Alfredo Simon looks thinner, and we've been told that he dropped around 30 pounds over the winter. He doesn't look that much thinner, but there's a noticeable difference. Here's the Bowie Baysox's lineup: Xavier Avery CF Greg Miclat 2B Robbie Widlansky 1B Brandon Waring 3B Ronnie Welty RF Steve Lerud C Carlos Rojas SS Adam Donachie DH Kyle Hudson LF Alfredo Simon RHP Dan Klein (UCLA) is expected to pitch today. Donachie was added to the Bowie roster from extended spring training....

Washington Nationals starting pitcher Jason Marquis had a rough outing last night against the Philadelphia Phillies, getting knocked around in the fifth and sixth innings, leading to another loss against the bullies of the National League East. The loss drops the Nats' record for the season to 14-16 through 30 games. Two losses to start this 10-day, nine-game road trip, with the prospect of facing Roy Halladay tonight, is probably a bad omen if you believe in those things. But in the bigger...

Having already secured a winning road trip at 4-2, the Orioles play at Kansas City this afternoon at 2:10 p.m. in the final game of this trip. Here are some notes on the Orioles: * The Orioles picked up their 14th win last night. Last year, they didn't win their 14th game until May 21.They improved to 7-7 on the road last night and last year didn't win their seventh road game until June 15. * Nick Markakis entered Wednesday's game with just one extra-base hit and just three RBIs during his...

The Washington Nationals continue to reward their outstanding young pitchers in the farm system. Yesterday, Cameron Selik was promoted to the advanced Single-A Potomac Nationals after an outstanding first month with low Single-A Hagerstown Suns. On Thursday, righthander Brad Meyers got the call to head to Triple-A Syracuse from Double-A Harrisburg. The club really loves Selik's competitiveness on the mound and his overall command of all four pitches. His first start for Potomac will be Friday...

When Orioles pitcher Jake Arrieta threw a staggering total of 35 pitches in the second inning Wednesday night at Kansas City, it sure didn't look like he would be able to pitch seven innings in the game. But from the third through fifth innings, Arrieta needed only 35 more pitches and he was on his way to another solid outing for the Birds. Arrieta pitched a season-high seven innings, allowing just three hits and one run in the Orioles' 3-2 win. He threw 105 pitches and fanned eight, one...

Adam Jones took a huge risk in the bottom of the eighth inning by holding up his arms and calling for time as the ball Mike Aviles hit wedged underneath the padding on the left-center field fence. Jones wanted a ground-rule double, which would have forced Alcides Escobar to stop at third base and Aviles to hold at second with one out and the Orioles clinging to a 3-1 lead. Both runners crossed the plate while Jones waited for the umpires to make the call. Jim and Rick talk with Adam Jones...

Nick Markakis has a run-scoring single and solo home run tonight, and the Orioles have knocked out Kyle Davies in a game they lead, 3-1, in the top of the seventh. Before tonight, Markakis was in a 12-for-70 (.171) slump that had dropped his average from .268 to .207. Fans want him lowered in the order. They want him benched. They want him placed on waivers and let go like Alex Rios. I doubt that tonight's game will silence the critics. He'll need to heat to a boil for that to happen. But...

I'll point out one more time that "Modern Family" is the funniest show on television, and I'll wrestle anyone who disputes this indisputable fact. If you missed last night's episode and you treat DVR the way I treat splitting the atom ... or DVR ... that's too bad. Another classic. Anyway, I'm heading down to Bowie for today's 11:05 a.m. game between the Baysox and the Harrisburg Senators. Alfredo Simon is pitching, so I figure it's a good idea to check on him. Simon will issue a...

Nick Markakis and Derrek Lee tried to quiet their critics with RBIs in the early innings tonight at Kansas City. The Orioles lead 2-1 in the third inning. Lee's sac fly in the first scored Brian Roberts, who had doubled and advanced to third on a fly ball. It was Lee's seventh RBI on the year and his fifth over the past seven games. Markakis had an RBI single in the second which, at that point, gave the O's a 2-0 lead. He entered tonight with just three RBIs over his last 17 games and in a...

Mark Reynolds is batting eighth tonight for only the fourth time in his career. Manager Buck Showalter told reporters in Kansas City that Reynolds will be hitting in another spot tomorrow afternoon. But he also pointed out that Reynolds' slotting is up to the third baseman, who began tonight batting .168 with three homers and 15 RBIs. Reynolds is in a 3-for-25 slump. Or it's a 5-for-36 slump if you go back to his last 10 games. Or it's a 7-for-62 slump if you go back to April 14. Reynolds...