Outfielder Isaac Ballou is having an outstanding season for the Auburn Doubledays of the New York-Penn League. The former Marshall star has excelled in 56 games, batting .284 through August 21. The 23-year-old Ballou has 11 doubles, one triple, two homers, seven stolen bases, 32 runs and 17 RBIs in 197 at-bats. Auburn manager Gary Cathcart said the 6-foot-2, 205-lb. Ballou has really gotten his attention through the first two months of the short-season. "Most pleasant surprise in the draft...

When I got a text message from a Cubs fan friend of mine on Monday night, I can't say I was surprised by the what he had to say: "Look for me at the game. And David DeJesus is a good pickup." While I didn't see that friend on my television set, I did shoot him a message back in agreement. It's this move - a veteran pickup for the Washington bench - that continues to demonstrate that the Nationals organization is willing to make changes when changes need to be made. They showed that when...

Cuban outfielder Dariel Alvarez, signed by the Orioles in July, has gotten off to a real strong start in his first few weeks with the organization. After going 4-for-9 in three games in the Gulf Coast League, the 24-year-old Alvarez moved to Single-A Frederick. Last night, he hit another homer for the Keys. In seven games with Frederick, he is batting 13-for-27 (.481) with two doubles, two homers and seven RBIs. But despite his early impressive stats, one scouting report that comes from a...

If there is one part of the 2013 Orioles that has been steady from the start, it's without question been defense. The O's are on pace to break records for both fielding percentage and fewest errors in a season. Of the three major elements in baseball - pitching, hitting and defense - the latter is the one part where there are simply no worries. It's those other two that have had ups and downs throughout the season. Whether it's the starting pitching, the bullpen arms, or the inconsistent...

Right-hander Austin Voth has put together a very solid first year with short-season Single-A Auburn. This week he was rewarded with an invitation to join the low Single-A Hagerstown. He was called up the same day as teammate Jake Johansen. Voth has gone 2-0 with a 1.47 ERA in seven starts for the Doubledays. He has an impressive 42 strikeouts to only four walks in 30 2/3 innings. He began the season with the GCL Nats, so his combined numbers total is 2-0 with a 1.69 ERA in 35 2/3 innings, 46...

CHICAGO - In the three days before he was shipped from the Cubs to the Nationals in a July 8 trade, Scott Hairston hit two home runs over just five at-bats. Then, the power disappeared for a little while. Hairston got off to a slow start with the Nats, hitting just .200 with a .529 OPS over 37 plate appearances entering last night. He wasn't showing any frustration outwardly, keeping his cheerful, joking demeanor in the clubhouse, but he was getting a bit annoyed with his inability to...

CHICAGO - If you were walking the streets of Chicago tonight between the hours of 7 p.m. and 10:25 p.m. local time, you probably heard Tanner Roark's personal fan club cheering him on from the right field bleachers of Wrigley Field. Roark, who hails from nearby Wilmington, Ill., made his first ever appearance at Wrigley tonight, and it just so happened to come on the night that two party buses packed with his friends and family members rolled into Wrigleyville to catch the action. They made...

The Orioles are off again today, leaving them with two more open dates on their schedule. Manager Buck Showalter, resisting the urge to take in a minor league game, is having a barbeque at his home. "The players don't want to see me anymore," Showalter said. Actually, the players enjoy their interactions with Showalter, but they'll gladly take a break today and recharge their batteries as the pressure mounts over these final six weeks. I'm often asked about the mood or the vibe...

CHICAGO - The self-deprecating one-liners from Davey Johnson in relation to the Nationals' offense keep on coming. "Eleven runs? You'd think it's Christmas!" Johnson quipped after tonight's 11-6 Nats win over the Cubs. The Nationals jumped out on top of the Cubs 6-1 tonight, only to see their hosts even things up with a five-run fifth inning. Ross Ohlendorf - making his first start back off the disabled list - gave up a two-run homer to Anthony Rizzo, and Illinois native Tanner Roark...

If there was any concern that a step up in league play would be too much for the Nats' first-round pick of the 2012 First Year Player Draft, Lucas Giolito, those concerns were unfounded Wednesday. The right-hander cruised through five innings in his short-season Single-A Auburn debut. Giolito notched the win, allowing just two hits, giving up no walks and striking out five as Auburn beat Batavia 7-0. Jeremy Houghtaling of Auburnpub.com has the details. It is just one start, but it shows...