Your question about Hall of Fame inductees seems simple enough, but takes many paragraphs to answer this year.

It should have been Cal Ripken's finest hour. His father, Cal Sr., was his manager. His brother, Bill, was his double-play partner. They were the first father-son trio in history and the envy of their Orioles teammates."

MIAMI - -Orioles pitcher Koji Uehara will see team orthopedist Dr. John Wilckens Friday morning in an effort to determine the cause of the soreness in his right elbow. Though the Orioles won't know officially until Uehara is evaluated, his scheduled start Sunday against the Washington Nationals is in jeopardy. "He didn't throw yesterday or today," Orioles manager Dave Trembley said. "He was told not to. He'll see Dr. Wilckens ... then we'll make a determination on his status for Sunday's start."

Mark Fidrych, an eccentric All-Star pitcher nicknamed "The Bird" whose career was shortened by injuries, was found dead Monday in an apparent accident at his farm in Northborough, Mass. He was 54. Worcester County (Mass.) District Attorney Joseph D. Early Jr. said a family friend found Fidrych about 2:30 p.m. Monday beneath a dump truck at his farm. He appeared to be working on the truck, Early said. The curly haired right-hander was the American League Rookie of the Year in 1976, when he went 19-9 with a 2.34 ERA. He spent all five of his major league seasons with the Detroit Tigers, compiling a 29-19 record and a 3.10 ERA. After a series of injuries, he didn't pitch in the majors after 1980 and retired after attempting a comeback with the Boston Red Sox in 1983.

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. - Third baseman Aubrey Huff was in a crouch, his elbows resting on his knees, his eyes staring straight ahead. Brian Roberts was near second base, his arms resting behind his back and his eyes fixed on the ground. In the outfield, Jay Payton stood completely still with his arms folded, while Nick Markakis paced back and forth with his back to home plate. By the sixth inning yesterday, the Orioles had the look of a beaten and battered team that couldn't wait for this three-day nightmare at Tropicana Field to end. When it finally did before an announced 32,379, the Orioles had absorbed a 10-4 loss and a humbling three-game sweep in which they were outscored 34-16.

SEATTLE - Orioles pitcher Daniel Cabrera was fined and suspended for six games by Major League Baseball two days after being ejected and accused of intentionally throwing at New York Yankees star Alex Rodriguez. Cabrera is expected to appeal the suspension and make his next scheduled start Sunday against the Seattle Mariners. Orioles president of baseball operation Andy MacPhail said the suspension was automatic once Cabrera was ejected by plate umpire Chad Fairchild. "I anticipated that was going to happen because once he makes that judgment, it's automatic," MacPhail said.

Orioles pitcher Daniel Cabrera did it again Sunday. He gave Orioles fans a glimpse of the pitcher he's capable of being when he throws strikes. In the first five innings of a televised game against the Washington Nationals, he pitched shutout baseball with one walk and five strikeouts - and here's the best part - on just 44 pitches. The sixth inning unraveled for him a little, but it is mid-March. When Cabrera throws as he did Sunday, he reminds me of Los Angeles Dodgers great Don Newcombe.

Wild ninth The Orioles held a 9-5 lead going into the ninth inning, but Lance Cormier was charged with five runs (four earned) and stood to be the losing pitcher before the Orioles rallied in the bottom half against Washington reliever Jim Ed Warden. Matt Wieters reached on an infield hit with one out and scored the tying run on Scott Moore's double. Moore raced home on Luis Terrero's single, creating a mob scene at home plate. Ryan Langerhans gave the Nationals a 10-9 lead with a double off Roberto Novoa, who entered the game after Cormier failed to retire a batter.

TORONTO -- Before leaving Rogers Centre on Friday night, Orioles pitcher Kurt Birkins found the team's video coordinator to request a tape of that night's game, which provided hard evidence as to how a soft-tossing left-handed pitcher, such as himself, could silence the Toronto Blue Jays' offense. Birkins took in Brian Burres' seven shutout innings again yesterday morning before formulating a game plan for his start. He apparently didn't take good enough notes. Baez injured Tear in elbow ends reliever's 2007 season, puts 2008 in doubt.

Garrett Olson, Orioles pitcher Is it hard not knowing when and where you're going to make your next start? It's fun being here, but at the same time, I'm sticking to my routine more than anything right now, whether they need me for a start or out of the bullpen. In a way, it's a little frustrating because you don't know exactly what your role is.

Garrett Olson, Orioles pitcher What was it like to watch Erik Bedard on Saturday night? "It's amazing. The whole time, just watching his approach on hitters. It's a dream, what he was able to accomplish, for anybody. I was glad to be a part of it, to be there to witness it."

Steve Trachsel, Orioles pitcher What do you think of Jeremy Guthrie so far? He's got great stuff. He definitely has good mound presence. And he throws a heck of a lot harder than I ever thought he would for his size. You play catch with him and he just stands there and kind of flips it to you. Then he goes, "OK, ready?" and pow. And you say, "OK, I'm done playing catch with you."