Bad uniforms, good result
Bad uniforms, good result
Roch Kubatko
Orioles
I sat at the bar at Clyde's in Columbia and felt myself being transported to my childhood. And not because I drank John Dalys from a sippy cup. Those orange jerseys and pants looked familiar. They were bad back in the day and they're bad now, but if the Orioles can get four 20-game winners to pose in them, I'll take back everything I just wrote. I still love the old cartoon bird on the black cap and helmet. No white panel. That works for me. But the orange pants? Brutal. I received a few...
Getting to 50 at a quicker pace
Getting to 50 at a quicker pace
Byron Kerr
Nationals
The Nationals needed this one. After five difficult losses, John Lannan and Sean Burnett rode some early offense to a 4-2 victory over Arizona. With the Braves and Phillies waiting on the road, this was exactly what the Nats needed to separate themselves from years past. Friday's win was the 50th of the season for the Nats and now the team is just nine wins away from last year's total of 59. With 47 games remaining, if the Nats can go 25-21, just a little bit above .500 the rest of the...
Guthrie golden again as O's shutout Tampa, 5-0
Guthrie golden again as O's shutout Tampa, 5-0
Steve Melewski
Orioles
Despite facing the club with the second-best record in the Majors tonight, the O's good pitching continued and so did the winning. Jeremy Guthrie and two relievers teamed on a three-hitter in a 5-0 blanking of the Rays in St. Petersburg. It's the O's second shutout of the year. The Orioles are now 9-2 since Buck Showalter took over as manager, their best 11-game stretch since April of 2005. Guthrie gave up just two hits over six scoreless frames and one of those was a triple to left...
Klein's bonus
Klein's bonus
Steve Melewski
Orioles
According to Jim Callis of Baseball America, in a tweet tonight, Orioles third-round pick, UCLA pitcher Dan Klein, got a signing bonus of $499,900. That is more than most of the players taken late in the second round received. According to BA, it is the third highest bonus the O's have handed out so far. Fifth-round pick Conner Narron got $650,000 according to the publication and ninth-round pick, pitcher Parker Bridwell got $625,000. Narron played his first pro game this afternoon in the...
Early offense vs. Shields
Early offense vs. Shields
Steve Melewski
Orioles
Tampa pitcher James Shields, coming off that start in Toronto where he gave up nine hits and all nine went for extra bases, has allowed three extra-base hits to the Orioles in the first three innings tonight. The O's lead 3-0 on the strength of a three-run first inning. After Nick Markakis walked and was picked off, the rally began with two out and none on. Ty Wigginton hit a bloop single and Luke Scott lined a single to right. Adam Jones plated both runners on a triple to right. It was...
Where in the Yard? (Updated w/Answer)
Where in the Yard? (Updated w/Answer)
Josh Land
Orioles
After a brief six-game road trip to Cleveland and Tampa, the Birds are back already for a homestand to last just one day longer. During the next seven games against the Mariners and Rangers, you'll have a chance to head to the Yard to seek out this week's 'Where in the Yard?' image in person if you're having trouble identifying it by memory and the snapshot in the photo below. So take a look and let us know what the item is and where it's located in or around Oriole Park at Camden Yards....
Tonight's lineups
Tonight's lineups
Roch Kubatko
Orioles
For the Orioles: 2B Brian Roberts RF Nick Markakis 1B Ty Wigginton DH Luke Scott CF Adam Jones LF Felix Pie C Matt Wieters SS Cesar Izturis 3B Josh Bell RHP Jeremy Guthrie For the Rays: C John Jaso 2B Ben Zobrist LF Carl Crawford 3B Evan Longoria RF Matt Joyce DH Willy Aybar 1B Dan Johnson CF B.J. Upton SS Reid Brignac RHP James Shields A catcher batting leadoff. You don't see that one very often. Reliever Jim Johnson is moving his injury rehab assignment to Single-A Frederick tomorrow...
Owen Wilson to make Nats debut this December
Owen Wilson to make Nats debut this December
Josh Land
Nationals
The romantic comedy "How Do You Know" staring Reese Witherspoon, Paul Rudd, Owen Wilson and Jack Nicholson is set to be released this Christmas. The Washington Post's Dan Steinberg pointed out this morning that a new movie trailer for the film is available. In the film, Owen Wilson plays Manny, a Nationals reliever and the love interest of Reese Witherspoon's character. Last summer, Nationals fans had the opportunity to sit in as extras for filming at Nationals Park. The film is...
Getting to first base
Getting to first base
Roch Kubatko
Orioles
I hope everyone in the area survived the storms last night and wasn't affected by the tornado warning that made my daughter afraid to take a shower. I explained that she doesn't have any windows in there, but she said something about lightning and the pipes. I sent her up there anyway. And I'm happy to report that my instincts were correct. That's a switch. I had nightmares that somebody named Jeanmar Gomez shut down the Orioles and ruined their chance to sweep the Indians. Silly, I...
Harris battling "mental grind" as Nats' skid continues
Harris battling "mental grind" as Nats' skid continues
Byron Kerr
Nationals
The Marlins completed the three game sweep with a 5-0 win on Thursday, outscoring the Nats 22-7. The outfielders did their best to get on base against a very difficult Ricky Nolasco (13-8). Roger Bernadina led off the game with a double. Left fielder Willie Harris earned a walk against Nolasco and got a base hit in the seventh off of Jose Veras. Michael Morse had a tough 0-4. Harris said this shutout loss was similar to what happened to them throughout the series against the...