I didn't sense a whole lot of enthusiasm on this blog over manager Buck Showalter's announcement that Jake Arrieta would start tonight's series-opener in Detroit. Arrieta lasted only four starts this season before being optioned for the first time. His last two starts at Triple-A Norfolk were bad. But it makes sense to give him the ball. Jason Hammel isn't ready to pitch tonight after wrestling with a stomach virus the past few days. It weakened him. It made him wonder why his young son...

He pitched for the Orioles for nine seasons, including the 1996 and 1997 playoffs, and Alan Mills returned to the O's organization last year. For the second season in a row, he is the pitching coach at short-season Single-A Aberdeen and will lead his staff of young hurlers into a new season for the IronBirds that begins at 7:35 p.m. tonight against Hudson Valley at Ripken Stadium. "I always wanted to get back (with the Orioles)," Mills said. "I'd been interested in doing that for several...

It is not the most important goal of the minor league system, but when the Nationals get one team into the postseason, it is a good measure of the talent and ability of the players to come together as a unit. The Nationals did that one better - they had two teams clinch first-half crowns Sunday. Both Single-A squads, the low Single-A Hagerstown Suns and the high Single-A Potomac Nationals won their respective divisions in the first half of the season. This guarantees the Suns and P-Nats...

He is continuing to wait for the birth of his daughter, but while he was waiting, Miguel Gonzalez took some time today to pitch in a big league game. He pitched 6 1/3 innings to lead the Orioles past the Red Sox, improving to 3-0 with a 3.18 ERA in four career games against Boston. Has it been hard to pitch with matters at home on his mind? "It gets me pumped up. I'm excited," Gonzalez said. "I'm excited for her to come. She's taking a little longer than we thought, but just waiting...

Miguel Gonzalez picked up his fifth win today for the Orioles, but he's still waiting to hold his first child. "They have a baby as stubborn as Miguel when they told him he couldn't do this," manager Buck Showalter quipped after today's 6-3 win over the Red Sox. Here's a sampling from Showalter's postgame press conference: On significance of taking three of four in this series "It's early. Four-game series are really tough because it's obviously, you consider how good the...

He hasn't pitched in a game since April 21 for the Orioles but they need a starter for tomorrow's game in Detroit and it's going to be Jake Arrieta getting that start, Buck Showalter said after today's game. "Been waiting for an opportunity and I look forward to capitalizing on that and trying to help this team continue to win," Arrieta said after today's game. "If I go out there and do my job, we have a great chance to win that game. I feel like I've done everything I need to do to...

Orioles manager Buck Showalter named Jake Arrieta as Monday night's starter in Detroit. Jason Hammel is being pushed back at least one day while he recovers from a stomach virus that swept through his family's home. If Hammel is unable to start Tuesday, the Orioles could recall left-hander Zach Britton from Triple-A Norfolk and option Arrieta. Rule 5 pick T.J. McFarland also would be an option if he isn't used in relief during the series opener against the Tigers. Arrieta was optioned to...

The Orioles beat Jon Lester. They won the series over Boston three games to one. They moved to within 1 ½ games of the first-place Sox. What was there not to like about the O's 6-3 win today over the Sox in front of 41,311 at Camden Yards? The Orioles continued their recent dominance of the Red Sox by winning their sixth straight series against Boston and they have taken nine of the last ten series between the teams since Sept. 19, 2011. The Orioles are 5-2 in 2013 against the Red...

Even with though he was struggling with his command, Stephen Strasburg gave the Nationals a chance. But in the end, the offense could not deliver the clutch hit, and the Nationals fell 2-0 at Cleveland on Sunday. The Nationals had no outs and runners on first and third in the sixth, but could not score. A Ryan Zimmerman strikeout and an Adam LaRoche double play groundout ended the threat. In the seventh, the Nationals loaded the bases with nobody out. Jhonatan Solano lined into a double play...

Imagine that you're Miguel Gonzalez. Your wife is due to give birth to your first child in three days. She could go into labor at any minute. Babies don't wear watches. And your home is in California, on the opposite coast. You're still required to throw bullpen sessions, attend meetings, watch video of your upcoming opponents. Today, you're facing the Boston Red Sox, the first-place team in your division. Stay focused. Gonzalez continues to do it, no matter how difficult. He held the...