How many Orioles fans were outraged by the February trade that sent No. 1 starter Jeremy Guthrie to the Colorado Rockies for pitchers Jason Hammel and Matt Lindstrom? How many national publications ripped it to shreds - one of them calling it the worst deal of the offseason? It's too early to evaluate any trade made over the winter. We're 18 games into the 2012 season. But Hammel improved to 3-0 with a 1.73 ERA last night after tossing seven shutout innings, and Lindstrom struck out two in...

The Orioles are expected to move 27-year-old right-hander Stu Pomeranz to Triple-A Norfolk in time for the Tides' next game Friday. Norfolk is currently one player under the 25-man limit after Jason Berken joined the Orioles. Pomeranz, who can throw his fastball into the mid-90s, was off to a great start with Double-A Bowie. Over his first 13 1/3 innings, he allowed seven hits, two runs (none earned) with a 20-to-1 strikeout-to-walks ratio. He has pitched three innings in each of his last...

Late last night - or earlier today, if you're one of those who works the morning shift - ex-Oriole Eric Byrnes offered an interesting opinion while recapping the highlights of Wednesday's games on MLB Network's "Quick Pitch." "The cartoon bird," Byrnes said, referring to the logo that adorns the O's new retro-style caps, "I think he needs a name." Byrnes was an Oriole for only 52 games in 2005, a season which also saw him patrol the outfield for the A's and Rockies, who swapped him...

Heading into the 2012 season, Matt Wieters has emerged as a leader for the Orioles. Many have argued whether or not he is a bust - despite only having played in the major leagues for less than three full seasons. That being said, he is far from that. So Wieters has not turned into the next Johnny Bench or a Joe Mauer with power. The promise of the night when he debuted is still there, but it has taken a while to come to the surface. Various television shows, Web sites, sports talk radio...

When Adam LaRoche crossed the plate with the Nationals' seventh run yesterday, those in the visiting dugout at Petco Park must not have known how to react. First of all, their seven runs scored matched their season high. Compared to the Nats' previous five wins (in which they scored a combined 12 runs), yesterday seemed like an absolute offensive explosion. Secondly, they'd actually gotten starter Jordan Zimmermann some run support. Accustomed to pitching in games in which his offense...

The Nationals, now 14-4, own the best record in the National League, just a half-game behind the Texas Rangers for the best record in all of baseball. Heady stuff. Of course, a .778 winning percentage is impossible to keep up, but the Nats have taken strong advantage of a weak early schedule to race out to a good start. The pitching has, of course, been the big story. Dominant starters, shutdown relievers, two closers (for now). But the team - and the fans - got a shock this week with Ryan...

So the Orioles are off to an 11-7 start and they have won six of their last nine games. They have been impressive in pulling out some close ones, going 8-2 in games decided by two runs or less. If the Orioles can go 2-2 in the final four games of this homestand they will enter play Monday with a record of 13-9. That would give them a cushion of being four games over .500 going into a brutally tough stretch. Starting Monday, they play three games in New York, followed by three at Boston, then...

Here's what we know about Jason Berken: The Orioles called him up from Triple-A Norfolk yesterday to take second baseman Robert Andino's spot on the 25-man roster. Andino will miss at least two games after going on paternity leave. Here's what we don't know about Jason Berken: How long he's going to stay with the Orioles. Berken has no idea. He's just been told to be ready if he's needed. He'll be the long man if left-hander Brian Matusz makes an early exit tonight. Manager Buck...

Each start from Orioles right-hander Jason Hammel brings the same questions about the differences between then and now, what's made him better, what he's doing differently, how much confidence he's gained. He's going to have to start mixing his answers like he does his pitches. "I continue to work hard, pay attention to the league," he said after tonight's 3-0 victory over Toronto. "I'm still learning a new league and see what everybody else is doing. Apply my game where it applies....

The Orioles have claimed consecutive series wins over the Blue Jays for the first time since May 25-27 and July 10-12, 2009. Jason Hammel is 4-0 in seven career starts against the Jays, and his teams have won all seven games. The Orioles have won all four games that Hammel has started this season. He blanked the Jays on four hits over seven innings tonight, with one walk and seven strikeouts. "Hammel was good," manager Buck Showalter said. "The two-seamer and the four-seamer. He's got a...