For those of you who know how yesterday's game went, it was an offensive shootout that unfortunately ended badly for the Orioles (yet again). It all started with Brian Matusz who lasted only 1 1/3 innings or, to put it better, four outs. In that short outing, he gave up five hits, five earned runs and two walks. So far this season, he is 1-7 with a 9.84 ERA. His longest outing of the season was 6 2/3 innings in which he gave up eight hits and six runs in the loss. In his 10 starts this...

There is some concern about the possibility that the Nationals might be rushing right-hander Stephen Strasburg back for tonight's game. The reasoning is that an entire season of rehab might be a better answer, so he is not subjected to the possibility of re-injury or new injury. After all, the Nationals are out of the race. There is no need to "chance" it. But it is also very difficult to tell to a pitcher with the makeup of Strasburg that he has to sit this one out. It is like that...

With Stephen Strasburg scheduled to make his 2011 debut with the Nationals this evening, I think it is important we remember Strasburg will be on a pitch count limit of 60 pitches. I think the Nationals will follow the same path the team took with Jordan Zimmermann's comeback last season. The Nationals kept Zimmermann on a pitch count between 70 to 86 pitches in his seven starts last season. As it looks now, Strasburg will make four starts before the season ends - if his arm is feeling well....

It was kind of a strange day, the final day of the regular season in the Double-A Eastern League. Bowie entered Monday a half-game behind Richmond for a playoff berth. Richmond took the lead in its game, 2-1 at Altoona with an eighth-inning homer that was followed by a rain delay. At that point, observers in the press box at Bowie figured if the game got stopped by rain there, it would revert to the previous inning and remain tied at 1-1. That would open the door for Bowie to win its game and...

If rain forces a postponement in one of the two remaining games at Yankee Stadium, I suggest an extreme split-doubleheader Thursday. Play one game in the Bronx and one at Camden Yards. The two teams have to go back to Baltimore for a makeup game, much to the chagrin of Yankees manager Joe Girardi and everyone else on the payroll. May as well play two. OK, that idea won't fly, but at least I'm thinking outside the box. Orioles manager Buck Showalter indicated yesterday during his postgame...

BOWIE, Md. - The Orioles confirmed after today's game that Chris Davis will come off the disabled list and rejoin the team tomorrow in New York. After playing two injury rehabilitation games at Double-A Bowie, Davis said his strained right shoulder is doing very well. "I feel great," Davis said after going 1-for-3 for the Baysox today and 2-for-3 Sunday. "I think today was the bigger test, playing third base. I had a bunt play where I had to throw across my body and use my arm without my...

I told you earlier that left-hander Clay Rapada would join the Orioles in New York. He won't be alone. A team official confirmed that the Orioles also will purchase reliever Jeremy Accardo's contract from Triple-A Norfolk, meaning they will have to clear two spots on the 40-man roster. Third baseman Josh Bell and Double-A Bowie infielder Pedro Florimon, both on the 40-man, will be recalled. As expected, first baseman Chris Davis will come off the disabled list after going 3-for-6 in two...

The Orioles will make another roster move by purchasing Clay Rapada's contract from Triple-A Norfolk. Rapada will join the Orioles in New York, with Norfolk's season ending today with an 8-5 win over Durham. Rapada was 0-1 with a 3.92 ERA in 26 games with the Tides. He posted a 7.30 ERA in 22 games with the Orioles before being designated for assignment, but left-handed batters were 4-for-35 with 13 strikeouts against him. Right-handers batted .692. Manager Buck Showalter and president of...

BOWIE, Md.- Even though the Double-A Baysox are winning here against Erie by a 2-1 score, the word has come in from Altoona that the game there has been called by rain and Richmond wins 2-1 in eight innings. The Richmond win sends the Flying Squirrels to the Eastern League playoffs and eliminates Bowie. Wes Hodges hit a homer for Richmond in the top of the eighth just a few moments before a rain delay halted play. Even though Atltoona did not bat in the last of the eighth, Richmond is declared...

BOWIE, Md. - Facing a must-win situation today to have a chance to get in the playoffs, the Double-A Bowie Baysox took a 2-0 lead in the last of the first this afternoon versus Erie. After right-hander Tim Bascom retired Erie with a 1-2-3 top of the first, Bowie came up with two runs on two hits in the home half. Xavier Avery led off with a walk against lefty Jay Voss and went to third on a Pedro Florimon double. Chris Davis, in the second day of his injury rehab stint with the Baysox, was...