Last night, the Orioles continued their winning ways as Adam Jones' game-winning RBI-single in the tenth inning helped them beat the Chicago White Sox, 2-1.

Overall, it was a very well played game by the Orioles as Brad Bergesen pitched seven strong innings, only giving up a homer - a solo shot - to Gordon Beckham. The bullpen, mainly Koji Uehara and Alfredo Simon kept things in check, pitching scoreless innings.

Showalter also showed his presence to the umpires out on the field as he engaged with Jerry Crawford for a bit in the seventh inning. The two men debated over a supposed catch that White Sox outfielder Carlos Quentin made in the seventh inning to rob Felix Pie of a hit.

Of course, Ozzie Guillen was none too pleased with Showalter's display...

Last month, the Orioles swept the Texas Rangers in four games, and while everyone thought that might have been the start of something new under Juan Samuel - it was not. However, this time around with Buck Showalter at the helm of the Baltimore Orioles, things might be different.

Not to give the lion's share of credit to Showalter, only after four games at the helm of the Orioles, but the players seem to be playing with a lot more urgency and perhaps accountability now. They are undefeated with him on the field right now.

Amazingly, Showalters's presence with the Orioles is also helping on the TV ratings front...

The Showalter era has gotten off to a great start, with last night's win the Orioles swept the Angels out of Baltimore. I honestly didn't recognize the team that played last night. Was that the Angels? I mean I know they wore Angels' uniforms but they played terribly this series moreover they weren't playing smart "Angel Baseball" that I know I have grown very accustomed to seeing over the better part of the last decade. The Orioles caught the Angels in free-fall and I will take it.

Showalter has the Orioles playing very good ball right now - but how much of it is really Showalter? I am sure Buck would be the first person to say that he has done little to bring about these wins. I am sure he would say that it is all the players. And it has been the players:

The starting pitching has been wonderful this series Guthrie, Matusz and Arrieta combined to pitch 20.2 innings giving up six (SIX!) runs and only allowing two (TWO!) walks. Guthrie and Matusz both got wins. Arrieta had a remarkable start ruined by an eighth inning Torii Hunter 3-run homerun off of Jason Berken. Speaking of which, as great as the starters have been the last two games have seen the pen struggle. Matt Albers got lit up on Thursday night making a laugher a lot closer than it needed to be, David Hernandez struggled in the same game before spraining his ankle and ending up on the DL. Gonzalez has been reliable but he gave up an RBI last night while facing his only batter, but even with the struggles the Orioles have found ways to win the last few games.

The team is heating up all over. Matt Wieters, since coming back from the DL, is batting an even .300 with an OPS of .999. Here are some slash lines over the last 14 days:

Adam Jones: .310/.383/.429/.812

Felix Pie: .317/.341/.415/.756

Luke Scott: .277/.321/.681/1.002

Nick Markakis has struggled a bit over that period, but he has come up with some key hits over the last series, including a homerun that was absolutely crushed last night. Sitting in my seat near the right field foul pole you could almost feel the shock wave from the extra-loud crack that sounded when ball met bat. Fantastic.

Jones and Pie have become quite the one-two punch in the second half of the lineup. Over the last two games it seems that Jones will get on base and Felix brings him right on in. Adam doubles, Felix singles; Adam singles, Felix triples. They seem to be feeding off one another right now and it is a lot of fun to watch.

Orioles, fun to watch? God I have missed typing that.

This weekend will be a real test though, the White Sox are 13-8 since the All-Star Break and sit atop a very competitive AL Central. The last five series the White Sox have played have been against struggling teams; two each against Oakland and Seattle and a four game series against the Detroit Tigers who are in the middle of their seemingly annual nosedive. Of course the pale hose are looking at the Orioles and seeing another easy series in a soft spot of their schedule. If the Orioles are truly on an upswing this weekend will bring it out.

Getting back to the original question - how much of this IS Showalter? Conventional wisdom says that your average MLB manager, through his decisions, account for the result of about five wins a year. That is to say, at the end of the day, the manager just pushes buttons and the players need to play. But even knowing that it is hard to deny that the Orioles seem to have been playing much better ball over the last three games. I don't think anyone can deny that Showalter brings a sense of true stability and credibility to the dugout and Showalter's record with struggling teams surely gives the players the hope that the fans are feeling right now.

