You've seen them before, probably more often than you'd like. And since I'm guest blogging for MASNsports.com this week, it seems like an appropriate time to discuss them. They're the fans in the lower seating bowl who stand out - by design or otherwise - when you're watching a game on television. They're akin to the people who stand outside the window at the "Today" show each morning with the notable difference that they're at a baseball game and supposedly interested in its outcome....

Syracuse Chiefs left-handed starter Tom Milone had a very impressive 2011 debut with seven innings of shutout ball in a 2-0 win over Lehigh Valley on Sunday. Milone allowed just five singles with no walks and four strikeouts. Milone says he was able to throw strikes early on, but the biggest thing is his mistake pitches weren't over the upper half of the plate. "I am very happy with the way it turned out (Sunday)," Milone said. "The best thing I took out of that (start) was I wasn't as...

Single-A Delmarva shortstop Manny Machado went 3-for-4 with a double, walk and run scored last night, leaving his average at .467 with two doubles, a triple, three RBIs and seven walks in five games. . This just in: The kid is good. He should be in the Carolina League no later than the midway point of the season. The Orioles will play the 10th game of their season tonight in New York. Do the first 10 really mean anything? You decide. Since baseball switched to a three-division alignment...

The Orioles' 2010 minor league Player of the Year, Joe Mahoney, is not in the lineup for Double-A Bowie tonight due to a quad injury. He missed Sunday's game and is not playing this evening as Bowie is at Richmond. Mahoney went 1-for-7 with a double and two walks in the first two Baysox games of the season at Harrisburg. The injury is considered day-to-day. Right now, there are no plans to put him on the DL and O's officials hope he can return in a day or two. Mahoney was added to the...

Nolan Reimold homered in the fourth inning tonight in Triple-A Norfolk's game against the Gwinnett Braves. His solo shot increased the Tides' lead to 2-0. Reimold is batting .286 with two homers and two RBIs in five games. He batted .315 with three doubles, three homers, 10 RBIs and a .985 OPS in 24 spring training games. Josh Bell is 2-for-2 with a double and run scored tonight, raising his average to .333. Troy Patton shut out the Braves on one hit over three innings. He struck out...

Like their parent club, the Triple-A Norfolk Tides have not gotten their offense going much this year. But unlike the Orioles, Norfolk is winless and is last in the league in batting. The Tides scored just five runs in going 0-4 in their season-opening series at Charlotte. The Tides' team batting mark of .165 is last in the International League. Norfolk plays at Gwinnett tonight looking to avoid its first 0-5 start since 1993. Ryan Adams has begun the season at 1-for-12 while Brandon Snyder...

The Orioles, like any organization, would like to create a situation where they have solid depth throughout their minor leagues with prospects at both the lower and higher levels. While some fans right now would question the Orioles' minor league depth and may well be right about that, at certain positions the Orioles are becoming well stocked. Center field is one of those positions. When the 2011 season began last week the O's had a center fielder that will be batting leadoff at each of...

Brad Bergesen hasn't reported to Triple-A Norfolk and won't make tonight's scheduled start in Gwinnett. He's still in Baltimore, waiting to find out whether he'll be recalled to start Wednesday night in New York. A team official said a final decision hasn't been made, but it's fair to speculate that Bergesen will get the assignment. The Orioles can recall Bergesen in fewer than 10 days because he'll be replacing shortstop J.J. Hardy, who will go on the disabled list. An MRI today...

The Orioles begin their season series with the Yankees on Tuesday. The last time the teams met, the O's posted an improbable 4-3 victory in 11 innings at Camden Yards. Luke Scott homered off Mariano Rivera in the ninth, and the Birds used good fortune - and even better managing - to escape unscathed in the 11th inning after the Yankees put a runner on third with nobody out. It was a thrilling game, made more special for me by the fact that I was there with my dad and my wife. Dad and I still...

Nationals fans watch the team's hiccups as they happen. Those hiccups are what make Washington baseball worth cheering for from the stands of Nationals Park. It's that whole underdog thing the north side of Chicago knows so well - minus the Billy Goat and alleged curse. Kind of. I feel obligated to admit that I grew up five minutes, walking, from Wrigley Field. Ever since I can remember, my late father would take me to Wrigley all the time. And, when he didn't, we passed that ivy-covered...