If you are looking for a nugget, a morsel, a small crumb to hang your hat on with something even remotely positive through this dismal Orioles start it is this - the starting rotation. Kevin Millwood and Jeremy Guthrie easily pitched good enough to win the last two days and it's been that way most days during this season. The starters are throwing a lot of strikes, getting deeper in games and keeping this so far terrible hitting team in games. The starters ERA is only 4.52, still a big...

Syracuse Chiefs and former George Washington Colonials pitcher Josh Wilkie is off to a good start through 4 games and a 1.35 ERA as a reliever. He has pitched a robust 6 2/3 innings, allowing only 2 hits and 1 earned run. Righties are batting just .125 against Josh, who grabbed a few minutes with me as the Nats were checking out of their team hotel. Wilkie told me things are going well in the first few weeks: "I am trying to get a feel on the mound when pitching every other day as a...

It happened again: Apparently, any thought that it could not get any worse for the Orioles, was just not correct. They gave up two runs in the last of the 9th at Oakland Saturday afternoon to lose 4-3 to the A's. The Orioles, who lost four times all last year when leading after eight innings, have now lost three times this year when leading after eight. So, the Birds are 1-11 on the season with nine losses in row. They are 0-3 on this ten-game road trip. They are 1-4 in one-run games and...

I don't mean the porterhouse steak that my father grilled for me that overlapped my plate. Or half of my mother's steak that I ate for dessert. That's a lot of red meat, my friends. The Orioles lost again today, which is sort of like reporting that the sun came up or someone broke up with Jennifer Aniston (which is the real mystery to me.) Jim Johnson blew the save after Ty Wigginton's sacrifice fly in the eighth inning gave the Orioles a 3-2 lead. Johnson is getting first crack at the...

It's becoming so unbelievable, but the Orioles blew another game today in the 9th inning. They took a one-run lead to the last of the 9th at Oakland, but Ryan Sweeney's two-run single with the bases loaded and one out vs. Jim Johnson gave the A's a 4-3 win. Yes, the O's blew another one in the ninth. Johnson was clearly struggling, according to Joe Angel's radio call. In the inning he gave up two hits and threw two wild pitches with Matt Wieters making a nice save to stop a third. He...

We're back to the good news, bad news theme. Miguel Tejada reached on a bunt single in the sixth inning, making him 3-for-3, but he left the game with a right leg injury. Cesar Izturis pinch-ran for him, and Garret Atkins drove in two runs to tie the game, 2-2. Julio Lugo went from shortstop to second, and Ty Wigginton went from second to third. The Orioles must hope that their luck hasn't gone from bad to worse. Bowie update: I already told you about Brandon Waring's two-run homer for...

So it was the top of the fourth in today's game with a 0-0 score. The Orioles got a rally going when Matt Wieters and Miguel Tejada opened the inning with back-to-back singles. They had runners on first and second and none out. Up came Luke Scott, batting fifth today. Now, I don't know of any American League team that would ask its number five hitter to bunt in the 4th of a 0-0 game. But I would have had Luke try to drop a bunt there. I know, it sounds crazy. Scott went on to hit into...

Jeremy Guthrie has blanked the Athletics on three hits over three innings today, walking one and striking out three. Justin Duchscherer has blanked the Orioles on three hits over four innings, walking one and striking out three. Miguel Tejada has two of the three hits for the Orioles. Matt Wieters, batting third, has accounted for the other one. Nick Markakis walked and struck out. No, seriously, he did. Instant update: Guthrie gave up a run in the fourth. Oakland 1, Orioles 0.

Brandon Waring hit a two-run homer today for Double-A Bowie, which is locked in a 2-2 tie with Akron in the seventh inning. Waring is playing third base and batting cleanup for the Baysox. Tim Bascom allowed one run and three hits in five innings. He also struck out six and left the game with his ERA at 0.82. Don't forget that Bascom was selected one round ahead of Jake Arrieta. The Orioles didn't want to wait and risk losing him. He isn't mentioned with the rest of the cavalry, but...

Adam Jones CF Nick Markakis RF Matt Wieters C Miguel Tejada 3B Luke Scott DH Nolan Reimold LF Ty Wigginton 2B Garrett Atkins 1B Julio Lugo SS Jeremy Guthrie RHP I never heard back from owner Peter Angelos - so much for MASN favoritism - but he's disputing the FoxSports.com report to ESPN's Buster Olney and The Sun's Jeff Zrebiec. Cal Ripken is traveling and hasn't been available for comment. I also placed a call to president of baseball operations Andy MacPhail. Angelos told Olney:...