Seven

IN "The Sound of Music," nun-in-training Maria incredulously exclaims, "Seven children!" when she learns the number of charges she will look after as governess. This week, thousands of Americans echoed those words in amazement after the birth of septuplets in Carlisle, Iowa.Parents who have struggled through arduous weeks with one newborn could only imagine multiplying by seven the sleepless nights, feedings, diaper changes, crying and cost of baby clothes, supplies and college 18 years hence.

The Charleston Alley Cats scored seven runs in the bottom of the eighth inning to come from behind and beat the Delmarva Shorebirds, 9-3, in a Single-A South Atlantic League game in West Virginia last night.Trailing 3-2, the Alley Cats sent 11 batters to the plate in the eighth. Dave Guthrie had two singles in the inning, including a bases-loaded hit that scored three runs.Delmarva starter Brian Falkenborg allowed two runs and four hits through seven innings but failed to retire the first two batters in the eighth and took the loss.

Carlin's not a one-dimensional guy, so in honor of his landmark 1978 Supreme Court case -- in which justices ruled, 5-4, that the Federal Communications Commission could ban seven words from television and radio during hours when children might hear them -- here are seven Carlin observations that have nothing to do with war: Civilization began its downhill path the day some guy first uttered the words, "A man's gotta do what a man's gotta do." Guys don't seem to be called Lefty anymore.

My wife's mother passed away three years ago, leaving an estate of about $1.5 million and naming her son as executor. To date my brother-in-law has done little to settle this estate. In the interest of family harmony, my wife does not want to take legal action to have him removed as executor. I have pointed out that since he hasn't filed an estate tax return, taxes, penalties and interest are accruing and eroding the estate's value. Do you have any suggestions? Your brother-in-law's inaction, and your wife's unwillingness to confront him, have cost the estate plenty.

On the surface, it sounded like more bad news. The Orioles scratched Sidney Ponson from yesterday's start against the Kansas City Royals and handed the ball to rookie Daniel Cabrera. And yet, the way this season has gone, the team couldn't help but feel its chances of winning had improved dramatically. Cabrera, 23, is quietly building a case for Rookie of the Year consideration, and this start only added to his cause, as he held the Royals to three hits in seven shutout innings in the Orioles' 7-2 victory before 33,493 at Camden Yards.

Investment banker Nathan A. Chapman Jr., who once moved in Maryland's highest political circles, was convicted in federal court yesterday on 23 counts of fraud and filing false tax returns. Jurors concluded that Chapman, 46, was innocent of seven additional counts and could not reach a verdict on two others. After seven weeks of testimony and two weeks of deliberations, the U.S. District Court jury decided that Chapman had defrauded both the Maryland state employee pension system and his shareholders.

FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. - The Orioles are trying some new math this spring: seven established starting pitchers, five spots. Anyone see a problem here? "Ask the Yankees that," Orioles manager Mike Hargrove quipped yesterday, as pitchers and catchers reported to Fort Lauderdale Stadium. Over in Tampa, the New York Yankees also have seven starters vying for five spots. Of course, the Yankees have about $60 million invested in that group of Jose Contreras, Roger Clemens, Sterling Hitchcock, Mike Mussina, Andy Pettitte, Jeff Weaver and David Wells.

SEATTLE - A team that needs to do little things correctly, the Orioles did much wrong last night against a team that has done everything right this season. A starting pitcher who walked six, a rookie catcher who committed a costly throwing error while being picked for four stolen bases and a left fielder who whiffed on a late-inning fly ball contributed heavily to the Seattle Mariners' 12-5 win over the Orioles before 34,757 at Safeco Field. To say this wasn't the Orioles' finest hour would be incorrect.

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. -- It was the start of the second quarter yesterday and the Washington Redskins were precisely where they had hoped and fully expected to be. Leading 7-0, Washington had just thrown Ron Dayne for a loss on fourth down and took over, with New York Giants fans sensing their team was beginning an inevitable slide toward the team's 10th straight regular-season defeat. Three plays later, Washington quarterback Mark Brunell fumbled, and the Giants converted the miscue into a touchdown.

Good morning --Erik Bedard -- Winning seven straight starts is quite a feat. Winning seven straight with this Orioles team is truly amazing.