Leading into this week's sets of games against the Cardinals and Reds, two tough, talented playoff teams from a year ago, the Nationals went on the road last week to face the two National League East teams everyone expects to finish at the bottom of the division for a second straight season. Six games against the Marlins and Mets? That'll be the remedy for whatever has been ailing this Nationals team early on this season, right? Not really. Instead of getting things back on track in Miami...

Through the first couple weeks of the regular season, we've consistently heard about how Orioles starters need to go deeper into games. Obviously, it goes without saying that it's not quite as simple in practice as it is to talk about. The first question that should be asked is: Why aren't the starters going deeper? If you look at the anatomy of the games, one thing that stands out at me is that the starters aren't attacking the strike zone as early and as often. They're trying to nibble...

We all know that Jake Arrieta has a lot of talent. He can throw a mid-90s fastball and a knee-buckling curveball. But he can't get his ERA under 6.00 right now and he hasn't pitched beyond five innings this year. He clearly has consistent issues with his control and command. Here are some theories on why he is struggling so much: * He thinks too much out there: This is a popular theory, that the issue is much more in his head than his arm. He overthinks things out there, some insist. He...

The promotion of third baseman Anthony Rendon from Double-A Harrisburg is a great opportunity for the organization's top prospect. The two weeks on the disabled list will give Ryan Zimmerman a chance to rest his tender hamstring. It also might be a good time for Zimmerman to work with coaches, especially infield coordinator Jeff Garber, to deconstruct and reconstruct his post-surgery throwing motion from third base. I would imagine this type of concentration on his throwing motion would take...

Unsure whether the Orioles would make a postgame roster move yesterday, I checked my phone approximately 72 times per minute. And ... nothing. No demotions, no promotions. It's conceivable that they will do something before tonight's series opener against the Toronto Blue Jays. If not, manager Buck Showalter will be asked about his discussions with executive vice president Dan Duquette and the state of their bullpen. The Orioles still need a starter for Wednesday. Eventually, we're going...

Orioles catcher Matt Wieters was asked about Jake Arrieta's continuing command issues. Is it mechanical or are there some other issues? "We are going to work hard to find it where it's locked in a little more," Wieters said. "That's the big thing is he had it early. Just being able to keep it through a whole game, he has to find some keys that he can lock into and be able to come back to. "It's there. Now it is just a matter of being consistent and that is what everyone in baseball is...

Orioles starter Jake Arrieta didn't point fingers and he didn't make excuses. He took full blame for today's 7-4 loss to the Dodgers at Camden Yards. "Really feel like the Dodgers didn't beat us today, I beat us. It's unacceptable," he said. He later added, "I'm so close to being so good and everybody knows it. And that's what's frustrating." Arrieta stood at his locker following the game. Whether he's there on Monday, or whether someone from Triple-A Norfolk is there, was...

After another short and inconsistent outing, Jake Arrieta took the fall for today's Orioles loss to the Dodgers. He could not hold a 4-1 lead or get a single out in the fifth as he walked five and allowed five runs in four innings plus four batters. "Really feel like the Dodgers didn't beat us today, I beat us," Arrieta said. "Put us in a tough situation. Not giving up many hits at all, but making their job easier by putting them on base for free. It's unacceptable. It's not something I...

The Orioles' momentum in this series came to a screeching halt today in the top of the fifth inning at Camden Yards. Working with a 4-1 lead, O's starter Jake Arrieta loaded the bases on a pair of four-pitch walks and a hit batter. The Dodgers turned that into a four-run inning to take a 5-4 lead on their way to a sweep-avoiding 7-4 victory. Arrieta's inconsistency was on display as he needed just 23 pitches in the first two innings, then threw 37 in the third, followed by a 1-2-3 fourth...

Jake Arrieta struck out two batters in a routine first inning and needed only nine pitches to dispose of the Dodgers in the second. He threw 37 pitches in the third while walking three batters and surrendering a run. He struck out two and retired the side in order in the fourth. He couldn't record an out in the fifth and was gone. The Orioles are still trying to figure out a way for Arrieta to become a consistent major league starter. Game to game would be preferred. Right now, they would...