Jason Berken is making his first start today at Triple-A Norfolk, and he pulled off a great escape in the second inning. According to the play-by-play on minorleaguebaseball.com, Louisville loaded the bases with no outs in the second inning on consecutive singles into center field. One of the hits came from former major league outfielder Jeremy Hermida. Berken struck out the next two batters and induced a grounder that shortstop Blake Davis turned into a force at second base. Berken had...

Outfielder Kipp Schutz, who has put up amazing numbers this year for the Single-A Delmarva Shorebirds, is moving to the Single-A Frederick Keys today and should join the team in time to be in the lineup tonight at Wilmington. The 23-year-old Schutz, a 19th-round pick in the 2009 draft, was batting a robust .381 for the Shorebirds with 13 doubles, two triples, four homers and 36 RBIs in 38 games. Schutz leads all Orioles minor leaguers in batting average and RBIs. He has an OPS of .997 and a...

It's been a frustrating past two seasons for Brian Roberts. For the most part, he's one the most prominent faces of the franchise and the longest-tenured Oriole on the roster. However, he's not played much due to back issues, concussions and various illnesses that have popped up. It's been a hard road for the second baseman and I'm sure Roberts must be far angrier by the state of his own affairs than even the most ardent Orioles fan. At the moment, he is on the seven-day disabled list...

Dear Ryan, I can't tell you how excited NatsTown and myself are at recently hearing the news you are on your way back to Viera, Fla., to take your rehab to "high gear with more baseball specific activities." You posted that on your Facebook page. I know. I liked you. Top-notch, old chum, top-notch! Florida is beautiful this time of year and having spent some time in The Sunshine State myself, I'm envious. I recommend the Shamrock & Thistle Irish bar in Titusville for drunken revelry and...

Baseball returns to Camden Yards tonight after yesterday's break. Get used to them. The Orioles have five open dates in June. Did you see that Nationals first baseman Adam LaRoche went on the disabled list yesterday with a torn labrum in his left shoulder? LaRoche is batting .172 with three homers in 43 games. He's always been a slow starter, and playing all season with a torn labrum wasn't going to reverse that tendency. Derrek Lee's also on the disabled list. He's batting .231 with...

Right-handed pitcher Chorye Spoone, the Orioles eighth-round pick from the 2005 draft, and a member of the club's 40-man roster, will move from Triple-A Norfolk back to Double-A and start on the mound tomorrow night for the Bowie Baysox. The 25-year-old Spoone is 2-1 with an ERA of 5.50 in eight Triple-A starts and International League batters hit .293 off him. He struggled with his control with Norfolk and walked 26 over 34 1/3 innings. So, in an attempt to get better results and command,...

There will be an important decision coming soon that could impact the Orioles' minor leagues: whether the Single-A Frederick Keys will continue to play in Frederick and at Harry Grove Stadium beyond this season. The City of Frederick sought and received two requests for proposals that seek to be awarded the lease to play in that stadium in 2012. The Keys filed a request and so did the independent Atlantic League, through owner Peter Kirk. The city will pick one of the two that filed requests...

The Washington Nationals today placed first baseman Adam LaRoche (torn labrum, left shoulder) on the 15-Day Disabled List, retroactive to May 22. Nationals Executive Vice President of Baseball Operations and General Manager Mike Rizzo made the announcement. LaRoche is batting .172 with four doubles, three home runs and 15 RBI in 43 games this season. The 31-year-old leads the Nationals with 25 walks. LaRoche is playing flawless defense (no errors/412 total chances) this season at first base...

Tickets are now on sale for the ziMS Foundation's second annual "A Night at the Park" event hosted by third baseman Ryan Zimmerman. The fundraiser and live auction will take place on Thursday, June 30 at Nationals Park beginning at 6 p.m. It's also official that country star Rodney Atkins will headline the event. Fans of country music know that you can't listen to a country station for more than a few minutes before hearing his recent hit, "Farmer's Daughter." In recent years, Atkins...

Here are some updates from Nationals director of player development Doug Harris on a few of the players you have asked for in the comments section. RHP Russell Moldenhauer, who was named to the 2009 College World Series all-tournament team with the Texas Longhorns: "Moldenhauer has had some physical things that he has dealt with," Harris said. "(Moldy) is kind of a Matt Stairs type. He is a dangerous guy but we really have to grind his defense. He didn't defend in college. He was a...