I was going to wear my Felix Pie T-shirt this morning, but I took a bad route to the dresser and didn't get there in time. Seriously, though... Pie played an outstanding left field last night. He was aggressive going to the ball and ran down a few near the line that saved his pitchers. Probably the best he's looked all season. Didn't stop me from dropping the above line on you, but it might be out-dated by tonight. Heck, he might win a Gold Glove. These things do happen unexpectedly. A...

The Orioles picked a good night to play one of their best and most complete games of the year. Their starting pitcher was effective and efficient with pitches and they did not issue a walk all night. There were no errors. They went 5 for 11 with runners in scoring position. They hit a key homer, stole a base and actually advanced a runner with a sac bunt. They also seemed to play with more energy and maybe even more intensity. So far, what's not to like about the Buck Showalter...

Nationals pitcher Garrett Mock makes his first rehab start tonight for the Hagerstown Suns in his first game back since neck surgery in late April. Mock was feeling numbness in his pitching hand in early April and had trouble gripping the ball in his only start at a cold and windy Citi Field against the NY Mets. He lasted only 3 1/3 innings, allowing 2 earned runs on four hits, walking five and striking out three. Mock knew something wasn't right during the outing. He kept blowing into...

Some post-game clubhouse comments from Jeremy Guthrie, Josh Bell, Adam Jones and Luke Scott after the Orioles 6-3 win over the Angels on Buck Showalter's first night as O's manager. Guthrie on Buck's first night: "I actually was very excited today. Watched the press conference yesterday and came to the ballpark with a big excitement. I'm really, really, excited to have Buck here managing. I feel he's a perfect fit for us and the things he said are right on point. I was excited to...

Manager Buck Showalter asked the first question tonight. "What was time of game?" Told that it lasted a mere 2 hours, 23 minutes, he replied, "Everybody's happy here, right?" Right. And there's nothing like a victory to set the tone for the remainder of the season. Right? "It's not imperative, but I'm excited about it and I hope the players are," Showalter said. "You always like to end up on the right side of it, regardless of the situation. But what comes first? That's the...

Potomac Nationals infielder Stephen Lombardozzi continues to be one of the top hitters in the Carolina League, and that is gaining attention around the organization. Lighting it up at the plate, Lombardozzi is batting .299 in 103 games this season with 66 runs, 28 doubles, 20 stolen bases and 38 RBI. He has hit .341 in his last 10 games. At a recent game in Woodbridge, Lombardozzi made a classic play to get an out from his second base position. With no one on and Kinston trying to rally,...

On Buck Showalter's first night as manager, the Orioles did a few things they have not done much since the All-Star break. Or too often at any point this season. They got solid starting pitching. They got a couple of clutch hits. And, they won. The O's scored four times in the sixth to back Jeremy Guthrie for a 6-3 win over the LA Angels in front of 16,723 on Showalter's first day in the dugout. The O's were down 2-1 heading to the last of sixth after Howie Kendrick's two-run homer...

Remove Jeremy Guthrie after seven innings or send him back out for the eighth? That was the decision facing new manager Buck Showalter, and he chose to pull Guthrie after 92 pitches and bring in left-hander Michael Gonzalez with the top of the order coming up. Showalter wanted Gonzalez to face the two switch-hitters and a left-hander. Gonzalez responded by getting two quick outs, allowing a single to Bobby Abreu and inducing a grounder from Torii Hunter, who represented the potential tying...

It's clear that under Buck Showalter the Orioles will get more clutch hits. Just kidding, but they did get two big ones in the sixth to score four and lead the Angels, 5-2. Luke Scott hit the first homer of the Showalter era, a 422-foot, two-run blast to right center for a 3-2 lead. He homers for the second game in a row and the 7th time in 15 games since coming off the DL on July 19. Scott was just three for 23 over his last six games coming into tonight. But he also entered play with...

The Orioles scored four times in the bottom of the sixth inning to take a 5-2 lead. Luke Scott greeted reliever Francisco Rodriguez with a two-run bomb to right field, and Josh Bell collected his first major league RBIs with a two-run double to left after Felix Pie singled and Matt Wieters was walked intentionally. Wieters scored all the way from first base, which won't happen very often. Speed isn't counted among his tools. Bell lined the ball to the opposite field. Maybe he'll relax...