The fun part about the Most Valuable Player award is that it isn't about trying to figure out who the best player . It's about trying to figure out what crazy voters are going to do. Most of the inane arguments about the MVP award center around the word "valuable" and what the true essence of a valuable player is. One of the central beliefs of the voters is that a valuable player can't possibly play on a losing team and if they were truly valuable they would play for a winning team. This...

Every once in a while, I make awesomely accurate predictions. Back in June, I boldly (and annoyingly) proclaimed to everyone I know that "Guardians of the Galaxy" would be the best movie of the summer. It's grossed nearly $300 million at the box office, partially due to the fact that I've seen it three times and would gladly go again if I could just convince someone to join me. It's arguably Marvel's best movie to date. Told you guys. Other times, I make horribly inaccurate (and equally...

Hello, East Coast. Nice to see you again. The Nationals are back from their second-to-last road trip of the season, and boy, will they enjoy this day off. A cross-country flight after a 14-inning game meant an arrival in D.C. after 4 a.m., so the chance to rest up is much needed. I believe, in fact, that this is the Nats' first off-day at home since the All-Star break. Players know the tough schedule comes with the job, but it certainly isn't easy as we get into the season's final...

Orioles second baseman Jonathan Schoop didn't exactly tear it up at bat in the month of August. But it was the best month of his rookie season and perhaps showed that he is starting to improve as a big league hitter. We saw further examples the last two nights when he hit nearly 900 feet worth of homers at Camden Yards against Cincinnati. In 24 games during August, Schoop hit .241 with seven doubles, four homers and 11 RBIs. His .481 slugging percentage and OPS of .749 were easily his best for...

The Orioles will release their 2015 schedule later this month. That's the way it usually happens. I wrote a few days ago that there will be a week-long series in New York, with games against the Yankees and Mets divided by an off-day. Just like Chicago last month, but the train runs underground. I'm destined to get confused, with my incredibly poor sense of direction. But it's been years since I rode the roller coaster at Coney Island, so ... I've unearthed a few more scheduling nuggets...

Miguel Gonzalez was asked if his four-hit shutout over the Cincinnati Reds tonight was the best outing of his career. "Sure, we'll call that the best," he said. "Caleb (Joseph) did a great job back there, changing speeds and working up and down, in and out. That was fun. Fun to be a part of it. "It's an awesome feeling. Overall, we played a great game. Put up some runs early. That helps. Our defense was great today. Early in the game, they were swinging first and second pitch. I think...

The magic number is 16. Should I stop here or keep going? Orioles manager Buck Showalter said he had four relievers that he didn't want to use tonight. Turns out, he never had to tap into his bullpen. Miguel Gonzalez posted his first career complete game and shutout, and the second by an Oriole this season. Chris Tillman blanked the Royals on May 16. "I don't want to say he deserves it, but Miggy is such a team guy, he's such a professional, and that was a professional outing," Showalter...

If this was a preview of what we can expect in the postseason should the Dodgers and Nationals meet, well, sign me up. The Nats' 8-5 victory in 14 innings had more twists and turns than Mulholland Drive. Based on the run-on reactions I saw on Twitter, fans were alternately emboldened with the hope that the Nats could pull off miracle after miracle or perilously close to running out of optimism over and over. It took 5 hours, 34 minutes and required the Nationals to use 26 players, both team...

Jonathan Schoop blasted another homer into the Reds bullpen. Chris Davis smashed one out to left. Miguel Gonzalez was rolling on the mound. Just another night on this current homestand for the Baltimore Orioles. The Orioles blanked the Reds 6-0 tonight to record their 81st victory and to improve to 8-2 on the homestand that ends Thursday night. Gonzalez pitched a four-hit shutout to improve to 8-7 with an ERA of 3.38. It was the Orioles' first complete-game shutout since Chris Tillman...

The Orioles got into the Reds bullpen early tonight. It's another Jonathan Schoop home run ball. For the second time in two nights, the rookie second baseman has homered into the visiting 'pen at Camden Yards. He crushed a 90 mph fastball from Dylan Axelrod to give the Orioles a 1-0 lead in the third. Axelrod had retired the first eight Orioles, striking out three, before Schoop ambushed him. Schoop has homered in back-to-back games for the second time in his career. It also happened Aug....