During a press conference after his statue ceremony today, Earl Weaver remembered a phone call he got around the All-Star break in 1968. It was from then-Orioles general manager Harry Dalton. "We were sitting by the pool relaxing. I was first base coach at the time and it was the first time I didn't have to worry about making up a lineup and I was enjoying it," Weaver said. "Harry said, 'I want you to be the manager.' I told (my wife) Marianna and she said, 'Is that good?' I said I...

It's only 91 degrees at first pitch. Anyone have a sweater I can borrow? I had to keep reminding myself that the Orioles were playing a game today. I've been a bit distracted by all the Hall of Famers roaming around Camden Yards. I braved the stifling heat to watch the unveiling of Earl Weaver's statue in the picnic area, and I wasn't alone. You may recognize a few of the names: Frank Robinson, Cal Ripken, Eddie Murray, Jim Palmer, Paul Blair, Al Bumbry, Don Buford, Scott McGregor, Rick...

The Orioles hit another home run with their statue ceremony today for Hall of Fame manager Earl Weaver. It was so well done and seeing Earl on stage, and players like Cal Ripken, Frank Robinson, Eddie Murray and Jim Palmer sitting in the front row, would make any O's fan feel a sense of pride. "Just looking at that first row there, how could I lose," Weaver said at the beginning of his speech. "It's been 26 years since I last put on a Baltimore uniform. During that time I've made many...

Now it's Ryan Flaherty's turn to start at third base. He's handling the hot corner for today's game against the Indians after starting in right field last night. Wilson Betemit stays at first base. Matt Wieters is batting seventh again after homering in that spot last night. For the Orioles: Brian Roberts 2B Xavier Avery LF J.J. Hardy SS Adam Jones CF Wilson Betemit 1B Chris Davis RF Matt Wieters C Mark Reynolds DH Ryan Flaherty 3B Dana Eveland LHP For the Indians: Shin-Soo Choo...

The Nationals look to improve to 6-1 on the season against the Braves, and 5-0 at Turner Field, as they send Stephen Strasburg to the mound today. Here's manager Davey Johnson's lineup for today: 2B Danny Espinosa CF Bryce Harper 3B Ryan Zimmerman RF Michael Morse 1B Adam LaRoche SS Ian Desmond LF Tyler Moore C Jesus Flores P Stephen Strasburg For the Braves: CF Michael Bourn LF Martin Prado RF Jason Heyward 1B Freddie Freeman 2B Dan Uggla C Brian McCann SS Andrelton Simmons 3B...

Xavier Avery's phone has been busy since late last night. He's been hearing from a lot of family and friends after hitting his first major league homer in the eighth inning Friday against Cleveland. "I got a lot of calls and texts. People have been tweeting me. I got a lot of calls from my family telling me congratulations," he said. Avery drove the ball to the opposite field for his first major league homer. "I'm not totally surprised because in BP, I try to work on going the other...

This is starting to look like the Michael Morse we saw last season. It took a few weeks to find him, but that's to be expected. Given how long Morse was out with that strained lat and given how little time he had on a rehab appearance before returning to the Nationals' lineup, it was bound to take a bit for him to find his timing and his stroke. The first 21 games were frustrating for the Nationals' slugger. He was hitting just .217, slugging .313 and had more strikeouts than...

The Orioles needed a starter today - well, they need one for every game, but a fifth starter wasn't required until today - and manager Buck Showalter chose Dana Eveland over Tommy Hunter or a minor league call up. What should we read into it? Well, the Indians are much weaker against left-handers, so Showalter lined up three of them in this four-game series. And he wanted a right-hander to back them in long relief in case of an early exit, and Hunter is capable of doing it. He's been...

Left-hander Dana Eveland will make his 12th Orioles appearance and second start today when he takes the mound this afternoon against Cleveland. Eveland has been pitching well, allowing just one earned run on five hits over his past four games, covering 8 2/3 innings. He has walked just one and fanned five in that time, lowering his ERA to 3.00 on the year. Is he excited to get the start today? "Yeah, I guess," Eveland said. "I love being here and love being a part of this team on either...

One of the lingering images for manager Buck Showalter from last night's 9-8 victory over the Indians involved rookie outfielder Xavier Avery. Not the home run swing. Not the trip around the bases. Not the catch to end the game. Just the smile. Xavier Avery actually smiled. "This is the about the first unabashed smile we've gotten out of him out in the public eye," Showalter said. Avery laughed when Showalter's comment was relayed to him. "He's probably right," Avery said. "I'm...