I checked in with Andy MacPhail to get his thoughts on why the Orioles had so few prospects on the Baseball America minor league top 20 prospects lists. He can see, like we all can, that the O's had just four players listed and it tied Oakland for last in baseball. "The last two drafts, for whatever reason, we've had an inordinate amount of our players hurt, just didn't play a lot. Givens, Townsend. Then you add to the fact that no one is signing until August 15th these days. "But...

Since nothing else seems to be happening today... First baseman Tyler Townsend and third baseman Ryan Adams have two-run singles today for the Scottsdale Scorpions of the Arizona Fall League. The Scorpions lead the Peoria Saguaros, 7-0, in the sixth inning. Townsend and Adams singled off right-hander Jeremy Hall, who went 6-9 with a 3.52 ERA in 27 starts for the Double-A Montgomery Biscuits - yes, I want to see the mascot - of the Southern League. The Biscuits are a Tampa Bay...

Nationals number one draft selection Bryce Harper has confirmed that he will play in the Arizona Fall League and will report to the Scottsdale Scorpions on Sunday night. Harper will be on the team's taxi squad and play in Wednesday and Saturday games. "I am stoked. I am so excited," Harper said. "It has been a goal of mine to be able play in the Arizona Fall league." Harper will spend time at home this weekend in Las Vegas with his family to celebrate his 18th birthday on...

Earlier today, I ran a story with quotes from Jim Callis of Baseball America discussing the O's lack of players on the publication's top 20 prospects lists in minor league baseball. Only four players from the O's farm - Zach Britton, Jake Arrieta, Xavier Avery and Wynn Pelzer - were listed in the top 20 of any league. In Baseball America online chats about each league, several O's prospects were referenced. Manny Machado would have likely been the top prospect in both leagues in played...

I was fully prepared to drop an Office Space line on you and call this entry "Naka...Naka...Not gonna play in Baltimore." But I won't go quite that far. Plus, I'm not sure how many of you would get the reference. If you do, you earn some serious cool points. We'll hang out. A few readers asked about the Orioles' potential interest in Japanese shortstop Hiroyuki Nakajima, 28, who could be posted, as they say, by the Seibu Lions. Here's what I know: The Orioles have interest in him,...

This is not a good statistic for the Orioles farm system. Just four players from the O's organization were listed among the Baseball America top 20 prospects lists for each league in minor league baseball. One of the four came in a trade. That tied Oakland for last in all of baseball. Pitcher Zach Britton was ranked 2nd in the Eastern League and 6th in the International League. Outfielder Xavier Avery was rated 12th best prospect in the Carolina League and pitcher Jake Arrieta was 14th in...

Nationals No. 1 draft selection Bryce Harper played his final instructional league game today in Orlando and then will head back to his hometown of Las Vegas. If Harper has time in Las Vegas, he will likely workout with UNLV and his former college coach Tim Chambers on their first day of camp, which opens Wednesday. But that does not mean Harper is done playing competitive baseball before 2011 spring training. Despite not being on the initial Scottsdale Scorpions roster, there's still a...

As you already know, free agent reliever/movie star Owen Wilson will join the Nationals bullpen this winter when his new movie, "How Do You Know" hits theaters on December 17th. Reese Witherspoon, Jack Nicholson, Paul Rudd also star in the romantic comedy. The film's website is now available at www.howdoyouknow-movie.com. On the website, you can sign up to receive updates about the film, view digital stills, watch the trailer or visit the film's new Facebook page. Parts of the movie...

The Rays managed to bring the Division Series back to Tropicana Field tonight for Game 5 after falling behind, 0-2, to the Rangers. That's the good news. David Price is 0-2 with a 7.45 ERA in four career starts against the Rangers, allowing 16 runs and 17 hits, and walking 15, in 19 1/3 innings. That would be the bad news. Cliff Lee has a 2.87 ERA in 13 career starts against the Rays. Yeah, you guessed it. They don't play the games on paper - though they've been known to play them...

Scottsdale Scorpions Manager: Randy Knorr, Harrisburg Senators Pitchers: RHP Adam Carr RHP Cole Kimball RHP Brad Peacock LHP Sammy Solis Catcher: Derek Norris Infielder: Steve Lombardozzi Outfielder: Michael Burgess It will be very interesting to see how all four of the Nats pitching prospects do against top flight competition, especially left-hander Sammy Solis, who has been signed for only two months and did very well against instructional league competition the last couple of...