It's raining, it's Tuesday and I'm fighting the urge to crawl back into bed. Last night's 4-0 win over the Rays improved my mood, but a little sunshine would be nice, too. It also improved the Orioles' record on Mondays to 6-0 after an 0-8 start. Too bad we've run out of Mondays this season. One more victory and the Orioles will avoid losing 100 games, which didn't seem possible last month. They also might have set a record for most wins under a different manager in one...

Left-handed pitcher Tom Milone has been named the franchise's 2010 Minor League Pitcher of the Year. Milone went 12-5 with a 2.85 ERA in 27 starts for Double-A Harrisburg. Milone was very happy to be chosen for the honor by the Nationals because a lot of previous winners have gone on to pitch in the majors. "Obviously, it is a great honor being named player of the year for the whole system. That right there is an honor," Milone said. "There is long list of guys who have received...

Brian Matusz had another good outing vs. an AL East rival and the Orioles gave the Yankees some help by winning tonight vs. the first-place Tampa Bay Rays. Matusz gave up just three hits over seven innings as the Orioles beat the Rays 4-0 at Tropicana Field. He lowered his ERA to 3.70 vs. AL East opponents, his lowest mark vs. any division. Matusz, who got out of a bases-loaded jam in the 5th, walked two with eight strikeouts. He threw 94 pitches, 63 strikes and is now 9-12, 4.40. Jim...

I'm reminded again that young pitchers don't get stronger this time of the year. Some of them just don't tire as much. Left-hander Brian Matusz is wide awake tonight. Matusz is shutting out the Rays on three hits over seven innings, with two walks and eight strikeouts. He just made it look ridiculously easy in the bottom of the seventh. One knock on Matusz has been his inability to keep his pitch count down. He's thrown 94 pitches so far, so the bullpen is getting a break. The Orioles...

Nationals number one pick Bryce Harper continues to get his work in after five games at the instructional league from Viera, Florida. Nationals hitting coordinator Rick Schu reports Harper went 1-for-4 Monday with a base hit to right field, a strikeout, a flyout to right field that just missed, and a groundout to the first baseman. Schu recounts Harper's work over the weekend, saying he is showing his talent and learning from each at bat. "Harps has got it a little bit tougher than...

First baseman Tyler Moore has been named the Nationals Minor League Player of the Year. Moore hit a franchise-record 31 homers with 111 RBI, 43 doubles, 78 runs and a .269 batting average in 129 games, guiding the Potomac Nationals to the Carolina League title. He led the League in doubles, home runs, RBI, extra-base hits (77), total bases (277) and slugging percentage (.552). Moore says he is thrilled to be honored with the award. "I feel blessed finishing strong like that, the way the...

The final days of the 2010 season are fast approaching, and for O's fans, that means Fan Appreciation Weekend at Oriole Park at Camden Yards. The Orioles have planned a series of special events for fans throughout the final homestand of the season, which will begin with the first of four games against the Detroit Tigers Thursday night and will carry out through the weekend. As part of the celebration, nine O's fans will be randomly selected to take the field and stand with an Orioles player...

Buck Showalter will serve a one-game suspension tonight after being ejected from yesterday's game. Bench coach Jeff Datz will run the show. Showalter also was fined an undisclosed amount. Alfredo Simon was suspended three games and fined an undisclosed amount for throwing at Toronto's Jose Bautista. However, he's appealing the suspension and is available to pitch tonight. Blue Jays pitcher Shaun Marcum was fined an undisclosed amount for throwing at Luke Scott. As far as I know, I...

For the Orioles: Brian Roberts 2B Nick Markakis RF Ty Wigginton 3B Luke Scott 1B Corey Patterson DH Adam Jones CF Matt Wieters C Felix Pie LF Cesar Izturis SS Brian Matusz LHP For the Rays: B.J. Upton CF Jason Bartlett SS Carl Crawford LF Willy Aybar DH Ben Zobrist RF Kelly Shoppach C Carlos Pena 1B Sean Rodriguez 2B Dan Johnson 3B Wade Davis RHP

Matt Wieters looked poised for a big finish to this season, but, just as quickly, his bat has trailed off again. In the first half of September, Wieters was batting .395,-1-9 with four doubles, but since mid-September, he is just 2 for 22 at bat. There doesn't seem to be any explanation for it outside of the usual ups and downs of the game. Wieters said he was feeling strong and was really starting to drive the ball and then it all seemed to go away. To some fans who expected him to be an...