For a while, there was great starting pitching, clutch hitting, walk-off wins and a record of 8-1. That was the O's mark in their first nine games under Buck Showalter. It was quite a honeymoon. But the O's are 4-8 since then. Have the real Orioles returned? Last night, with runners on first and third and none out in the second inning, Matt Wieters hit a ground ball to first base. Adam Jones froze at third base and did not score as Chicago turned a 3-6-3 double play. Within a few...

It took about an hour, but I'm finally able to create a blog entry. I'm having another one of those mornings. Every connection times out and the system is running at a snail's pace. I lost my patience about 45 minutes ago, but that's typical. Anyway, I need to file something simple because I'm not equipped to actually flip screens and check statistics and information at other sites. That would take another hour. By that time, my wireless card will be nestled under my back tire as I hit...

The Cubs edged the Nationals 5-4 Tuesday at Nats Park, but not before some final inning dramatics got the home team back in the game and hopefully signaled a turn for the better for a struggling offense. Down 5-1 and with two outs, Adam Kennedy laced a three-run double off of closer Carlos Marmol and Ryan Zimmerman battled through a long at bat before flying out to deep right to end the game. Although the Nats did not win the game, it was a vast improvement from the way the team felt after...

One swing by Gordon Beckham broke up a good pitchers duel tonight in Chicago. He hit a 2-2 pitch from Jeremy Guthrie for a three-run homer to center in the last of the seventh and that broke a 2-2 tie and put the Sox ahead 5-2 on their way to a 7-5 win over the Orioles on Tuesday night. It was game one of a series and road trip for the Orioles who fall to 12-9 under Buck Showalter. It was the first time they had lost the first game of a series since Showalter took over after going 6-0. Jim...

White Sox number nine hitter, Gordon Beckham, hit a three-run homer to center off Jeremy Guthrie in the 7th to break a 2-2 tie and give Chicago a 5-2 lead. Beckham came up with runners on second and third and one out in a tie game. The infield came in. On a night when Guthrie has struggled to command his slider, he missed with a breaking ball on the 1-2 pitch and went fastball on 2-2. Beckham was ready and drilled the belt high pitch out to center for the lead and his 8th homer of the...

Luke Scott tied his career high with his 25th homer tonight at Chicago. He led off the fourth with a shot to right off Gavin Floyd on a 1-1 pitch as he homers for the third game in a row. Scott has hit eight of his 25 homers on the road this year and now has hit eight in 21 August games. He has more homers this year in August than he had all of last year after the All-Star break. This year he has 13 homers in 127 at bats since the All-Star game while last year he had seven in 216 at bats in...

Just before Adam Dunn headed out on the field to take batting practice, he sat down with Jen Royle for another edition of his Video Blog. In the midst of a losing streak and a 7-52 slump, Adam told Jen why he thinks he is struggling and why the Nationals are struggling. Adam also commented on Jim Riggleman's disappointment after Tuesday's loss and what he thought about Strasburg's injury. Watch and see also, what Adam thinks about his contract situation.

Adam Jones hustled from first to third on Felix Pie's ground ball single into right field in the second inning. It looked like a gamble with no outs, but he didn't even draw a throw. At that moment, Jim Palmer noted on the MASN telecast that the Orioles are playing with more energy than he's seen in a few years. Matt Wieters followed with a hard grounder to first, where Paul Konerko fielded the ball and threw to second to start a 3-6-3 double play. Jones froze on the play and remained at...

Orioles manager Buck Showalter told reporters in Chicago that reliever Jim Johnson could be activated from the disabled list as early as Friday in Anaheim. Johnson threw two scoreless innings today for Double-A Bowie, allowing one hit and striking out three in the first game of a doubleheader against Akron. Ryan Adams' 13th homer provided all the scoring in a 1-0 victory. Johnson was supposed to work back-to-back days, but that schedule has changed after he threw 28 pitches today. Look for...

Nationals left-handed pitcher Ross Detwiler has arrived back in D.C. after spending five days in Viera, Florida, at the team's training facility as he continues to rehab from his hip injury. Detwiler was on a throwing program every day while in Florida. He got into one game situation and threw against both left-handed and right-handed hitters when the team was on the road. He threw all of his pitches and had no problems. "The hip is a little sore, but that is to be expected after...