Although the Royals, can't match the Orioles as a team defensively,they have been playing pretty good defense for several games now. Kansas City tied a club record on Sunday by playing its 11th consecutive error-less game. That matches streaks the Royals also achieved in 1997 and 2011. Kansas City hasn't made an error in the last 101 innings, which is five short of the KC club record. The Royals have just three errors this month. On the year the O's rank first in the AL in fielding...

When Nationals general manager Mike Rizzo approached manager Davey Johnson and informed him the decision had been made to fire Rick Eckstein, Johnson stood up for his hitting coach. Johnson told Rizzo that if he wanted to change up the coaching staff, perhaps firing the manager was the way to go. Rizzo declined that offer, and instead made the decision to let Eckstein go and hire Rick Schu - a guy he worked with when both men were with the Diamondbacks - as the Nats' new hitting...

One thing is clear about the Nationals' decision to fire hitting coach Rick Eckstein today: The move was not endorsed by manager Davey Johnson. General manager Mike Rizzo approached Johnson today and told him that he was going to fire Eckstein, who has served as the Nats' hitting coach for the last five years. Johnson, who has called Eckstein the best hitting coach he's ever been around, disagreed with the call to the point that he put his own job on the line, suggesting that Rizzo could...

A trio of Nationals veterans - third baseman Ryan Zimmerman, first baseman Chad Tracy and shortstop Ian Desmond - reacted for the first time to the news that hitting coach Rick Eckstein was relieved of his duties and replaced by the Nationals roving hitting instructor Rick Schu. Zimmerman reacted to Eckstein's release, saying it was not Eckstein's fault for the team's paltry hitting numbers and that the player has to take the responsibility for his hitting. "It is tough," Zimmerman said....

With a right-hander opposing the Orioles tonight, Henry Urrutia has returned to the lineup as the designated hitter in his second major league start. Urrutia is batting eighth, as he did in Saturday's debut. He's 1-for-5 with an RBI in two games. For the Orioles Nate McLouth LF Manny Machado 3B Nick Markakis RF Adam Jones CF Chris Davis 1B Matt Wieters C J.J. Hardy SS Henry Urrutia DH Brian Roberts 2B Scott Feldman RHP For the Royals Alex Gordon LF Eric Hosmer 1B Billy Butler...

Outfielder Dariel Alvarez, who defected from Cuba last summer, took his physical today in Baltimore after agreeing to terms with the Orioles last week. The Orioles haven't announced Alvarez's signing, but he told MLB.com that he would receive an $800,000 bonus. The Orioles signed another Cuban outfielder, Henry Urrutia, for $778,500 after he finally arrived in the U.S. in late February. Urrutia agreed to terms in July 2012, but was detained in Haiti while waiting for his work...

The Nationals lineup with Rick Schu as their hitting coach looks a lot like their lineup when Rick Eckstein was their hitting coach. Bryce Harper will remain atop the lineup today, with Denard Span returning and hitting seventh. Harper will be in left, Span in center. Dan Haren will look to continue his recent turnaround; he's allowed just two earned runs over 11 innings in his last two starts. For the Nats LF Bryce Harper 2B Anthony Rendon 3B Ryan Zimmerman 1B Adam LaRoche RF Jayson...

The Washington Nationals today relieved Rick Eckstein of his duties and promoted Rick Schu to hitting coach. Nationals Executive Vice President of Baseball Operations and General Manager Mike Rizzo made the announcement. Schu joins Davey Johnson's staff after spending the last four seasons as Nationals minor-league hitting coordinator. Schu's resume includes 16 seasons as a hitting coach and a nine-year big league career. In Washington, Schu has pre-existing relationships with Bryce...

Two days after getting a vote of confidence from Nationals manager Davey Johnson, who called him the best hitting coach he's had in his 17 seasons as a major league manager, Rick Eckstein has been relieved of his duties. The news came in a press release issued a few minutes ago. Rich Schu, a former major leaguer who has served as he Nationals' minor league hitting coordinator for the past four seasons, has been promoted to fill the vacancy. Schu played for nine seasons in the majors with...

Into torturing yourself? Not already feeling enough pain on a Monday morning and want some more? I've got some numbers that should do the trick. The Nationals sent their best three starters to the mound in their weekend series with the Dodgers. They got swept anyway. Stephen Strasburg and Gio Gonzalez combined to allow two runs over 13 innings with 17 strikeouts. It didn't matter. Jordan Zimmermann had a fluky outing, one that was actually the worst of his career. He's certainly allowed...