We keep hearing talk that Jim Johnson could get some starting pitching assignments before this season ends, but we haven't seen that yet. Johnson clearly seems capable of handling that role. He has three very good pitches with his sinking fastball, curve and changeup. He may have the best changeup on the team. And Johnson's power sinker has produced a ratio of 2.15 groundouts to air outs that is the best on the team among those that have pitched 20 innings or more. Johnson has had a very...

Before I mention the Bowie Baysox's key win today, I should point out that in the last day or two, whatever I write about, the opposite seems to happen. On Saturday morning, I pointed out the Orioles pitching staff had an ERA of 1.60 leading the O's to a 6-1 record this year at Tropicana Field. Then they went out and gave up 14 runs in losing the last two days there. This morning, I pointed out Adam Jones was in a 3-for-36 slump over his last 11 games and he went out and went 2-for-3 with a...

Adam Jones has been slumping, but he was the right guy to give the Orioles their first hit of the afternoon. He also tossed them a run. Jones hit his 23rd home run to reduce Tampa Bay's lead to 7-1 in the fifth inning. He has 80 RBIs this season. Jones drilled a changeup from Rays starter Jeremy Hellickson, giving him two hits in his last 20 at-bats, and four in his last 38. Jones didn't have a home run during that stretch. One more note in the Reid Brignac three-run double: Brignac was...

All six runs off Alfredo Simon last night came with two outs. Jeremy Guthrie got two outs in the bottom of the second inning today and served up a two-run homer to Sean Rodriguez, giving Tampa Bay an early 2-0 lead. Seriously, why does this keep happening? Guthrie hung a curveball and Rodriguez, the Rays' No. 9 hitter today, delivered his seventh homer of the season. Guthrie escaped a first-inning jam by retiring Matt Joyce on a fly ball and striking out Jose Lobaton on a 94-mph cutter....

Quick news and notes from Nationals Park.... Nationals first baseman Chris Marrero said he is hoping to play in the Dominican league for winter ball. Last year, he played in Puerto Rico. He said it has always been important for him to face top flight challenges in off season to maintain his consistency at the plate and in the field. Marrero says he thinks Syracuse catcher and former teammate Jhonatan Solano is likely to join him in the Dominican, and there is potential for other teammates to...

Manager Buck Showalter has made major changes to the lineup today, moving Nick Markakis to first base for only the second time, putting Matt Angle in right and giving Kyle Hudson his first major league start in left field. For the Orioles: Matt Angle RF J.J. Hardy SS Nick Markakis 1B Adam Jones CF Vladimir Guerrero DH Mark Reynolds 3B Robert Andino 2B Kyle Hudson LF Craig Tatum C Jeremy Guthrie RHP For the Rays: Jennings CF Damon DH Longoria 3B Joyce RF Lobaton C Kotchman 1B Guyer...

Nationals lineup versus Mets for Sunday: Ian Desmond SS Roger Bernadina LF Ryan Zimmerman 3B Jayson Werth CF Rick Ankiel RF Danny Espinosa 2B Chris Marrero 1B Wilson Ramos C Livan Hernandez P

The season series between the Orioles and Rays is tied, 7-7. The Orioles are 1-5 in Baltimore, but 6-2 at Tropicana Field. The all-time series is tied, 118-118. A win today would give the Orioles consecutive road series wins for the first time since they took two of three from the Rays on Sept, 27-29, 2010 and swept the Rays in the opening series of 2011 (April 1-3). Kevin Gregg notched his 20th save Friday night and became the 16th Oriole pitcher ever to record 20 or more saves in a season -...

That great second half Adam Jones was having has been slightly derailed in recent games. Jones picked up a hit in last night's game against Tampa, but is just 1-for-18 over his last five games and is batting .083 (3-for-36) over his last 11 games without a homer and just two RBIs. This has all dropped Jones' batting average from .299 to .284. Maybe Jones could use a day or two of rest. Perhaps he is still hampered by the chest muscle injury that sent him to the hospital in Minnesota. He has...

Looking out at the field Saturday night you got to witness the future of the Nationals. You also got to witness the first fruit of a Nationals' system rebuilt by the likes of general manager Mike Rizzo and staff over the past few seasons. There was a lot of home grown talent on the field for first pitch against the New York Mets. Left-hander Tommy Milone was making his major league debut. He was on the mound. Shortstop Ian Desmond and second baseman Danny Espinosa were a tandem built from...