Diamond Dave is coming back for 2009. 

The Orioles announced Friday that they will bring Trembley back next season, exercising an option that was in the contract he signed last year. The club also added a team option for 2010.

So last year, the O's took off the interim tag and promptly lost 30-3 and stunk hard for the rest of the season.  At least this year, the O's are already stinking hard.  The O's tacked on an option for 2010 which suggests that Diamond Dave is still viewed with a bit of apprehension by the front office.  It seems to says, "We kind of like you... but we're keeping our eyes open in case something better comes along." 

I will be attending the O's versus Angels series on Monday (Teix's debut) and Tuesday.  If any SOCAL CCs would like to meet up with me, please post a message ASAP.  I want to pick up tickets relatively soon.  Here are the matchups according to the Sun:

Monday: Dennis Sarfate (4-2, 4.00) vs. Angels' Joe Saunders (14-5, 3.09)

Tuesday: Starters: Garrett Olson (7-5, 5.90) vs. Angels' Jon Garland (9-6, 4.30)

Wednesday: Nothing posted yet. 

Article here.

The crowd cheered for him to fail. It's the same story with any visiting player picked to be the Pizza Hut K-Man at Sovereign Bank Stadium.

If the K-man strikes out, the crowd wins free breadsticks. So the crowd responds with typical free-food wanderlust.

They stand. They scream. They get ugly.

But it seemed particularly ruthless Friday night.

Jay Gibbons, 31, has gone from Baltimore Orioles outfielder, million-dollar talent, to boo material. In York - a place where Gibbons signed autographs five or six times for diehard O's fans - it took three pitches for him to strike out in his first at-bat.

http://ydr.inyork.com/portlet/article/html/imageDisplay.jsp?contentItemRelationshipId=2001401

---------

Feel a little bit bad for Gibby.  The contest is suppose to be fun and  I'm sure Gibbons is used to jeering.  Plus, he's making a ton of money and he did strikeout.  But these contests are mean.  Reminds me of Gladiator where people are rooting for humiliation.  Or a scene from the Simpsons when Moe opens up a new restaurant and some kid throws crap at while singing happy birthday and Moe responds with "That's great kid, taking my dignity and all." 

http://msn.foxsports.com/mlb/story/8290500/O's-have-interest-in-deal-for-infielder-Lopez?CMP=OTC-K9B140813162&ATT=49

The Orioles, desperately seeking a shortstop, have engaged in substantive conversations with the Nationals about a trade for infielder Felipe Lopez, according to major league sources.

The Nationals reportedly are close to signing shortstop Cristian Guzman to a two-year contract extension for an unknown dollar amount and are unlikely to retain Lopez as a free agent after this season.

In return for Lopez, the Nationals likely would receive a marginal minor-league prospect.

The Orioles have been looking for help at shortstop ever since trading Miguel Tejada to the Astros last off-season.

Lopez is hitting .247 with 25 runs and 20 RBI.

If a deal is completed, it likely would not be announced until after the completion of the Orioles-Nationals series this weekend in Washington, sources say.

--------------

Pretty much a worthless trade especially since Lopez is a 3 month rental.  But if the O's give up next to nothing to get him, I suppose it can't hurt either.   

http://www.boston.com/lifestyle/fashion/articles/2008/06/26/why_is_this_pink_hat_so_hated/?page=full

via www.massbaytrading.com

Next to Yankees caps and Giants jerseys, the pink Red Sox cap has become the most polarizing piece of clothing a Bostonian can wear. Fans of the hats think they're simply a cute way to show their love for the Sox. Haters say pink-hat owners are latecomers who only support the Sox because it's suddenly cool - even fashionable - to do so. Pink-hat wearers haven't suffered sufficiently, they reason. No one suffers in pink.

-----------------

Thought this article was amusing.  I was hoping to find a picture of Curt Schilling, or even AMA would do :), in a pink but I had no such luck. 

http://www.baltimoresun.com/sports/baseball/bal-wieters626,0,3243552.story

CHICAGO - The Orioles are expected to announce today that catcher Matt Wieters, the organization's first-round draft pick last season and its top prospect, will be promoted to Double-A Bowie.

Wieters hit .342 with 14 homers and 38 RBIs in 68 games at Single-A Frederick to earn the promotion. He had a .445 on-base percentage and .560 slugging percentage, earning a berth in the midseason All-Star game.

