The Potomac Nationals face off against Winston-Salem tonight in a critical Game Three of the Carolina League Championship from Pfitzner Stadium in Woodbridge, VA. The Nationals got back in the best-of-five Mills Cup with a 5-3 win Tuesday in Winston-Salem to even the series at 1-1. Nationals right-hander Jimmy Barthmaier takes on Winston-Salem right-hander Terry Doyle, with first pitch at 7:03 p.m. Barthmaier won his last four decisions to end the regular season for the P-Nats, going 4-1...

Earlier this week, Major League Baseball announced the tentative schedule for next season. It reminds me of being at college in the midst of gearing up for finals and papers when the class schedule for the next term would finally come out. I was always so happy to be able to start planning ahead and preparing for the next semester. Yes, I was a bit of a dork but it's exciting, isn't it? So, what do we know about next season? Despite the fact that we'll be bundled up for the home...

...the segment that ran on O's Xtra last night with Brady Anderson and Luke Scott? Former Oriole Brady Anderson headed into the batting cages with current O's slugger Luke Scott to work through a hitting drill and to take a look at Scott's home run swing. It's a short video, but fun to get a behind the scenes look at a former Oriole working casually in the cages with a current player, and knowing how methodical Scott's approach to the game is, it's neat to have an inside look at how he...

Blame Yunel Escobar. If he didn't hit a liner off Brian Matusz's left triceps Tuesday night, the Orioles might have a streak of nine straight quality starts right now. We don't know how well Matusz would have done had he stayed in that game, but he's been pitching well, so I'd like his chances to get it done. O's starting pitching has gone from good to great. Here are the latest numbers: *ERA of 0.56 in the Toronto series. *ERA of 0.61 over last five games. *Starters are 5-0, 1.66 the...

The Orioles haven't won five straight series, something they'll try to accomplish this weekend, since Aug. 4-18, 1998. They went 2-0 vs. Detroit, 2-1 at Minnesota, 2-1 at Tampa Bay, 3-1 at Cleveland and 2-0 versus Minnesota. We tend to remember it being all bad when Ray Miller managed. I mentioned last night that the Orioles hadn't played a nine-inning game in under two hours since May 25, 2005 versus Seattle. That one also lasted 1:55. Rodrigo Lopez beat Jamie Moyer, 3-1, before an...

After one inning tonight, Brad Bergesen had thrown 20 pitches and allowed a homer. We didn't know then that he would need just 75 more pitches over the next eight innings and that he would pitch an at times dominant game vs. Toronto. But Bergesen produced his second complete game of the year and third of his career, with a 95-pitch, seven-hitter as the Orioles beat Toronto 3-1 to complete a three-game sweep. He threw 68 of his 95 pitches for strikes, with no walks and three...

Tonight's game was completed in 1 hour, 55 minutes. The anthems took longer. The Orioles hadn't played a nine-inning game in under two hours since May 25, 2005 vs. Seattle. That game also lasted 1:55. Showalter joked about all the smiling faces in the interview room. We're easy to please. Showalter wasn't going to yank Brad Bergesen after eight innings, though he played all the scenarios in his head. "You think about it. You know where they are in the order, but I thought he...

Kyle Drabek pitched pretty well at Camden Yards tonight in his Major League debut. But Brad Bergesen was better. The O's great run of starting pitching continued Wednesday night as the Orioles beat Toronto 3-1 on Bergesen's seven-hitter to complete a three-game sweep. Bergesen improves to 7-10, 5.03 and pitched his second complete game of the season and the Orioles third. Buck Showalter talks with the media after the O's 3-1 win over the Blue Jays He got plenty of defensive help as...

Kyle Drabek sure handled himself well and was pretty impressive in his Major League debut tonight. He leaves trailing 3-1 to Brad Bergesen and the Orioles as the O's bat in the seventh. He gave up nine hits and three runs, throwing 88 pitches through six frames. He showed a low 90's fastball and two pretty good curveballs. He limited damage during a couple of jams and fanned five. Bergesen has worked fast, throwing strikes tonight and his defense has been stellar, turning two double...

Manager Buck Showalter wanted to get Corey Patterson in the lineup tonight. That was his primary motivation for starting Luke Scott at first base. Move Ty Wigginton to third and free up the DH spot for Patterson. Showalter knew that the Yankees were expected to start left-handers CC Sabathia and Andy Pettitte this weekend. He also knew that Patterson had one at-bat since Sept. 6. So what happens? Patterson grounds a run-scoring single into right field in the fourth inning to give the Orioles...