All that is great but the real test of Showalter's karmic impact will come when the team hits it's first speedbump. Showalter pulls the levers and pushes the buttons, but sooner or later these decisions will back fire the same way it happens to all managers. How this team responds to the inevitable lost series or three-four game losing streak or heart breaking loss will show us how much a difference Showalter is making. Right now the team is very high, but it could all come crashing down back into a pit of lethargy, or swamp of sadness and that is where the great managers separate themselves from the pack.

It’s three games into the Buck Showalter era and Orioles have won each one.

Last night, the Orioles swept the three game series with the Angels as they won, 5-4, thanks to a walk-off hit by Cesar Izturis in the bottom of the ninth inning.

The difference in the team during the Angels series has been obvious – the young starting pitching has been a lot better, the Orioles are hitting in the clutch, performing with runners in scoring position and aside from the bullpen faltering in game two, the team has been solid.

The Orioles nearly blew Wednesday’s and last night’s game – but hey, at this point, win any way you can.

After the train wreck we’ve all seen this season as fans, it’s nice to have a little win streak going into a tough weekend series against the Chicago White Sox.

Then again, the Angels are not nearly good as they have been in years’ past and look to be nothing more than a .500 team.

Yes, it is only three games into Showalter’s tenure in Baltimore; however, the team seems to be responding to his style and playing much differently. It’s the same team that we’ve all seen during the past month – however, right now it’s all good.

In fact, take what catcher Matt Wieters had to say about the first few games under Showalter and the effect it’s had on the squad:

"Anytime you get a change in manager, and the new guy is going to be here for a while … definitely, a little bit of excitement comes along,” Wieters said. “It might have helped the guys – especially pick them up this time of year.” (From the Baltimore Sun)

Why could they have not done this with Dave Trembley (injuries killed him), or Juan Samuel, but it’s good as a fan to see some good, inspired and hard-played baseball.

I’m sure we’re all glad to see it because the players are being watched by Showalter and perhaps we’re seeing this week what the 2010 Oriole team should have been doing in the first place.

Yesterday was the 106^th game for the Orioles on the season; however, the feeling was a different at Camden Yards last night.

New Oriole manager Buck Showalter got his troops to defeat the Angels, 6-3, last night at Camden Yards. There was a little less than 17,000 people at the park, but they greeted Showalter warmly and hope he can help be part of the turnaround with the organization.

The Orioles are now 33-73 on the season.

Jeremy Guthrie got the win as he went seven innings, gave up three runs and finally got some ample run support on the evening. Reliever Mike Gonzalez continued on his road back by pitching 1 2/3 no shutout ball, and Alfredo Simon things up.

The Angels got on the board with a Howie Kendrick two-homer in the 5^th inning; however, the Orioles got on the board with a Matt Wieters RBI-double in the bottom of the 5th. They took a 3-2 lead as Luke Scott hit a two-run homer in the 6th (his 19^th on the season).

A few batters later, they added an insurance run as Josh Bell added a two-run double and secured their advantage.

Baltimore added another run in the eighth off a Wieters RBI-single that floated to left.

Overall, it was a good night for the Orioles. One game does not make a season and you can’t judge much from Showalter’s first game, but the team played a lot differently and made far less mistakes than usual. Plus, for once I felt a little less afraid about Baltimore blowing a lead.

As for Showalter, I feel good that the team has someone of his caliber and experience at the helm.

I liked the fact the Buck wears stirrups, actually ran to the pitching mound to make changes, and looked like a throwback from the 70’s-80’s – ala an Earl Weaver as some in the media have mused.

Lest we forget that we also had Mike Hargrove who managed quite a few good Indians teams back in the 90s, but I hope that Showalter works out.

During the post game presser, he said all the right things – again – and is willing to not manage scared – and have confidence in his guys.

I hate to say it, but Showalter’s demeanor was a lot different from the managers we’ve seen in the past.

Really, I hope that some of the guys play with a lot more fire with two months left in the season.

It will be interesting to see if some of the players have who not shown hustle or slacked off the in the past don’t change their ways under the new manager.

Finally, as for Rick Dempsey, it is sad to see he didn’t get the manager’s job; however, there’s no doubt that Showalter was the man for it.

On Sunday, August 22^nd, Brian Roberts will be holding his fifth annual “Brian’s Baseball Bash” at Dave and Busters at Arundel Mills Mall.

The blog can certainly attest if you’d like to meet some of the Oriole players, get face time, autographs and just have a good time, this event is for you.

Of course, ‘Brian’s Baseball Bash’ is for a good cause – to help the University of Maryland Hospital for Children and all proceeds will go towards that foundation.

