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Posted Jan 22nd 2009 5:15PM by Zac Bissonnette Filed under: Business of sports Many homeowners are now running into trouble with their mortgages because they didn't understand what they were getting themselves ...

According to The Sports Xchange, SP Radhames Liz will get an extended look as a starter in spring training and Orioles president Andy MacPhail has suggested many of the club's former prospects will be given many opportunities to prove the club's previous executives right. The 25-year old Liz could be used in the bullpen if he can't make the rotation.

Sports can never be more than a diversion from man's struggle with nature, but late Saturday, after the storm that killed four boys in the city, Barcelona reinforced its reputation as the outstanding soccer team in Europe, and possibly the world.

According to The Sports Xchange, Baltimore LHP Troy Patton (left shoulder surgery in March 2008) should be ready for spring training.

According to The Sports Xchange, Orioles reliever Jim R. Johnson (right shoulder impingement) is expected to be ready for spring training and reclaim a role as a late inning reliever.

The Sports Xchange reports Senators D Anton Volchenkov has missed eight games with an apparent shoulder injury, but is practicing with the team and expected to play Tuesday against New Jersey.

According to The Sports Xchange, Orioles OF Adam Jones might be on the verge of a breakout season. After hitting nine home runs in his first full big-league season, Jones has put on 25 pounds of sheer muscle this winter, though he plans to trim down by five to 10 pounds by spring training. Jones' right-handed bat would be a much-needed boost to the middle of the lineup.

According to The Sports Xchange, Orioles pitcher Matt Albers (torn labrum in right shoulder) is expected to be ready for spring training and, if healthy, could contend for a spot in the starting rotation.

According to The Sports Xchange, CF Felix Pie gives the Orioles one of the youngest, best defensive outfields in baseball. The former Cubs center field prospect likely will get every opportunity to win the left field job after coming over in a trade for left-hander Garrett Olson and a low-level minor league pitcher. At worst, he'll platoon with utility man Ryan Freel. Pie, 24, teams with rangy center fielder Adam Jones, 23, and newly signed right fielder Nick Markakis, 25, who led baseball with 17 outfield assists last year. However, the left-handed hitting Pie hasn't translated his above-average minor league numbers to the majors, where he failed in two stints with the Cubs. He'll likely bat in the lower third of the order, but -- if he produces -- could see some at-bats in the No. 1 or No. 2 slots to utilize his speed. Luke Scott, the primary starter in left field last season, will take his powerful left-handed swing and average-at-best defense to the designated hitter slot. Right-ha

Joe Torre takes some harsh swings at Alex Rodriguez , Brian Cashman , and the New York Yankees in a book due out Feb. 3, according to New York newspaper reports. But Sports Illustrated's Tom Verducci , who co-authored the book with Torre, stressed, 'Joe Torre doesn't rip anybody in this book . . . It's not a tell-all ...