The Major League Baseball Players Alumni Association announced today that Adam Jones is the Orioles' recipient of the 2014 Heart & Hustle Award, which honors active players who "demonstrate a passion for the game of baseball and best embody the values, spirit and tradition of the game." The Heart & Hustle Award is also the only award in Major League Baseball that is voted on by former players. "He represents all the best qualities of a teammate and competitor," Brooks Robinson,...

When you think of Ian Desmond, you think of intensity. Whether he's manning shortstop, swinging in the batter's box or reaching out into the community, Desmond knows only one way to do things: giving 100 precent. Is it any wonder Nationals manager Matt Williams has trouble getting Desmond to consider taking a day off? The guy defines workaholic, in the best possible sense. Others are taking notice, too. This morning, Desmond was announced as the Nats' nominee for the Heart & Hustle...

The non-waiver trade deadline is 10 days away, but there has been very little mention of the Nationals in the national media with regard to being a player in the annual talent swap. Perhaps that's a good thing. With Monday night's 7-2 win over the Colorado Rockies, coupled with the Braves' loss to Miami, the Nats took over the lead in the National League East yet again. Their 54-43 record is good for first overall in the NL, percentage points better than Milwaukee (whom the Nats just took...

So the Oakland A's acquired Jeff Samardzija and Jason Hammel in a big trade, but the trade front has been pretty quiet otherwise so far this July. Will the Orioles be involved between now and July 31? Dan Duquette has made trades in July the last two years. Is a three-peat coming? The Orioles could use a true No. 1 starter. Almost any team could say that. But the chances of them getting David Price, or even Cliff Lee or Cole Hamels, seem extremely remote to me. Would the club be willing to...

Another roster move is coming from the Orioles as they recall Miguel Gonzalez from Triple-A Norfolk to make tonight's start against the Angels. Reliever Preston Guilmet could be optioned. In order to keep pace with the daily batch of trade rumors as we approach the non-waiver deadline, I'll just point out that the Orioles have scouts spread all over the country checking on available starters and relievers. You're welcome. I'm still inclined to believe that a bullpen arm tops the list of...

In the last three games of the Orioles road trip, Adam Jones has hit three homers. Each one gave his team the lead. Jones hit a pair of two-run homers tonight and Bud Norris pitched well against Los Angeles again as the Orioles beat the Angels 4-2 at Angel Stadium. With their eighth win in 12 games and 12th in the last 17 games, the Orioles improved to 54-44 and moved to four games ahead of both New York and Toronto atop the American League East. Los Angeles had won 12 of its last 14 games. At...

DENVER - In a park where the ball absolutely flies, the Nationals held a beat-up Rockies squad to just two runs while the Washington offense just kept on clicking. The Nats pounded out 13 hits, four of the extra-base variety, and Doug Fister picked up his ninth victory in 13 starts this season as the Nationals took the opener of this three-game set 7-2. Ian Desmond went 5-for-5 with a two-run homer, Danny Espinosa had a double and a triple in a rare start and Aaron Barrett kept the Rockies from...

Adam Jones leads the Angels 4-2 tonight in Anaheim. Jones has belted a pair of two-run homers, both scoring Nick Markakis ahead of him. His second blast in the sixth inning broke a 2-2 tie. Angels starter Matt Shoemaker retired 15 in a row before Markakis doubled in the sixth. Shoemaker started off Jones with a fastball, threw him a changeup and followed it with an 82 mph slider that disappeared into the night. Actually, it landed near the rocks in left field for Jones' 19th home run of the...

The Nationals looked to settle in against the Rockies' Franklin Morales, who was making his first start against the D.C. club after five previous relief appearances. And the third inning was the time. Especially against a reliever-turned-starter, who you would expect would run out of ways to get you out. But Morales was up to the task. With one out in the third, Denard Span walked and Anthony Rendon hit into a fielder's choice. Jayson Werth then singled to right to put two men with two outs....

Bud Norris has outstanding career numbers against the Los Angeles Angels. The Angels have some outstanding offensive numbers of their own this season. To steal a line from my own network, who will own it? Norris (7-6, 3.96 ERA) hasn't made a big league start since July 9 when he gave up five runs over four innings against the Nationals. He was optioned to Double-A Bowie so he could start during the All-Star break. On Monday he went 4 1/3 innings allowing four hits and three runs and threw 99...