Dennis Sarfate picked up his ninth save tonight for Triple-A Norfolk, walking a batter and striking out two. His fastball topped out at 99 mph. I wonder if the Orioles will give him another look. He's doing everything possible to get noticed. Tyler Henson hit his sixth home run for Double-A Bowie. Steve Johnson took the loss against Reading after allowing six runs and five hits in five innings - including a grand slam - with five walks and five strikeouts. Pat Egan threw three perfect...

Even the most diehard observer of the Orioles minor leagues may not know his name. That's okay with Lance West. And this will probably be a real good season for him with Aberdeen this summer even if he doesn't get one hit. Because, for the first time in his life, he'll be playing baseball with sight in both eyes. "I was blind in my left eye, my dominant eye. I had a rough season last year, so I went to see a doctor and found out I had a lazy eye I was born with and it never...

Brad Bergesen, making his first start for Triple-A Norfolk since being optioned, gave up a three-run homer to Toledo's Jeff Larish and lasted only 2 2/3 innings before leaving the game with the Tides trailing, 3-1. Bergesen is charged with three runs and five hits, with two walks and two strikeouts. He threw 65 pitches, 44 for strikes. His night ended after a fly ball and a throwing error by third baseman Josh Bell, with Jim Miller coming out of the bullpen and getting a strikeout. Perhaps...

I decided to put together a list of some minor league players that are enjoying good seasons with mostly little fanfare. They are flying a bit under the radar right now. Some may be considered prospects, others may not, but all seem to be doing well on the field this summer. Armando Gabino: The 26-year-old righty was claimed off waivers from Minnesota and is 4-0, 2.62 at Norfolk. His last four appearances have come as a starter. The league has hit just .218 off him and right-handed...

With Stephen Strasburg preparing for his third major league start tonight at Nationals Park, it is not lost on anyone outside the D.C. metro area that Strasburg mania is reaching all over the baseball world and into other sports. Kentucky guard and soon-to-be-No. 1 selection in the NBA draft, John Wall, noticed Strasburg in his visit to Washington. "I saw the debut of Strasburg; it was a big-time debut. The 14 strikeouts means a lot. He got pied in the face. It (was) pretty big." In...

According to the Elias Sports Bureau, the San Diego Padres entered June with the best record in the NL (31-20) for the first time in franchise history. Their 38-28 record is the third-best in franchise history. The Padres were 40-25 in 1998 and 39-26 in 1984. The Orioles aren't catching them at the right time. Before last night, Padres first baseman Adrian Gonzalez ranked among the top National League left-handed batters when facing left-handed pitching in batting average (third at .318),...

This week, Nats Buzz is profiling the three Nats finalists for People's All-Stars Among Us campaign. Make sure you vote before Sunday, June 20th. One of these three amazing individuals will represent the Nationals at the 2010 All-Star Game. Eight years ago, Mark Bergel was volunteering to deliver food to those in poverty. He visited one apartment where a family -- a grandmother, her daughter and two granddaughters -- had nothing. The older woman, who needed oxygen tubes and assistance...

MASN, the local leader in live sports entertainment, won four Emmy Awards on June 5th at the 52nd annual Emmy Awards Dinner in Washington D.C. The ceremony honors excellence in television advertising concepts in the National Capital/Chesapeake Bay chapter. MASN's creative 'Defining Moments' campaign was recognized for achievements in Promotion/Program/ Sports and Promotion/Program/Campaign. The Defining Moments series featured real fans talking about important Nationals and Orioles...

Some people have read the few public comments Bobby Valentine has made about his interview for the Orioles manager's job and read those comments to say he has little interest in the job. I don't see it that way. I see where he said this job would be a "big challenge" and that the "Orioles standings don't look like they will turn around very quickly." What I didn't read or hear or see him or Andy MacPhail say is that he is not interested in the job or is withdrawing his name from...

Those of you who tuned in to watch the season premiere of Top Chef last night (shouldn't you have been watching the Nats!) saw a sneak peak of a future episode featuring Adam Dunn, Matt Capps and John Lannan. As you may have heard, this season's Top Chef competition is set in Washington D.C. The website IMDb offers this preview of the Nats episode: "The six remaining chefs take over two concession stands at Nationals Park in D.C., creating game snacks for the die-hard fans of the...