After noticing last night that the Orioles are a surprising 9-5 this year in games started by Tommy Hunter, I wondered what the team's record was in games started by others. Here is a ranking of the starters by the team's winning percentage when they start: .643 - Hunter (9-5) .611 - Jason Hammel (11-7), Wei-Yin Chen (11-7) .500 - Miguel Gonzalez (1-1), Dana Eveland (1-1, Chris Tillman (1-1) .389 - Jake Arrieta (7-11) .375 - Brian Matusz (6-10) .000 - Zach Britton (0-1) Yes, that is rather...

Talk about rough timing for Rick Ankiel to find out that he'd been designated for assignment by the Nationals. Today is his birthday. Ankiel turns 33 today, but he now finds himself in a state of flux after being let go in order for the Nationals to activate reliever Drew Storen from the disabled list. General manager Mike Rizzo said the decision to let Ankiel go wasn't an easy one, but that the veteran outfielder took the news like a pro. "It was very difficult, just because of the guy...

The Washington Nationals today returned from rehab and reinstated right-handed pitcher Drew Storen from the 15-Day Disabled List, recalled catcher Sandy Leon from Harrisburg of the Double-A Eastern League, placed catcher Jhonatan Solano on the 15-Day DL (retroactive to July 18) with a left oblique strain and designated outfielder Rick Ankiel for assignment. Nationals Executive Vice President of Baseball Operations and General Manager Mike Rizzo made the announcement. Storen began the season on...

Orioles manager Buck Showalter worked in a few more left-handed hitters for today's series finale against the Twins. For the Orioles: Nick Markakis RF J.J. Hardy SS Jim Thome DH Adam Jones CF Matt Wieters C Wilson Betemit 3B Chris Davis LF Mark Reynolds 1B Ryan Flaherty 2B Wei-Yin Chen LHP For the Twins: Denard Span CF Ben Revere RF Joe Mauer C Josh Willingham DH Justin Morneau 1B Trevor Plouffe 3B Ryan Doumit LF Brian Dozier SS Alexi Casilla 2B Cole DeVries RHP

The lineup card has been posted in the Nationals clubhouse for today's 12:35 p.m. game against the Mets, and right-hander Drew Storen is listed among the available pitchers. That's a signal Storen has been activated from the disabled list following recovery from surgery to remove a bone chip from his right elbow. Outfielder Rick Ankiel is not listed among the bench players. His locker has been cleaned out and his nameplate has been removed. It appears the veteran outfielder has been...

Optimism is the belief that generally good things happen. It is the tendency to see the good in all things, the belief that good will triumph over evil and that this is the best of all possible worlds. If this is all true, then I ask "Why the Baltimore Orioles?" Over the last month, the Orioles have fallen apart in a way I didn't think was possible. Not the fact that they have lost so many games, or that the starting pitching has collapsed, or the hitting went away - all of that was...

On September 17, 2005, the Nationals stood at 77-71 and had a 5-0 lead entering the bottom of the ninth against the San Diego Padres. Since entering the All-Star break with a record of 52-36 and 2 1/2-game lead in the National League East, the Nationals had fallen back to fourth place and stood eight games back in the division. The wild card was vaguely in reach, but it would take a near miracle run to claim it. If they could take this series against the Padres, they could get back in the race....

In case you didn't happen to see it, reliever Miguel Batista called his squad "the best team in baseball" after last night's game. Yes, the same Miguel Batista who allowed two huge runs over two-thirds of an inning in yesterday's 4-3 Nationals win. Yes, the same Miguel Batista who suits up for the New York Mets, who are currently a game above .500 and eight games back of the Nationals in the National League East. "Right now they're playing good baseball, but I don't believe they're a...

Adam Jones is certainly hitting better against left-handed pitchers this season. That came in handy last night when he hit a two-run homer in the first inning against Francisco Liriano. It was all the offense the Orioles would get in a 2-1 win over the Twins. Jones hit four homers all of last season in 153 at-bats against lefties. This year, he has six in 93 at-bats against southpaws. He averaged a homer every 38.3 at-bats last year against the lefties and that mark is one every 15.5 at-bats...

First baseman Adam LaRoche has nothing scientific in his approach to facing Mets knuckleball pitcher R.A. Dickey on Thursday. He won't be studying multiple DVDs on the lack of spin to the knuckleball or break down every aspect of his at-bat. LaRoche said you have to keep it simple because there isn't anything similar than facing a pitcher as unique as Dickey. "I remember facing (Tim) Wakefield just a handful of times and thinking, 'This is pretty good,' after not seeing it every...