"It was really cool...a grand slam." Those were the words of a ten year old patient at Inova Fairfax Hospital for Children who unexpectedly met Matt Capps and Ryan Zimmerman on Tuesday. Noah recently had his appendix removed but he's eager to get back out on the baseball field. The young first baseman, who tries to emulate both Albert Pujols and Ryan Zimmerman, wanted to know what it took to become a major league ballplayer. "You just tell them to have fun and work hard," said...

Yes, the Orioles did trade a Wolf for a Fox. Pitcher Ross Wolf goes to Oakland and a few moments ago Jake Fox completed his first interview with Baltimore reporters. Fox found out yesterday morning he would be an Oriole and today settled into his locker in the Camden Yards clubhouse. "I'm excited about it. It's always good to have a change and go someplace where hopefully you fit in. Where I came from, it just wasn't the right fit for anybody. I didn't fit into their style and it's...

Michael Gonzalez threw 19 pitches in the first inning for the Gulf Coast League Orioles, and his fastball was clocked in the 90-91 mph range. He had trouble hitting the mid-80s a month ago. Felix Pie went 1-for-4 with a run scored and two strikeouts as the designated hitter. "Those guys are going to continue to do their rehab down there," interim manager Juan Samuel said. Pie is expected to join an in-state affiliate later this week, perhaps by Thursday. Single-A Frederick will be...

For the Orioles: Corey Patterson LF Miguel Tejada 3B Nick Markakis RF Ty Wigginton 1B Luke Scott DH Adam Jones CF Matt Wieters C Scott Moore 2B Cesar Izturis SS Jeremy Guthrie RHP For the Marlins: Coghlan LF Sanchez 1B Ramirez SS Cantu DH Uggla 2B Ross CF Stanton RF Helms 3B Paulino C Sanchez RHP Jake Fox's name is listed among the Orioles reserves. He's wearing No. 47. Cla Meredith, designated for assignment to clear room on the 40-man roster, was 0-2 with a 5.40 ERA in 21 games with...

Michael Gonzalez began his injury rehab assignment today with the Gulf Coast League Orioles, throwing a scoreless first inning before Aaron Swenson replaced him. Gonzalez allowed a two-out single and struck out two. He retired the other batter on a pop up to first baseman Tyler Townsend. Felix Pie is serving as the designated hitter again and batting third. He's 0-for-2 with a strikeout and fly ball. Update: The Orioles optioned Chris Tillman to Triple-A Norfolk to make room for newly...

Bryce Harper's college coach, Tim Chambers, the new baseball coach at the University of Nevada-Las Vegas, told me today he does not think the negotiations between Scott Boras and the Washington Nationals to sign Bryce will take all summer. Chambers told me it is his opinion that the talks "won't drag out all summer" and that Harper wants to get started with his professional career sooner rather than later. He feels talks will heat up in the next few weeks or so. Bryce is taking a few...

It's only been a week since the Orioles played a game at Camden Yards, but it feels much longer to me. I'll have to remind myself to put down the boxes and head to the ballpark this afternoon. The Orioles begin a three-game interleague series against the Marlins, and they aren't real familiar with right-hander Anibal Sanchez. Cesar Izturis is 2-for-3 with a double against him. Garrett Atkins and Julio Lugo are 0-for-3, and Luke Scott is 0-for-2 with a walk. That's it. Will another...

Over the next few weeks and months fans and reporters will be tracking the Orioles for a couple of reasons. One, the constant watch to see just how historically bad this team turns out to be. Two, to see who might become the next manager. For me, this season has turned out so badly, I don't care if they lose 100, 110, 120 or 130 games. At this point, what difference does it make? Here is what I am most interested in the rest of this season: Will the core group of young players that...

The Orioles third-round draft pick, right-hander Dan Klein, picked up a save in the College World Series on Monday night. He pitched a shutout ninth inning as his UCLA squad beat TCU, 6-3. It was his tenth save of the season as UCLA improved to 2-0 in the series. Klein, showing a 93-MPH fastball, along with a change and curve, gave up a one-out single but nothing else in closing out the win. The Orioles will not be talking contract with Klein or the other two players they drafted from UCLA...

This Potomac Nationals third baseman wears #11, and his dad is a General in the United States Air Force, but 25-year-old Robby Jacobsen is making a name for himself in Woodbridge with his outstanding play. Jacobsen is truly a homegrown talent. The 6'1", 205-pounder was drafted by the Nats in 2006 and went to school, played baseball and is now an offseason volunteer coach at George Mason University. Robby's father, Kevin J. Jacobsen, is a general in the United States Air Force and in...