alex rodriguez

The big news coming before Game 5 of the American League Division Series on Friday afternoon was that New York Yankees manager Joe Girardi had benched their most expensive player, third baseman Alex Rodriguez, due to Rodriguez's continued struggles at the plate. Orioles manager Buck Showalter, however, took the move in stride.

Orioles manager Buck Showalter spoke to reporters before his team's decisive Game 5 of the American League Championship Series.

If you're rooting for the Orioles to complete a Division Series upset of the New York Yankees at Yankee Stadium later today, you probably aren't a big fan of Yanks manager Joe Girardi, but I have to admit that I'm impressed with his handling of slumping superstar Alex Rodriguez.

Alex Rodriguez, who is slumping terribly, is not in the Yankees' starting lineup for Game 5 of the ALDS against the Orioles.

Here's a roundup of what other media outlets are saying about the Orioles' win over the New York Yankees in Game 4 of the American League Division Series and more:

On couches all over Baltimore, J.J. Hardy's game-winning RBI double in the 13th inning must have seemed like a dream, especially since the Orioles spent most of Thursday night putting fans to sleep with their offensive ineptitude.

Here are some quotes after the Orioles¿ 2-1 win in 13 innings over the New York Yankees in Game 4 of the American League Division Series.

After a thrilling win Wednesday, the New York Yankees were right back to explaining why they can't shake the Orioles after Thursday's 13-inning loss.

Derek Jeter is in the Yankees' lineup leading off, but serving as the designated hitter for Game 4 of the ALDS against the Orioles. Alex Rodriguez, who is mired in a 1-for-12 slump with seven strikeouts, was dropped from third in the order to fifth.

The Orioles bullpen, built through shrewd trades and bargain-bin signings, quickly emerged as one of the best in baseball. The relievers were the primary reason that the Orioles had the best record ever (29-9) in one-run games and hadn't lost an extra-inning game since dropping consecutive ones to the New York Yankees in the first week of the season. But this morning, after the New York Yankees beat the Orioles in 12 innings last night, hoards of sleepy Orioles fans stumbled to work, still stunned that the bullpen did not come through in the clutch.

Every morning, Monday through Friday, blogger Matt Vensel will hook you up with reading material -- mostly on the Ravens but with some other Baltimore sports stuff, too -- to skim through as you slug down coffee and slack off at the start of your workday. That way he'll have an excuse to do the same to start his workday, too.

Among a Yankees base that is accustomed to winning, the Orioles are regarded more as an obstacle on the way to a World Series title than a legitimate threat.

The Orioles were just two outs away from taking a commanding 2-1 lead in the best-of-five series. But a pair of solo homers by Raul Ibanez quickly reversed the roles and put the Orioles on the brink of elimination.

The Yankees clubhouse, a coolly professional space after wins and losses alike, was giddy about Raul Ibanez's theatrics on Wednesday night.

New York Yankees manager Joe Girardi made an agonizing decision in the ninth inning, removing $29 million superstar Alex Rodriguez from a clutch situation and replacing him with veteran Raul Ibanez. Obviously, it worked out great when Ibanez tied the game with a homer off Jim Johnson and won it with a 12th inning bleacher shot off Brian Matusz, but it still leaves Girardi with a potentially disgruntled superstar.

Orioles third baseman Manny Machado led off the fifth inning Wednesday by hitting a slider from New York Yankees starter Hiroki Kuroda into the visiting bullpen to give the Orioles a 2-1 lead in Game 3 of the American League Division Series.

There was some speculation that New York Yankees manager Joe Girardi might drop Alex Rodriguez in Wednesday's lineup because the aging star is 1-for-9 with five strikeouts in the series so far. But the lineups are out and Rodriguez is batting third as the Yankees¿ designated hitter.

Here's a roundup of what other media outlets are saying about the Orioles' win over the New York Yankees in Game 2 of the American League Division Series.

These surprising Baltimore Orioles have shown resilience all season. And they did it again Monday, rebounding from a ninth inning implosion the night before to slip past the New York Yankees, 3-2, to even up the American League Division Series at 1-1.

When the Orioles signed left-hander Wei-Yin Chen, 10 days into 2012, they did so because they believed the 27-year-old had displayed unflappability in big games.

Baltimore Sun writers react to the Orioles' 3-2 win over the New York Yankees in Game 2 of the ALDS

Orioles manager was interviewed from the dugout during the TBS broadcast and shared his thoughts on J.J. Hardy being deked by Alex Rodriguez at third base in the third inning of Game 2 on Monday night.

Up until the ninth inning, it was a great game, and TBS provided coverage worthy of it.

When Manny Machado was announced to the sellout crowd Sunday night before the first home playoff game at Camden Yards in 15 years, the Orioles' rookie third baseman jogged to the first base foul line.

Sunday was the first time Camden Yards had hosted a postseason game in 15 years, and so, of course, the Orioles' fans had to wait just a little longer.

Down the stretch is a daily Orioles Insider blog that will set up the coming night for the O's and their American League competition as the push for the postseason continues.

Although they wouldn't admit it, in the past the Orioles probably would have been quietly satisfied by splitting an 18-game season series with the New York Yankees.

Chris Davis is well aware of how his offensive numbers plummeted when he played right field in June and July.

Baltimore Orioles right fielder Nick Markakis, who was hit by a pitch on his left hand in the fifth inning by Sabathia, will miss the rest of the regular season with a broken thumb. Markakis is expected to be out a minimum of six weeks.

The New York Yankees (78-60) pushed the Orioles (77-61) back to second place in the AL East, one game behind the Yankees.

The last five games between the Orioles and the Yankees have been greatly impacted by the longball. In that span, the teams have combined for 25 extra-base hits, and 21 of them have been home runs.

Down the stretch is a new daily Orioles Insider blog that will set up the coming night for the O's and their American League competition as the push for the postseason intensifies.

What some other media outlets are saying about the Orioles

Orioles designated hitter Jim Thome hasn't decided how much longer he wants to play, but he has a legitimate chance to catch Ken Griffey Jr. on one of the most noteworthy lists in baseball history.

The Orioles received bad news regarding the health of second baseman Brian Roberts on Friday. The results of an MRA taken Thursday revealed that Roberts has a right hip labral tear, is a tear in the cartilage that surrounds the outside of the hip zone.

According to an industry source, the Orioles are in serious discussions to acquire Thome from the Philadelphia Phillies for a couple of prospects. Nothing official has been announced.