Well, draft day is finally here. It feels like I've been writing about the draft for weeks, but it's only been about the last week. It's an important three-day stretch for the Orioles. They seem certain to get a highly-touted prospect with their first-round pick tonight, but all of their picks will be important. The Tampa Bay Rays hit big on some draft picks over the years and that helped them climb to the top of the American League East. But while fans are excited about the Orioles...

Sorry to leave the comments unattended for so long. I ended up in Canton last night and...well, I ended up in Canton. I could use a little more sleep, but I'm playing tennis in about an hour and I wanted to get the blog cranked up before I dragged my tired body onto the court. The Orioles will make their selection in tonight's First-Year Player Draft no later than 7:15 p.m. Each team is on the clock for five minutes now that MLB Network has gotten involved and we have to milk this sucker...

Many fans are wondering if the Orioles will make a concentrated effort to add some offense in the First-Year Player Draft that begins with the first round tonight at 7 p.m. With the third overall pick in round one tonight the O's could wind up with prep pitcher Jameson Taillon or high school shortstop Manny Machado. Most draft projections have the O's taking one of those young players, which ever the Pirates don't select with the second pick. After that, there are indications the O's...

A familiar criticism of the Orioles at times in recent years has been that there is a losing culture around the organization. They need more players that have toughness and just refuse to lose, some say. O's scouting director Joe Jordan said, in addition to talented players, he is looking for players just like that this year in the First-Year Player Draft, which begins at 7:00 p.m. Monday night. "I don't want to make a statement against anyone that's here, but what we've really tried to...

Nick Markakis made sure we didn't endure a 12th inning today, lining a single into left-center field to touch off a wild, and rare, celebration at home plate. So this is how a win looks and feels? Amber Theoharis talks with Nick Markakis after his game winning hit in the 11th inning "We've battled," Markakis said. "We were in games and lost them. But we didn't let this one get away. Our bullpen did a great job. (David) Hernandez came in and did as good of a job as you could ask that...

Interim manager Juan Samuel sat down in the interview room, removed his cap and told reporters that his hair hadn't turned more gray since the game started. He could have been referring to the dramatic outcome or the amount of time it took to complete. I'm not positive. Samuel received a couple of souvenirs from his first victory. "I have the ball in my office and the lineup card," he said. Samuel was spared the shaving cream pie "unless they're trying to sneak up on me," he said....

Join me tomorrow as we talk with Bryce Harper's college coach Tim Chambers as the Nats prepare to take Harper with the No. 1 overall pick in the draft. Also joining me will be Nationals relief pitcher Drew Storen, Baseball America's Jim Callis talking Harper and Stephen Strasburg; we'll have Mike Rizzo's comments on what the Nats are looking for after Harper; and stay tuned for insight from MASNsports.com's Ben Goessling on the Nats draft from the scouts' perspective. Join us for our...

Whether they get a player that can throw a fastball 99 miles per hour, or a shortstop that may be a five-tool talent, the Orioles figure to come out of the first round of Monday's First-Year Player Draft feeling pretty good about things. After the Nationals take Bryce Harper with the first pick as expected, the Pirates are up. Baseball America and ESPN are now projecting that Pittsburgh will select Texas prep pitcher Jameson Taillon with the second pick. Under that scenario the Orioles...

Update: It took 11 innings, but the Orioles halted their 10-game losing streak with a 4-3 victory. Nick Markakis singled to score Cesar Izturis, who drew a leadoff walk against Boston left-hander Hideki Okajima and moved up on Julio Lugo's sacrifice bunt. Miguel Tejada was walked intentionally, and Markakis ended this marathon. Congrats Juan Samuel. True to his pre-game word, interim manager Juan Samuel called upon left-hander Will Ohman to get the save today. Ohman allowed four earned runs...

It started to pour, then it stopped. Again. Cesar Izturis reached on an error by Boston second baseman Dustin Pedroia leading off the seventh inning, and he moved up on a sacrifice. Miguel Tejada popped up, but Nick Markakis walked with the count full on a pitch so close that Red Sox starter John Lackey hopped in the air and spun away in frustration. Ty Wigginton couldn't break the tie, bouncing into a force after getting ahead, 3-0. And so it continues... Interim manager Juan Samuel is...