Pitch

Orioles rookie right-hander Kevin Gausman's stat line -- which showed him allowing seven runs over 4 1/3 innings in the Orioles' 8-0 loss to the Rays -- told just one side of the story of Saturday night's game. At times, Gausman was sparkling able to get hitters out with his changeup. He showed that his arsenal of pitches plays at the big-league level. At the same time, he elevated too many pitches up in the zone and the Rays capitalized. They didn't hit Gausman especially hard, but they found holes in timely spots.

One quality that has made Miguel Gonzalez such a valuable pitcher to the Orioles has been his ability to block out distractions. When on the mound, the Orioles right-hander is rarely rattled, and that's why he's pitched so well in his brief big league career. With his wife, Lucia, due to give birth to the couple's first child, a baby girl, in California any day now, Gonzalez couldn't help but have wandering moments. As Gonzalez pitched against the first-place Boston Red Sox on Sunday afternoon at Camden Yards, Lucia had Orioles travel secretary Kevin Buck's number on speed dial, a cross-country flight ready to be planned at a moment's notice.

The Orioles have several options in trying to fill the fifth spot of their rotation until Ben McDonald is ready to pitch again.Rick Krivda (left-hander): He'll stay as long as he pitches well.Arthur Rhodes (L): Could go back into the rotation, although he has been solid out of the bullpen.John DeSilva (R): He won a game in June and could be promoted to pitch against a team that murders lefties.Jimmy Haynes (R): Top prospect who has pitched well in Rochester, but the Orioles would like to keep him at Triple-A.

Orioles right-hander Jake Arrieta , who was called up from Triple-A Norfolk on Friday to provide bullpen depth, will start Monday night against the Tigers in Detroit in place of right-hander Jason Hammel . Hammel returned to the ballpark Sunday after two days away with a stomach virus, but manager Buck Showalter said he's uncertain if Hammel will be ready to pitch in Tuesday's game. "I've been waiting just for an opportunity, and I look forward to capitalizing on that and just contributing to continue help this team win," Arrieta said Sunday after the Orioles' 6-3 win over the Boston Red Sox. "We're playing good baseball.

Orioles right-hander Jake Arrieta , who was called up from Triple-A Norfolk on Friday to provide bullpen depth, will start Monday night against the Tigers in Detroit in place of right-hander Jason Hammel . Hammel returned to the ballpark Sunday after two days away with a stomach virus, but manager Buck Showalter said he's uncertain if Hammel will be ready to pitch in Tuesday's game. "I've been waiting just for an opportunity, and I look forward to capitalizing on that and just contributing to continue help this team win," Arrieta said Sunday after the Orioles' 6-3 win over the Boston Red Sox. "We're playing good baseball.

Your recent article "Billions needed to fix schools" (June 27) called to mind a recent editorial about the commitment businessmen Kevin Plank and Steve Bisciotti have made to improving facilities and enriching recreational and athletic opportunities for Baltimore City schoolchildren ("Protecting Baltimore's house," June 11). This is a perfect example of local businesses "giving back" to the community that supports them. Wouldn't it be wonderful if local developers, some of whom have made enormous fortunes in Baltimore City, followed the example of Mr. Plank and Mr. Bisciotti in their commitment to help repair and renovate city school buildings?

Back in September, a brightly-colored "Startup Bus" toured Maryland, encouraging entrepreneurs to come out of the woodwork to put together business plans and pitch their startup ideas. And they did. Startup Maryland accumulated 168 video pitches from its bus tour around the state, and they are all on Youtube , on the Startup Maryland channel. These are the faces of Maryland's entrepreneurs. They recorded these videos as part of a "Pitch Across Maryland" competition.

John Palasits envisions an electronic menu that would enable restaurant customers to place their orders when ready instead of summoning a waiter. Rhyan Guidry foresees a personalized hairstyling studio that would teach patrons to do their own locks. And Justin Carmona is exploring opening a gym that would cater to patrons six days a week but reserve the seventh for high school teams' training. The three were among 13 Howard Community College students seeking to create and market their business ventures in a three-to five-minute product-pitching competition called "Rocket Marketing," which was held at the school this month.

Smart baseball Phil Rogers Chicago Tribune Give Derek Jeter an Oscar. And extra MVP consideration. Derek Jeter was once again instinctually brilliant when he faked getting hit with that Chad Qualls pitch in the seventh inning on Wednesday night against the Rays. It was a case of bad umpiring and very, very smart baseball. The Yankees were trailing 2-1, so getting on base was Jeter's priority. When the pitch hit the knob of his bat, he immediately acted as if the pitch hit him and he was in pain, and umpire Lance Barksdale bought it, sending him to first.

Fernando Valenzuela, waived last Friday by the California Angels, has agreed to a minor-league contract with California. Valenzuela's agent, Tony DeMarco, his attorney, Dick Moss, and Angels senior vice president Dan O'Brien came to terms Wednesday on a deal that will send the left-hander to the minors for at least 30 days.DeMarco said Valenzuela's first pitching assignment will be tonight for Midland of the Class AA Texas League. The left-hander is expected to pitch several games before reporting to Class AAA Edmonton in the Pacific Coast League.

