I wanted to relay my experiences from my visit last week to Reading, Pennsylvania to watch Stephen Strasburg's start. Strasburg did very well in that game, going five innings, allowing no hits and retiring the first 13 batters he faced. Unlike Sunday's start in Harrisburg, Strasburg was in control from the start and even contributed the game winning base hit. It is always fun to watch opposing team's reactions to Strasburg, especially the fans, who booed Strasburg as he ran slowly to...

One more SI cover reference. Matt Wieters was hitting for a decent average this season, but not much power. That's changed over his last two starts. A lot has changed with the Orioles lately. Wieters belted a three-run homer on Saturday, and he just went opposite field against the Yankees' CC Sabathia in the second inning to give the Orioles a 1-0 lead and plant a huge smile on manager Dave Trembley's face. Wieters has reached base safely in 23 of 25 games. Amber talks with Matt...

The Delmarva Shorebirds roster underwent some shuffling today as the Birds added three players. Catcher Justin Dalles returns to the Shorebirds and is activated off the DL. He suffered a concussion in a home plate collision on April 18. Delmarva also added IF Mike Mooney from Frederick and RHP Brent Allar from Aberdeen's roster. Catcher Luis Bernardo is heading from Delmarva to Frederick, catcher Jason Stifler joins Aberdeen's roster and RHP Ryan Palsha has also been placed on...

Orioles: CF Adam Jones RF Nick Markakis 2B Ty Wigginton 3B Miguel Tejada CA Matt Wieters 1B Garrett Atkins DH Nolan Reimold LF Lou Montanez SS Cesar Izturis RHP Jeremy Guthrie New York: SS Derek Jeter DH Nick Johnson 1B Mark Teixeira 3B Alex Rodriguez 2B Robinson Cano CA Jorge Posada RF Nick Swisher CF Brett Gardner LF Randy Winn LHP CC Sabathia

Some notes and stats to ponder as the O's begin a seven-game road trip at New York tonight with Jeremy Guthrie (0-3, 4.70) vs. CC Sabathia (3-1, 3.12). Ty Wigginton's performance to start the year has been rather stunning. He hit .273-11-41 in 410 at bats in 2009. He did hit 23 homers in 386 at bats with Houston in 2008. AL leaders, slugging percentage: .790 - Paul Konerko, CWS .763 - Robinson Cano, NYY .729 - Ty Wigginton, Balt AL leaders, at bats per home run: 6.75 - Paul Konerko,...

It's even less fattening than rice cakes. Too bad it doesn't come in cheddar flavor. Nationals closer Matt Capps has been named Major League Baseball's "Delivery Man of the Month" for April after going 10-for-10 in save opportunities. My concern is that Mike Gonzalez will actually become a delivery man if he doesn't stay healthy and start getting guys out. We're told that Gonzalez is pain-free and engaged in a throwing progression program in Sarasota. Once he returns, and we could be...

Is anyone surprised that Triple-A Norfolk's Chris Tillman was named the International League's Pitcher of the Week? That usually happens after you've thrown a no-hitter, as Tillman did on Wednesday to defeat Gwinnett. Tillman, the new Prince of the Tides, starts again tonight after limiting Gwinnett to one walk and making minor league history. Another batter reached on an error in Norfolk's 6-0 win. It was Tillman's first career complete game, and Norfolk's first nine-inning no-hitter...

Changing it up this week, we have a reader submitted photo. Can you guess where this is? This photo is from C Tatem. If you have a photo you'd like to submit to the contest, leave a comment here and I'll be in touch! Answers on Wednesday. Good luck! Answer: Red Porch If you haven't been out there yet this season, check it out. There are lots of renovations and new menu items!

It's raining here, it's raining in New York. Please give me some baseball weather while this team's on a roll. Do you think Jeremy Guthrie and Joe Girardi will talk around the batting cage today? Maybe shake hands, share a man-hug? Guthrie has hit more Yankees than any other team in his career. They fall like ducks at a shooting gallery. He drilled two in spring training, including Mark Teixeira, and nailed Jorge Posada in the ankle in his last start. Posada left the game. Girardi...

Since the Orioles recalled Rhyne Hughes from Triple-A, the Birds record is 5-3. Those eight games have been played against New York and Boston. Hughes addition and the O's starting to win are not directly related. He has played well, no doubt, but is not the saviour to this season. However, the O's on the field resurgence has come at a time when the team made two off the field moves with the roster that provided a positive result. The O's current benching of Garrett Atkins and banishing...