Good luck trying to memorize the 25-man roster. The Orioles keep changing it. Pitchers come and pitchers go - sometimes in one day. The right side of the infield is on the disabled list. The bullpen is on fire. It's become a daily game show at Camden Yards, and your next contestant hails from the Dominican Republic. Alfredo Simon is hoping not to return there for a while. Simon will be removed from the restricted list today and placed on the 25- and 40-man rosters. Infielder Cesar...

Sometimes when you get to talk to the Orioles players as much as we do, you find out there are some good guys in that clubhouse. Guys any fan would want to root for. Jason Berken is one of those guys. Right now he is having a tough time getting people out and it got worse for him in the loss to the Nats when he gave up six runs and two homers in one inning. Berken has allowed 14 earned runs over his last 8 2/3 innings. He was sent to the minor leagues after Friday's loss to...

Reliever Jason Berken, part of a bullpen that has allowed 22 earned runs in its last 22 1/3 innings over four games, met with the media tonight before the Orioles optioned him to Triple-A Norfolk. He spoke of having to "figure it out." He'll make that attempt against International League hitters. "It's just been up in the zone," he said. "It's been a problem for me as of late and it's going to be a problem for anybody. I've got to figure out why I've been up in the zone, I got to...

BALTIMORE, Md. - Nationals starter Jason Marquis was the beneficiary of six runs early on from the offense for his second straight start, but this time he was not around long enough to factor into the decision. It was the first no decision for Marquis since way back on April 10. Marquis managed to get through the first two frames unscathed, but the Orioles scored three runs in the third inning, benefiting from a Roger Bernadina misplay in center field that allowed two runs to score with two...

Manager Buck Showalter said it's "very possible" that the Orioles make at least one roster move to aid their bullpen. It happened before I left the press box. The Orioles optioned reliever Jason Berken to Triple-A Norfolk after he allowed six runs in one inning. A corresponding move will be announced tomorrow, but you can expect Alfredo Simon to be removed from the restricted list and placed on the 25- and 40-man rosters. Buck Showalter meets with the media to talk about the O's 17-5...

The Orioles announced after tonight's game that they have optioned right-handed pitcher Jason Berken to Triple-A Norfolk. Berken appeared in 15 games for the Orioles and was 0-2 with a 7.94 ERA (17.0IP, 15 ER). A corresponding roster move will be announced at a later time.

The Nationals have tied a franchise record with 15 runs tonight. I think the two-point conversion was just piling it on. Michael Gonzalez has surrendered two more home runs. On the plus side, he hasn't hit anybody. Manager Buck Showalter is trying to eject himself. Gonzalez has allowed runs in five straight appearances covering four innings. He's permitted 10 runs (six earned) and 10 hits, and served up three home runs. Hey, let's check the farm. Steve Johnson threw seven scoreless...

This game has turned from weird to unwatchable. But please, keep watching. Jason Berken was torched tonight, allowing six runs and five hits in one inning. He also walked a batter, hit a batter, threw a wild pitch and served up two home runs. Berken is really struggling and he has minor league options, which isn't a good combination for any pitcher. He's been scored upon in six of his last nine appearances. In that span, he's allowed 15 runs (14 earned) and 22 hits, with eight walks, in...

Jake Arrieta turned in his second-shortest outing tonight, leaving after 3 2/3 innings and being charged with six runs. The last run scored when Jason Berken hit Jayson Werth with the bases loaded. Arrieta allowed six hits, walked three, struck out three and hit a batter. He threw 91 pitches, 56 for strikes. PItch counts have been an issue with Arrieta, but he took it to the extreme tonight. That 37-pitch second inning set quite a tone. Arrieta allowed eight runs and six hits in 3 1/3...

I don't think he did it to tick off those that revel in stats, but manager Buck Showalter is batting Adam Jones second tonight for the second time this year. Jones came up with a solid single in the first tonight off Jason Marquis and then grounded out in the third. He is now 3-for-7 on the year when batting in that spot. Is that what they mean by small sample size? Yes, that is incredibly small. But I like Jones batting second and probably mentioned that two, 20 or a hundred times this...