Three weeks ago, Pedro Strop was thought of as one of the top setup guys in baseball. If Strop came into the game, fans assumed three outs and a Jim Johnson save the next inning. Over his last six appearances, Strop has walked five, struck out four and recorded an 18.00 ERA (six earned runs in three innings). Opponents are hitting .500 with a .609 OBP off the Orioles' flamethrowing relief pitcher. Everyone remembers Strop allowing two runs in the eighth inning of last Thursday's dramatic...

In all the hullabaloo surrounding the Nationals' decision to end Stephen Strasburg's season, one common comment from the media outside the Washington area has been, "How can Washington shut down its best pitcher when they are so close to the playoffs? This is the team's dream season. They may never be in this position again." The implication? The Nationals' 2012 season, despite the fact that they currently own baseball's best record, is a fluke, a one-year wonder of good fortune and...

I've got two predictions for you today. 1. Someone will report that Nick Markakis underwent "successful surgery" on his thumb. As opposed to all those unsuccessful surgeries that players endure each year. Unless the thumb falls off, it's going to be successful. Dr. Brian Schofield will insert a T-plate and Markakis will be resting comfortably. And then we'll wait to find out whether the Orioles make the playoffs and he's healthy enough to contribute. Apparently, a realistic goal is...

Another game, more Nationals longballs. The Nats have played just four innings tonight and they've already smacked three home runs - a solo shot by Kurt Suzuki, a two-run bomb to straightaway center by Ryan Zimmerman and a two-run opposite-field shot by Ian Desmond. That's been nothing unusual over the last week; in the Nationals' last seven games, they've hit 23 homers. Not bad, I guess. The Nats lead the Mets 5-1 after four innings thanks to the homer-fest and four decent innings from...

After a day of rest, the Orioles begin a huge three-game series tonight against the Tampa Bay Rays at Camden Yards. The Orioles open this series one game ahead of Tampa Bay in the AL East and also for a wild card berth. Both teams are playing well. Tampa Bay has won six of its last eight and is 21-11 over its past 32 games. The Orioles have won 11 of 16 and are 23-11 over their last 34 games. Since the All-Star break, the Orioles are 33-22 while the Rays are 32-22. Against the AL East, the...

I made the bold move of detaching myself from Twitter last night, so I'm playing catchup to all the Juan Pierre questions. For example: * Did the Orioles get Pierre? * Have you heard the Juan Pierre rumblings? Any hope of that trade happening? * Any truth to the Juan Pierre rumors? * Is there any truth to the Juan Pierre rumor? (that the O's have acquired him?) * Did the Orioles get Juan Pierre? What did they give up to get him? Is he going to play on Tuesday? Will he be batting...

When it comes to Orioles vs. Yankees, emotions run high. But no matter how upset some Orioles fans are over Nick Markakis getting hit Saturday night by CC Sabathia, you are not going to convince me that Sabathia did that on purpose. Believe me if I thought that, I'd be among the first to express anger about it. Some fans are still expressing the opinion today that the Orioles should have retaliated yesterday. For what? There was no reason to throw at any Yankees in Sunday's game (although...

The Nationals have Ryan Zimmerman and Ian Desmond back in the lineup after both infielders sat out Sunday's 8-0 loss to the Marlins. Manager Davey Johnson has planned to give Zimmerman Sunday off and Desmond asked for a bit of a breather to rest his sore hamstring. The Nats will have both their third baseman and shortstop on the field tonight when they open a three-game set with the Mets. Gio Gonzalez will take the mound for the Nats, shooting for his 19th win of the season. Should he get...

Longtime Orioles voices Joe Angel and Jim Hunter are among 41 veteran broadcasters chosen as candidates for the 2013 Ford C. Frick Award, which is presented annually by the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum in Cooperstown, N.Y., for excellence in baseball broadcasting. More than 12,000 votes were cast in the first round of fan voting on the Hall of Fame's Facebook page. Every broadcaster, active or retired, who has broadcast at least 10 consecutive years for a team or network was...

The Nationals have added third baseman Matt Skole and right-handed pitcher Aaron Barrett to their Arizona Fall League team, the Salt River Rafters, per a club source with knowledge of the situation. Skole and Barrett will still attend instructional league workouts, which begin September 15, in Viera, Fla., before they travel to Scottsdale, Ariz., for the AFL season. Skole was named the Nationals' minor league Player of the Year last week after hitting 27 homers and 104 RBIs for low Single-A...