Jim Johnson News

CLOSER: Baltimore saw its bullpen collapse after the midseason trade of closer George Sherrill last year and would prefer to slot setup man Jim Johnson right back into an eighth-inning role.

Word is that the Orioles are looking for a closer on the free agent market for next year, with Jim Johnson having struggled in that role after the trade of George Sherrill last season.

The Orioles will celebrate their new spring training home by holding a free "Family Fanfest" from 1:30 p.m. to 4 p.m. Nov.

Fans have been speculating since the summer that the Orioles' first Asian-born recruit, Koji Uehara, will be moved to the bullpen in 2010.

Jim Johnson retired Akinori Iwamura in the ninth inning with the tying run on third base Thursday, preserving the Baltimore Orioles' 3-2 victory over Tampa Bay.

MUCH TO MY surprise and I'm sure to the surprise of many people, Dave Trembley will return as the Orioles manager next season.

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. - - For about 15 seconds, Orioles manager Dave Trembley felt as if time were standing still.

It was the worst possible way for Orioles pitcher Chris Tillman to close out an otherwise encouraging 2009 season.

As the Orioles' focus turns increasingly towards the 2010 season, one of the biggest areas of concern is the bullpen.

These are the things that players on losing teams do: They walk the leadoff batter with a two-run lead in the seventh inning.

His team is in the dumpster, playing out the string on a 2009 major-league Baseball season that started so promisingly and will end so painfully.

Twelve years ago, Cito Gaston came down the stretch with an underachieving ball club and it cost him his job.

Baez Wonders About 2010 Share + Sep 21, 2009 9:48 am US/Eastern Baez Wonders About 2010 Danys Baez stayed healthy and pitched effectively during the final season of his three-year contract with the Baltimore Orioles.

Markakis went 0-for-4 in Sunday's 9-3 loss to the Boston Red Sox and finished the second-to-last homestand of the season 2-for-26 with just one RBI, two walks and six strikeouts.

A month into his audition for the Orioles' long-term closer role, Jim Johnson has learned quickly about the difficulty of pitching the ninth inning.

Another game, another rain delay, another disheartening loss. What else do you expect from the Rays these days? Even when they show signs of life, as in Ben Zobrist's game-tying homer in the top of the ninth Wednesday night, disappointment seems preordained to follow.

Tuesday 15 Sep 2009 Tuesday, September 15, 2009 at 11:48PM MLN Newswire - www.mlntherawfeed.com -Frederick, MD A trio of Frederick Keys in 2009, Brian Matusz, Brandon Waring and Caleb Joseph will be honored in Baltimore, MD during Minor League Appreciation Night Wednesday, September 16th at Camden Yards.

The 37-year-old Mora hit a solo homer in the second inning, a two-out RBI single in the third and snapped a 4-all tie with a two-out single in the fifth.

For the first time in the 21-year history of the team, the Frederick Keys swept the Most Valuable Player and the Pitcher of the Year honors in the Carolina League.

I went to the game last night, and for eight innings, I had a great seat, ate some good food, had fun, and watched the Orioles battle for eight innings against C.C. Sabathia and the Yankees.