Miguel Tejada was named the American League's co-player of the week for the seven days ending July 25. He batted .424 (14-for-33) with an AL-leading 14 RBIs and 11 runs last week and has been simply sizzling since the All-Star break, making him a top candidate for Player of the Month as well. I'll publish another article or two about him soon.
Sidney Ponson, looking less round these days, is on the rebound, having posted three wins since the All-Star break to improve his record to 6-12 with an ERA of 5.60. His latest win was a tidy 103-pitch, four-hit, complete-game disposal of the Yankees last night. After getting shelled in the first half of the season with ERA's of 6.29, 5.88, and 6.46 in April, May, and June, he has posted a 2.05 ERA since the break. Aside from the diminished poundage, Ponson's renaissance has coincided with (1) two weeks' rest between his July 5 start and his next start, which led off his recent streak; (2) the return of former pitching coach Ray Miller, who oversaw Ponson's acclimation to the majors in the late nineties; and (3) more frequent use of his off-speed pitches per the advice of Miller. If the Orioles improve on their first-half record in the second half of the season—and chances are good that they will—Ponson will probably play a large part in that performance.
According to all published reports, the Orioles are finding the trade market slow, and in particular are finding little demand for either of their second basemen. All that could change in an instant, of course, but as of today nothing appears imminent.