We're now nearly four months into the six-month baseball season, and Ben Revere's batting average remains a paltry .214, his on-base percentage an equally paltry .258. It's the time of year when struggling players often start worrying about job security, and Revere may well need to be thinking in those terms. Dusty Baker, though, did his part today to offer his struggling leadoff man some words of encouragement and reason to believe his job isn't in jeopardy at this point. "I'm hoping,...

Orioles executive vice president of baseball operations Dan Duquette and manager Buck Showalter met with season ticket holders today at Camden Yards. It was their annual "State of the Orioles" address. There were a few questions about the Orioles' minor league system, during which time Duquette defended the O's farm. One woman asked this: "When will the Orioles farm system come into the 21st century?" When asked exactly what she meant by that, the woman said it was something she...

Lucas Giolito will return to the big leagues and start Sunday's series finale against the Padres, manager Dusty Baker announced, though the length of his second stint with the Nationals (as was the case for his first stint) may not be long. Giolito will be recalled from Triple-A Syracuse only two weeks after he was demoted following the first two major league starts of his career. The 22-year-old right-hander made two starts in the minors in the interim - he gave up four runs in seven innings...

Orioles outfielder Joey Rickard sat at his locker this afternoon with a splint on his right thumb, which he's expected to wear for the next three weeks. He confirmed that he suffered a "high grade tear" of a ligament that won't require surgery. He also expressed surprised at the severity of the injury. The ligament isn't completely torn and Rickard hopes to leave the disabled list in September. "I really didn't know what it was," he said. "I was just going by look and woke up the next...

Ubaldo Jimenez has left the Orioles to be with his wife, who is eight months pregnant. He could go on paternity leave if the baby arrives early. Manager Buck Showalter already has been in contact with Triple-A Norfolk manager Ron Johnson and Double-A Bowie manager Gary Kendall regarding candidates for a long relief role in Jimenez's absence. Outfielder Hyun Soo Kim will run again today and is expected to play for Bowie on Sunday and Monday before coming off the disabled list on Tuesday, the...

It has been more than a month since reliever Darren O'Day has pitched for the Orioles, but his wait to return to the active roster is now potentially down to to hours. O'Day could return as soon as tomorrow. After his rehab outing last night for Double-A Bowie, he feels ready to rejoin the team. On the disabled list since June 3 with a right hamstring strain, O'Day started and pitched the first inning last night for the Baysox against Erie. He allowed one single in a scoreless inning with...

"Sapiens: A Brief History of Humankind" has been on the to-do list for a year. It was penned last year by Yuval Noah Harari, a PhD in History from Oxford and professor at Hebrew University in Jerusalem. The title is exactly what the book is about. This is far more than the laying out of dates and events. This is about what the events meant to the history of humans. Some of the conclusions are far from the conclusions so often found in history books. Let's begin with his chapter on why the...

Nolan Reimold is starting in left field tonight while Hyun Soo Kim and Joey Rickard occupy space on the Orioles' disabled list. Matt Wieters remains day-to-day with a sore right foot, but he seems to be moving in a positive direction. He didn't rule out playing on Sunday. Darren O'Day said he felt good after throwing one inning last night at Double-A Bowie and doesn't think he needs another rehab game. A decision is pending. For the Orioles Adam Jones CF Jonathan Schoop 2B Manny Machado 3B...

It is an extraordinarily hot day here in the nation's capital, where according to my trusty weather app, it is currently 95 degrees with a heat index of 105. It will cool down moderately before Max Scherzer takes the mound at 7:05 p.m., but not a whole lot. If you're coming to the game, please make sure you prepare accordingly and do what you need to do to stay relatively cool. As for the game itself, the Nationals are attempting to snap a two-game losing streak, trying to beat a Padres club...

The Orioles are trying to move pitcher Ubaldo Jimenez, and multiple reports have them in heavy discussions with the Padres involving outfielder Melvin Upton. Executive vice president Dan Duquette insisted yesterday that his primary focus was on the rotation. He's still determined to find a starter, but he may have understated his concerns over the outfield. Hyun Soo Kim could be back by Tuesday, but Joey Rickard won't resurface until September due to a thumb injury. The roster currently...