It has been a big week for right-handed reliever Patrick Lehman. The George Washington University product went from being activated from the disabled list with the Single-A Potomac Nationals to a promotion to the Double-A Harrisburg Senators in a matter of two games. At Potomac, Lehman was an impressive 2-0 with a 1.72 ERA and a team-leading seven saves. He tallied 11 strikeouts in 13 games with just three earned runs. Lehman was cruising along early for the P-Nats, acclimating himself to...

Tyler Clippard is a wanted man. Nearly any time you hear about a playoff-bound team speaking with the Nationals about a potential trade, the availability of Clippard is almost always one of the first questions asked. And why wouldn't they? Over the past three years, and especially this season, he has been a lights-out reliever who gets it done in high-pressure situations and has a propensity for the all-important strikeout. This season, Clippard has a league-leading 16 holds with a 1.86...

I realize that the Orioles were off Thursday, but today's open date is a blessing and comes at a most opportune time. They'll need at least 48 hours to regroup. Yesterday's loss left a stench. The Orioles didn't pitch, they didn't field the ball and they didn't make smart choices on the basepaths. The only good news is it counts as one loss. I've tried to rid myself of the memory by diving into a base, but I'm not lucky enough to develop concussion symptoms. Derrek Lee will come...

Single-A Potomac Nationals outfielder Destin Hood has been named to the Carolina League All-Star team that will face the California League All-Stars on June 21 in Modesto, Calif. He is the only P-Nats player this season to garner such an honor. Hood has had a very consistent season at the plate, batting .276, including 13 hits in his last 10 games. Five times in that span, the Mobile, Ala., native, has had multi-hit games. Potomac Nationals hitting coach Mark Harris said, "For Hood to be...

Let's check in with a few Orioles stats and notes after a disappointing end to the weekend. It began with the Orioles blanking Tampa Bay 7-0 Friday, but they lost a late lead and the game Saturday night and fell behind early in losing Sunday. * Vlad Guerrero had back-to-back games on May 15 and 16 with two doubles each. But in the 22 games since then, Guerrero has just three total extra-base hits. His homer yesterday was his sixth of the year and first since May 22 versus Washington....

As any of you who have read my posts over at Dempsey's Army know, I love to beat a dead horse. So today I will, once again, examine the addition of Vladimir Guerrero to the Orioles lineup - and the stunning lack of power Guerrero has added to the batting order. When Guerrero was signed this offseason, he was hailed and the final piece of the puzzle to make the Baltimore offense go. He was a proven cleanup hitter who would bring a presence to the heart of the lineup, provide the team with an...

The Orioles announced after today's game that they have optioned INF Brandon Snyder to Triple-A Norfolk. Snyder was 3-for-13 (.231) in six games over two stints with the Orioles this season.

The Orioles don't ever want to lose any player to injury, but now that Mark Reynolds is hitting homers, they'd really like to keep his bat in the lineup. Reynolds is confident he can play Tuesday after leaving today's game in the eighth with a left forearm contusion. He took a shot off the bat of Sean Rodriguez off that arm in the fifth inning and had it taped after the game. Reynolds said X-rays on his arm were negative. "I think the day (off tomorrow) will do some good," he said....

Adam Jones talked about the inside-the-park home run that provided a convenient snapshot of today's 9-6 loss to the Rays. "I missed the ball," he said. "I had a shot at it. I just missed the ball." Did the ball hit his glove? "I haven't seen the replay of it," he said. "I just know you've seen me catch it many times. It's cool when everybody out there starts ripping you when you usually catch everything. But it's all good." Sounds like the fans were a little harsh in center...

X-rays on Mark Reynolds' left forearm were negative. Manager Buck Showalter didn't hide his disappointment with the Orioles' level of play today, citing the mistakes and the extra outs given to Tampa Bay that contributed to a 9-6 loss. And though Showalter chose his words carefully, it's obvious that he's frustrated with Brian Matusz's inability to hold runners. What's his level of concern with Matusz, who allowed four runs and five hits in 1 1/3 innings in his third start since coming...