Triple-A Norfolk pitcher Rick VandenHurk has been named the International League's Pitcher of the Week for the period from Aug. 15-21. VandenHurk tied for the league lead with two wins and 18 strikeouts, and he posted the lowest ERA (0.75) among all pitchers with multiple starts. VandenHurk fanned 13 batters in Game 1 of last Monday's doubleheader against Charlotte. He allowed four hits in six scoreless innings in a 1-0 victory. Facing first-place Durham on Saturday, VandenHurk allowed...

The Orioles announced after today's game that they have optioned third baseman Josh Bell to Triple-A Norfolk. Bell has batted .174 (8-46) in 17 games for the Orioles this season. A corresponding roster move will be announced at a later time.

The Washington Nationals start play today with a record of 61-64. They eclisped a milestone of sorts last week without anyone recognizing it, which I guess should be taken as a good thing. Two seasons ago, in 2009, the Nationals won just 59 games. In years past, the mere fact that the Nats moved past a previous year's win total with so many games left to play would have been cause for celebration. Last season, they picked up 10 wins for a total of 69 victories. Barring an historical collapse,...

Brian Roberts and Jerry Hairston Jr. were once part of the same sentence in Baltimore, two much-talked-about second basemen living less than a mile apart during the offseason and competing for the same roster spot when it came time to play ball. They were the Pepsi Challenge of Orioles baseball - Roberts or Hairston? You decide. Considering the similarities between the players, a fan's choice at second base largely became a matter of taste. Here's how a Washington Post writer described the...

They clogged subway cars and traffic routes to Nationals Park. They wore red T-shirts sporting the names of Utley, Howard and Halladay. They erupted in cheers when Jayson Werth struck out, and they chanted, "Ruuu,'' when Phillies catcher Carlos Ruiz came to bat. And, when the Phillies' Raul Ibanez scored the go-ahead run in the ninth inning, the crowd noise was so loud, it was more like Citizens Bank Park in Philadelphia. Thanks to thousands of Phillies fans, the Nationals' Sunday...

This just in: Orioles games have become difficult to watch and some fans are tuning out early. How can that not be true of a team that is 17-46 over its last 63 games and played what sure looked like very uninspired baseball over the weekend? Today, I am going to take a shot at some reasons to continue to watch the Orioles and retain interest in the games. It is not the easiest exercise, but there are some things still worth watching and tracking. Here is my list: * Can Adam Jones finish...

Stephen Strasburg is scheduled to pitch four innings and a maximum of 65 pitches tonight for Single-A Hagerstown Suns in his fourth rehab start. Strasburg pitched at Hagerstown's Municipal Stadium on Wednesday and gave up five runs on 49 pitches in 1 2/3 innings. He said he liked his velocity but knew his breaking stuff wasn't hitting the spots he intended. Strasburg said he understood the decision to keep his work down after a rough first inning. "I didn't want them to pull me out (in...

Probably the best thing that could be said about today's Orioles game is that it's over. In a game that featured a season-high four errors, shaky starting pitching, mental mistakes and overall lackluster play,the Los Angeles Angels beat the Orioles 7-1 to complete a three-game sweep. The Orioles have now allowed 38 runs during a five-game losing streak and fall to 47-77 on the year. They are 17-46 for a winning percentage of just .270 since June 10. Brian Matusz talks to Jim Hunter about...

If you're a fan of the Seattle Seahawks, this tweet yesterday from ESPN's John Clayton (@claytonESPN) should send chills down your spine: "Tavaris Jackson remains the Seahawks starting QB, but Charlie Whitehurst is closing the gap" See you in the Super Bowl. In the darkest of seasons, fans usually can find a sliver of light. I'm just not sure what the Orioles have done this season to brighten your days. They're on pace for more than 100 losses, but at least ... I've got nothing. A...

Brian Matusz should have stayed in the team hotel or boarded the charter for Minnesota around noon. Making his second start since being recalled from Triple-A Norfolk, Matusz needed 50 pitches to get through the first two innings because the defense kept him on the mound. The Orioles had three errors in three innings, none by new first baseman Matt Wieters, who was supposed to be the weak link in the field. Blake Davis misplayed two bouncers at third and catcher Craig Tatum fired the ball...