FanHouse Notes From The Clubh...

Our MLB editor provides weekly dispatches from major league games in Notes From the Clubhouse.

Last week, the Orioles celebrated the 25th anniversary of their 1983 World Series title. That was the last time the once-proud franchise won a championship, in case you were wondering, and it's been a decade since they were relevant.

Eight days later GM Andy MacPhail did nothing at the trade deadline despite his club's grim chances in 2008. Closer George Sherrill is still an Oriole. So is second baseman Brian Roberts, first baseman Aubrey Huff, outfielder Jay Payton and starting pitcher Daniel Cabrera.

To an outsider it might look like the latest gaffe from a front office that has been as hapless as they come since the days of the Clinton administration. But spend a few days with the team at Camden Yards and you get an entirely different vibe.

MacPhail has overhauled the organization in such a way that there's very real hope for the very near future. In perfect concert, manager Dave Trembley has changed the clubhouse culture, stressing things like accountability, respect and appreciation. It's enough to make you see the light at the end of the tunnel, if nothing else.

Our MLB editor provides weekly dispatches from major league games in Notes From the Clubhouse.

Bad news for Boston fans Monday night. The Red Sox will place designated hitter David Ortiz on the disabled list after an MRI revealed the slugger had a torn tendon sheath in his extensor carpi ulnaris -- a muscle in the wrist. Ortiz is certain to miss at least a few weeks, though the Boston Herald has reported that he will miss at least a month and could face season-ending surgery.

Manager Terry Francona did not indicate the injury was quite that serious, though he will confer with Ortiz, GM Theo Epstein and the team's medical staff tomorrow in Boston.

Big Papi struggled in April, but he was his usual slugging self in May putting up a line of .318/.409/.617 (AVG/OBP/SLG) over the last month. No team in baseball is prepared to replace that kind of production, but the Red Sox are deeper than any other organization in the game and are prepared to make do while Ortiz gets healthy. Francona said after the game that reserve first baseman Sean Casey would likely see additional time while Ortiz is sidelined, but the most likely lineup Francona will put out there will probably feature Manny Ramirez at DH and Jacoby Ellsbury, Brandon Moss and maybe even Bobby Kielty or Kevin Youkilis splitting time in left field.

When asked about seeing more time as a designated hitter, Ramirez said "I love it. I love to DH," though he then went on to joke that if he played there too much it might hurt his chances at getting the Gold Glove he so covets. "It's nice to give him a blow and still keep his bat in the game," said Francona of playing Ramirez at DH.

If the Red Sox were merely losing Ortiz for a few weeks, there wouldn't be much to worry about, but Big Papi's injury is just at the top of a long list of concerns for the reigning champs.

Boston will miss Ortiz, but they'll do a very good job of filling the void in the short-term

Our MLB editor provides weekly dispatches from major league games in Notes From the Clubhouse.

The NL East is baseball's most puzzling division almost two months into the season. A mere two games separate the first-place Florida Marlins from the fourth-place Atlanta Braves. You get the feeling that there is a big opening for any one of these teams to take control of this divsion with one really good week.

One of those teams that is a winning streak away from taking command is the Philadelphia Phillies. The Fightin's entered Tuesday night's game with the fourth most runs in the National League, yet they rank 12th in batting average and eighth in on-base percentage. In fact, the only offensive category where the Phils are excelling is in home runs. They lead the league in round-trippers with 64 on the season.

Manager Charlie Manuel is particularly worried about his team's struggles with runners in scoring position -- they're hitting .252 in those spots this year. "Our offense is a little bit different than it was last year," said Manuel before Tuesday night's game against the Nationals. "We gotta start moving our runners more," he added, lamenting the loss of speed that came with the departure of Michael Bourn in trade this winter.

"We're not gonna manufacture runs," said Manuel. "That's who they are. It's not a knock on these guys."

Of course, it is a bit of a knock on his players, and while Manuel might feel like his team is less dynamic, it's nearly as effective as it was last year offensively, and could be even better if Ryan Howard could make more consistent contact and get his average above the Mendoza Line (he already has three strikeouts today). As for the RISP thing, the Phillies only hit .259 in those spots last year, yet they still led the National League in runs. Why? Because they hit a ton of home runs and extra-base hits. Even though Manuel might not realize it, the big fly might be the best thing his team has going for it.

Our MLB editor provides weekly dispatches from major league games in Notes From the Clubhouse.

Do you think the Red Sox are ready to go back to Fenway Park? They haven't had an off day this month (they'll have one tomorrow) and they're finishing up a 10-game road trip, on which they'll finish no better than .500. Oh yeah, they've also lost starting shortstop Julio Lugo to a concussion, starting right fielder J.D. Drew to a hyper-extended wrist and had to put promising young pitcher Clay Buchholz on the 15-day DL with, of all things, a torn fingernail.

So that explains, at least partly, why Josh Beckett went all Ozzie Guillen last night. It also helps explain why David Ortiz was still smarting this morning after he was ejected by umprie Laz Diaz for arguing a very controversial check swing third strike call. Diaz called the third strike on Ortiz without checking with the third base umpire and it appeared that the only reason Ortiz came close to breaking his wrists on the swing was to duck an up and in pitch.

Big Papi complained about Diaz's fairness last night and this morning talked about the state of umpiring in general. Ortiz and a few of his teammates (Kevin Youkilis in particular) often let an umpire know when they think he's made a bad call, but he was quick to point out the downside of criticizing the guys who call balls and strikes. One reporter asked him if he meant getting fined.

"Fine?" lamented Ortiz. "You get [expletive] on the field."

Our MLB editor provides weekly dispatches from major league games in Notes From the Clubhouse.

Manny Ramirez and the sluggish Boston Red Sox arrived in Baltimore very early this morning at the tail end of a tough 10-game road trip. Ramirez sits just two home runs away from the 500th of his career, but he doesn't appear to be letting Boston's 6 AM arrival here in the Charm City slow him down.

As Manny departed the clubhouse for a pre-game workout he pointed to Josh Beckett, the Red Sox starter tonight, and told him he was going to get to 500 homers in the next two days. Ramirez doesn't have a home run against either of the Baltimore starters in this abbreviated series -- Jeremy Guthrie and Daniel Cabrera -- but if Manny feels good, I'm not sure it even matters. He is, after all, one of the top right-handed hitters of this generation.

The other major news to report is that Boston manager Terry Francona has left the team because of a death in the family. His wife's mother passed away last night during the Red Sox's game against the Twins and Francona found out following the game. He could return to the team as early as Thursday, Boston's first off day this month. The Red Sox face the Brewers Friday at Fenway Park to open interleague play.

Brad Mills will take over the managing duties in the meantime, but he doesn't expect much to change. "This is a veteran team, the dynamics are going to stay the same," he said during his pre-game meeting with the press. Mills has been Francona's bench coach since he took over as manager in 2004, and he may eventually have a future as a manager himself, but he isn't thinking about that today. "Not under these circumstances," said Mills.