The Arizona Fall League has announced the 2011 roster for the Washington Nationals affiliated Scottsdale Scorpions. Outfielder Bryce Harper, pitcher Sammy Solis and catcher Derek Norris head the roster for the defending champions. It will be Harper's second season with the Scorpions, but his first as a full-time starter. Last year, he was on the taxi squad and was eligible to play only on Wednesdays and Saturdays. George Washington University pitcher Pat Lehman and Rafael Martin from the...

I have a few notes to pass along from manager Buck Showalter's pregame session with the media, beginning with news on left-hander Mark Hendrickson. The Orioles placed Hendrickson on optional waivers today, the same procedure that Troy Patton went through earlier this summer. As I explained back then, it takes two business days to clear and no team will claim him. It's sort of a gentleman's agreement. Happens all the time in baseball. Hendrickson came off the 40-man roster to make room for...

The Orioles aren't making any drastic changes to their lineup, or doing a whole lot of tweaking. For the Orioles: J.J. Hardy SS Nick Markakis RF Adam Jones CF Vladimir Guerrero DH Matt Wieters C Mark Reynolds 1B Robert Andino 3B Nolan Reimold LF Ryan Adams 2B Jeremy Guthrie RHP Reliever Jason Berken and his wife, Emily, are the proud parents of a baby girl, Hadley Lane, who was born at 12:04 p.m. Hadley weighs 5 pounds, 12 ounces. All are doing well.

While MASN prides itself on giving its loyal viewers the most comprehensive Orioles coverage possible, even our network is subject to Major League Baseball's rules governing game broadcasts. That's why the beginning of tonight's Orioles-Rays game from Tropicana Field in St. Petersburg, Fla., can't be shown. MLB rules reserve the period between 4-7 p.m. on Saturdays for the national broadcast on FOX. The Rays have exercised their option to begin tonight's game at 6:05 p.m. - which, as...

The Orioles announced today that they have reinstated left-hander Troy Patton from the restricted list. The club has also designated left-hander Mark Handrickson for assignment. Patton, 25, has pitched in 11 games for the Orioles, going 0-1 with a 3.86 ERA (16.1IP, 7ER). Hendrickson, 37, has appeared in eight games for the Orioles this season, going 1-0 with a 5.73 ERA (11.0IP, 7ER).

The Orioles reinstated left-hander Troy Patton from the restricted list, placing him back on the 25-man and 40-man rosters. Patton left the team over the weekend to attend a hearing yesterday in Houston related to his DWI arrest over the winter. To make room for Patton, the Orioles once again have designated left-hander Mark Hendrickson for assignment. Hendrickson appeared in one game after replacing Patton, allowing one run and two hits in one inning against the Yankees in Game 2 of...

The short-season Single-A Aberdeen IronBirds placed pitcher Matt Hobgood on the disabled list today. No official reason for the DL move has yet been announced, but it appears Hobgood's shoulder has become an issue again. Hobgood was on the comeback trail this year from a strained rotator cuff but had struggled with Aberdeen, going 0-6 with an ERA of 10.46. Over 26 2/3 innings, he gave up 41 hits with 23 walks and 13 strikeouts. The Double-A Bowie Baysox have picked a bad time to lose some...

Even with the Nationals in the midst of a six-game losing streak, I feel like this team is heading in the right direction overall. The Nationals organization is doing a very good job putting together the nucleus of a solid and soon to be a winning baseball team together in the nation's capital. I believe this team is on its way to become a team to reckon with in the National League East. I think during the next season or two we could find the Nationals contending for a playoff spot....

OK, before I tell you who I think the closer should be for next season, let me just preface it with a few things. Before you scream so much that spit and food crumbs end up splattered all over your computer screen, before you send me hate comments and before you send bombs to my family through your computer screen (I'm sure that piece of technology has already been created), hear me out. Read what I have to say and let me defend myself. Oh, and don't forget to breathe. Are you ready?...

Matt Wieters is playing a lot behind the plate again this year and carrying a heavy load at the demanding catcher position. But don't think Orioles manager Buck Showalter isn't keeping track of just how much Wieters is on the field. When asked about Wieters' solid offensive numbers in August as he continues to play a lot, Showalter had a question for reporters. "We were looking the other day. If you count from the first day of the season (to now), how many off days do you think he has...