TAMPA - The more observant readers will notice that the dateline has changed on this blog entry. I spent the night at the Tampa Airport Marriott again, turning in my rental car around 9:30 p.m. and racing to the TGI Friday's for a quick bite to eat, a beverage and another scan of the blog comments. It's nice to roll out of bed, splash cold water on your face and stagger to your gate for the flight home. Just make time to do something with your hair. That's my only rule. Brushing your teeth...

I'll join the chorus of players and fans who have sent their expressions of concern and good wishes to Manny Machado. While that knee injury looked serious, here is a hope that we get better-than-expected news today. Even if surgery is needed, here's hoping the young man has a quick and full rehab and recovery and fans see him back in the lineup come opening day 2014. Beyond his talents on the field, which are there for all to see, Machado has been impressive from the day the Orioles took...

ST. LOUIS - Jayson Werth got the road trip started on a positive note early on tonight. Boy, did he ever. Werth demolished a 2-2 curveball from Adam Wainwright way out to left field for a two-run shot in the top of the first inning, giving the Nationals a 2-0 lead right off the bat. It was an absolute bomb, one that nearly traveled to the "Big Mac Land" sign on the facade of the second deck in left field. The Cardinals estimated the ball traveled 439 feet, which sounds about right. It...

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. - The Orioles were swept by the Rays in a four-game series at Tropicana Field. They've lost five games in a row and are five behind the Indians for the second wild card. They only have six left in the regular season. Could it get any worse? It did today with a knee injury to Manny Machado and a possible concussion suffered by Alexi Casilla. The fear, of course, is that Machado tore ligaments in his left knee. An MRI in Baltimore on Monday could bring confirmation. The...

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. - Orioles manager Buck Showalter had lots to say about losing Manny Machado and Alexi Casilla to injuries in today's 5-4 loss to the Rays before 17,830 at Tropicana Field. I'll give you his quotes, and later pass along comments from concerned teammates. "It started out as a real good road trip and we ran into some problems here and a lot of that has to do with Tampa," Showalter said. "They played real well. It's frustrating because our guys really left it all out on...

ST. LOUIS - Tanner Roark gets the start tonight for the Nationals in the opener of their three-game set with the Cardinals, but this will probably be the last time we'll see the rookie right-hander start a game this season. Manager Davey Johnson has laid out his rotation for the remainder of the season, and he'll have Roark move back to the bullpen following tonight's game. Gio Gonzalez will start tomorrow night, followed by Jordan Zimmermann in the series finale Wednesday afternoon. Then...

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. - Orioles third baseman Manny Machado will fly back with the team tonight and undergo an MRI on his left knee Tuesday morning in Baltimore. Machado had the knee X-rayed at Tropicana Field, but the film hasn't been read. Machado was taken off the field on a stretcher in the seventh inning after his knee buckled and ankle turned as he hit the bag on an infield single. The Orioles don't want to speculate on the severity of the injury until the MRI. Machado wasn't...

A bad series ended badly. James Loney led off the last of the ninth with a homer to right off Tommy Hunter as Tampa Bay beat the Orioles 5-4 to complete a four-game sweep. The loss in the series finale this afternoon was overshadowed by what happened in the top of the seventh inning. The Orioles and their fans had to watch as their talented 21-year-old third baseman, Manny Machado, was taken from the field on a stretcher. Machado hit a grounder to second that was bobbled. As he reached the...

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. - The Orioles' road trip just got a whole lot worse. Manny Machado was taken off the field on a stretcher, his left leg immobilized, after tripping over first base in the top of the seventh inning. He appeared to suffer an injury to his knee. Machado let out a scream and laid on his side while athletic trainers Richie Bancells and Brian Ebel and manager Buck Showalter raced out of the dugout. First base coach Wayne Kirby immediately ran to Machado, who had tears in his...

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. - Rays manager Joe Maddon continues to take full advantage of the expanded September roster. Some would say he abuses it. Maddon used four pitchers in the top of the fifth, again playing matchups in the middle innings. He can't control himself. Orioles manager Buck Showalter continues to show more restraint, but he removed starter Wei-Yin Chen today after 4 1/3 innings with the Orioles leading 4-2. Sean Rodriguez led off the fifth with a double. Ben Zobrist struck out...