For the second game in a row, Mesa's pitching and hitting was far better than their opponent. The Solar Sox rolled past the Salt River Rafters 8-1 in Arizona Fall League play behind Matt Purke. The left-hander was outstanding, going three innings and allowing one unearned run on two hits with one walk and two strikeouts. Purke tossed 46 pitches, 30 for strikes, inducing six groundouts and two flyouts. That is also back-to-back games a Nationals southpaw prospect was a winner, as Mesa...

Did anyone else have mixed emotions following last night's news that Orioles third baseman Manny Machado elected to undergo surgery on his left knee? Is the Rolling Stones' song "Mixed Emotions" now running through your head, too? Rest and rehabilitation sounded a whole lot better than surgery, and his availability for opening day on March 31 could be in jeopardy. That's the part that hit me like a blitzing linebacker. However, Machado hyperextended the same knee two years ago at...

The Orioles just sent out a series of tweets announcing that third baseman Manny Machado had decided to undergo reconstructive surgery on the medial patellofemoral ligament in his left knee. Dodgers orthopedic surgeon Dr. Neal ElAttrache will perform the surgery Monday at the Kerlan-Jobe Clinic in Los Angeles. Doctors estimate a four-to-six month rehabilitation. "I sent my MRI results to a couple of doctors and knee specialists and we decided that in the long run and for my future as a...

More than a few Orioles prospects over the years have been frustrated at times by the degree of difficulty in hitting a home run at Triple-A Norfolk's Harbor Park, the home of the team's International League affiliate. Starting next season, it will be a little easier to hit one over the wall in Norfolk. The ballpark is currently undergoing upgrades and improvements that will feature a completely new field with a new natural grass turf and infield dirt, while the fences are being moved in...

The managerial search continues for the Nationals. Most likely, a decision or announcement will not come until after the World Series. Manager Davey Johnson leaves with a Hall of Fame legacy. Finishing his career with the Nationals, he won 100 games in 2012 and 86 in 2013. General manager Mike Rizzo has to make one of the bigger decisions of his tenure. His choice will decide the direction the organization will go for at least the next five seasons. Bench coach Randy Knorr appears to have...

Well, I guess Joe Girardi won't be going anywhere after all. Girardi was thought to be a main target of the Cubs. The Nationals had expressed interest in discussing their managerial job with him. Other teams surely would have wanted to interview the former big league catcher who won the 2009 World Series as the skipper of the Yankees and has posted a .566 career winning percentage as a big league manager. Instead, Girardi will forego his other managerial options and remain in New...

I'm going to keep this entry brief and get right to the point. Yes, Cal Ripken Jr. is interested in getting back into baseball. He's also intrigued by the idea of managing. If he's contacted about an opening, he's going to listen. In other words, nothing has changed in the last 24, 48 or 72 hours. Nothing has changed for months. Ripken has stated previously that he'd consider a return to the majors once daughter Rachel and son Ryan were in college. They're out of the house and he's...

After a 2013 season where he made 19 starts in Triple-A and just seven for the Orioles, 25-year-old lefty Zach Britton knows he may be running out of chances. Next spring, he will head to Sarasota, Fla., as a pitcher out of options and maybe running out of time to impress the O's brass. Over the last three years, Britton is 18-17 with a 4.77 ERA over 46 big league starts. Since he pitched so well early during the 2011 season for the Orioles, he has dealt with some shoulder issues and...

The Mesa Solar Sox flexed their offensive muscle early, racing to a 7-0 lead after two innings in their home opener against the Glendale Desert Dogs in Arizona Fall League play Wednesday. Mesa went on to win 13-3. Left-hander Sammy Solis (1-0) went 3 2/3 innings for the victory, allowing three hits, no runs, one walk and striking out two. Solis tossed 56 pitches, 39 for strikes. Solis told me he felt great on the mound and it was excited to be able to pitch back in his home state of...

On more than one occasion, Manny Machado has proven that he doesn't need a glove to make a spectacular play. In this instance, the Orioles were trying to protect a one-run lead against Tampa Bay. With the ball bouncing toward him, the O's third baseman used his fingertips to get the crucial out in the ninth. Watch Machado's amazing play below and make sure to check back every Thursday to relive more memorable moments from 2013. Your browser does not support iframes.