Here is an impressive note about Nick Markakis, who reached the 1,000 career hit mark last night at Camden Yards with a third-inning single: Markakis got to 1,000 hits quicker than Hall of Fame Orioles Cal Ripken Jr. and Brooks Robinson and teammate Brian Roberts. Markakis: 1,000th hit in career game No. 875. Ripken: 1,000th hit in career game No. 894 at Yankee Stadium. Roberts: 1,000th hit in career game No. 895 at Wrigley Field. Robinson: 1,000th hit in career game No. 989 at Metropolitan...

Luke Scott took two rounds of batting practice today, but he didn't "turn anything loose." "I didn't think it would be a good idea," he said. "Just kind of build into it and be smart. Part of me wants to just go all out, but the gray hairs on my head tell me otherwise." Scott estimates that it's 50-50 whether he's ready to come off the disabled list on Tuesday. "It's a possibility," he said. Scott received a cortisone injection in his right shoulder yesterday and is scheduled...

So the question to J.J. Hardy today was a pretty obvious one to ask. How did he weigh agreeing to his new three-year contract with the Orioles against the possibility of being a free agent at the end of the year? If he were a free agent, he could hit the open market and seek to play for a better team or go to the highest bidder. "You know my agent and I, we pretty much went over every team that would be possibly looking for a shortstop this offseason," Hardy said today in the O's...

The warm, engaging smile Nate Snell flashes as he chats with fans and signs autographs is a decided departure from the manacing scowl he wore on his baseball cards. But times have changed for the 58-year-old Snell, and he no longer has to worry about intimidating opponents or making a positive impression to maintain his roster spot. Want to really get Snell smiling? Just ask the native of Orangeburg, S.C., about Baltimore, where he's made his home since 1985, his first full season with the...

After last night's game, Orioles pitcher Jake Arrieta seemed to second-guess himself on how he approached and pitched to some of the Cleveland hitters. "I think the main thing about tonight is guys were too comfortable in the box," Arrieta said. "I didn't do a good job of establishing the inner half to lefties well enough and they were diving over the plate, and even when I made quality pitches to the outside part of the plate, sinkers down and away, they still put pretty good swings on...

Shortstop J.J. Hardy is scheduled to take his physical tomorrow before signing his new three-year contract. The Orioles won't make an announcement until Hardy signs, but he met with the media at his locker earlier today and confirmed the deal, which The Sun reported will pay him between $22 and $22.5 million total through 2014 and will include a limited eight-team no-trade clause. "There's a lot of things that I don't have to worry about now," he said. "It's definitely a relief, a big...

Orioles DH Vladimir Guerrero is not in the starting lineup for the third day in a row. Guerrero told reporters before batting practice today that his right hand has not gotten better and he did not expect to test it with any swings today. Does he expect to go on the disabled list? "He doesn't know and hasn't been told. Yes, it is broken, but he doesn't know, no one has told him anything yet," Guerrero's interpreter, O's staffer Rudy Arias told reporters gathered around Guerrero's...

Vladimir Guerrero said the pain in his right hand is the same as yesterday. No improvement. He didn't try to swing a bat today after taking four cuts yesterday and giving up. The Orioles could put Guerrero on the disabled list later today, retroactive to Monday, but they aren't expected to add a player to their 25-man roster before tomorrow. They'll play again tonight with two healthy reserves on their bench. Luke Scott will report to Double-A Bowie tomorrow if his shoulder continues to...

Vladimir Guerrero remains on the active roster, but out of tonight's lineup. I'm told that Triple-A third baseman Josh Bell and outfielder Matt Angle are with the Tides in Gwinnett. For the Orioles: J.J. Hardy SS Nick Markakis RF Adam Jones CF Matt Wieters C Derrek Lee 1B Mark Reynolds 3B Felix Pie LF Nolan Reimold DH Blake Davis 2B Alfredo Smon RHP

Shortstop Manny Machado has been cleared to play tonight for Single-A Frederick after leaving last night's game with tightness in his hip flexor. However, it hasn't been determined whether he'll be in the starting lineup. Machado made a leaping throw in the hole last night and landed awkwardly. He left the field with the Keys' head athletic trainer, bringing more angst to an organization that lost him earlier this season to a dislocated knee cap while he played at low Single-A...