The Orioles today announced that they have claimed right-handed pitcher Pedro Strop on waivers from the Texas Rangers. Strop is expected to join the team during their series in Tampa Bay this weekend. Strop, 26, is 0-1 with a 3.72 ERA (9.2IP, 4 ER) in 11 games for the Texas Rangers this season. He pitched to a 3.59 ERA (47.2IP, 19 ER) in 39 games with Triple-A Round Rock in 2011. Strop is 19-15 with a 3.79 ERA (242.0IP, 102 ER) in 202 career minor league games with the Colorado Rockies and...

The Orioles today announced that they have selected the contracts of right-handed pitcher Rick VandenHurk and outfielder Kyle Hudson from Triple-A Norfolk. VandenHurk was 9-13 with a 4.43 ERA (154.1IP, 76 ER) in 26 starts for Norfolk this season. In 42 career major league games (33 starts) VandenHurk is 8-10 with a 5.86 ERA (172.0IP, 112 ER) with Florida and Baltimore. In 2010 he appeared in seven games for the Orioles going 0-1 with a 4.96 ERA (16.1IP, 9 ER). Hudson played for the Single-A...

The Orioles claimed minor league pitcher Pedro Strop off waivers from the Texas Rangers to complete yesterday's trade of left-hander Michael Gonzalez. Strop will join the team this weekend for its series against the Tampa Bay Rays at Tropicana Field. The ballpark is in St. Petersburg and the team hotel is in St. Petersburg, but the Orioles fly in and out of Tampa. I'm going with The Trop in my headline. Strop is regarded as the player to be named later in the trade, but here's what...

In an eight-game stretch through Tuesday night's game, Orioles starting pitchers had worked to an ERA of 3.09 with six quality starts. But Jo-Jo Reyes gave up eight runs over 2 2/3 last night and Tommy Hunter has allowed four today in the first four innings. Hunter has not been very impressive so far as an Oriole. Coming into today his ERA was 5.87 with just one quality start among his five. This is the fourth time he has allowed four earned runs or more. A win today by the Orioles would...

The Orioles grabbed a 1-0 lead against the Blue Jays in the bottom of the second inning on consecutive one-out doubles by Vladimir Guerrero and Matt Wieters. It lasted three batters. Orioles starter Tommy Hunter walked No. 9 hitter Mike McCoy, who eventually scored after Yunel Escobar's double and Eric Thames' ground ball. Not satisfied with a tie, the Blue Jays pushed across the go-ahead run on Jose Bautista's single. Remember how Toronto rookie Henderson Alvarez recorded 22 of his 24...

Let's get the important stuff out of the way first. Rick VandenHurk is wearing No. 54. Kyle Hudson is wearing No. 51. VandenHurk was 9-13 with a 4.43 ERA in 26 starts with Triple-A Norfolk. He's 8-10 with a 5.86 ERA in 42 major league games, including 33 starts, with the Marlins and Orioles. VandenHurk was outrighted during spring training because he was still challenged to throw strikes. The Orioles officially purchased his contract today after he walked 40 and struck out 108 in 154 1/3...

It's not often you hear a player with major league experience say going back to Triple-A was a good move for them, but pitcher

For the Orioles: Robert Andino 3B J.J. Hardy SS Nick Markakis RF Adam Jones CF Vladimir Guerrero DH Matt Wieters C Mark Reynolds 1B Nolan Reimold LF Ryan Adams 2B

Kyle Hudson was open at his locker, but the Orioles couldn't get him the ball.A few players were tossing around a football in the clubhouse this morning, which brought a smile to Hudson's face. He spent three seasons as a receiver on the University of Illinois football team. Jason Berken was a quarterback on his high school team, and a pretty good

It's going to be a long wait. I'm told that the manager's office is empty, though I haven't gone downstairs. That's because I just got here after leaving my Sykesville house at 8:25 a.m. I'm counting five people in the press box. The first guy arrived about 15 minutes ago - 45 minutes after the clubhouse opened to the media. Players will have major problems getting to Camden Yards. It's total gridlock downtown and in the surrounding areas. Has a game ever been postponed because of...