Baltimore

By knocking the Red Sox out of the playoff hunt with a walk-off ninth inning win in the final game of the season, the Baltimore Orioles enjoyed being relevant this late in the season for the first time since the team's last playoff appearance in 1997.

In a petulant effort to stick it to the Cubs for their continued banishment, Sammy Sosa is now holding his own fan convention, hoping to steal fans and publicity away from his former franchise during their big weekend.

After trading for Roberto Alomar in 2003 and again in 2004, the White Sox are reverting to old, reliable means to improve their output at second base. Wednesday afternoon, the White Sox traded for Roberto Alomar on the same day the retired player was elected to baseball's Hall of Fame.

Not too long ago Derrek Lee was the anchor of a promising Cubs squad that lead the NL in wins. Now after verbally agreeing to a one-year contract with the lowly Orioles, Lee's on the verge of obscurity after sulking his way to a mediocre 2010 campaign with the Cubs and Braves.

While he only had 20 ABs as a Cub, the Joey Gathright legacy will live on forever in the hearts of thousands of fans, who were saddened to learn the speedy outfielder was dealt to the Baltimore Orioles Friday night for Ryan Freel.

The deal to bring Orioles All-Star second baseman Brian Roberts to the Cubs that appeared to be imminent just a few weeks ago has come to a complete standstill in recent days. However, GM Jim Hendry still has high hopes that Roberts, and perhaps lefty Erik Bedard, will become Cubs sometime in relatively near future.

Just last week, the trade of Oriole Brian Roberts to the Cubs appeared imminent as Chicago was set to jettison Ronny Cedeno, Sean Marshall and Sean Gallagher to Baltimore in exchange for the All-Star second baseman. But Orioles President Andy MacPhail--who was president/CEO of the Cubs from 1994 to 2006--has apparently soured on the deal and has asked the Cubs to increase their offer.