CHICAGO - Tsuyoshi Wada threw 100 pitches in six innings in his last extended spring training start, and the Orioles were looking for the Japanese left-hander to do more of the same today. He didn't come close. Wada was charged with six runs and six hits in 2 2/3 innings for Triple-A Norfolk, with four walks and one strikeout. Wada threw 77 pitches, including 39 for strikes, and Gwinnett leads the Tides 6-0. Wada is on an injury rehab assignment, which can last 30 days for a pitcher. The...

CHICAGO - Nolan Reimold was supposed to start in left field today, but he's bothered by neck spasms. Reimold began experiencing the spasms yesterday. They subsided before the game, but returned this morning. Buck Showalter explains the exclusion of Nolan Reimold from the lineup to the media "He had it a little bit yesterday before the game but they got it out of there," manager Buck Showalter said. "It stiffened up on him late in the ballgame, and he got it treated after the game. He...

CHICAGO - Nolan Reimold takes a seat on the bench today, with Endy Chavez starting in left field. That's a bit of a surprise, since manager Buck Showalter indicated that Reimold would start the last three games of the series. Ronny Paulino will do the catching in a day game following a night game. For the Orioles: Endy Chavez LF J.J. Hardy SS Nick Markakis RF Adam Jones CF Nick Johnson DH Mark Reynolds 3B Chris Davis 1B Ronny Paulino C Robert Andino 2B Jason Hammel RHP

The Nationals are far and away off to their best start since arriving in D.C. in 2005. It's fun going to the ballpark with a reasonable expectation that the Nats' starting pitcher is going to keep the team in the game, if not downright dominate the competition. In fact, with the five starters all on a roll right now, you get the feeling that each game in an internal competition between the five of them to see who can outdo the previous performance. Obviously, that's a good thing...

At least Jordan Zimmermann isn't the only National League East pitcher to get ridiculously poor run support. How about Philadelphia's Cliff Lee, who threw 10 scoreless innings against the Giants last night (10!) only to get matched pitch for pitch by Matt Cain and then see Phillies reliever Antonio Bastardo give up the game-winning run one out into the 11th? That's brutal. And I could make any number of jokes here about Bastardo's name, but I'll steer clear of all that. During Ryan...

As most fans know, it has been an extremely tough road for Nolan Reimold during the past few seasons. Life is always full of ups and downs, but the true test of someone's character depends on how they persevere. So far, Reimold is passing that test - at least professionally. During the early weeks of the season, he has been one of the hottest hitters in baseball, batting .341 with four homers - all in key spots - with eight RBIs. As it is, you can say that Reimold has had a critical role in...

Even after their second loss on this road trip by seven runs, the Orioles woke up today for the series finale in Chicago still in first place. At 7-5, they lead the American League East by a half-game over Toronto. Tommy Hunter gave up eight runs and nine hits over 5 2/3 innings last night. Three runs scored after he left the game, but it was the poorest outing by an O's starter this year. Since allowing two unearned runs in his first start, Hunter has given up 13 runs (12 earned) on 15 hits...

CHICAGO - The Orioles wrap up their four-game series against the White Sox this afternoon, hoping to win it, but also knowing they can do no worse than a split. Nick Markakis will be back in right field after serving as the designated hitter last night. He's 7-for-20 with four doubles, a home run and seven RBIs lifetime against White Sox starter Gavin Floyd. We could find Endy Chavez in center field today, with Adam Jones serving as the DH. Chavez busted out of his 0-for-12 slump last night...

Jordan Zimmermann was asked after tonight's game whether all this winning has given the Nationals a new attitude in their clubhouse. "Yeah, it's Natitude," he responded, cracking a smile. Here we go with the Natitude stuff. The Nationals needed to make two separate comebacks in tonight's game. They trailed 1-0 entering the bottom of the seventh before Roger Bernadina's RBI double tied the game, and then were down 2-1 in the eighth only two score two small-ball runs on a Jayson Werth...

CHICAGO - Tommy Hunter never fails to amuse me. He's a fun guy. He keeps everyone loose, whether he's singing off-key or talking smack during ping pong or just firing one-liners at teammates and the media. He's also brutally honest with himself. Hunter didn't have his fastball command tonight, and he didn't go easy on himself or the English language following the Orioles' 8-1 loss to the White Sox. Make no mistake, he was upset with the result, but even his frustration can bring a few...