The Single-A Potomac Nationals have not only advanced to the postseason again, but now have their sights set on the Northern Division crown after a 5-1 victory at Lynchburg. Paul Demny was at the top of his game over seven innings, allowing just five hits, no runs, one walk and six strikeouts for his 10th win of season. Zach Walters had three hits and scored two runs to lead Potomac's offense. With the win and Frederick's loss in Kinston, the P-Nats move within a half-game of the Keys for...

Does anyone really have an answer to that question? Everyone has a theory, but can anyone really say that any one of them will make the Orioles a competitive team in 2012? Yu Darvish is the latest Japanese superstar rumored to be on his way to America. The half-Iranian, half-Japanese Darvish will likely command a ridiculous posting fee to even begin negotiations. I don't see the Orioles doing that, so put it out of your minds. The Orioles are more likely to be involved with a free agent like...

I appreciated the many responses I got on Twitter yesterday when I tweeted my confusion over the Orioles' acquisition of right-handed pitcher Pedro Strop. It was announced that he was claimed on waivers but also some reports said he was claimed as the player to be named later in the deal that sent Mike Gonzalez to Texas. I was confused about that. If he was the player to be named later, why did the O's have to then also claim him on waivers, I wondered. As an aside here, yes it is a slow...

Three Potomac Nationals' batters have been honored as postseason Carolina League All-Stars. Outfielder Destin Hood, infielder Jeff Kobernus and catcher Sandy Leon were named Thursday, making Single-A Potomac the only team in the league with three players on the elite squad. The Mobile, Ala., native Hood leads the League in RBIs with 82 and is batting .279. He has stolen 20 bases and totaled 126 hits with 13 home runs. Kobernus, hailing from San Leandro, Calif., is hitting .274 with seven...

The starter for Saturday's game against the Rays at Tropicana Field is listed as TBA, but Alfredo Simon will get the call. He's wedged between Zach Britton tomorrow and Jeremy Guthrie Sunday. So what happens to Brian Matusz? The Orioles aren't going with a six-man rotation, so Matusz is being skipped. Matusz is 1-7 with a 9.07 ERA. Simon has two straight quality starts. No word on when Matusz will rejoin the rotation. Keep in mind that Jim Johnson could get some starts this...

Orioles reliever Willie Eyre gave up the two-run homer to Brett Lawrie that broke a 6-6 tie in the eighth inning today and lifted Toronto to an 8-6 win over the Orioles. Eyre said it was a pitch that hit its intended spot, but still went out of the ballpark. Willie Eyre talks about giving up the home run to Brett Lawrie in the eighth inning in the O's 8-6 loss "I went back and looked at it (on video). We were going inside and he just got to it. I got him in there a couple of nights ago,"...

In losing last night, two Orioles hitting streaks ended, a 13-gamer by J.J. Hardy and a 10-game streak by Mark Reynolds. In losing today, Nick Markakis went hitless for the third game in a row in this series and his 182-series hitting streak ended as he went 0-for-3 with two walks today and 0-for-8 with four walks in this series. Nick Markakis discusses his 182-series hitting streak coming to an end in the O's 8-6 loss "All good things come to an end. In this game it is very hard to be...

Orioles pitcher Tommy Hunter was taken to a nearby hospital after informing the club that he was feeling ill, and he won't make the trip to Tampa Bay. Hunter told manager Buck Showalter and head athletic trainer Richie Bancells that he became ill in the third inning. He lasted through the sixth, but was vomiting after leaving the game. Buck Showalter meets with the media after the Birds' 8-6 loss to Toronto Hunter may have become dehydrated. We'll know more later. Hunter allowed five...

After scoring five runs in the first game of this series but losing, the Toronto Blue Jays made sure they had enough runs to win the series final two games. After scoring 13 runs on 20 hits last night, this afternoon Toronto hammered its way to an 8-6 win over the Orioles. Brett Lawrie's two-run homer in the eighth off Willie Eyre broke a 6-6 tie. Yunel Escobar added four hits and two RBIs and is batting .397 this year against Orioles pitching. Starter Tommy Hunter struggled again, giving up...

The Washington Nationals today returned from rehab and reinstated left-handed pitcher Doug Slaten from the 15-day disabled list. Nationals Executive Vice President of Baseball Operations and General Manager Mike Rizzo made the announcement. Slaten missed the last 77 games after being placed on the DL on June 4 with left elbow ulnar neuritis. The 32-year-old is 0-1 with two holds and a 2.19 ERA in 23 games this season with Washington. In nine games (four starts) during his rehab assignment,...