The Kansas City batters did not give Wei-Yin Chen the Royal treatment in the first inning tonight. Maybe it was the rude treatment. Alex Gordon led off the game with a solo homer and, three batters later, Billy Butler hit a three-run shot to left and it was 4-0 before some fans had settled into their seats. KC added two in the third and has scored one in the fifth as Chen has been knocked out this inning and the Orioles trail 7-0. Butler always seems to treat O's pitchers rudely and Brad...

Anyone know how to say "do over" in Mandarin Chinese? Wei-Yin Chen threw 26 pitches, served up two home runs, gave up four hits and took a shot off his left knee in the first inning. That's no way to celebrate your own T-shirt night. Or is this Manny Machado Night? I've sort of lost track. Alex Gordon hit his eighth career leadoff home run, and his third this season. Back-to-back singles by Alcides Escobar and Lorenzo Cain - the latter on a ball that scooted past a diving Machado at...

Adam Jones made his first appearance in the majors at the age of 20 and Manny Machado will debut at age 20 tonight for the Orioles. Jones can remember his first big league game for Seattle at Toronto on July 14, 2006 but said there wasn't quite the hype on that game as there is on with Manny's debut tonight. "I don't think it was this big," Jones said this afternoon in the Orioles clubhouse. "I don't remember much media coverage about it. I do remember first at-bat I faced Casey...

Orioles manager Buck Showalter isn't revealing his plans for Manny Machado beyond tonight's game at Camden Yards. The same is true for Wilson Betemit and any other players who could be impacted by Machado's arrival. Machado is batting ninth and playing third base tonight. Whether he starts again tomorrow and is a regular presence in the lineup is assumed, but not confirmed. "We'll see how it goes tonight, see where it takes us," Showalter said. "We have 25 guys here who have...

Davey Johnson suggested last night that he would probably give Bryce Harper a day off today, and that's what he's done. Mired in a slump, which has seen him hit just .176 since the All-Star break, Harper is not in the Nationals lineup today. The rookie outfielder also made an ill-advised throw in the ninth inning last night, allowing the Astros to put the potential game-winning run in scoring position. It was after that play that Johnson said he decided Harper could use a breather, or a...

You only play your first major league game once and for Manny Machado that one time is tonight. The 20-year-old, 2010 O's first-round pick will bat ninth and play third base at Camden Yards against the Kansas City Royals in his major league debut. "I just want to go out and be myself. Do what I've been doing the last two weeks and the last two years. Go out there and just have fun," Machado said. Machado will have six family members here to watch his first big league game including his...

Major League Baseball has officially released its 2012 postseason schedule, and hopefully I can pass along a few of the key dates without being considered a jinx. Since I plan on taking full credit if the Nationals make the playoffs this season (I come aboard and look how quickly things turn!), I'll certainly be the one to blame if things go south for the Nationals over these next couple months. The new Wild Card "play-in" games will both be held on Friday, Oct. 5, with the winner in each...

Not only is Manny Machado here and soon to be officially added to the roster, but he's making his major league debut tonight against the Royals. Machado is batting ninth and playing third base for the Orioles, who have yet to announce the corresponding roster move. For the Orioles: Nick Markakis RF J.J. Hardy SS Adam Jones CF Matt Wieters C Lew Ford LF Mark Reynolds 1B Chris Davis DH Robert Andino 2B Manny Machado 3B Wei-Yin Chen LHP

So if he has only played two games as a pro at third base, how will Manny Machado handle third at the big league level and why didn't the Orioles play him more at third base in the minors? Two very good questions and we'll have to ask to see what answers we get to the second question. Third base is not foreign to Machado. He has been taking some ground balls there about four days a week since he played two games there for Double-A Bowie on June 2-3. Minor league instructors like Bobby...

Triple-A Syracuse Chiefs third baseman Carlos Rivero is hitting his stride at just the right time. These next two months are critical to Rivero's career. Out of options and only 24 years old, Rivero is close to getting his shot, either with the Nationals or with another team next season. And sensing the importance, Rivero is not shying away from the challenge but relishing it. Syracuse manager Tony Beasley has seen the 6-foot-3, 215 lb., Rivero find his rhythm at the dish. The last 10...