By Andrew P. Napolitano
The president's men trash the Constitution to pursue antagonists
Independent voices from the TWT Communities
For the first time since 1997, the Baltimore Orioles are coming off a year that calls for an encore.
Fresh from pitching against solid Atlanta hitters, Jake Westbrook faced a far trickier test: Guess how much fans paid for box seats to watch the exhibition game.
With 40 percent of their starting rotation now committed to Team USA, the Nationals' attention to the tournament has become much more personal.
Former Boston manager Terry Francona gave Pedro Martinez a big hug along with some advice to help him in his new job as a special assistant to the Red Sox general manager.
Showalter has more job security than almost any American worker including almost all his players, and so does the Orioles executive vice president of baseball operations Dan Duquette.
Showalter managed Baltimore to a 93-69 record last year. The Orioles beat Texas in a one-game playoff to advance to the second round against the Yankees, who won a five-game series.
Adam Greenberg is getting a chance to resume his baseball career with the Baltimore Orioles.
Davey Johnson of the Washington Nationals, and Bob Melvin of the Oakland Athletics were chosen as managers of the year on Tuesday after guiding their teams to huge turnaround seasons.
On a spring training afternoon in March, Davey Johnson proclaimed that if his team didn't make the playoffs, the Washington Nationals could fire him. And he meant it. But in a season filled with organizational bests — 98 wins, the National League East crown and the arrival of a fan base — there never was any worry they'd have to.
These Birds don't rattle easily.
Sometimes, postseason experience isn't all that important.
Buck Showalter thrust his arm into the air, then stood back and savored watching his surprising Baltimore Orioles celebrate on the field.
After a grinding stretch when the Texas Rangers lost nine of their last 13 games, and the AL West crown in the process, manager Ron Washington gave his players the day off Thursday. They get a chance to start fresh Friday.
It's been a zany, unpredictable season for the Baltimore Orioles, so perhaps it's only fitting that the magical moment when they clinched a playoff berth occurred while they were aboard a chartered flight forced to land short of its destination.
The airplane taking the Baltimore Orioles to St. Petersburg, Fla. on Sunday night had its flight diverted to Jacksonville because of smoke in the forward galley.
"Our guys were very proud of the improvement last year, but they were not proud to get beat in Game 5," Showalter said.
I can go right down the line," Showalter said. "It gave somebody else a chance to shine."
