While prepping for tonight's MASN broadcast, I'll also need to check on left fielder Felix Pie and find out whether he's close to getting back in the lineup. We haven't seen one posted up here in the press box, so I'll have to wait until the clubhouse opens to the media at 3:40 p.m. If Pie isn't in left tonight, and it would be a shocker if his shoulder allowed it, Nolan Reimold or Luke Scott figure to take his place. Reimold couldn't get to two balls in the gap last night, but I...

Here are the season-opening starting rotaitons for the Orioles four full-season minor league clubs. The pitchers are listed as they will work from first through fifth. Those listed first are this evening's opening night starters. Norfolk: Chris Tillman, Jake Arrieta, Alfredo Simon, Troy Patton and Brandon Erbe. Bowie: Zach Britton, Steve Johnson, Chorye Spoone, Ryohei Tanaka and Tim Bascom. Frederick: Rick Zagone, Ryan O'Shea, Nate Nery, Cole McCurry and Oliver Drake. Delmarva: Ryan...

It isn't often that I get the chance to replace a Hall of Famer, but Jim Palmer got the hook today and I'm coming in from the bullpen. And there isn't much time to warm up. Let me explain. Palmer is dealing with a bad chest cold and won't be joining play-by-play man Jim Hunter tonight in the MASN broadcast booth. Somebody has to fill his seat, if not his shoes. That would be me. All I ask is that you go easy on me. I don't know how many innings I'm working and I don't know exactly...

You've waited a long time for the second set of standings for the Orioles Buzz weekly photo feature 'Where in the Yard?' - but those standings are finally here. It's been 11 weeks since Lauren was crowned our last winner, and we're long overdue for another. As I predicted, it was a pretty tight race near the finish line, and it came down again to bonus points. This time around, give your Congrats to Heathir, who not only identified every image, but bagged all the bonus points as well,...

Game Preview Boston (60-42) at Orioles (44-58) Friday night featured more of the same for the Orioles. Another loss since the All-Star break. Another close loss and another defeat vs. Boston. They'll try and break into the win column vs. the Sox tonight in game two of the series at Camden Yards at 7:05 p.m. when David Hernandez (3-2, 3.20) pitches vs. Boston's Josh Beckett (12-4, 3.44). Kevin Youkilis hit a two-run homer off Jeremy Guthrie in the 7th inning to lead Boston to a 6-5 win...

So the Orioles are considering Brian Matusz to make Tuesday's start in Detroit in the place of the injured Brad Bergesen. I don't have a vote, but in this blog I do. I sign off big time on that move. And, it's not just because I've seen him pitch three or four times in person this year and his stuff has looked great. It's because his maturity and poise appear off the charts as well. Matusz can handle it. Plus, his pitches sure look Major League quality. In seven starts at Bowie,...

RHP David Hernandez (3-2, 3.20) tonight will make his 8th start of this year, his 3rd at home and his 2nd in a row vs. the Boston Red Sox. Hernandez is coming off back-to-back very strong starts at Yankee Stadium (one run, six innings) and Fenway Park (one run, seven innings). In those two games he pitched 13 innings, allowing eight hits and two runs for a 1.38 ERA. Over his last four starts, he is 2-0, 2.45. The four starts were all on the road at Los Angeles, Seattle, New York and...

O's top draft pick Matt Hobgood made his third start at Bluefield tonight. For the third time in a row, he gave up runs. In two innings vs. Johnson City, the right-hander allowed six hits and three runs (two earned). In five innings on the year, he has allowed nine hits and four earned runs for an ERA of 7.20. He was scheduled to throw about 50 pitches. Hobgood pitched on eight days rest tonight, but I'm told he is fine physically. The club just wanted to give him longer between starts...

Watching David Hernandez struggle to keep his pitch count down tonight vs. Boston, it is easy to understand why the Orioles did not want Chris Tillman's second start to come vs. the Red Sox. Hernandez, making his 8th start, certainly struggled with his command, but the Sox are just a relentless bunch in that lineup and work the count so well. The O's made a wise choice to have Tillman's second start come Monday vs. Detroit on the road. That is no picnic, but I like his chances better that...

Dustin Pedroia and Kevin Youkilis hit solo homers to back the seven innings of scoreless pitching of Josh Beckett as the Red Sox blanked the Orioles 4-0 Saturday night. The crowd of 49,384 was the 4th largest in Camden Yards history and second sellout of the season. Beckett, now 13-4, 3.27, gave up six hits in his seven shutout frames with two walks and five strikeouts. He threw 107 pitches and is 6-2 in 12 career starts vs. Baltimore. He is the Major League's first 13-game winner. Over...