Randy Myers

Myers deserves blameIt is said that Randy Myers called for the firing of an Orioles employee after the employee allowed music to be played on the PA system, interrupting Myers' concentration in a game against the Seattle Mariners.Fact: Myers, who did not do his job, let Seattle win the game.Fact: Myers, a multimillion-dollar closer, should not be distracted by anything.Fact: Myers has no right to publicly call for the firing of an Orioles employee.Perhaps Myers might be wise to heed the saying: "You are not a failure until you blame someone else."

Starters can pitch 9th, tooThis is in reference to the Orioles' 2-0 defeat of the Boston Red Sox on Friday, April 25. In that game, starter Scott Erickson was doing his best Walter Johnson impression since coming from the Twins. Davey Johnson proceeded to summon Randy Myers from the bullpen to pitch the ninth. Exit Erickson and his stellar performance.I am of the mind-set that, regardless of a person's salary, we all seek to achieve high plateaus of self-confidence through jobs well done.

Though the Redskins are beating out Rams and Bears and Giants on their schedule, they're unable to top spiders and worms on the local TV schedule.Sunday's Redskins-Rams game on Channel 45 was easily the least-watched of the three afternoon contests available for local viewers, according to Sharon Walz, Channel 11's chief numbers cruncher and this week's sole and official Media Watch ratings provider. The Redskins game, airing at 1 p.m., did a 3.2 rating, and 8 share of the audience for Channel 45.Meanwhile, the 1 p.m. Broncos-Chiefs game on Channel 11, did an 8.5/20, while on Channel 54, a movie doubleheader of "Tarantulas" and "Slugs," starting at noon, did a 3.4/8 and 4.3/10, respectively.

Jesse Orosco has been bailing out his manager all year.Most of the time it's what the 39-year-old reliever does with the ball that makes Davey Johnson breathe easier. Yesterday, it was even simpler than that.Johnson was booed intensely when he walked to the mound to take Orosco out of the game with one out in the ninth inning of yesterday's 5-4 Orioles victory. The reliever had struck out all four batters he faced, and had the crowd in his corner. So Johnson decided to walk back to the dugout alongside his reliever, piggy-backing off the standing ovation Orosco received and avoiding any more boo-birds.

(Through Friday's game)UPS AND DOWNSWildcard race * UP * What excitement, what thrills, what uncertainty! What ulcers, which is the way it's supposed to be.Brady Anderson * UP * Who would've guessed he'd hit 40 homers? Who would've guessed 30 homers?Todd Zeile * UP * Maybe he's not Denny Neagle, but it comes down to this: Is he better than Brent Bowers, the man he replaces in the lineup? Absolutely.Randy Myers * DOWN * That loss Thursday night ... Ouch.Denny Neagle * DOWN * Would've been nice for the Orioles to get him. And Greg Maddux, and Sandy Koufax, and Walter Johnson.

SEATTLE -- When Orioles manager Davey Johnson approached closer Randy Myers before Friday's game about the possibility of using other pitchers in save situations, he broached the subject in clever fashion.Johnson reminded Myers how in 1986 and 1987, when then-New York Mets closer Jesse Orosco was having trouble finishing games, Johnson began using other pitchers in certain situations. Other pitchers, including a young left-hander named Randy Myers.Several hours later, Myers gave up a couple of ninth-inning hits with the Orioles leading 5-2, and Johnson called for right-hander Alan Mills, the first time all year Myers was removed in a save situation.

No closer is perfect.Some have dabbled with perfection at times, like Dennis Eckersley in the late 1980s or Jose Mesa last year.But, inevitably they all make mistakes. Everyone gets hit hard at least a couple of times a year.Orioles closer Randy Myers' turn came last night.The Boston Red Sox clobbered Myers for three hits in two-thirds of an inning last night, the most painful of which was a three-run, game-winning homer by Mo Vaughn with two outs.Myers retired the first two batters he faced before walking weak-hitting Jeff Frye.

On the field: The Tigers are generating incredible statistics in their incredibly awful statistics. For example: Before Sunday's doubleheader against Chicago, the Tigers' hitters had gone 30 straight games without having more walks than strikeouts. Through the first three innings last night, the Tigers had four strikeouts and one walk against Mike Mussina. They finished with five walks and eight strikeouts.In the dugout: Attempting to minimize the damage in the first inning, Tigers manager Buddy Bell ordered an intentional walk to B. J. Surhoff with Bobby Bonilla on third and two outs.

SEATTLE -- Despite watching his bullpen blow two late-inning leads in Wednesday's 9-8 loss to Seattle, pitching coach Pat Dobson expressed relief over the loss the Orioles did not incur.The services of middle reliever Roger McDowell.McDowell suffered a contusion on his left shin while stopping a sharp come-backer off the bat of Edgar Martinez in the seventh inning. It forced him out of the game, but he was in uniform and ready to pitch last night as the Orioles opened a three-game series with the California Angels.