Rotation's Flaws Late To Emerge

TORONTO, July 10 -- As the Baltimore Orioles piled up victories earlier this season, the team's starting rotation did an admirable job of concealing its relative inexperience. The rotation featured three pitchers in their first full seasons as starters and another in just his second year, yet pitching stood as the team's strength.

But that has changed drastically for the Orioles, who entered play Thursday with the highest ERA (5.08) for any starting rotation in the American League.

"Growing pains, learning curve, you're going to have your ups and downs," Orioles Manager Dave Trembley said. "You have to be realistic about it. You don't particularly like going through it, but you're going to go through it."

Despite having Jeremy Guthrie and Daniel Cabrera on the staff -- both of whom rank in the league's top 10 in innings pitched -- the Orioles' 507 innings pitched by starters rank third- worst in the AL, better than only the New York Yankees and Texas Rangers.

Orioles starters have allowed a league-high 73 homers and issued 207 walks, fourth-most in the AL.

Each of the three least-experienced arms in the rotation -- Garrett Olson, Radhamés Liz and Brian Burres -- has cooled off after enjoying fast starts this season. Their inability to pitch deeper in games has given the bullpen an increased workload.

Orioles pitching coach Rick Kranitz said the second half of the season will be a test of how much the young pitchers learned in the first half.

"We'd be crazy to think we weren't going to have some growing pains," Kranitz said. "When they stumble, hopefully they learn from it and move forward."

Longoria In

Orioles second baseman Brian Roberts finished fourth out of the five players eligible to be voted by fans into the All-Star Game. Tampa Bay Rays rookie Evan Longoria won the final AL spot with more than 9 million votes.

Roberts missed out on a third all-star honor despite leading the AL in doubles (32) and triples (7).