A lot of the All-Star Game chatter concerning the Nationals this year will be focused on Bryce Harper - and for good reason. It makes sense given the context of the scenario, his age, and the debate of whether or not he should be hitting in the Home Run Derby. But all of that aside, I think people need to shine a little more light on Jordan Zimmermann's first game as an All-Star. He's bounced back from Tommy John surgery and could be a No. 1 starter on a majority of teams in Major League...

PHILADELPHIA - If you haven't heard much about Henry Rodriguez lately, it's because the former Nationals reliever, who was traded to the Cubs a month ago, hasn't seen a whole lot of action with his new team. Prior to last night, Rodriguez had appeared in just four games since heading to the Cubs on June 11, and just one since June 23. Rodriguez got into a game last night, entering a blowout in the fifth inning. He faced five batters and didn't retire any of them. The five batters went...

The Western Division easily defeated the Eastern Division 5-0 in the Eastern League All-Star Game at New Britain, Conn., on Wednesday night. Double-A Harrisburg's Brian Goodwin, Steven Souza and Aaron Barrett all played in the win. Goodwin walked and scored a run in a three-run first inning for the West. They tacked on two more runs in the fourth inning. The Western Division was 4-for-5 with runners in scoring position. The Eastern Division managed five hits and no runs thanks to nine...

It was no tape measure clout or majestic blast, but Nolan Reimold reminded us last night that he can still do some good things for the Orioles. He went 2-for-4 and hit a three-run homer in the win over Texas. Reimold has hit just .202 this season in 37 games. In six games since returning from his latest stint on the disabled list, he is batting .278. Last season, Reimold got off to a great start, batting .313 in 16 games with five homers, 10 RBIs and a .960 OPS. But he got hurt again, and...

After a slow start, Cuban outfielder Henry Urrutia is giving International League pitching the same rough treatment that he dished out in the Eastern League. Urrutia went 5-for-5 last night for Triple-A Norfolk to raise his average to .365 in 13 games - the same average he posted in 52 games at Double-A Bowie. Overall, he's hitting .365/.429/.536 with 20 doubles, one triple, seven homers, 42 RBIs, 44 runs scored, 28 walks and 42 strikeouts in 252 minor league at-bats. His defense has...

PHILADELPHIA - It might sound a bit silly at first, but Davey Johnson thinks a key to the Nationals' 5-1 win over Cliff Lee and the Phillies tonight was his team's aggressive approach in batting practice. Aggressive approach? In batting practice? By that, Johnson doesn't mean that there are some days where his players just stand there in the cage and choose not to swing. (Or, for the Seinfeld fans out there,

The Orioles are deciding whether to option left-hander Wei-Yin Chen during the All-Star break so he can make another start after being sidelined for two months with a strained oblique. Chen made a triumphant return tonight, holding the Rangers to one run and three hits over seven innings in a 6-1 victory at Camden Yards. He hadn't pitched since May 12 in Minnesota. Asked if the Orioles are considering sending down Chen, Showalter replied, "To be frank with you, yes we are. I don't know if...

Wei-Yin Chen returned to the Orioles tonight and the club was thrilled to have one its key starters back. The feeling was mutual. "I missed the Orioles a lot," Chen said with a smile through interpreter Tim Lin. Chen went seven innings tonight and gave up just three hits and a run in the Orioles' 6-1 win over Texas. Chen is 4-3 with an ERA of 2.82 in nine starts and in three starts at Oriole Park, he is 2-0 with a 1.86 ERA. "Winning the game was huge to me. I proved tonight that I am...

Chris Dickerson was scratched from the Orioles' lineup tonight after straining his left shoulder during batting practice. Dickerson ended the session and walked off the field with head athletic trainer Richie Bancells. Nolan Reimold replaced Dickerson as the designated hitter and contributed a three-run homer to the Orioles' 6-1 win over the Rangers. Dickerson will undergo an MRI on Friday if the shoulder hasn't improved. Manager Buck Showalter said Dickerson has a history of soreness in...

Wei-Yin Chen returned to the rotation and pitched quite well. Nolan Reimold hit a homer. Brian Roberts drove in a run. Adam Jones drew a walk. For this night, all was well in Birdland. The Orioles scored twice in the third and four times in the fourth to open up an early six-run lead on their way to a 6-1 win over the Texas Rangers at Camden Yards. The Orioles had lost six of their last eight games overall and Texas had won seven of its last eight at Camden Yards. Chen, who came off the...