The evolution of Orioles right-hander Chris Tillman continued Friday night with an outing that was reminiscent of an experienced veteran and not a guy who was in the minors a year ago wondering about his future in the organization. In the Orioles' 2-0 victory over the Boston Red Sox in front of a nearly packed house on a picture-perfect baseball evening at Camden Yards, Tillman did what good pitchers are supposed to do. He won without having particularly strong command, walking four to tie his season high set in the first game of the year.

If you stayed up late enough last night, you know that Chris Davis delivered the Orioles' most recent walk-off heroics with an RBI single in the 13th inning against Boston. His bloop base-hit against Red Sox reliever Alex Wilson came on a fastball, a pitch he's done plenty of damage against in his torrid start this season. But there's actually another pitch that Davis punishes like none other -- the slider. Buster Olney wrote this morning about the top pitchers and hitters by specific pitch . Davis, according to the stats culled by one of ESPN's researchers, has an OPS of 1.624 against sliders, by far the best in the majors.

Orioles rookie right-hander Kevin Gausman's stat line -- which showed him allowing seven runs over 4 1/3 innings in the Orioles' 8-0 loss to the Rays -- told just one side of the story of Saturday night's game. At times, Gausman was sparkling able to get hitters out with his changeup. He showed that his arsenal of pitches plays at the big-league level. At the same time, he elevated too many pitches up in the zone and the Rays capitalized. They didn't hit Gausman especially hard, but they found holes in timely spots.

Who doesn't admire former Republican Senate Majority Leader Bob Dole? Wounded World War II veteran, part-time comedian (Mr. Dole once described a meeting of former presidents Carter, Ford and Nixon as "see no evil, hear no evil -- and evil"), former presidential candidate and all-around decent man, Mr. Dole was a part of government for much of his life. Therein lies the problem for some who stay in politics and government so long that it is easy to lose perspective and think cutting deals is more important than winning the argument.

On a night when the Orioles gave away Chris Davis T-shirts with a Superman-esque O's logo on the front, the team's slugging first baseman continued put up unrivaled power numbers in Wednesday's 9-6 victory over the Washington Nationals at Camden Yards. Davis recorded his fourth career multihomer game and drove in three runs, including his majors-leading 19th homer of the season -- a two-run shot off Nats reliever Tyler Clippard on an 0-2 changeup that capped the Orioles' six-run seventh.

Well, the Orioles certainly know how to make a splash. Moments after they beat the Yankees 3-2 in 10 innings on Nate McLouth's walk-off home run, news broke that the team was calling up pitching prospect Kevin Gausman from Double-A Bowie to make his major league debut Thursday in Toronto . It's not a surprise that Gausman is making the jump from Double-A. Orioles executive vice president Dan Duquette made that clear last week when he said that Double-A was the proving ground where the organization wanted to see him succeed.

The County Softball Clinicians will begin their outdoor fast-pitch softball pitching clinics from noon to 2:30 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 12, at the multicourt facility near the Brooklyn Park Library off Ritchie Highway and 11th Avenue.The first week will be reserved for beginners or those needing a refresher course. Advanced players wishing to assist the first week are encouraged to attend. All players may attend a clinic Sept. 26.The clinics are free, but donations are accepted. Those attending the first week may wish to bring a lawn chair or blanket to sit on for the lecture portion of the clinic.

Amy Finlayson had no idea what she was getting into when she first committed to being a high school softball pitcher."I didn't know I had to pitch all year," said the Bel Air junior. "But once I started, I wanted to be the best. As soon as I saw the competition, it gave me a lot more drive. Going to camps and seeing how everyone did just pushed me harder."Now, Finlayson spends as much time as possible on the diamond during the spring and summer months. In the off-season, she pitches at least twice a week after volleyball or basketball practice and often attends weekend clinics.

Right-hander Jason Hammel turned in one of the worst pitching lines of his Orioles career on Friday night, giving up seven earned runs on 10 hits and two walks while striking out four batters in 4 2/3 innings. That's his worst outing since giving up eight earned runs in 3 1/3 innings against the Los Angeles Angels on June 27, 2012. But he wasn't the only pitcher in the Orioles organization with an interesting line on Friday - though I guess it depends on your version of interesting.

Orioles right-hander Miguel Gonzalez was encouraged by his three-inning simulated game on Tuesday afternoon at Camden Yards and said he hopes to be able to return to the mound in a major league game Tuesday against the New York Yankees. Gonzalez, who has been dealing with a slow-healing blister on the inside of his right thumb, threw 25 pitches in the bullpen and then 50 to 55 in the simulated game, throwing all of his pitches - including breaking balls - to teammates Alexi Casilla, Chris Dickerson and Chris Snyder.