The good news for O's pitching prospect Brandon Erbe is that he should be back on a mound sometime next year. Exactly when that will be, no one knows for sure right now, but his surgery to repair a torn labrum in his right shoulder last Friday was a success. "We feel like the surgery went well and less damage was found than they thought," O's director of player development, John Stockstill said. There are estimates that Erbe could be pitching again in eight to ten months, which would put...

The O's have come to terms tonight with two more draft picks. They have agreed on deals with high school pitcher Jaime Esquivel, drafted in round 28 and right-handed pitcher Alex Schmarzo from St. Mary's College in California. Schmarzo was drafted in round 48. Esquivel got a $225,000 signing bonus. Meanwhile, the O's still need to come to terms with top pick, high school shortstop Manny Machado. Scouting director Joe Jordan said there were no contract talks today with Machado but he...

Chris Tillman started tonight for Triple-A Norfolk and was charged with three runs and eight hits in six innings, with one walk and three strikeouts. He threw 88 pitches, 61 for strikes. Tillman stands to be the winner with Norfolk leading Charlotte, 9-4, in the eighth. The last run off Tillman scored after Alberto Castillo replaced him. Scott Moore has homered twice for the Tides, giving him nine for the season. He's driven in four runs. Just when you think he's out of the organization,...

Nationals outfielder Nyjer Morgan went 0-for-3 in a rehab assignment as the designated hitter today for Potomac. Morgan will go seven innings for Hagerstown tomorrow, then nine innings for Harrisburg Tuesday before flying to Atlanta to rejoin the team Wednesday. Morgan has been recovering from a hip injury and is eligible to come off the disabled list August 19, which would be the last game of the series in Atlanta.

The Orioles have their first two-game losing streak since Buck Showalter took over as manager. The Birds lost 3-2 vs. Tampa this afternoon to lose their first series with Showalter and end their road trip to Cleveland and Tampa with a 3-3 record. They were trying for a fourth straight series win for the first time since August of 2004. Jeremy Hellickson got the win and Jake Arrieta the loss in a matchup of two of the game's best, young pitchers. Hellickson became the first Tampa pitcher to...

Ty Wigginton struck out to end the top of the eighth inning after Nick Markakis tripled to center field with two outs, allowing the Rays to keep their 3-2 lead. That might have been the Orioles' last shot, but we'll find out. Update: Rays closer Rafael Soriano retired all three batters he faced on fly balls to right, and the Orioles' streak of series wins ends at three in a row. Down on the farm, Joe Mahoney went 2-for-4 with a run scored to raise his average to .388 in Double-A Bowie's...

Jake Fox has brought the Orioles within a run by homering in the seventh inning off Rays reliever Dan Wheeler. The ball hit one of the catwalks at Tropicana Field, which forces you to relearn the ground rules. Meanwhile, Jake Arrieta is credited with a quality start after allowing three runs over six innings. He threw 114 pitches, again taking advantage of a long leash from new manager Buck Showalter. Backup catcher Craig Tatum just threw out John Jaso attempting to steal second base....

Pepperdine pitcher Matt Bywater, who was drafted in round seven by the Orioles, said he still could sign with the team, although it hasn't happened yet. "We are still in negotiations," Bywater, a 21-year-old lefty said this afternoon from his home in Thousand Oaks, California. "It's not a done deal on either side." When asked if he is still open to coming to terms with the club he said "completely open." I asked Bywater if the sides were close or far apart in their...

Updating my previous entry on Jason Berken, his MRI is scheduled for tomorrow afternoon in Baltimore. He's been receiving treatment on his right shoulder for most of the season, but the discomfort behind the shoulder apparently has gotten worse. Manager Buck Showalter watched video of Berken and noticed that the reliever's mechanics have changed and his pitches aren't as crisp. Berken isn't following through on his delivery and appears to be aiming the ball. The issue isn't a drop in...

Orioles manager Buck Showalter told reporters in St. Petersburg that reliever Jason Berken will undergo an MRI on his right shoulder. Berken has been struggling throughout the second half after leading American League relievers in innings pitched. He'll be shut down until the Orioles obtain the results of the MRI. Berken gave up an unearned run and two hits in two-thirds of an inning in Thursday's appearance. He's allowed 10 earned runs (12 total) in his last 10 outings. That's all I've...