Rick Bauer, 2003 Topps Total #713

Hey kids! Let's count the falsehoods on the back of Rick Bauer's Topps Total card!

-"Used primarily as a middle reliever, Bauer has proven that he can come in and hold a lead." In 2002, Rick was charged with six losses and three blown saves in relief. Oh, but he did have 12 "holds", so in the barest sense, I guess there's some truth.

-"He can get hitters to swing through his fastball or slider." 2002: 45 strikeouts in 83.2 innings pitched, a rate of 4.8 strikeouts per nine innings. So I guess he simply chose not to get most hitters to swing and miss?

-"Improved command of his pitches." 2002: 36 walks, 3.9 per nine innings. He'd walked two per nine innings in the minors in 2001. Maybe Topps was making a friendly suggestion to Rick.

-I'll give Topps the benefit of the doubt on Bauer's listed height (6'6"), weight (212 pounds), and handedness (right). I'm in a generous mood.

Rick Bauer, 2002 Fleer Tradition #450

This Day in Orioles History: September 29, 2004

Orioles 7, Blue Jays 6 and Orioles 4, Blue Jays 0 at Oriole Park at Camden Yards

The Orioles kept their hopes for a .500 finish alive by sweeping a doubleheader at home against the last-place Jays. In the first game, David Newhan's walkoff, bases-loaded single off of Justin Speier broke the tie with two outs in the ninth inning. The other offensive stars included Tim Raines, Jr. (2-for-4, 2 runs, 2 RBI) and Rafael Palmeiro, who hit the 550th and 551st home runs of his career and drove in three runs.

Bruce Chen, continuing a late audition for the team's 2005 starting rotation, struck out five and allowed three runs (two earned) in six solid innings, but was betrayed by his bullpen. Entrusted with a 6-3 lead, the combustible Jorge Julio served up a two-run homer to Carlos Delgado. HGH spokesman Jason Grimsley blew a save, surrendering a game-tying home run to Russ Adams in the eighth but setting the stage for the Birds' ninth-inning heroics. B. J. Ryan's perfect inning of work put him in position for the win.

In the nightcap, unpredictable righthander Rick Bauer collaborated with Buddy Groom, Grimsley, and Ryan to blank Toronto on just four hits. Bauer whiffed seven batters in his six innings of work and picked up his second win of 2004. Jay Gibbons' fifth-inning double (part of a 3-for-3 effort) drove in the game's only run until the O's broke out for three insurance runs in the eighth, highlighted by an RBI triple deep to center field by Newhan.

Ultimately, the Birds would finish the 2004 season six games under the break-even mark at 78-84. Somewhat pitifully, this put them just one game behind the 1998 team for the best performance in the past decade (1998-2008).