Chris Tillman competed for the job as the Orioles' fifth starter. Then he became the No. 3 starter. Then he became the No. 2 starter. Tonight, he's being asked to serve as the stopper. The Orioles already have a pitching coach, so that job is out, but it's been an interesting progression for the young right-hander. The club is coming off its first deficit of the 2011 season, followed by its first loss. Perfection is out of reach - something I learned at a very early age. Tillman is...

The Orioles missed out on their chance for the second 5-0 start in team history with last night's 7-3 loss to Detroit. The Birds fall to 4-1 and are tied for first in the American League East with Toronto. Here are more stats from the game and season so far: Batting notes: The O's have scored just 20 runs in five games with a team batting average of .217. They have had six hits or less three times. Player hitting notes: Vlad Guerrero had his first two-hit game as an Oriole and his two...

Tonight's attendance: 12,451 Brad Bergesen hadn't pitched in a game since going two innings against a collection of minor leaguers on March 30. He hadn't faced major league hitters since March 25, and he threw only four pitches before Denard Span's line drive slammed off his right forearm. The layoff probably didn't do him any favors tonight. "I mean, it is tough, but (I'm) definitely not going to sit here and use it as an excuse," he said after allowing four runs (two earned) and...

Maybe the off-day came at a bad time after all. The Orioles won't win every game this season. The 1972 Miami Dolphins can pop the corks on those chilled champagne bottles. Here are some comments from manager Buck Showalter after a 7-3 loss to the Tigers: Buck Showalter meets with the media after the O's first loss of the season On Brad Bergesen: "He hadn't pitched in a game in a long time. We were hoping to get him through four to six in that pitch count. He got some counts in his...

Jeremy Guthrie played catch from 90 feet today and will do more throwing tomorrow at Camden Yards. Otherwise, he says there is "no set plan." Guthrie told me a few minutes ago in a brief phone call that he's doing much better "after feeling the worst I ever felt Saturday night." However, he isn't sure whether he'll make Sunday's start. Guthrie, who began having aches and pains Saturday night, which led doctors to diagnose him with a form of pneumonia, said he doesn't know whether a...

I guess it's still about the pitching. After a 4-0 start, some were wondering when Derrek Lee and Vlad Guerrero would drive in some runs. Tonight, they have combined for three RBI, but the Orioles trail Detroit 6-3 in the seventh. Lee hit his first O's homer, an impressive two-run shot over the right field scoreboard on the first pitch from Justin Verlander in the fourth. Through three, the Tigers' right hander was looking like he had no-hit stuff. He retired the first nine batters on just...

With the rosters at Single-A Hagerstown, Single-A Potomac and Double-A Harrisburg all announced as of this week, conspicuously not listed was the Nationals' 2010 second-round pick, pitcher Sammy Solis. But not to worry, there is nothing wrong with Solis, and he has pitched well in spring training. The Nats' left-handed pitching prospect says he expects to remain in Viera, Florida, for about two more weeks as he works in extended spring training. Solis suffered a quad injury while running...

If the Orioles plan on going undefeated this season, they'll need to tighten up the pitching and defense. At least the offense woke up. Justin Verlander retired the first 10 batters before Nick Markakis walked and Derrek Lee homered to right field. Lee's first homer and RBIs sliced the Tigers' lead to 4-2. Manager Buck Showalter said earlier today that "somebody's going to pay" because it looked like Lee's bat was coming around. I guess the Tigers were that somebody. Brad Bergesen...

I'm still not a huge fan of Twitter, though I know it's necessary in this day and age and it's slowly winning me over, but it's become a convenient tool for tracking Jeremy Guthrie's health. Guthrie just, yes, tweeted the following: "Just got cleared to play short distance catch today by team Dr...yeeaa! Will take things slowly this week and see how body reacts." My question is, how slowly? He's tentatively scheduled to pitch Sunday against the Rangers at Camden Yards, but he'll...

Orioles minor league pitcher Jesse Beal, who was slated to begin the year in the Frederick Keys rotation, will miss the start of the minor league season. Beal, who went 7-6, 3.86 last summer at Single-A Delmarva, has a right shoulder impingement. There is no definite timetable yet for when he will be back on the mound, but he is expected to miss at least the first few weeks of the season. Meanwhile, Parker Bridwell, the O's ninth-round pick in 2010, remains in extended spring training, but...