Brian Roberts has certainly not given up hope that he will be on the field for the Orioles before this season ends. In fact he hopes to return to the club long before the season is over. "I'll definitely be back before the end of the year, if we don't have any setbacks. Well way before the end of the year," Roberts said today on the Scott Garceau show on MASN and O's flagship station, 105.7 the Fan during his MASN Brian Roberts segment. "My goal would be to be back before August 1st...

A few weeks ago, O's fans were wondering if Brian's Baseball Bash was still on for the summer of 2010. I assured you here in the Orioles Buzz that the Bash was still happening, but now I can even do you one better. The floor is now open for sponsorship opportunities and individual ticket sales for this year's Brian's Baseball Bash. Just as a refresher, this year's Bash is scheduled for Sunday, August 22 from 6:00 to 9:00 p.m. at the Dave & Buster's at the Arundel Mills Mall. If...

Nolan Reimold hit his fifth home run today as part of Triple-A Norfolk's six-run seventh inning, and the Tides have taken an 8-2 lead over Gwinnett. Reimold, starting again at first base, is 1-for-3 with two RBIs. He's batting .209. Rhyne Hughes has two more hits, leaving his average at .279. Robert Andino is 2-for-4 with three RBIs. Matt Angle is 2-for-3 with a stolen base. Left-hander Troy Patton has allowed two runs and four hits over six innings, with no walks and three strikeouts....

Felix Pie is hitting .385, but the Orioles have lost all nine games that he's played. Don't blame Pie. It's not entirely his fault. I checked on him an hour ago and he's feeling fine after making his first start with the Orioles since April 15. No shoulder or back pain. It must be behind him, so to speak. "I still feel good," he said. "Before we played here, I played a couple more (rehab) games and I'm conditioned. I'm ready." Pie had two hits and an RBI last night. "I'm not...

We've discussed the Orioles' failings with runners in scoring position. I just hope they can get some runners on base tonight. Tigers starter Max Scherzer has allowed two earned runs and struck out 23 in his last three starts covering 20 2/3 innings, and he's won his last four starts at home. Scherzer struck out 14 batters in 5 2/3 innings in a May 30 start against Oakland. That's 14 of his 17 outs coming on strikeouts. Nice percentage. The current Orioles are a combined 2-for-10...

Have you noticed that the Orioles seem to win more games when they hit with runners in scoring position? They were more productive in those situations while sweeping the Nationals at Camden Yards. They went 3-for-17 last night and lost to the Tigers in 11 innings. I don't believe it's a coincidence. Better results from their bullpen would have reversed the outcome, but they couldn't hold a 4-1 lead. We've debated interim manager Juan Samuel's decision to use Alfredo Simon for a...

Kipp Schutz didn't get his chance to make his mark with the Delmarva Shorebirds this season. But he seems to be making up for lost time now with the Aberdeen IronBirds. Schutz went into last night's game batting .403 to start the year and the O's 19th-round pick from the 2009 draft was the leading hitter in the New York-Penn League. His average dropped a few points last night but he remains the leading batter in the league today. It was disappointing for him when the 22-year-old lefty...

Nationals shortstop Ian Desmond was bounding through the clubhouse pregame with a skip in his step and a smile on his face, ready to go for the first game of the series against the San Diego Padres. That boundless energy and enthusiasm is all a part of the full package you get from Desmond. It is what the Nationals loved about Desmond last year and in spring training. That energy has played out in his aggressiveness on the field, trying to make every play on defense, when sometimes just...

Seriously, would 20 do the trick? What's it going to take? Johnny Damon's two-run, walk-off home run off David Hernandez in the bottom of the 11th inning gave the Tigers a 7-5 victory over the Orioles. Gary and Mike ask Juan Samuel about the O's 7-5 11-inning loss to Detroit I had a bad feeling about this game once interim manager Juan Samuel called upon Alfredo Simon to get a five-out save. Was Hernandez unavailable until the 10th? Jason Berken has been outstanding this season, but the...

Nick Markakis is 3-for-5 with three RBIs, including a two-run shot in the seventh inning that wiped out Detroit's 1-0 lead, and Felix Pie has two hits and an RBI in his return. Will it be enough? The Tigers scored twice in the eighth against Jason Berken to dial up the drama. It's up to Alfredo Simon to record the five-out save. More drama. Update: Miguel Cabrera hit a two-run homer off Simon in the bottom of the ninth to tie the game, 5-5. More frustration. Jake Arrieta held the Tigers...