DALLAS - Orioles outfielder Nelson Cruz has a swollen left hand and an inflated vote total. Cruz has passed Boston's David Ortiz for first place among designated hitters in the latest round of All-Star balloting. Cruz, who leads the majors with 20 home runs and 52 RBIs, has received 888,855 votes to surpass Ortiz (766,631), a nine-time All-Star. Cruz would become only the fifth different fan-elected starter at the position, joining Edgar Martinez (1997, 2001, 2003), Jose Canseco (1999),...

One of the top reasons Nationals general manager Mike Rizzo had his eyes on center fielder Denard Span while he was with the Minnesota Twins was his ability to not only get on base, but while he was on base, steal some, and get in a spot where his team can get him home. Recently, Span has been able to take an extra base and force the defense to make a play. In the last series for the Nationals, Span scored from first base thanks to a bad throw to third base. On Sunday Span swiped his eighth...

In case you missed it yesterday, Ryan Zimmerman played his second straight game in left field for Single-A Potomac, going 2-for-4 and playing seven innings in left. He got three chances in the field and had the opportunity to get in some work as a baserunner and test out his legs, going first to third on a ball. He also got caught in a rundown between third and home and slid back into the bag head-first, which, of course, is the way that he fractured his thumb in the first place. Manager Matt...

Yu Darvish's performance on Sunday (five hits in eight innings with 12 strikeouts) certainly qualifies as one of the better games ever pitched against the Nationals, but this was also his first time facing them. Luckily for Washington fans, Darvish plays in the American League, so as Bob Carpenter might say, they'll "see Yu later" (most likely in three years). But over the past few weeks, some players who seem to make a regular living off the Nats have been up to their old tricks, turning a...

There's been much made of a so-called window the Orioles are playing with over the next two seasons. Many believe the club's best chance to compete is when Chris Davis and Matt Wieters are under contract. Additions like Nelson Cruz for this season enhance that thought, and having a lack of superior competition in the American League East makes eyes widen even larger. The problem I have with this mindset of a window is that it was built by those running the ballclub. For years, Orioles fans...

Some thoughts and observations after the Orioles' 9-4 win over the Astros on Sunday, which allowed the O's to win the last two games in Houston and split the four-game series. The Orioles are still looking for their first series win since taking two of three from Houston in Baltimore May 9-11. Since then the Birds have lost three series and tied three others. * Some readers had posted in recent days wondering if David Lough should keep his roster spot and wondering what the Orioles see in...

HOUSTON - Orioles shortstop J.J. Hardy delivered two more hits yesterday afternoon, a single in the fourth inning and another single in the sixth. His average is .306 heading into Tuesday's series opener against the Rangers in Arlington, second on the team behind Nelson Cruz's .314. Hardy also is tied for last in home runs with zero, which is sort of like the elephant in the room - except reporters talked to him about it before yesterday's game. We're not real good at the whole elephant...

HOUSTON - Former Orioles pitcher Scott Feldman said he didn't intend to hit ex-teammate Nelson Cruz during today's game at Minute Maid Park. Feldman nailed Cruz on the left hand in the third inning of the Orioles' 9-4 victory over the Astros. X-rays taken on Cruz's hand came back negative and he's day to day with a bruise and swelling. "I didn't want to hit him," Feldman said. "I checked after the game to make sure he was all right and they said it was just a bruise, so that was a...

HOUSTON - Nelson Cruz had his swollen left hand wrapped today following the Orioles' 9-4 victory over the Astros. Whether he plays on Tuesday will be decided later. X-rays on Cruz's hand were negative after he was drilled by a fastball from former Orioles pitcher Scott Feldman. "It's swollen, so hopefully just day by day stuff," Cruz said. "I have to wait until tomorrow to see how I feel. I tried to stay in the game, but I can't hold the bat, so hopefully tomorrow it is...

Nationals center fielder Denard Span went 2-for-4 against Rangers winning pitcher Yu Darvish Sunday. The rest of the team managed three hits. Texas ended up with the 2-0 shutout. Span believes Darvish's windup and delivery can mess up guys' rhythm in the box. "I think it just throws your timing off," Span said. "He has that long, dramatic leg kick. He pitches to both sides of the plate. He can throw the cutter back door, front door. Two-seamer same way. He has the devastating breaking...