After watching that terrible top of the sixth and the atrocious Orioles defense hand the Yankees a 3-2 lead, I've decided to focus on Triple-A for a few minutes. Almost no one has big numbers on offense there, but some of the key prospects are picking it up recently with the bat: Josh Bell: He is batting .364 over his last 15 games with nine doubles. He has nine multi-hit games in that stretch and is tied for fourth in the league with 17 doubles. Brandon Snyder: Is batting .306-3-18 over...

Chris Tillman got in a little trouble in the second inning, surrendering a leadoff single to Robinson Cano and walking Jorge Posada, but he retired the next three batters to keep the game scoreless. Tillman has thrown 34 pitches. The Orioles wasted a scoring opportunity in the first inning - stop me if you've heard this one - after Julio Lugo walked with the count full. After Miguel Tejada struck out, Lugo broke too soon on a stolen base attempt and was an easy out. Naturally, Nick...

Now that the First-Year Player Draft is over, it's time for scouting directors around baseball to start signing some of the players they selected. That process has already begun for the Orioles who already are close to an agreement with their fourth-round pick, Auburn outfielder Trent Mummey. "We do have a pretty good understanding with Mummey, our fourth-round pick. I think he's ready. Klein at three (from UCLA) is still playing. They're in the Super Regionals this weekend. We'll...

In case you didn't check the Nationals side of the MASNsports.com site, manager Jim Riggleman has laid out Stephen Strasburg's pitching schedule. As Ben Goessling explained, Strasburg will throw every five days. He'll start Sunday in Cleveland and pitch again on June 18 and 23 at Nationals Park. He'll miss the Orioles, who host the Nats on June 25-27. Orioles director of scouting Joe Jordan just met with reporters in the back of the press box. Steve Melewski will run quotes later in his...

Brad Bergesen doesn't know what tomorrow will bring. Approached by reporters this afternoon, Bergesen could only confirm that he's in the bullpen tonight. The rest - Jake Arrieta coming up tomorrow and Jeremy Guthrie's start being pushed back to Friday - was "all news to me." "I'm not really worried that it's my first time being in the bullpen," he said. "I'm going to go out there and try to do my thing and hope for the best right now." He also should hope that the worst is...

There are now two Shelbys in the Orioles organization. Today the Orioles drafted Grambling State outfielder Jeremy Shelby, the son of John "T-Bone" Shelby, the Birds first base coach, in the 38th round. "I was hoping somebody would take a chance and they told me that they would draft him. I called him to see if he was listening to it. He listened all day yesterday and was frustrated (when he wasn't taken). So he didn't even listen today and I broke the news to him. "He was hollering...

Well, now we know that Jake Arrieta is officially scheduled to make his Major League debut tomorrow here at Camden Yards. Jeremy Guthrie, who was listed yesterday as Thursday's starter, will now get an extra day of rest and is set to start Friday vs. the Mets. After his last start, Guthrie mentioned that he had been dealing with some "general soreness." Today he told reporters he is fine and that he has known he will be pitching on Friday since the day after his last start, last Saturday...

The Orioles confirmed that Jake Arrieta will make tomorrow night's start against the Yankees. Jeremy Guthrie was told over the weekend that he wouldn't pitch again until Friday. The Orioles will announce a corresponding 25- and 40-man move tomorrow. Brad Bergesen stays in the bullpen to possibly back up Chris Tillman tonight. He could do the same for Arrieta tomorrow if he isn't involved in the roster move. Interim manager Juan Samuel didn't dismiss the possibility of Bergesen returning...

For the Orioles: Julio Lugo 2B Miguel Tejada 3B Nick Markakis RF Ty Wigginton 1B Luke Scott LF Adam Jones CF Matt Wieters C Garrett Atkins DH Cesar Izturis SS Chris Tillman RHP For the Yankees: Jeter SS Swisher RF Teixeira 1B Rodriguez 3B Cano 2B Posada DH Granderson CF Cervelli C Russo LF CC Sabathia LHP Draft update: The Orioles selected Cherokee County High School shortstop David Blanchard in the 41st round, Western Oregon State College left-hander Jacob Petitt in the 42nd, UC Los...

Nationals left-hander John Lannan gets the call tonight in Game 2 against the Pirates. I caught up with Lannan as he prepared his game plan for Pittsburgh and asked him how he prepares for each game. "I like to go out there and know what I am going to do beforehand. That is why I like to do scouting reports. I like to use the catcher and the pitching coach's help, but I like to be prepared myself so I don't have to rely on them too much. "This gives me more confidence as well. I...