Orioles manager Buck Showalter is trying to use struggling left-hander Michael Gonzalez in less-pressurized situations, though it's not an easy proposition. Gonzalez has allowed runs in five of his six appearances, and home runs in back-to-back outings. Gonzalez isn't pitching as well as he'd like, of course, and "he's not pitching as well as I want him to, too," Showalter said. "He's still going to pitch. In the American League, you don't have somebody down there who doesn't pitch...

Checking in on a few Orioles and Yankees stats and notes as they begin a three-game series tonight at Camden Yards. * CC Sabathia is 14-2 with an ERA of 2.86 in 20 career starts versus the Orioles. He went 5-1, 3.56 ERA against Baltimore last year. He is 8-1 with an ERA of 2.97 in 10 career Camden Yards starts, with his only loss coming in the 2009 season opener. The Yankees are 16-4 in his 20 career starts against the Orioles. * The Birds' third and fourth hitters, Derrek Lee and Vladimir...

If Orioles fans want to get on new first baseman Derrek Lee for his lack of production right now, get in line. Behind Lee himself. Several times this year he has already said he takes responsibility for his lack of hits and RBIs. Batting just .209 in 18 games with one homer and two RBIs, Lee readily acknowledges he has to get his bat going. He has now gone 13 games without an RBI since he drove in two on April 6. "Obviously I'm not swinging the bat like I would expect to. So yeah, hopefully...

As I wrote in my last entry, shortstop Cesar Izturis is expected to start tomorrow night. He hasn't been in the lineup since April 17. Izturis is the type of individual who won't sulk while he's sitting. He's also available to counsel Robert Andino. "As advertised, as we thought," manager Buck Showalter said. "It was a good move for us. Izzy's like having a seventh coach. He gets it, he understands the game. He's going to do this for a long time when he quits playing. He's going to...

Left-hander Brian Matusz threw from 120 feet on flat ground today and didn't report any pain related to his left intercostal muscle. He'll throw again on Sunday, with a slightly more aggressive approach, and progress to two mound sessions at Camden Yards if he doesn't experience any setbacks. Matusz is slated to throw bullpen sessions on Tuesday and Thursday. He could return to the minor league complex in Sarasota after the homestand, which would enable him to throw in nicer weather. The...

The tarp's on the field and a light rain continues to fall, but at least the lineup is posted. For the Orioles: Brian Roberts 2B Nick Markakis RF Derrek Lee 1B Vladimir Guerrero DH Adam Jones CF Mark Reynolds 3B Matt Wieters C Jake Fox LF Robert Andino SS Brad Bergesen RHP

If Randolph Oduber can make it to the big leagues, he will truly be that diamond-in-the-rough that all scouts are looking for every time they sit down to watch a prospect. Hailing from the island of Aruba, Oduber was a 32nd-round selection by the Washington Nationals in the 2010 amateur draft. "It was a great draft," Nationals director of player development Doug Harris said. "Our scouts did a tremendous job. Oduber is a very athletic kid with a strong makeup." Oduber quickly signed...

When the Orioles opened the 2011 season, it was expected the offense would be greatly improved and, as a result, the team would score more runs. Even with the slow start at the plate, I still expect that will be the case. The everyday lineup has too many proven hitters with consistent track records. But the slow start does highlight the importance of how scoring five runs in a game drastically increases the O's chances to win games. Let's first look back to last season. The Orioles finished...

Hagerstown Suns right fielder Bryce Harper crushed his first home run of the season at Municipal Stadium Thursday. It is his second home run of the year after hitting one on a road trip at Lexington last week. Harper is batting .261 (12-for-46) in 14 games with two home runs and eight RBI. He is tied for the team lead in RBI with Blake Kelso. The home run was another of the line drive variety. The wind was moving left to right across the field and that aided the left-handed hitters...

During a meeting with reporters in New York this week, Commissioner Bud Selig said that baseball is considering expanded playoffs for 2012, meaning 10 teams, instead of eight, will be vying for the World Series. The format is undetermined, but the two wild card teams in each league will likely play a one-game playoff or a three-game series to advance. Can't baseball learn from the NHL or NBA, where the playoffs never end, that more is not better, especially trying to play a summer game in...