The Orioles today announced three options for fans to purchase postseason tickets, which will be available exclusively online. Fans may visit www.orioles.com/postseason for a seating chart, schedule and additional ticket information. All three options are for the purchase of wild card and American League Division Series tickets. American League Championship Series and World Series tickets will become available for sale at a later date, if necessary. Option 1: Fans will receive the...

Atlanta swept three games from the Nationals over the weekend in a disheartening affair that Bruce Springsteen, who appeared at Nationals Park on Friday night, might well have called a "Tenth Avenue Freeze Out." Averaging almost 40,000 for the first two games, the Braves gave the Nationals a look at playoff atmosphere and pressure. The Braves were playing with their backs to the wall, 8 1/2 games behind Washington. But they showed how it's done, battling back Saturday and winning three...

The Orioles are assured of posting a winning record for the first time since 1997, and it feels anti-climatic. It's been assumed for so long, the attention has shifted to whether the Orioles can win the division or a wild card berth. Finishing above .500? Ho-hum. Matt Wieters homered twice yesterday, Endy Chavez collected four hits for the first time as an Oriole, Robert Andino had two hits and Brian Matusz picked up his first relief win with two scoreless innings. Almost lost in the...

Based on their play this season against the teams remaining on their schedule, the Orioles seem to have a real good shot at a very strong finish, one that might be good enough for them to win their first AL East title since 1997. The Orioles are one game behind the Yankees with 16 to play and here are the remaining opponents for both teams: Orioles: 3 at Seattle 3 at Boston 4 vs. Toronto 3 vs. Boston 3 at Tampa Bay Yankees: 3 vs. Toronto 3 vs. Oakland 3 at Minnesota 4 at Toronto 3 vs....

ATLANTA - Over 24 defensive innings the last three days, the Nationals surrendered 13 walks, hit two Braves batters and allowed three more to reach on errors. That's 18 guys who reached base without truly earning it. "You can't do that," manager Davey Johnson said. Offensively, the Nats plated just six runs in three games, struck out 35 times and had only 15 at-bats with runners in scoring position. The Braves played well enough to win all three games in this series, but the Nationals...

ATLANTA - Despite a slow start offensively and a sloppy first few innings from starter Gio Gonzalez, the Nationals still trailed by just a run after six innings. Things then got away from the Nats in the bottom of the seventh. Two tough defensive plays allowed the Braves to turn a 2-1 lead into a 5-1 advantage, effectively wrapping up a three-game sweep in a 15-minute span. With one out in the seventh and the speedy Michael Bourn on first, Reed Johnson hit a high chopper to third base. Ryan...

Instructional league workouts have begun for close to four dozen prospects in the Nationals organization. Low Single-A Hagerstown manager Brian Daubach is one of the 20 or so coaches that are working to get the players ready for their first game September 22. Daubach said instructional league workouts in Viera, Fla., are organized very similar to the way spring training is set up, with a lot of hands-on specialized teaching going on in each area. "We are working on a lot of the fundamental...

ATLANTA - Nationals second baseman Danny Espinosa will spend part of his off-day tomorrow going for an MRI on his left shoulder, according to manager Davey Johnson. Espinosa has apparently been dealing with left shoulder discomfort of some kind for about a week. Johnson, who used a pinch hitter for Espinosa in the ninth inning tonight, said the injury will likely keep Espinosa out of the Nationals' three-game series against the Dodgers, which begins Tuesday. "I'm a little worried about...

ATLANTA - For a guy who'd allowed just one earned run over his last 22 innings coming into tonight, Gio Gonzalez sure is having a tough time getting outs. Gonzalez has thrown 83 pitches through three innings so far tonight, as Braves hitters have battled him deep into counts, fouling off pitches and laying off the stuff just off the black. The Nationals' lefty has gotten to a three-ball count to eight of the 15 hitters he's faced, and has had at-bats last 10, nine, eight, eight and seven...

There are so many different angles at which we can look at these 2012 Orioles. However, needless to say 2012 will always represent a return to glory of a once-great franchise. Ironically - and who among us ever thought we'd hear this - I've seen some blabber on message boards to the effect that people are getting tired of hearing so much about the Orioles on national outlets. Feels strange not to be talking about Boston or New York, doesn't it? When Manny Machado's blooper hit the ground...