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...

It's never a good thing when an umpire becomes a hot topic of discussion. Umpires are a lot like long snappers in football - you only really hear about them when they've made a mistake. Unfortunately, Angel Hernandez's name was brought up a lot last night. Hernandez, who isn't shy about putting his stamp on a game, called two balks from behind home plate and had what seemed like a shaky strike zone most of the night. He got quite a few nasty glares from players after what they felt were...

Orioles fans can escape the chill of winter and live out their fantasy of being a major league player at the team's Dream Week 2013. Held at the Orioles' spring training and minor league complexes in Sarasota, Florida from January 27 to February 2, 2013, Dream Week participants will play daily doubleheader intrasquad games and receive full major league treatment, including a personalized Orioles home uniform and Baltimore road batting practice jersey. Dream Week players will receive...

At 68-43 with 479 runs scored and 396 runs allowed, the Nationals have played great baseball. But one of the best things the Nationals have done is take advantage of opportunities on their schedule. The Nationals started the season on the road against the Cubs, who were believed to be in rebuilding mode before the season began, and the Mets, who were projected to be a last-place club in the NL East. Starting against these two teams was viewed as an opportunity for the Nationals to get off to a...

The Orioles are facing a left-handed starter tonight, with the Royals sending Will Smith to the mound. Manny Machado could be in the starting lineup at third base. Is he ready? I've been asked that question over and over, on the blog and via Twitter, since the Orioles announced late last night that Machado's contract was being selected from Double-A Bowie. There's only one way to find out - and I don't mean by using my crystal ball. The kid has to play. "One thing about Manny is he's a...

Can Orioles fans survive good news overload? Steve Johnson gets his first big league win, the Orioles tie for the wild card, Dylan Bundy moves to Double-A Bowie and Manny Machado gets promoted to Baltimore. Yikes, it has been quite a night. First, a few thoughts on Machado. Even though he has made 22 errors at short at Bowie this year, the fans will come to see and learn that the kid has big-time defensive skills. I think he can handle third base even though he has played just two games...

The Orioles announced after tonight's game that they plan to select the contract of infielder Manny Machado from Double-A Bowie before tomorrow night's game against Kansas City. He will be making his major league debut. Machado, 20, has batted .266/.352/.438 with 11 home runs and 59 RBI in 109 games with the Baysox this season, including a .275/.365/.505 line in 91 at-bats since the All-Star break. The Orioles' first round selection (#3 overall) in the 2010 First Year Player Draft out of...