Wieters, who turned 22 last week, was the fifth overall selection out of Georgia Teach in the 2007 first-year player draft.
------------------------

About time. 

I have to vote in 24 hours and I still haven't decided.  I am a little tired of all the "change" rhetoric, and its variations, associated with Obama because it's a politically vacuous word.  Obama staff is made up all veteran Washington insiders.  It's not like he represents some break from the "Washington business as usual" staleness that voters are disaffected with.  Paul Krugman just wrote a column this morning concluding that his health care plan isn't passable.  And in comparison to Clinton's plan, it doesn't cover as many people and is more expensive.  But in terms of integrity (the other popular Obama phrase word), Obama seems to be superior.  I say "seems" because Obama's service in highly visible political positions isn't nearly as long as Hillary's thus he hasn't been vetted as closely.  But we do know that Clintons can be cut throat and unscrupulous.  And Clinton is certainly a divisive figure.  Poll data from NPR shows that Hillary is much better than Obama in unifying the democratic base.  But, unlike Obama, she's just as effective in unifying the Republican base against her.  In other words, some Republicans may vote Obama while they're likely to vote against Hillary just for the sake of spiting her.  If you want to throw in your two cents on who I should vote for, go ahead.  

1. Matt Wieters, C, Grade A-
2. Troy Patton, LHP, Grade B+ (I like him more than I should perhaps)
3. Radhames Liz, RHP, Grade B (Grade A arm, Grade C command)
4. Bill Rowell, 3B, Grade B
5. Nolan Reimold, OF, Grade B-
6. Garrett Olson, LHP, Grade B-
7. Jake Arrieta, RHP, Grade B-
8. Chorye Spoone, RHP, Grade B-
9. Jim Hoey, RHP, Grade B-
10. Pedro Beato, RHP, Grade B-
11. Tim Bascom, RHP, Grade B-
12. Brandon Erbe, RHP, Grade C+ (something weird here, hidden injury perhaps?)
13. Brandon Snyder, 1B, Grade C+ (numbers don't match propaganda)
14. Mike Costanzo, 3B, Grade C+
15. Scott Moore, 3B, Grade C+
16. Randor Bierd, RHP, Grade C+
17. Bradley Bergesen, RHP, Grade C+
18. Bob McCrory, RHP, Grade C (I don't like him as much as some people do. Command worries me.)
19. David Hernandez, RHP, Grade C (sleeper potential is high though)
20. Jeff Fiorentino, OF, Grade C (looks like a solid fourth outfielder)

--------

The dropoff of Erbe really sucks.  Basically, the O's system has some decent depth but no real blue chippers except for Wieters who hasn't played any pro ball yet except for the AFL.  I wish John would have done the O's last because the farm system may drastically change after Bedard and Roberts are traded.  

The Orioles have added another candidate for center field, buying the contract of outfielder Chris Roberson from the Philadelphia Phillies today.

Roberson, 28, is a speedy switch-hitter with little power who spent most of 2007 with the Phillies' Triple-A team in Ottawa, where he hit .266 with four homers and 19 stolen bases in 113 games.

Roberson batted .286 (eight hits in 28 at-bats) in two major-league callups spanning 28 games with the Phillies last season and is a career .232 hitter in 69 big-league at-bats. The Phillies designated him for assignment last month.

http://www.baltimoresun.com/sports/baseball/bal-os0102,0,5008246.story

-----------

I would rather keep Fio but whatever, both players suck. Not sure what this new dude brings that Tike doesn't.  I guess the O's wanted some extra options for CF.  

"Orioles shortstop Miguel Tejada finally got his wish as he was traded to the Houston Astros today in president of baseball operations Andy MacPhail's boldest move to date.

In return for the four-time All-Star, the Orioles will get outfielder Luke Scott, pitchers Matt Albers, Troy Patton and Dennis Sarfate, and third baseman Michael Costanzo."

http://www.baltimoresun.com/sports/baseball/bal-tejada1212,0,378258.story

I don't know anything about these guys.  I believe Patton is well-regarded though.  Miggy, good luck, although you're still not going to playoffs.   Here's Sickel take on the Stro's farm system:
http://www.minorleagueball.com/story/2007/11/29/142630/56