Admission is $200 per person and $150 for children 12 and under. This includes complimentary parking, a Dave and Buster’s game card, dinner, desert, cocktails, the opportunity to interact and receive autographs from Orioles players along with local celeberties, giveaways plus access to live and silent auctions.

Showalter said all the right things and also came off very well in the presser for the media yesterday. The fans are excited and hoping for change after 13 seasons, plus thinking that Showalter will light a fire under the players.

He’s got the experience, the nice lifetime record and respect throughout baseball – we know that. From what I’ve read, heard and seen so far, it looks like Buck – for all his faults – is a very good leader and someone everyone will respect.

Maybe Buck restores the Orioles back to prominence in Major League Baseball, or maybe like every manager since 1998, he may fall on his face.

Showalter also did a very classy thing – he will don the number 26 in honor of the late Johnny Oates who he considers a ‘friend and mentor”. Furthermore, it looks as if he’ll make his home in Baltimore and do his best to change the culture within the organization.

It was all wonderful on Monday amongst Oriole fans on the radio, on the web, blogs and wherever else; however, we’ll all head back to reality as the 32-73 Baltimore squad continue a sad season against the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim at Camden Yards later on today.

Fans are not happy with the Orioles. As good as today was for the organization, lest we not forget, until the talent improves on the field and within all levels of the organization – the Orioles aren’t going anywhere in the American League East.

Like I said this weekend -- while the Showalter hiring is nice for Baltimore, the must keep using draft to stock up on talent, take a part in the free agency hunt (for real), pump up their international scouting and perhaps improve through trades in order to get over the losing.

The team has been a doormat for too long. Let’s hope this organization finally gets the right hire as manager.

It looks as if Buck Showalter likes a challenge. He’ll have that and more with the Orioles.

If you want a further perspective on the man, The Hardball Times' Chris Jaffe has an in-depth piece about him...

Buck Showalter was announced as Orioles manager today.

The skies parted, the sun shone down from the heavens. the Warehouse was bathed in an ethereal glow of life-giving light. Suddenly, for just a moment, the world was at complete peace. Not a gun was fired, not a cannon shot. There was not a raised voice because if you listened just ever so carefully you may have heard a solitary angle singing a quite, respectful, hymn.

Or there was a press conference.

Yeah, there was a press conference. If you missed the big presser catch it all on MASN's website and really solid quotes from Brit and Roch.

What did I take away from today's events you ask? Honestly I'm not really sure. I have spoken on the Showalter enough: I think it is a great hire. I think Showalter brings instant credibility ... I've been over this. Nothing about today's presser changed my mind Showalter is obviously the guy you want in this situation. He is a proven leader and a proven franchise architect and the Twisted Pagan Baseball Gods know that the Orioles need all the help they can get.

Honestly, I am not really expecting drastic changes in the short-term I really don't know what some Orioles fans are expecting to find here. I think some fans have this idea that Showalter is going to go all "Bull Durham - Shower Scene" on the first day. Walk into the clubhouse with a Shatner-esque swagger and get things done. And for all I know, maybe that is the case. But don't be surprised when he doesn't go Earl Weaver on an Ump on the first bad call and don't lose faith when he doesn't seem to visibly dress down a player for not properly running out a fly ball or making a silly error. I think Buck understands that this is a job that needs to understand the long-view. Oh, I am sure that Buck will bust some heads from time to time that is the type of guy he is but I don't think it will be as visible or the reality will match the picture that some have built in their heads.

Bottom line is this Orioles fans, the team has a fantastic new manager. A manager who will hopefully turn this derelict franchise around and we will all look to this new leader to bring us the team we so desperately want.

On thing Showalter said that really stuck out at me: "The fans have had enough lip service, so I'm not saying anything."

The Orioles made another trade before Saturday's deadline, this time trading reliever Wil Ohman to the Florida Marlins for starting pitcher, Rick VandenHurk.

From the Baltimore Sun: VandenHurk, 25, has pitched in two games for the Marlins this season, allowing three hits and one earned run in 1 1/3 innings. He has pitched for Florida since 2007, compiling an 8-9 record and a 5.96 ERA.

The Orioles plan to move VandenHurk into the starting rotation at Triple-A Norfolk. VandenHurk worked with Orioles pitching coach Rick Kranitz during the 2007 MLB season with the Marlins.

