jon lester

The Chiicago Cubs are world champions for the first time in almost forever after a classic Game 7 and their beyond-the-limit World Series victory obviously was

Chris Tillman isn't quite elite, but there are very few pitchers who can boast a .704 winning percentage over the past 2 1/2 seasons.

Despite a report Wednesday that said the Orioles are interested in the Boston Red Sox's Yoenis Cespedes, the club has had no internal discussions regarding the outfielder, according to an industry source.

The Orioles have inquired about veteran free-agent outfielder-designated hitter Jonny Gomes, according to an industry source.

The Orioles' offseason to-do list looked dramatically different a week ago.

The Boston Red Sox splashed big with signings of Pablo Sandoval and Hanley Ramirez, which could make the Orioles free agent targets more in demand.

The Orioles roster is close enough to being set that potential free agents may look for opportunity elsewhere.

The Orioles didn't fall short of the World Series by much this year, and the obvious case can be made that the return of some key players will make them a stronger team in 2015. But this is no time to take the pedal off the metal.

Here are five things the Orioles can do between now and Opening Day, April 6, to keep the 2015 season alive throughout October.

Behind the scenes, the Orioles front office relies on a range of contributors, from old-school scouts who gauge talent by watching players compete to younger executives adept at the statistics-driven approach captured in "Moneyball," the best-selling book and motion picture.

The Orioles did everything in Game 1 that they had been doing during the season, resulting in another win

Sorry, Oriole Magic fans, there was nothing supernatural about the way the club ran away from the rest of the American League East this year, even if it does defy logical explanation.

Major league teams obsess throughout the month of July about the deadline for making trades without passing players through waivers, then some of them sacrifice their best young talent for the prospect of some instant postseason gratification.

The Orioles have acquired the do-it-all left-handed reliever they were seeking, picking up Andrew Miller from the Boston Red Sox for minor league left-hander Eduardo Rodriguez.

There's roughly 80 minutes left before the nonwaiver trade deadline expires, and the Orioles have not yet made a move.

Jon Lester gets traded, and it isn't to the Orioles. The club may still be on the hunt for a left-handed reliever, a catcher or a second baseman.

If reports are true that the Oakland Athletics have made their second blockbuster deal of the summer and sent Cuban slugger Yoenis Cespedes to the Red Sox for Jon Lester and Jonny Gomes, then there¿s really only one way to look at the situation: A¿s president Billy Beane has decided that it¿s now or never.

The Ravens were hit by the injury bug on the eve of Ray Rice's public comments.

The Orioles weren't close to acquiring Boston Red Sox right-hander Jon Lester on Wednesday, but Orioles executive vice president Dan Duquette continues to work the phones as the nonwaiver trade deadline approaches Thursday at 4 p.m.

These Orioles keep looking more and more like the 2012 version

Duquette again reiterated his unwillingness to deal his top prospects, so a move for a top of the rotation starter seems unlikely.

When Ubaldo Jimenez walked off the mound in the fourth inning in the nightcap of the Orioles' split doubleheader Saturday night, a split of their twin bill against the Boston Red Sox at Fenway Park seemed unlikely.

Eight of the Orioles first 11 games have been decided by two runs or fewer.

A collection of what other media outlets are saying about the Orioles as they prepare to complete their road trip with a 7:05 p.m. game against the New York Yankees on Thursday.

Chris Tillman's latest performance is the kind of outing you expect from an ace.

Jimenez allowed a pair of homers, including a game-winning two-run shot to first baseman Mike Napoli in the fifth inning that sent the Orioles to a 6-2 loss to the Red Sox in front of an announced 25,708 at Camden Yards.

Of course it's only one game, but if the Orioles can make it a habit of winning low-scoring, one-run games, 2014 really could be a special season.

In between the Opening Day cheers for their favorite Orioles -- as they gave rousing ovations to Chris Davis, Adam Jones and Manny Machado -- the announced sellout crowd of 46,685 at Camden Yards welcomed left fielder Nelson Cruz to Baltimore with "Cruuzzz" cheer as he ran down the orange carpet during pregame introductions on Monday afternoon.

It was two hours before Chris Tillman's first pitch, the sun was pouring healing rays onto Eutaw Street, and as thousands of orange-and-black clad crazies flooded past him toward the turnstiles, a man in a Brooks Robinson jersey leaned against the No. 5 Hall of Fame sculpture in front of Camden Yards.

Manny Machado's injury has created a chain reaction in the Orioles' infield, pushing Ryan Flaherty from second base to third and creating an opening for the club's top offensive prospect, Jonathan Schoop, to start at second.

Baltimore Sun reporters and editors give their thoughts on the Orioles' 2-1 win over the Boston Red Sox on Opening Day at Camden Yards.

Orioles top position player prospect Jonathan Schoop will make his first Opening Day start today as the team's second baseman.

Left-hander Johan Santana threw a bullpen session off a full mound on Thursday for the first time since signing with the Orioles.

With Opening Day just around the corner -- and the Orioles' 25-man roster being finalized over the next few days -- Delmon Young's story might be the best of the bunch.

A few facts about Orioles pitching coach Dave Wallace.

When the Orioles first contacted Dave Wallace back in October about their pitching coach vacancy, the 66-year-old baseball veteran took pause.

Fifteen of the 27 pitchers to start a division series game this year were developed by their current organization.

When the Oakland Athletics lost in Seattle early Saturday evening, the night's contest between the Orioles and the Boston Red Sox at Camden Yards technically became meaningless shortly after the first pitch.

While Brian Roberts could be playing his final games in an Orioles uniform this weekend, the veteran second baseman has made it clear he wants to return to Baltimore in 2014.

The Orioles head into this afternoon's series finale at Yankee Stadium 8 ½ games back of AL East leading Boston, the largest deficit they¿ve faced all season.

If right-hander Chris Tillman is indeed the Orioles¿ ace, if he is indeed a bona fide top starter who can walk into any situation against any club and succeed, than he had the perfect opportunity to prove it Thursday night at Fenway Park.