Manager Buck Showalter may accompany director of player development John Stockstill to Bowie tonight to watch Jim Johnson pitch. Johnson could be activated after throwing Tuesday and Wednesday for the Baysox, or the Orioles could wait until Sept. 1. A decision is pending. Johnson is on the 60-day disabled list, so room must be created for him on the 40-man roster. David Hernandez is expected to start playing catch on Sept. 1. There's still a chance that he'll be shut down for the rest of...

O's manager Buck Showalter said today the Orioles have not made a final decision yet on whether pitching prospect Zach Britton will be a September callup. Britton is 9-6, 2.70 this year between Double-A and Triple-A. He's now pitched 136 2/3 innings after pitching 140 last year and a career-high 147 1/3 the year before at Delmarva. How many innings Britton has left to pitch is for sure a big factor in that decision. "It's more, what's his career high (in innings). You look at that...

Manager Buck Showalter usually takes the lineup card to home plate only before the first game of a series, but he'll handle those duties again today. He figures it's a good idea to wipe the slate clean after last night's two ejections. "Turn the page," he said. "It's part of it. It's a tough game to umpire, a fast game. I was talking to Larry Young about it, one of the umpire evaluators or whatever they call them, and you understand. The game moves so fast, sometimes it's an educated...

For the Orioles: Brian Roberts 2B Julio Lugo SS Nick Markakis RF Ty Wigginton 1B Luke Scott DH Adam Jones CF Felix Pie LF Craig Tatum C Josh Bell 3B Brad Bergesen RHP For the Rangers: Elvis Andrus SS Michael Young 3B Josh Hamilton LF Vladimir Guerrero DH David Murphy RF Bengie Molina C Mitch Moreland 1B Andres Blanco 2B Julio Borbon CF Cliff Lee LHP

We have another afternoon FOX game today, which means a free night to get into all sorts of trouble. Not me, of course, but everyone else. Shortstop Manny Machado will speak to reporters via conference call today at 3 p.m. after signing his $5.25 million contract yesterday in Miami. He'll be introduced to the Camden Yards crowd on Sept. 3 or 4. Make him feel at home. Umpire Jeff Nelson was forced to skip breakfast today. The waitress brought his food, but he couldn't work the plate. JDB...

Checking in on some O's notes, stats and facts as they get set to play Texas in game three of the series this afternoon at Camden Yards. *The Orioles have been involved in a shutout in back-to-back games for the first time all year, one they won and one they lost. They have been involved in shutouts in three of the last four and four of the past eight games, winning two and losing two. *The Orioles had just three hits in 30 at bats and were shutout on Friday for the ninth time on the...

I passed Nick Markakis on my way back up to the press box. We both did the ol' head nod and "Hey." Slightly awkward. Markakis was leaving the family room, not the umpires room. Markakis believes that arguing the first strike call with plate umpire Jeff Nelson in the sixth inning led to the next two strike calls and his eventual ejection. "I was frustrated," he said. "That's a one-run game there. I'm up there looking to get in scoring position or tie the game. I'm looking for a...

Plate umpire Jeff Nelson declined comment after tonight's game, sending the message through crew chief Jeff Kellogg. Manager Buck Showalter had a few things to say, though he calmed down considerably after his ejection in the ninth inning. Probably a good idea. "It was just an accumulation of a lot of things," Showalter said. "It's unfortunate. Obviously, he was having a tough night and you're just looking for a sense of fairness, and emotions take over. That's one thing that can't...

The Orioles tonight had three hits and two ejections. Probably not a good ratio. It wasn't tonight as C.J. Wilson, perhaps with some help from home plate ump Jeff Nelson, depending on your perspective, pitched Texas past the Orioles 2-0 in front of 18,751 at Camden Yards. Nick Markakis was ejected for the first time in his career. It came after he was called out on strikes for the third time on the night in the sixth. O's manager Buck Showalter was ejected by Nelson with Texas batting...

Plate umpire Jeff Nelson has ejected manager Buck Showalter in the top of the ninth inning with a 2-0 count on Elvis Andrus. Matt Albers' second pitch appeared to be a strike, bringing Showalter from the dugout. Nelson let him vent for a few seconds before tossing him. Second base umpire Jeff Kellogg rushed over and got between Showalter and Nelson. Showalter's face was blood-red as he continued to yell. And yes, he looked a lot like Earl Weaver on one of the MASN shots. Showalter is the...