Seeing Anthony Rendon work at third base on Monday afternoon against the Reds, then Tuesday and Wednesday night in Atlanta, reminds us of what could have been if he was healthy from the beginning of the season. Rendon ended last season in the 2014 National League Division Series with a pretty good four games at the plate, hitting .368 (7-for-19) with one RBI, one walk and one stolen base. His on-base percentage in the series was .400 and he committed no errors. Only Bryce Harper and Rendon...

Manager: Terry Collins (5th season) Record: 89-70 Last 10 games: 5-5 Who to watch: CF Yoenis Cespedes (.287/.336/.610 with 17 HR, 44 RBIs), 2B Daniel Murphy (.284 with 14 HR, 73 RBIs), 1B Lucas Duda (27 HR, 73 RBIs), RF Curtis Granderson (25 HR, 69 RBIs), RHP Jacob deGrom (14-8, 2.60 ERA), RHP Matt Harvey (13-7, 2.80 ERA), RHP Jeurys Familia (42 saves, 1.87 ERA) Season series vs. Nationals: 10-6 Pitching probables: Oct. 2: LHP Gio Gonzalez vs. RHP Noah Syndergaard, 7:10 p.m., MASN2 Oct. 3: RHP...

The tarp came off the field briefly while the grounds crew applied more drying compound. Rain continues to fall, though not as heavy, and the game remains in a delay. The obligatory Bugs Bunny cartoon already has run. Pitching prospect Branden Kline is in Baltimore today after having his right elbow examined by team orthopedist Dr. Michael Jacobs. Kline seemed to be in good spirts as he awaited next week's appointment with Dr. James Andrews. Kline, who turned 24 yesterday, felt some tightness...

Orioles center fielder Adam Jones is out of the lineup again today due to tightness in his back. He isn't ready to shut down for the remaining three games. He's taking it day by day, knowing that the cold, wet weather and his aggressive style of play are working against him. Jones sat at this locker, surrounded by reporters and other media types, and talked about an offseason that figures to bring serious change to the Orioles with six pending free agents and a host of arbitration-eligible...

The Orioles announced that first baseman Trey Mancini is their minor league Player of the Year and that Oliver Drake and Mychal Givens are co-Pitchers of the Year today. The Orioles also announced that Double-A Bowie outfielder Glynn Davis has been named this year's recipient of the Elrod Hendricks Minor League Community Service Award. Triple-A Norfolk manager Ron Johnson has been named the winner of the Cal Ripken Sr. Player Development Award, presented to a minor league staff member who...

The Orioles today announced the winners of their player development and scouting awards for 2015, including infielder Trey Mancini as the club's top minor league player and right-handers Oliver Drake and Mychal Givens as the club's top minor league pitchers. The winners will be honored in an on-field ceremony before Friday's game against the New York Yankees, with awards presented by Orioles Director of Minor League Operations Kent Qualls and Director of Scouting Gary Rajsich. Mancini, the...

Adam Jones is out of the lineup for the finale against the Blue Jays. Nolan Reimold will play center field. Jones said his back is feeling a little better, but that the weather and wet field aren't helping. Manny Machado is back at third base on a quick turnaround after playing both ends of yesterday's doubleheader. Tyler Wilson will make his fifth start (ninth appearance) today. He's 2-2 with a 3.60 ERA on the season. As I wrote earlier, in his one appearance against the Jays, he allowed...

Champagne was popped last night at Camden Yards as the stadium hosted an American League East champion celebration for the second consecutive season. This year, however, it was a bit different from 2014's festivities. It was the visiting clubhouse that was covered in plastic and the modest home crowd contained just a few thousand unenthused fans as the Toronto Blue Jays won their first division title in 22 years. In 2014, the scene was just the opposite. Fireworks blasted into the September...

Before Sunday's actions by Jonathan Papelbon, the Washington Nationals were already headed towards the most pivotal offseason since moving to Washington, D.C., but now it is going to be that much more difficult. The Nationals went from having Felipe Rivero, Craig Stammen and Papelbon in the bullpen for next season to just having Rivero and Stammen, remembering that Stammen is returning from major injury. A Nationals bullpen that was already in shambles is now more of a mess and is going to...

In the next day or two, we will find out who will be this year's winners of two major Orioles minor league awards. In a pregame ceremony Friday night, the Orioles will present the Brooks Robinson Award to their minor league Player of the Year and the Jim Palmer Award to the Pitcher of the Year. First baseman Trey Mancini is the heavy favorite to win the Robinson Award. Over 136 games this season between Single-A Frederick and Double-A Bowie, the 23-year-old from Notre Dame hit .341 with 43...