Those who are getting after Bryce Harper and calling his bat accident last night immature need to relax, in my opinion. Yeah, Harper's 19 and still has some growing up to do. But this was a legitimate bit of misfortune and shouldn't be overanalyzed. You see players spike their batting helmets and toss bats to the ground after striking out all the time. I bet there have been countless times this season when a Nationals player has gone into the tunnel and thrown something after a poor...

After he had hit .259 with 156 strikeouts last year with Double-A Bowie, there was some talk that outfield prospect Xavier Avery would have to go back to Double-A for the 2012 season. But the Orioles instead sent him to Triple-A Norfolk, where he has been hitting well, and tonight, after just 33 games with the Tides, Avery is getting on a plane in Indianapolis and will fly to Baltimore. He is expected to be activated by the Orioles in time for Sunday's game. The reports of Avery joining the...

The Orioles have designated pitcher Brad Bergesen for assignment to make room for Bill Hall on the 40-man roster. Bergesen is 1-2 with a 5.13 ERA in eight games, including six starts, at Triple-A Norfolk. He's allowed 45 hits, walked 13 and struck out 17 in 33 1/3 innings. Bergesen tossed five scoreless innings in Thursday's start after rejoining the Tides' rotation. Bergesen, who lost his arbitration hearing this winter and is making $800,000 instead of the $1.2 million he sought, is...

Matt Lindstrom is waiting to hear the results of the MRI taken on his right middle finger. And he's crossing his fingers that the news will be good. Lindstrom injured the finger during Game 2 of Thursday's doubleheader against the Rangers, when he allowed his first two earned runs of the season. Lindstrom hadn't given up an earned run in his first 12 appearances spanning 13 innings, walking three batters and striking out 14. "I still don't know right now," he said. "I'm sure there...

The Orioles haven't announced how they'll make room for Bill Hall on the 40-man roster, but pitcher Brad Bergesen appears to be safe. Hall is wearing No. 35 tonight, which used to belong to Bergesen. However, the corresponding move apparently does not involve him. The Orioles could transfer second baseman Brian Roberts to the 60-day disabled list, but they really want to avoid it. Another 25-man roster move is forthcoming. The Orioles will add a position player, probably by tomorrow, and...

Keep those roster moves coming. Third baseman Mark Reynolds is headed to the disabled list with an oblique injury that he sustained while throwing yesterday in batting practice. The Orioles have purchased Bill Hall's contract from Triple-A Norfolk, and he'll take Reynolds' spot on the 25-man roster. However, the Orioles must clear room for Hall on the 40-man. Reynolds has never been on the disabled list before today. "I hurt my oblique yesterday, and it's not too bad, but it's one of...

A day after accidentally hitting himself in the face with a bat and opening a cut over his left eye, Bryce Harper is in the Nationals' starting lineup. Tough kid. Manager Davey Johnson had suggested that Harper might need a couple days off after the bizarre wall-meet-bat, bat-meet-face incident yesterday, but the 19-year-old will be back in right field tonight, hopefully sans blood dripping down his face. The Nationals will face Reds righty Mat Latos, who allowed two runs and five hits over...

Interesting lineup for the Orioles tonight. Bill Hall is starting in left field and Steve Tolleson is starting at third base. Mark Reynolds is out of the lineup again despite the Rays sending left-hander Matt Moore to the mound. Could Reynolds be headed to the disabled list? For the Orioles: Robert Andino 2B J.J. Hardy SS Nick Markakis RF Adam Jones CF Matt Wieters DH Wilson Betemit 1B Bill Hall LF Steve Tolleson 3B Luis Exposito C Brian Matusz LHP

The Orioles today announced that they have acquired minor league left-hander Mike Belfiore from the Arizona Diamondbacks and assigned him to Double-A Bowie to complete the trade that saw infielder Josh Bell go to Arizona. Belfiore, 23, was a first round sandwich selection (45th overall) in the 2009 First Year Player Draft. He pitched to a 2.37 ERA (19.0IP, 5ER), recording one save, striking out 28 and walking five for Class-A Visalia this season.

The Josh Bell trade has been completed. The Orioles announced today that they acquired minor league left-hander Mike Belfiore from the Arizona Diamondbacks as the player to be named later in the Bell trade. Belfiore has been assigned to Double-A Bowie. Belfiore, 23, was a sandwich pick, the 45th overall, in the 2009 First-Year Player Draft. He allowed five earned runs in 19 innings (2.37 ERA) for Single-A Visalia this season, with one save, five walks and 28 strikeouts. Update: Now that I'm...