Josh Bell has been recalled from the Tides, and Troy Patton could be brought up to Baltimore to take Ohman's spot Sunday. Patton would give the club another left-hander in the bullpen.

Ohman appeared in 51 games for the Orioles this season, allowing 30 hits and 11 earned runs in 30 innings. He struck out 29 batters and had an ERA of 3.30.

I figure it's safe to assume that VandenHurk will be another young arm in the Baltimore system and at this rate, they might need all they can get. He's got some major league experience, and more importantly, the pitcher is someone who the Orioles will have control of for a good while.

Andy MacPhail spoke to the Sun's Dan Connolly about the move in a blog post on their website:

MacPhail said the Orioles had been interested in VandenHurk for a while and had been rebuffed by the Marlins. But they called back moments before Saturday’s 4 p.m. deadline.

“We had asked for him and they had said, ‘No,’” MacPhail said. “Five minutes before the deadline. We had sort of put him out of our head.”

VandenHurk will be sent to Triple-A Norfolk to start in the Tides’ rotation. He will be out of options next season, so must make the Orioles’ 25-man roster heading out of spring.

“We see him as a long guy or a potential starter,” MacPhail said. “We’ll put him in the mix and he’ll give us another option for a starter in the rest of the 2010 season.”

The Orioles made just one minor deal, but MacPhail said overall it was a very busy day.

“We had more conversations than I had expected about a greater variety of subjects than I had expected going into the morning,” he said. “How close we came (to other deals) I don’t know. Whether we’ll do something later as the result of the talks we have had, that’s possible as well.”

In the end, the Orioles weren't major players at all in the trade market, but traded some expendable parts for some arms to place in their organization. Some might be disappointed that Andy MacPhail didn't do more in terms of moves - like trading a hot Luke Scott or All-Star Ty Wigginton - but, maybe the team wanted to hold onto to them for one reason or another.

Or perhaps, there was not much of a market for them.

Then again, the Orioles might have been too late in trading some guys, maybe demanded way too much, and some teams might have just moved on. Considering the flurry of deals towards today's deadline, I'm a tad surprised as well that Baltimore didn't do more at the trade deadline.

However, the young pitching was once again inconsistent on Thursday and Friday as Brian Matusz and Jake Arrieta, respectively, struggled again. I mused in a previous entry that when pitchers for Baltimore get in trouble, they just do not know what to do.

At this point in the season, you just have to keep the young guys going out there and hope they get it. The game is all about consistency, and once the pitchers figure it out, they’ll be successful.

Well, you have to give Mike Gonzalez some respect for pitching well over the past week after being recalled from the minors. Right now, he’s showing that he’s a much better pitcher than what we saw in the first week of the season. Presuming he’s healthy, let’s hope he can find the same success that he had in the National League and have it translate to the Orioles.

As we head into the final months of the season, we all know now that Buck Showalter will officially take the helm as manager of the Baltimore Orioles on Monday, and debut on the field Tuesday. It sucks to see Juan Samuel demoted, or even possibly leave the organization, but this move had to be done.

Showalter has the experience, success and credibility to hopefully get the Orioles to turn around. I don’t know if the addition of Showalter affects Andy MacPhail’s status, but it is an indication that the plan needs to tweaked and why not bring in someone who has had some experience in team building (case study: the Arizona Diamondbacks).

I have mused while the Showalter hiring is nice for Baltimore, the team must upgrade its talent in the draft, take a part in the free market (for real), pump up their international scouting and through trades in order to get over the losing. Then again, taking a risk would be nice to see at this point – I mean, seriously, nothing else has worked.

Plus, considering that the Orioles play in the AL East with the powerhouse Yankees who can get what they want (recently they added Lance Berkman and Austin Kearns), plus the Red Sox, contending may not be a sure thing.

Whatever happens, winning must be the goal in the future – not .500, etc.

James touched on the Miguel Tejada trade a few days ago to San Diego for a prospect (pitcher), and while it’s a bit sad to see him go, he was expendable. He was solid – nothing like he was in his tour in Baltimore – but not spectacular and it gives the Orioles a chance to see Josh Bell every day and see if he can play in the majors.

Finally, the trade deadline in MLB is today at 4pm. Honestly, trading guys like Jeremy Guthrie, Wil Ohman and Ty Wigginton would nice if we could get a decent prospect or two, but considering how bad the Orioles are, would you rather see them lose 100 or 115 games? Well, I’d say trade anyone if you could get a body – a decent one – back, who do you replace them with?