NEW YORK - Second baseman Robert Andino has arrived in New York after playing two games at Triple-A Norfolk. He's prepared to join the team, which necessitates a roster move. Andino went 3-for-9 with two RBIs, a run scored, a walk, a strikeout and an error that led to an unearned run last night off left-hander Brian Matusz. The Orioles could place designated hitter Jim Thome on the disabled list to free up a roster spot for Andino, but it depends on the MRI results from earlier...

The Phillies are throwing in the towel, dishing veterans off and, for the first time in years, looking to build toward the future. In the process, the Nationals' National League competitors are bolstering their rosters for a playoff push. Both the Giants and Dodgers have swung deals to acquire a Phillies outfielder, with San Francisco reportedly trading for Hunter Pence and Los Angeles bringing in Shane Victorino. I'm not sure who the Phillies plan on putting in the outfield over the next...

Third baseman Anthony Rendon (ankle) will continue his rehab schedule Wednesday in New York. The short-season Single-A Auburn Doubledays have the day off and are traveling to New York City. Rendon will play third base against the Staten Island Yankees on Wednesday night. The team then faces the Brooklyn Cyclones starting Aug. 4. Rendon's recent schedule has followed the pattern of playing third the first day, serving as the designated hitter the next and then resting for a day. When in the...

The trade deadline is now just over four hours away. Will it be an active few hours for the Orioles? As the deadline draws near I go back to an interview I had with Dan Duquette on July 6. I sat across from him in his office that day as he spoke about the possibility of the Orioles making moves. "The future is always now, when you are trying to win. Your future is really the opportunity and the risk is in not going for it. What do you think the fans want to see? They want to see and hear...

I certainly can't predict what Dan Duquette will do to improve the Orioles today by the 4 p.m. trade deadline, but I'm confident enough to guarantee you that Nick Markakis will still be playing right field for Baltimore in tonight's match-up against the Yankees. There haven't been any legitimate trade rumors reported with Markakis' name on them, but in the Twitterverse, message boards and sports talk radio world, there are always fans wondering why the Orioles wouldn't try to move their...

The statheads are trying to ruin my delight in the Nationals' 2012 season, including Sunday's comeback win over the Milwaukee Brewers, the club's 24th so far. I'm trying hard not to let them. Now, I love baseball research and statistical analysis. The Society for American Baseball Research, SABR for short, has changed how fans, managers and front office personnel interpret, evaluate, and even enjoy teams and players. What's driving me crazy are recent analyses of the Nationals' chances...

Good morning, Nationals fans. Your team currently stands alone with the best record in the majors. With the Reds losing last night, the Nationals are atop Major League Baseball with a 61-40 record entering today's action. And that's a large part of the reason why the team is unlikely to look much different (if at all) after this afternoon's 4 p.m. non-waiver trade deadline. Why mess with a good thing unless you can truly improve the on-field product without giving up too large a piece of...

Nick Markakis had yet another productive game in the leadoff spot Monday as the Orioles beat New York 5-4. He went 3-for-4 with a double, a run scored and two RBIs. Since he returned from the disabled list and was moved to the leadoff spot, Markakis is batting .364 over 18 games with six doubles, one homer, five RBIs and an OPS of .885. He has nine multi-hit games among those 18 he has played in. Here is an interesting stat: In the first half, Markakis struck out 37 times in 199 at-bats. Over...

NEW YORK - I've been wrong before and I'll be wrong again. That's my promise to you. But I'm saying right here and right now that the Orioles will not trade minor league infielder Jonathan Schoop to the Phillies for pitcher Joe Blanton. It's more likely that a bottle of Scope will be included in a deal than the Orioles No. 3 prospect, as dubbed before the season by Baseball America. That doesn't mean the deal is dead. The two sides will continue talking today, perhaps right up to the 4...

NEW YORK - The Orioles improved to 20-6 in one-run games, including 13-2 on the road. The lead was built partly tonight by Nick Markakis' two RBIs, it was narrowed after Miguel Gonzalez gave up the back-to-back home runs in the seventh inning, and it stayed intact because Jim Johnson escaped a jam in the ninth to record his 31st save. Here's manager Buck Showalter on Gonzalez: "I thought he was outstanding. We talked a little bit yesterday about attacking them and just being aggressive. You...