HAGERSTOWN, Md. -- Nationals right-hander Stephen Strasburg said last week in Potomac that there would be times where he would get knocked around, that it was all a part of the rehab process. Wednesday night in Hagerstown, in his third rehab start, Strasburg got knocked around, allowing five runs, all earned, with two walks, three strikeouts, one wild pitch in 1 2/3 innings. He threw 49 pitches, 29 for strikes, and was relieved in the second inning after recording the second out. The...

Everywhere I turn, it seems the Orioles are setting some new standard for futility. Today, it is on the offensive side and a spot in the order that a couple of offseason signings were supposed to upgrade: cleanup hitter. Designated hitter Vladimir Guerrero was signed because he was a proven cleanup hitter, a run producer with a long track record. Guerrero, along with first baseman Derrek Lee, were to provide lineup protection, protection that was (at least according to many fans) to allow...

It's one to thing to lose a game, but yet another to look bad and greatly contribute to your own demise. The Orioles did that today at Oakland. Buck Showalter talks to Jim Hunter about the Orioles' loss in Oakland A few things went wrong in their 6-5 loss at Oakland: * After taking a 2-0 lead in the top of the first, Alfredo Simon and his defense gave it right back as Oakland scored three in the last of the first. That rally included Nolan Reimold misplaying the ball on a line to drive...

In his last three starts, Alfredo Simon has gone 4 2/3, 5 2/3 and 5 1/3 innings. He's allowed four earned runs, four earned runs (six total) and five earned runs (six total). He's also served up four home runs in those three games. Simon will get another loss today unless the Orioles rally from a 6-4 deficit in the eighth inning. He didn't bring his best stuff, as evidenced by the two homers he surrendered to Kurt Suzuki, the eight hits, two walks, hit batter and pitch count that...

If the Orioles lose today and fail to win another series after taking the first game of the set, the fans' frustration level will just ratchet up again. It would make me want to be a caller, not the host, on my radio show tonight and vent a little. You can call in and do that tonight on Baltimore Baseball Tonight postgame from 10 p.m. to midnight on 105.7 FM the Fan in Baltimore. A couple of more quick notes from the minors: The Orioles squad in the Gulf Coast League is closing in on its...

The Orioles have a day off in Anaheim before beginning a three-game series tomorrow night against the Angels. Maybe a few players will head over to Disneyland, which would be an appropriate place for them, considering that (insert your own joke here). The rotation is an absolute mess again, which is reason No. 1 why this season swirled down the drain. Jeremy Guthrie's bothered by some stiffness in his right shoulder. The club doesn't think it's serious, which means he'll probably have...

Outfielder Trent Mummey of the Single-A Frederick Keys had an MRI on his injured hamstring that has kept him out since June 8 and he has not recovered well enough to return this year with just a few weeks left in the minor league season. The 22-year-old Mummey was the club's fourth-round draft pick last year out of Auburn and will wind up having played just 29 games this season. He hit .291 to start the year in 14 games with Single-A Delmarva with two homers and 12 RBIs. After moving to...

Vladimir Guerrero has collected three doubles in the past two games, the most recent coming today in the first inning. A run scored as Guerrero found another gap in the Athletics' outfield, increasing the Orioles' lead to 2-0 before starter Alfredo Simon had thrown a pitch. Before arriving in Oakland, Guerrero hadn't registered a double since Aug. 4 in Kansas City. He totaled only one since July 30. Guerrero is 9-for-21 with seven RBIs since Aug. 11. Could moving down one spot in the...

The Orioles are facing a right-handed pitcher today, Oakland's Brandon McCarthy, but they're leaning heavily to the right with today's lineup, which includes Robert Andino leading off and Nolan Reimold in left field. For the Orioles: Robert Andino 2B J.J. Hardy SS Nick Markakis RF Adam Jones CF Vladimir Guerrero DH Mark Reynolds 1B Nolan Reimold LF Josh Bell 3B Craig Tatum C Alfredo Simon RHP Felix Pie hasn't played since going 0-for-4 on Saturday. Guerrero is 5-for-15 with a...

I wanted to let you in on a few other quotes and notes about Nicky Delmonico from my interview with him yesterday. He is the Orioles' sixth-round pick from Farragut High in Knoxville, Tenn. that signed just before Monday's deadline, accepting a $1.525 signing bonus from the O's and giving up his scholarship to play college ball and join his brother at Georgia. Giving up that size of a bonus, clearly the Orioles deemed Delmonico as a first-round talent, and he got more money than did 10...