After playing over 90 games at Double-A Bowie in both 2010 and 2011, O's minor league outfielder LJ Hoes was probably not thrilled to begin 2012 back with the Baysox, but that is where he was in April. He did enough though to play his way to Triple-A Norfolk for the first time this year and now, with the numbers he is putting up with the Tides, he may be forcing the Orioles to make him a callup at some point soon, if not be a September callup, at the very least. In 61 Triple-A games, the...

With Manny Machado starting at third base again tonight, Wilson Betemit is in the lineup, but moving across the diamond to start at first base. Some veterans may lose a few at-bats to the kid, but that is just how it is when you bring up a prospect and give him playing time. As for Betemit, he said he fully understands the situation and and has no issues with it at all. He can remember when he was the up and coming prospect on the Braves, making his big league debut. "It was good. Good for...

Outfielder Endy Chavez has cleared waivers and will report to Triple-A Norfolk on Tuesday. Chavez could have opted to become a free agent, but he agreed to stay in the organization. The Orioles are expected to call him up when rosters expand on Sept. 1. Pitcher Jason Hammel is expected to rejoin the Orioles on Saturday unless he runs into some sort of travel issue. Hammel will throw off the front slope of the mound - not the pitching rubber - and will be reevaluated the following day before...

The amazing statistic almost defies reality. One earned run allowed in 19 appearances. In a span of 23 1/3 innings, the right-hander has allowed one earned run. He has not allowed a run since June. While in the Yankees organization, he underwent Tommy John surgery...twice - in 2006 and in 2010. And he can throw his fastball consistently from 95-97 mph. Right-hander Christian Garcia has been tearing up the International League. The 27 year old has been through a lot, but now with Triple-A...

If you wondered whether Manny Machado would be part of a platoon at third base, he's starting again tonight against Royals right-hander Luke Hochevar. Wilson Betemit slides over to first base. Chris Davis is the Orioles' designated hitter. Mark Reynolds is on the bench. For the Orioles: Nick Markakis RF J.J. Hardy SS Chris Davis DH Adam Jones CF Matt Wieters C Wilson Betemit 1B Nate McLouth LF Manny Machado 3B Omar Quintanilla 2B Miguel Gonzalez RHP

The Orioles' attendance is up over last year and the club is on pace to attract over two million fans to Camden Yards for the first time since 2007. But they have not exactly been packing them in on this current homestand. Even though the Orioles returned home Monday riding high off winning back-to-back series on the road against New York and Tampa Bay, the four home games this week have averaged just 18,789 fans. The average for the season is 25,821. To me, it's been a little surprising to...

Michael Morse's first home run last night was measured at 434 feet by hittrackeronline.com. Call me shocked the thing wasn't projected to travel at least 460 feet. That ball was crushed. It registers as Morse's second-longest homer of the season, apparently not even coming all that close to his mammoth 465-foot blast back at Nats Park on July 20. Outside the Mid-Atlantic region, you probably won't hear Jordan Zimmermann's name tossed around during many discussions about the top pitchers...

The kind of success the Nationals are seeing this year isn't even a once-in-a-generation thing. It's more like several generations. A ballclub from the nation's capital hasn't contended for a title this late in the season since 1945, when a Senators team full of rookies, castoffs and even an amputee pitcher made an improbable run that went down to the last week of the season and ended all too early, literally. If it wasn't for Senators owner Clark Griffith, baseball might have been called...

After the Nationals finish this 10-game, three-city tour, they will have 27 regular season home games left and 17 on the road. Put another way, the Nationals will have 27 of their final 44 regular season games at Nationals Park. That will be big as they drive to control the NL East. The home schedule includes visits from the Dodgers, Cardinals and Phillies to end the regular season. With 37 road wins, the Nationals have the most road victories of any major league team. Next closest? Try...

This will be a short blog entry, as you can imagine. The Orioles optioned Steve Johnson yesterday because they don't have a game on Monday and won't need a fifth starter until Saturday. They don't want him sitting in the bullpen or throwing 30-40 pitches in a relief outing and then being expected to throw 90-100 in a start. A Sept. 1 call-up is assured, and he could be here a lot sooner. J.J. Hardy isn't moving off shortstop. Suggesting that he shift to third or second is wasted energy....