I had to dress as a nurse on a road trip to Chicago [as part of rookie initiation].

The Orioles optioned left-hander Garrett Olson to Triple-A Norfolk after tonight's game.

Manager Dave Trembley wouldn't reveal Olson's replacement from Norfolk, saying he has to wait until the guy reports to the ballpark. But it's Radhames Liz. We'll end the mystery.

The Red Sox optioned tonight's starter, Clay Buchholz, after the game.

If you want to read it, here's the letter in its entirety. Plug in Orioles in place of Reds and replace Ken Griffey and Adam Dunn with Miguel Tejada and Eric Bedard and you have basically the same letter Andy MacPhail sent to Orioles season ticket holders during the offseason...except the part about hiring Dusty Baker as manager.

The St. Louis Cardinals conceded the Matt Clement signing was a failed gamble on Saturday, releasing a right-hander who has struggled to return from shoulder surgery in 2006.

"We had opportunities to do something stupid, and we didn't do it." -Andy MacPhail

"It’s unfortunate one got away, because we’re not trying to hit anyone," Girardi said. "You talk to players and you tell them to stay away from that area. You pitch inside to guys, and you have to be careful."

HOUSTON - The busy New York Yankees traded reliever LaTroy Hawkins to the Houston Astros on Wednesday for minor league infielder Matt Cusick.

Hawkins was 1-1 with a 5.71 ERA in 33 appearances this season for the Yankees, who designated him for assignment Saturday after acquiring outfielder Xavier Nady and reliever Damaso Marte in a trade with Pittsburgh.

"I was sitting at home doing nothing and all of a sudden, a team wants me," Hawkins said on a conference call. "I'm pretty excited about that."

Jul 28 Nick Carfardo, of The Boston Globe, reports Seattle Mariners SP Erik Bedard (shoulder) is not fitting in with the team and could be traded this season. One Mariners official said Bedard "is a guy who just didn't fit here. He needs to go somewhere where there's another strong personality who can kick his butt."

There appears a growing chance that Mariners starting pitcher Erik Bedard won't get back on a mound until August.

Bedard rejoined the team Friday and told the coaching staff he was unable to throw on the side during the All-Star break without any discomfort in his shoulder. The team has shut Bedard down for a few days as a result; he won't even attempt to play catch until Monday at the earliest.

Mariners manager Jim Riggleman said he'd like to see Bedard play catch a couple of times before allowing him to throw a bullpen session. That makes it nearly impossible that Bedard would make more than a single start by the July 31 trade deadline, if even that.

Switching topics, American League manager Terry Francona phoned Orioles president Andy MacPhail to explain why he needed George Sherrill for 2 1/3 innings. The Orioles weren't happy about it.