Here in Charm City, we're so accustomed to Jim Palmer - his brilliant pitching over a 19-year career in Baltimore, the pancake breakfasts when he pitched, World Series victories in three decades, the high leg kick, the mischievous smile, the uncannily accurate memory, the sparring with Earl Weaver, the spot-on analysis - that it's hard to believe that there are some people who don't know who the best pitcher in Orioles history is. I'll let you chew on that for a few seconds. Yes, to some,...

For the first six innings of last night's ballgame, the Nationals played about as well as a team can play. They did it all. They brought their bats to the party, putting up five runs on a pitcher who they had never beaten in 15 starts, knocking two-time All-Star Josh Johnson from the game after just 5 1/3 innings. Ryan Zimmerman stayed scorching hot, Adam LaRoche and Ian Desmond combined for five hits, and Jesus Flores ended an 0-for-17 skid with a big two-run single in the sixth. They ran...

In seven games as an Oriole, Jim Thome is batting just .200 with no extra-base hits and one RBI. He is 5-for-25 with 11 strikeouts and just one multi-hit game. In interleague games with Philadelphia, Thome went 12-for-36 with four homers, 14 RBIs and an OPS of 1.137. But so far with the Orioles, his slugging percentage is just .200 and his OPS is only .486. Thome was hitless in four at-bats Friday night against the Tigers and admitted before the game that his swing has just not come around...

A reminder that the Orioles will honor Hall of Fame pitcher Jim Palmer today with the unveiling of his statue at 2:15 p.m. All gates open at 2 p.m. Is he available to pitch? Executive vice president Dan Duquette is trying to acquire a starting pitcher. To which I say, "Why only one?" The only good news is that Brian Matusz and Zach Britton were exceptional in their most recent starts, and Tommy Hunter had one bad inning last night out of 7 1/3. I don't need to be reminded that they're...

Nationals right-hander Chien-Ming Wang settled down after a rocky start, but took the loss as Richmond defeated Double-A Harrisburg 4-0 in the opening game of a doubleheader Friday night. Wang, on the disabled list due to a hip injury, allowed a Gary Brown double to lead off the game and committed a throwing error which gave the Flying Squirrels a 1-0 advantage. Another single and then a double play made it 2-0. Wang had a 1-2-3 second frame and a scoreless third. But in the fourth, Wang...

Orioles pitcher Jason Hammel will undergo an MRI on his right knee tomorrow at 1 p.m. Hammel exited tonight's game in the fourth inning after throwing his sixth pitch to Tigers right fielder Brennan Boesch. He limped off the field with manager Buck Showalter and assistant athletic trainer Brian Ebel after attempting a few warmup tosses. Hammel wasn't available to reporters while receiving treatment on his knee in the trainers room following a 7-2 loss to the Tigers, but he sent along a...

This was not exactly the start to the second half the Orioles had in mind. Get blown out at home and lose their No. 1 starting pitcher to an injury. Jason Hammel left the game in the top of the fourth as Detroit routed the Orioles 7-2 at Camden Yards. For the Tigers, this is their sixth win in a row. For the Orioles, they fall to 6-14 over their past 20 games. Hammel left after throwing a 1-2 pitch to Brennan Boesch, who was leading off in the top of the fourth. Hammel landed awkwardly, it...

The All-Star break can't slow down Ryan Zimmerman. In his last 14 games before the break - after getting a cortisone shot in his sore right shoulder - Zimmerman hit .333 with five homers and 18 RBIs. If you were concerned about four days off affecting Zimmerman's recent tear at the plate, worry no more. So far today, Zimmerman is 2-for-3 with a two-run homer off that weird multicolored sculpture in left-center. That home run has helped propel the Nationals to a 5-0 lead over the Marlins...

Did the Orioles just lose another member of their opening day rotation? Jason Hammel's night is over after three innings and six pitches in the fourth, the shortest outing of his Orioles career. Hammel appeared to land awkwardly on his left leg while delivering a pitch to Brennan Boesch leading off the fourth. Assistant athletic trainer Brian Ebel and manager Buck Showalter came to the mound, and Hammel limped off the field after a few warmup tosses. Luis Ayala replaced Hammel, who's...

Orioles executive vice president Dan Duquette and scouting director Gary Rajsich joined first-round pick Kevin Gausman at today's press conference in the auxiliary clubhouse at Camden Yards. Gausman tried on his new Orioles jersey and cap, bending the brim to "break it in." He also wore a smile that lasted from the second he walked into the room until it was time to leave. "We're happy to sign Kevin, and I just want to congratulate Kevin on joining the Orioles and welcome him to the...