The Orioles are off today but my sarcasm switch never flips. Open dates on a baseball schedule inevitably lead beat writers to open up their mailbags and answer fan questions. Mine also includes unicorns, dodo birds, the tooth fairy and a bloodied Kevin Costner. You know how this works. You ask, I answer, someone else asks and I answer again. And again. It's our repetitive little dance and it doesn't require music or comfortable shoes. Also, no chaperones. Enjoy the latest sequel while...

An offensive adjustment by manager Dusty Baker paved the way to three homers as the Nationals finally dropped the Brewers 7-4, preventing the sweep Wednesday on a getaway day at Nats Park. Baker's lineup had the hot-hitting Daniel Murphy chiseled into the three spot. Bryce Harper was moved from the three spot to the cleanup role and instantly delivered. With two men on in the first, he crushed a Matt Garza offering to lift the Nationals to an early 3-0 lead. It was his team lead-tying 18th...

The Hyun Soo Kim drama in spring training and the booing at Camden Yards on opening day seem almost comical as he works through his first major league season. Kim wouldn't accept a demotion to Triple-A Norfolk, his contract stipulating that he must give approval. Fans considered him selfish after he looked so overmatched at the plate and in the field. The Orioles were considered a team forced to play with a 24-man roster. Look how far we've come - the player, the crowds, the media. Kim has...

Manager Dusty Baker switched up the lineup after his club lost the first two games against the Brewers, managing two total runs. The biggest move was switching Daniel Murphy and Bryce Harper in the batting order. Placing Harper in the cleanup spot for the first time this season, Baker's move paid dividends in the first at-bat for the Nationals. Facing right-hander Matt Garza with two men on, Harper delivered his 18th homer of the season, a three-run shot over the opposite field wall to give...

LOS ANGELES - The Orioles trail the Los Angeles Dodgers 2-1 this afternoon in the third inning against their former teammate, pitcher Bud Norris. Justin Turner hit a two-run homer in the first off Kevin Gausman. The dinger was No. 12 for Turner and it came on a 1-0, 94 mph fastball. The Orioles got one back in the second. Mark Trumbo was credited with a leadoff double when his high pop that should have been caught got lost in the sun by the left side of the Dodgers infield. Two batters later,...

Dusty Baker reflected on his first half-season as manager of the Nationals prior to Wednesday's series finale against the Brewers. Baker was asked about what he thought of D.C. through his first 85 games in a Nationals uniform as the skipper. He spoke of his love for Nats Park and the city. And he noted how quirky the weather can be over the ballpark. "It's just a wonderful place to play," Baker said. "I've seen sort of a tale of two stadiums. The ones when it's cold, (the ball) doesn't...

LOS ANGELES - Orioles manager Buck Showalter still has not announced which pitcher will start Friday's series opener at home against the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim. Showalter was asked if it will be an internal candidate. "All options are open. See how we get through today. Put our best foot forward today and put our best foot forward on Friday," he said. Showalter was asked if Friday's start could be a bullpen game, where he uses several pitchers to cover the nine innings. "If it was...

The Orioles have confirmed only two-thirds of their rotation for the Angels series at Camden Yards that closes out the first half of the season. They still aren't listing a starter for Friday night's opener. Yovani Gallardo will pitch Saturday and Chris Tillman will pitch Sunday on normal rest. Ubaldo Jimenez started on Sunday, and would be working on regular rest if given the ball Friday night. Dylan Bundy is also a possibility, though he hasn't gone more than three innings out of the...

Ryan Flaherty is making his first start at shortstop this season as the Orioles close out their road trip and attempt to win their series against the Dodgers. Flaherty has played one inning at shortstop this season. He made nine starts among his 15 appearances in 2015. Hyun Soo Kim remains in left field and Mark Trumbo stays in right. Caleb Joseph is behind the plate for the Orioles, who snapped a five-game losing streak last night. Kevin Gausman is 0-for-4 with three strikeouts in his major...

LOS ANGELES - Back in late May, the Orioles had a three-city road trip with two series on the West Coast. They went 4-5 on that excursion to Anaheim, Houston and Cleveland. A win today at Dodger Stadium would make the Orioles 4-5 on this trip to San Diego, Seattle and Los Angeles. That would not be a winning trip, of course, but a respectable mark to finish 4-5. Of course, the trip got off to a 2-0 start at San Diego before five consecutive losses followed that. After Chris Tillman gave his...