"Art Modell was a National Football League visionary and pioneer whose impact on the game continues to this day. He and his late wife Pat were as committed to philanthropy as they were to professional football in Baltimore and beyond. On behalf of the Orioles organization, I extend my condolences to his sons, John and David, and the rest of his family."

When the Orioles faced the Yankees last weekend, they pitched very well against New York. The Yankees' team average was just .167 in that series, and the Birds held that lineup to just 15 hits over 90 at-bats in three games. The AL's fourth highest scoring team was held to eight total runs. While the Orioles hit six homers in that series, New York had just four extra-base hits in the series and went 2-for-12 with runners in scoring position. Obviously the Orioles would sign up for pitching...

There are so many offensive notes and numbers to pass along after what the Nationals have done the last handful of days, I'm not sure I could fit them all in one entry. Let's give it a shot. The Nationals became just the third team in the history of Major League Baseball to hit six home runs in a game on back-to-back nights. The 1996 Dodgers and 2003 Angels need to move over. They've got company. The Nats tied a team record for most homers in a game on Tuesday, then went ahead and tied...

Hindsight is never wrong and there is more than one path to winning. But for the Nationals, the willful awfulness of 2008 and 2009 are paying off. Without the 2008 and 2009 seasons, the Nationals wouldn't be as good as they are, and it isn't just Stephen Strasburg and Bryce Harper. Having the first pick overall means a team has the first pick in every round. A.J. Cole was the first pick of the fourth round of the 2010 draft and one of keys in the Gio Gonzalez trade. Early on, the Nationals...

The Orioles almost made it through another game last night without committing an error. They were clean for six innings before Adam Jones skipped a throw past Manny Machado in the seventh that allowed Anthony Gose to score. Who knew that the defense would become ... I won't say a "strength," but a contributing factor in the Orioles' surge? In the past 11 games before last night, the Orioles had posted a .990 fielding percentage that led the American League. They've now committed only...

Long-time fans of the Orioles' Double-A Bowie affiliate can relate to long-suffering O's fans. The Orioles have made zero playoff appearances since 1997. Bowie had made just one since that year until this season. The Orioles have not won the World Series since 1983. The Baysox have never won the Eastern League championship even though they have been playing since 1993. In fact, Bowie has never even won a playoff series, losing in the playoff's first round in 1993, 1994, 1997 and 2008. So...

Last night it was Adam LaRoche (twice), Ian Desmond, Jesus Flores, Tyler Moore and Ryan Zimmerman going yard. Tonight it was Bryce Harper (twice), Roger Bernadina, LaRoche, Desmond and Danny Espinosa. The Nationals have 12 home runs in their last 16 innings. They've scored 20 runs in that same span. Dating back to the win in Miami which snapped their five-game losing streak, the Nats have averaged 7.6 runs per game. Even the guys doing all the offensive damage can't explain what the heck...

The first start of Gio Gonzalez's 2012 season came against the Cubs at Wrigley Field. That day, the lefty went just 3 2/3 innings, allowing four runs on seven hits with three walks. Today was a bit different. Sure, it was a different Cubs lineup, one loaded with young guys suiting up for a team which is on pace for a 100-loss season. But Gonzalez was on-point all night tonight, throwing five no-hit innings before allowing a leadoff single to Darwin Barney in the sixth. He finished with seven...

With left-hander Gio Gonzalez on the mound, it appeared it would be difficult for the light-hitting Chicago Cubs offense to generate much in the way of runs. Or even hits. Gonzalez was on target Wednesday, carrying a no-hitter into the sixth inning, and finishing with seven shutout innings, on three hits, no walks and striking out nine. The Nationals allowed only four hits in the 9-1 dispatch of the Cubs. Gonzalez matched the Mets' R.A. Dickey for the major-league lead with win No. 18. The...

BOWIE, Md. - In what was his best outing yet at the Double-A level, Orioles top pitching prospect Dylan Bundy gave up just one run over six innings tonight as Bowie beat Akron 4-2 in Game 1 of a best-of-five Eastern League playoff series. The Baysox played some tight defense behind him and backed the right-hander with homers from Rhyne Hughes, Ty Kelly and Ronnie Welty. Bundy said he felt some playoff intensity out there tonight. "Definitely, we want to win this thing. Quicker you win it,...