Arrieta:  "I feel like I'm 100 percent ready."
Arrieta: "I feel like I'm 100 percent ready."
Steve Melewski
Orioles
If it's possible, right-hander Jake Arrieta has kicked up his performance recently to an even higher level and continues to show that he looks ready to join the Major Leagues whenever the Orioles make the call. Arrieta, the O's fifth-round pick in 2007, is 6-2, 1.77 in 11 starts on the year. Over 71 innings, he has allowed just 45 hits. But over his last three starts, Arrieta is 3-0, 0.82. Over his last 22 innings, he has given up 16 hits and two earned runs with six walks and 23...
Nationals Offer Exclusive Season Ticket Holder Opportunity to Purchase Tickets For Strasburg's Debut
Nationals Offer Exclusive Season Ticket Holder Opportunity to Purchase Tickets For Strasburg's Debut
Lindsay Rykiel
Nationals
The Washington Nationals will offer Season Ticket Holders the exclusive opportunity to purchase up to four additional tickets to the June 8 contest vs. the Pirates - the expected debut of Nationals Pitcher Stephen Strasburg*. One of many exclusive offers for Season Ticket Holders throughout the season, this opportunity will begin at 10:00amon Wednesday, June 2. Tickets will be sold through Thursday, June 3 while supplies last. Earlier this week the Nationals also announced the addition of...
Feat of Cla (updated twice)
Feat of Cla (updated twice)
Roch Kubatko
Orioles
Cla Meredith entered tonight's Triple-A game in the eighth inning with Norfolk leading Rochester, 3-1, and proceeded to give up two runs on three hits. This might take a while. Meredith threw 30 pitches, 19 for strikes. Fortunately for the Tides, Matt Angle singled in the ninth to score Joey Gathright and give Norfolk a 4-3 lead. Left-hander Chris George limited Rochester to an unearned run and five hits over 6 2/3 innings. Is he a specialist in the making? Dennis Sarfate picked up his...
Bryce Harper lone freshman semifinalist for Golden Spikes Award
Bryce Harper lone freshman semifinalist for Golden Spikes Award
Byron Kerr
Nationals
USA Baseball announced Tuesday the names of the 30 semifinalists for the 2010 USA Baseball Golden Spikes Award (GSA). This year will mark the 33rd consecutive year that the award has been presented to the nation's top amateur baseball player. College of Southern Nevada catcher Bryce Harper was the lone freshman semifinalist, joining 29 other Division I nominees. Harper has hit 29 homers and 89 RBI in his first season with the Coyotes, both school records. College of Southern Nevada...
Decision time
Decision time
Roch Kubatko
Orioles
Orioles manager Dave Trembley could have let Brian Matusz pitch to Alex Rodriguez with runners on second and third and two outs in the bottom of the seventh. Trembley could have ordered an intentional walk with first base open and let Matusz pitch to Robinson Cano. Those are the choices that the Yankees' lineup gives you. It's like asking if you want to drink drain cleaner or gasoline. Trembley went with "C," which was bringing in David Hernandez to face Rodriguez. Rodriguez appeared...
Jones hurt? (updated)
Jones hurt? (updated)
Roch Kubatko
Orioles
If you're watching the game, you see Adam Jones flexing his left hand and grimacing after diving for Alex Rodriguez's liner in right-center field that reached the fence for a double in the sixth inning. Jones' glove hand slammed into the ground and it's clearly bothering him. He keeps removing the glove and making a fist. At one point, he was grabbing his pant leg as if testing the strength in his hand. Well, what's one more injury? Closers, outfielders. The Orioles don't discriminate....
Will one mistake decide the outcome? (updated)
Will one mistake decide the outcome? (updated)
Roch Kubatko
Orioles
Left-hander Brian Matusz surrendered a leadoff home run to Curtis Granderson in the bottom of the fifth inning. That's the only run for the Yankees tonight. It's fair to wonder if that's all they will need. Granderson's homer was his first against a lefty and his first at the new Yankee Stadium. It represented the third hit for New York tonight. Matusz was on a roll, but the Orioles' offense is on ice again. They've managed one hit against Javier Vazquez, who allowed five runs and...
Hoes remains upbeat despite illness
Hoes remains upbeat despite illness
Steve Melewski
Orioles
He got off to a great start this year for the Frederick Keys. At the age of just 20, second baseman L.J. Hoes was living up to his prospect status and playing maybe even better than the Orioles had a right to expect in his first season in the Carolina League. But Hoes has been out of the lineup since May 15 as he deals with a mysterious illness that doctors seem to have struggled to get a handle on. There has been talk that it's not anything serious and Hoes should be back soon. But right...
And another thing... (updated)
And another thing... (updated)
Roch Kubatko
Orioles
I predicted over the winter that Miguel Tejada would bat second for the Orioles. I meant June 1. The Orioles couldn't take batting practice on the field today because of the rain. That's four straight days, if you count yesterday. Adam Jones collected the Orioles' first hit tonight with a leadoff single in the third inning. Now we'll wait for that first extra-base hit. They've totaled once since Garrett Atkins' third-inning homer on Wednesday. MASN play-by-play man Gary Thorne noted...
P-Nats Derek Norris back in lineup; Peacock update
P-Nats Derek Norris back in lineup; Peacock update
Byron Kerr
Nationals
Potomac Nationals catcher Derek Norris back behind the plate tonight for the P-Nats. Norris was hit in the head by a 95 mile per hour fastball 11 days ago and was cleared to play tonight. Norris told me last week that the helmet saved him from serious injury. Similar to Norris, teammate and catcher Brian Peacock is recovering from also getting hit in the batting helmet two days ago by a pitch. According to pitching coach Paul Menhart, Peacock is doing much better today. The P-Nats...