Earlier today, I posted an entry about the Orioles' starting pitching struggles. They have been significant and probably the biggest reason for the club's 6-21 record over the past 27 games. But the O's inconsistent offense has been just that recently as well. During that 27-game stretch, the O's are batting just .195 (43-for-221) with runners in scoring position. The Orioles have had just one game with 10 or more hits over the last seven contests and scored just 33 runs on the 10-game...

My biggest fear today is I'll plop down on my couch, grab the remote, turn on MASN for the Orioles-Indians game and realize it's being played at Camden Yards. Or I'll order a dirty martini, ask the bartender to turn on the Orioles-Indians game and ... see above. The Orioles haven't been home since June 30, and they turned their fans into road worriers with that 1-9 trip that dropped them 16 games below .500. So why do we still care about the 2011 season? Well, it doesn't end this...

Too bad a baseball season is not like a Saturday round of golf with your friends. Maybe the Orioles could take a mulligan on their first half, when they went 36-52. Over the last few weeks, each time I thought things could not get worse for the team, they did. That said, I am almost afraid to say that, in losing 12 of 13 to end the first half, that the O's hit rock bottom. It would be hard to imagine the starting pitching getting worse than it was in recent weeks. Here are some stats. *...

I was told last week that second baseman Brian Roberts would be re-examined by concussion specialist Dr. Michael Collins today in Pittsburgh, but his appointment is now set for tomorrow. Roberts' most recent appointment was June 21. He wasn't cleared to begin full baseball activities, but he's been swinging a bat, playing catch and tracking pop ups. Roberts hasn't played since May 16 in Boston. The headaches and dizzy spells aren't as frequent, but he won't be allowed to do full...

Nationals right-handed pitcher Chien-Ming Wang will now make his fourth rehab start on Thursday for the Double-A Harrisburg Senators, confirmed a team source. Wang was scheduled to pitch Wednesday night for the Single-A Potomac Nationals, but the game was postponed due to inclement weather in Woodbridge, Va. Wang has looked very good so far as he recovers from a right shoulder surgery in July 2009. Wang has gone 1-0 with a 1.50 ERA in 12 innings, allowing two earned runs, two walks and...

Brian's Baseball Bash - a fundraiser for the University of Maryland Children's Hospital hosted by Orioles second baseman Brian Roberts - has been rescheduled for Sunday, Aug. 28 at Dave & Buster's in Arundel Mills Mall. The event was originally scheduled for Sunday, July 24, but is being postponed because Roberts remains on the disabled list with concussion symptoms. All purchased admissions will be honored automatically for the new date. In the event that ticket holders cannot attend on...

Double-A Harrisburg Senators outfielder Bill Rhinehart, who smacked a double and scored a run in the Eastern League All-Star Game for the West, finished the first half of the season on a surge. The Western All-Stars beat the Eastern All-Stars 8-3 on Wednesday in Manchester, N.H. Rhinehart has gone 8-for-18 the last five games, including three straight multi-hit games. He has crushed six homers in the last 10 games, with a .394 average during that run. Overall, the former Arizona Wildcat has...

The Rangers put pitcher Scott Feldman on waivers for the purpose of outrighting him to Triple-A Round Rock. He'd have to clear, of course, before the Rangers could do it. The Orioles don't appear to have much interest in Feldman despite their need for another starter in an unproductive rotation. I wouldn't say their level is zero, but it's not much higher. Feldman is expected to clear later this afternoon and be outrighted. He's coming off microfracture knee surgery and is 3-1 with a...

Maybe I missed it last night. Did the FOX announcers bother to point out that Orioles catcher Matt Wieters didn't have a passed ball in the first half of the season? It seemed like a good time to mention it while he was being charged with one in his first All-Star Game. Watching Lance Berkman last night reminded me of the times over the winter that I included his name among the Orioles' targets at first base. He wasn't a popular choice among most of the fans here who saw the declining...

Matt Wieters finally got to bat in his first All-Star Game, grounding to second baseman Brandon Phillips on the first pitch thrown by Atlanta's Jonny Venters while leading off the top of the eighth inning. Wieters, batting from the right side, swung at a 97 mph fastball. No sense wasting any time. Wieters made the American League team largely on his defense, but he was charged with his first passed ball of 2011 in the bottom of the seventh after Seattle's Brandon League crossed him up. The...