During my phone-in segment yesterday on "The Mid-Atlantic Sports Report" on MASN - a delayed shameless plug - I was asked about shortstop J.J. Hardy's overall value to the Orioles. The 21 home runs immediately come to mind. He's joined Cal Ripken Jr. and Miguel Tejada as the only Orioles shortstops with three straight seasons of 20-plus homers. You won't find Kiko Garcia or Bob Bonner on that list. However, anything that Hardy does offensively is gravy. Really good, thick gravy. In my...

A wild game that saw the O's lose a lead and then regain a tie, ended in a walk-off loss. Adam Eaton hit his first homer of the year, on the first pitch of the last of the ninth off Darren O'Day, as Arizona beat the Orioles 7-6 at Chase Field. The O's went to the ninth down 6-5, but tied it 6-6 with a gritty comeback on a Nick Markakis sac fly. But it did not lead to extra innings or a win. The O's took a 4-2 lead to the seventh, but Arizona scored three times to get the lead. The inning...

So, what grade do you give Scott Feldman tonight? Feldman lasted only 5 1/3 innings and threw 109 pitches, including 63 for strikes. But he allowed only one earned run - two total - and left with the Orioles leading 4-2. Matt Wieters hit his 16th home run with two outs in the top of the sixth inning - his sixth from the right side of the plate. He crushed it. Feldman gave up four hits, walked two and struck out eight - his highest total in seven starts with the Orioles. Feldman escaped a...

During his pregame session with the media this afternoon, part of which aired on "O's Xtra" on MASN, manager Buck Showalter said the Orioles have discussed Mark Reynolds and will do so again. Showalter wasn't aware until told by a reporter that the Indians had released Reynolds earlier today. He expects to hear again from executive vice president Dan Duquette. Though the Orioles continue to check the market for available hitters, Showalter said, "We like our roster." He likes Nick...

The Orioles begin a three-game set tonight with the Diamondbacks at Chase Field. Baltimore will be facing left-hander Wade Miley, meaning Steve Pearce will get the start in left field in favor of Nate McLouth. Nick Markakis will be leading off. For the Orioles Nick Markakis RF Manny Machado 3B Adam Jones CF Chris Davis 1B J.J. Hardy SS Matt Wieters C Steve Pearce LF Brian Roberts 2B Scott Feldman RHP The fan who threw a banana on the field during the ninth inning of Sunday's Orioles-Giants...

A win tonight in Arizona would move the Orioles 14 games above .500 for the second time this season. They also were 57-43. Adam Jones has hit safely in nine straight games since Aug. 1, tying his season-high streak (also April 2-11, April 20-28 and June 12-21). Jones is batting .472 (17-for-36) with four doubles, two homers, 11 RBIs and nine runs during his current streak. Jones is one of three major leaguers with four or more nine-game hitting streaks this year, joining Jacoby Ellsbury...

Third baseman/first baseman Matt Skole has been out the entire season because of an injury early he suffered in April. Skole had to undergo Tommy John surgery and recently I was told Nationals officials are hoping the former Georgia Tech star will be able to play fall or winter ball. He had been going through one arm swings in light practice, and had continued to rehab the elbow this summer. But this tweet reveals that he is ready to take the next step and get baseball activities...

Scott Feldman could use a good outing tonight for the Orioles at Arizona. Over his last two starts, he is 0-2 with an ERA of 8.38, giving up nine earned runs over 9 2/3 innings. In his two starts before that, he went 2-0 with an ERA of 2.94. Will the real Feldman stand up? He is 2-3 with a 5.70 ERA over six O's starts since they acquired him from the Chicago Cubs on July 2. The Orioles are 3-3 when he starts and he has recorded three quality starts. The O's pitching staff has allowed three...

Left-hander Tsuyoshi Wada made another push for a major league promotion today, holding Triple-A Rochester to one run over seven innings and leaving with Norfolk ahead 3-1. Wada allowed five hits, walked one and struck out three. He threw 90 pitches, 62 for strikes. The only run off him scored in the seventh. Wada has limited opponents to one run and 14 hits in his last three starts covering 18 2/3 innings. He's walked three and struck out 20. If nothing else, Wada will be added to the...

Right fielder Jayson Werth got his knee caught up under him during the play at the plate Sunday. He was removed from the game as a precaution. Werth said the knee stiffened up a bit, but feels it will be OK. He said it depends on how he feels today. "I don't think it is a big deal", Werth said. On the play at home, Werth and shortstop Ian Desmond scored back-to-back runs after the fielder's choice in the infield off the bat of Wilson Ramos. Werth said it was fun to be a part...