Test Blog

Test Blog

The players are not supposed to be better at asking questions than the reporters, but when Tommy Hunter noticed several reporters interviewing T.J. McFarland today, he jumped in and provided some solid help. He asked McFarland who he got out for his first major league strikeout last night and then gave him some grief for not instantly remembering it was Trevor Plouffe in the top of the fifth. Hunter: "How many (strikeouts) did you have? McFarland: "Was it five?" Hunter: "Who was the...

It's been a quiet Sunday morning at Camden Yards. Not much to report. Second baseman Brian Roberts still plans on flying to Sarasota later today to rehab his right knee. He intends to meet up with the Orioles sooner than first anticipated. Wilson Betemit is here today, on crutches, to be examined by a team physician. His right knee is feeling much better since we last spoke with him. Betemit will return to Sarasota on Wednesday. He should know the timetable for his return once he's...

Adam LaRoche is out of the Nationals' lineup for the second straight day. LaRoche, who has been dealing with some tightness in his back since late in the Nationals' series against the Marlins earlier this week, will not play in this afternoon's series finale against the Reds. Chad Tracy will play first base and hit in the No. 5 hole in LaRoche's stead again today. With the Nats having a day off tomorrow, manager Davey Johnson likely wants to give LaRoche three full days to rest his back...

Orioles manager Buck Showalter is using Steve Pearce as his designated hitter, starting Taylor Teagarden behind the plate and putting Alexi Casilla at second base for today's game against the Minnesota Twins at Camden Yards. Nick Markakis is leading off, with Nolan Reimold in left field and Nate McLouth on the bench against Twins left-hander Pedro Hernandez. For the Orioles Nick Markakis RF Manny Machado 3B Chris Davis 1B Adam Jones CF Steve Pearce DH J.J. Hardy SS Nolan Reimold LF Taylor...

The first two games of this Nationals-Reds series sure have been plenty interesting. First, the Reds put up two touchdowns and a two-point conversion on the Nats on Friday night in a 15-0 drubbing. Sorry, I feel bad even bringing that one up again. Yesterday's game was far more competitive and far more dramatic. The Nationals jumped out to a 5-1 lead, only to see Drew Storen and Rafael Soriano each allow two runs to leave the game tied after nine. In the top of the 11th, two home runs in a...

The Double-A Harrisburg Senators dropped Bowie 6-1 Saturday behind big hits from Rick Hague and Steven Souza, Jr., and a spectacular one-two punch on the mound by Paul Demny and Trevor Holder. Destin Hood smacked his first double of the season and Souza crushed his first homer to get the scoring going. Demny went five innings for the win and Holder an amazing four innings for the save. Justin Bloxom had an RBI double and Hague a two-run single. Demny struck out six and allowed just two hits...

What have we learned through the Orioles' first five games? Well, the rotation could struggle this year with an ERA of 5.74 through one turn. Chris Davis may not be reliable at first base. After all, he made an error last night, but he may drive in over 500 runs. Adam Jones may have a shot to hit .400. Heck, he's batting .522 already. And the Orioles will be terrible in one-run games this year. They are 0-2 already. Yes, I write this to make a point. Why do we overreact to what happens in...

The Orioles have gone through their rotation once, and it's back to Jason Hammel for today's series finale against the Minnesota Twins. The club's starters have posted a 5.74 ERA, which includes the three runs Hammel allowed to the Tampa Bay Rays over six innings on opening day. Hammel berated himself afterward, but the Orioles would gladly take another quality start after the back-to-back struggles of Jake Arrieta and Chris Tillman. Hammel is 2-0 with a 2.14 ERA in four career games...