I've never been a huge fan of the Home Run Derby. If it has any shot at holding my attention, either the baseballs or the players need to be juiced again. But seriously ... Todd Frazier advances to the finals after hitting one home run? Somebody cork this competition. I can't endorse a home run contest that doesn't include Giancarlo Stanton in the last round. That's a fly ball in the ointment. Nice showing by Orioles center fielder Adam Jones, who advanced to the second round and would have...

The Home Run Derby at Target Field in Minnesota has moved to the second round, and Orioles center fielder Adam Jones is going along with it. Jones is facing off against Oakland's Yoenis Cespedes, the defending champion. Toronto's Jose Bautista, the team captain who extended the invitation to Jones, received a bye after launching 10 home runs. Bautista will square off against Jones or Cespedes in the third round. Jones hit four home runs in the first round, the longest measured at 426...

The Orioles are spending the All-Star break reshuffling their minor league deck. The club confirmed this afternoon that Triple-A first baseman Brett Wallace has been traded to the Blue Jays for cash considerations. I heard earlier today that it's a "nominal" fee. Also, the Orioles confirmed that left-hander Randy Wolf was released from his Triple-A contract. I wrote yesterday that Wolf opted out of his deal. Wallace, a former first-round draft pick, was batting .265/.329/.389 with 12...

Nationals right-hander Jordan Zimmermann avoided the 15-day disabled list after a MRI revealed only a right biceps strain. It was very good news for a Nationals starting rotation which has weathered a couple of storms early this season to be one of the most dominant staffs in the major leagues. Right-hander Doug Fister (lat strain) missed a great deal of the beginning of the season and recovered to post an 8-2 record with a 2.90 ERA in 12 starts. There is really no way to understate Fister's...

BOWIE - Bud Norris walked into the home clubhouse at Prince George's Stadium with his sweat-soaked game jersey in one hand and a look on his face that screamed for a cool shower. Norris threw 98 pitches in 4 1/3 innings under a scorching sun for the Double-A Bowie Baysox, his first outing since the Orioles optioned him last week. He allowed three runs and four hits, walked five, struck out seven and hit a batter. Considering that Norris was here to build up his pitch count, the day was...

BOWIE - Bud Norris is wearing the home whites today with his last name stitched across the back of his jersey, but he's pitching in a minor league ballpark with a different number. Oh yes, there's also the 11:05 a.m. starting time. The Orioles did it once this season on Patriots' Day at Fenway Park, but it's still unusual. Norris has tossed two scoreless innings at Double-A Bowie, allowing an infield hit, walking two and striking out three. The Orioles want his pitch count around...

The Orioles had three players voted onto the All-Star team in catcher Matt Wieters, center fielder Adam Jones and designated hitter Nelson Cruz. With Wieters recovering from his elbow surgery, Jones and Cruz will take the field representing Baltimore tonight. In 94 games so far, Jones is batting .301 with 19 doubles, two triples, 16 homers and an .810 OPS. He has cleaned up against left-handed pitching, batting .417 with an OPS of 1.232. In 40 games since June 1, Jones is batting .327 with 10...

For Orioles minor league players, it provides a chance to extend their summer, play more baseball and work on their games. It also provides a chance to see a land far, far away and maybe even spend Christmas in Australia. Over the years, the Orioles have developed a strong professional relationship with the Perth Heat of the winter Australian Baseball League. Perth has won the championship three of the last four years. It has become a destination for O's farmhands to play winter ball and see...

In building a winning baseball team, you need to have plenty of talented players. That part is obvious and a given. But how do aspects like team chemistry and character of the individual players factor in? Are they important, even if you can't put a stat on those intangibles like you can a batting average or ERA? I asked Orioles executive vice president of baseball operations Dan Duquette about character and team chemistry. "That's important," he said. "I think the skills that players have...

The Orioles were 10 games over .500 at the All-Star break last year and they are 10 over .500 this year at 52-42. But unlike last season, they are not in third place. Then they were 4 1/2 games out of first place. Now they hold first place by four games. This is the first time the Orioles lead the division at the All-Star break since they had a seven-game lead in 1997. Any review of the Orioles' first half has to ultimately end with that. The Orioles are in first place. That fact alone gets...