Ben Badler is a reporter and writer for Baseball America. He covers the minor leagues but also focuses heavily on the international signings front and is among the best at covering that market. Last week I talked with him at length about the Orioles and their international efforts. Here is that interview. Ben, what is your take on the Orioles international efforts? "They seem to be very conservative in the international market, which is understandable given all of the issues involved in...

Nolan Reimold has cracked the lineup tonight against Red Sox right-hander John Lackey, but Blake Davis remains on the bench. For the Orioles: J.J.Hardy SS Nick Markakis RF Adam Jones CF Vladimir Guerrero DH Matt Wieters C Derrek Lee 1B Mark Reynolds 3B Nolan Reimold LF Robert Andino 2B Alfredo Simon RHP X-rays on Brad Bergesen's right arm came back clean. He feels good and should be able to avoid the disabled list. No word on any suspensions being handed out from last night's brawl....

Earlier today, Part One of an interview with Orioles president Andy MacPhail was published in this space. It is a two-part interview with MacPhail about the O's signing and scouting of international players since he took over in his current position. Tomorrow, I will feature here an interview with Baseball America's Ben Badler with his analysis of the O's efforts on this front. Now, Part Two of the MacPhail interview. Were the O's one of the finalists for Miguel Sano? "Yeah. What we...

One topic that Orioles fans often ask me about is the club's poor record in signing international players. We all know the team has a poor history, for instance, of producing home-grown Dominican talent and that the Orioles have not been among the teams offering big signing bonuses for international talent in recent years. It is believed that the Orioles spent somewhere around $1.2 million on international bonuses in 2010. The most they gave one player was the $300,000 to infielder Hector...

The Orioles didn't allow 10 or more runs in their first 37 road games this year before allowing 10 or more in four of the last five. They've surrendered 10 or more hits in 19 of their 42 road games and are 1-18. The Orioles have allowed 81 hits in the last six games, including at least 10 hits in six straight. They've been outscored 50-18 during the current five-game losing streak. According to Elias, Zach Britton is only the third Orioles starting pitcher to allow at least eight runs...

Did you really think a season would pass without Mark Hendrickson wearing an Orioles uniform? Hendrickson is heading to Boston and will have his contract purchased from Triple-A Norfolk. A corresponding move will be announced. The Orioles need a fresh reliever after Zach Britton lasted only two-thirds of an inning and Brad Bergesen took a David Ortiz line drive off his right forearm. Chris Jakubauskas has pitched the last two nights. Left-hander Pedro Viola warmed up and entered last...

So this is what it took for some Orioles fans to get behind Kevin Gregg? Based on calls to my radio show last night and some posts on here since the benches-clearing incident that started between David Ortiz and Gregg last night, most fans are thrilled with Gregg's actions on the field. Some are just as pleased with his post-game comments. When Gregg said "we are not scared of them and their $180 million payroll" you could almost hear more O's fans cheering for him than at any point this...

Two more games before the All-Star break. Two more games before sweet relief. I'll remind all of the pessimists that the Orioles can't go 0-10 on this road trip. They won a game. Stop being so negative. Speaking of sweet relief, the Orioles could use it after Zach Britton lasted two-thirds of an inning last night and Brad Bergesen tried to shake hands with David Ortiz's line drive. The Orioles have allowed 10 runs or more in four of their last five games. Now their starters can't get...

It certainly was not the situation Nationals reliever Ryan Mattheus expected so early in Friday's game against the Colorado Rockies. His teammate, Nationals starter John Lannan, had gone down after getting hit in the face on a single up the middle by the Rockies' Ty Wigginton. Lannan left the game immediately with assistance from trainer Lee Kuntz. But as a reliever, you are expected to go in the game at any point when your team needs you. Lannan was out after 3 and 1/3 innings, diagnosed...

David Ortiz and Orioles reliever Kevin Gregg exchanged punches in the bottom of the eighth inning. Finally, a little excitement. Ortiz started it. Gregg wasn't going to let him end it. Ortiz took exception to an inside pitch from Gregg earlier in the at-bat and started walking toward the mound. Ortiz pointed at Gregg as both dugouts and bullpens emptied. Gregg moved toward Ortiz and jawed at him with each step. Once order was restored, Ortiz flied to center field on the next pitch and...