I kind of came to this conclusion long before yesterday, but being at Perdue Stadium on Tuesday afternoon and night reinforced the thought: The Delmarva Shorebirds are going to be an exciting young team to watch this year and that team may have a heckuva season in 2012. Led by a young pitching staff filled with good arms, some of the organization's top picks from the 2011 draft and a speedy outfield, I think there is a decent chance that Delmarva, which is 10-8 now, could really take off over...

One thing we know for certain: Fourteen years of poor performance has taken a toll on the fan base. It has thinned the ranks of casual fans, of course; that much is obvious. But I believe it has thinned the ranks of die-hards as well. Across the board, there just aren't as many Orioles fans as there used to be. The evidence is anecdotal but extant. That the O's are off to a decent start and the NFL draft still dominates sports talk radio says quite a bit. That online comment forums are often...

As it stands, the Nationals are 13-4 and the division rival Phillies are 8-10. It's early yet, but that doesn't mean it's not fun for fans to fantasize about winning baseball in Washington. This tiny taste of what it feels like to sit atop the standings for more than a day or two is special for long-time Nats fans. It's been less than a decade, but the die-hard Nats fan contingent have held out for what they expected would eventually occur. These are the fans who braved the conditions at...

How's it all look from up top, folks? Think you could get used to this view? After toiling toward the bottom of the league for the vast majority of their previous seven years of existence, the Nationals went to bed last night owners of the best record in the National League. Their 3-1 victory over the Padres yesterday coupled with the Dodgers' loss to the Braves made Washington's 13-4 mark tops in the NL and tied the franchise record for best 17-game start to a season. It's still...

If the Orioles shock the world and actually make the playoffs this season, I wonder whether they'll have to forfeit because they've run out of healthy bodies. It's getting ridiculous. Robert Andino's new baby might need to start taking batting practice next week. And grab a glove, kid. Tsuyoshi Wada has a damaged ligament in his elbow, quite possibly a tear, and he may not pitch this year. And yes, the joke has already been made that "Wada" is Japanese for "Duchscherer." You're too...

The Orioles have decided to recall pitcher Jason Berken from Triple-A Norfolk to replace second baseman Robert Andino on the 25-man roster. Andino has left the team to be with his wife, Renee, who will give birth to their third child at noon in Miami. He's expected to miss at least two games. Berken has allowed one earned run (two total) and 15 hits, with four walks and 10 strikeouts, in 15 innings at Norfolk. He's made three starts, as the Orioles attempt to stretch him out. He could be...

Nationals starters have now thrown 22 consecutive scoreless innings. Gio Gonzalez himself has tossed 20 straight scoreless frames. That's all well and good. Actually, it's more than that; it's pretty damn impressive. But at some point, the Nationals are going to have to score a run or two if they want to win this ballgame. The Nats and Padres are scoreless in the middle of the sixth, and Washington has managed just one hit off San Diego starter Clayton Richard. They have walked four...

The Orioles are 8-1 when their starter goes six innings or more. Tommy Hunter lasted six innings tonight and got the win. "We got a win" he said. "I'm happy about that. You move on and you go back to the bullpen and go to work." Hunter was fast to credit the bullpen, saying, "Those were solid, those were solid at the end of the game. Those guys came in and it was quick and it was effective and they got the job done. Tip your cap to those guys. They've been good all year and hopefully...

Most of the postgame focus tonight shifted to Japanese left-hander Tsuyoshi Wada, who has a damaged ligament in his elbow - it's fair to speculate that it's a tear - and could be facing surgery. We'll know more later. However, there were other topics for manager Buck Showalter to cover, including starter Tommy Hunter, who was a heck of a lot better tonight than he previous outing in Chicago. What was the difference? "Probably the curveball a little bit, somewhat. I little bit different...

SALISBURY, Md. - After another outing where he was dominant and once again didn't allow a single baserunner, Dylan Bundy said he is not looking down the road for a possible promotion within the Orioles farm system. He said for now, the Orioles have not said if or when he will move to a higher level. "Nope. I really don't even want to get into that," Bundy said. "It's whatever they decide and I'm happy with it. I'm happy here, getting all my innings in, getting used to pro ball and...