On Sunday, the Nationals hosted the Children's National Medical Center for the third annual Children's Day at Nationals Park. The event honors the Nationals' partnership with Children's Hospital and the team's ongoing commitment to building a pediatric diabetes care complex. Children who receive treatment at the facility enjoyed pre-game activities, delivered the ceremonial first pitch and line-up card, took the field for the "starting 9" and announced "play ball." Special tickets...

A versatile infielder and veteran presence, Ronnie Belliard played an important role during three tough seasons in Washington. Traded to the Dodgers in late August 2009, Belliard found himself moving cross-country from a team pushing toward a 100 loss season to a team destined for postseason play. Added as a utilityman and bat on the bench, Belliard impressed the Dodgers quickly with his hot hitting and ended the season as an everyday player. This April, Belliard continues to impress. The...

The Orioles are 2-1 in games started by Brian Matusz this year and 0-14 when anyone else is the starting pitcher. That is not a knock on the other starters, who have mostly done a solid job. But the team seems to be developing that winning feeling and confidence when the 23-year-old lefty is on the mound. Matusz is 7-2, 4.55 in 11 career Major League starts. Of course, the real test for any O's pitcher is how do they stack up vs. the AL East, baseball's best division. Not only does the...

The Orioles made the roster move official. Rhyne Hughes is up, of course, and Justin Turner has been optioned to Triple-A Norfolk. The Orioles are more comfortable with Julio Lugo at shortstop and Turner has options remaining. They also decided to keep the extra bullpen arm. Turner was 0-for-9 with three strikeouts in five games. I wish he would get some starts at shortstop with the Tides, but Robert Andino and Scott Moore apparently have dibs. I just think it would increase Turner's...

For the Orioles: Lou Montanez LF Adam Jones CF Nick Markakis RF Miguel Tejada 3B Matt Wieters C Luke Scott DH Ty Wigginton 2B Rhyne Hughes 1B Cesar Izturis SS Brian Matusz LHP Luke Scott is 2-for-5 with two home runs lifetime against Boston starter John Lackey. Miguel Tejada is 10-for-33 with a home run and five RBIs. Nick Markakis is 7-for-23 with two RBIs. Left-hander Brian Matusz has held opponents to a .235 average with one extra-base hit, a sixth-inning double by Kevin Kouzmanoff in his...

For the Red Sox: Marco Scutaro SS Dustin Pedroia 2B Victor Martinez DH Kevin Youkilis 1B Mike Lowell 3B Jason Varitek C Bill Hall RF Jeremy Hermida LF Darnell McDonald CF John Lackey RHP

I have always been impressed with professional athletes who go out of their way to give back to the community. It's one thing to have a charitable foundation, but it's special when the athletes are out in the community in person, especially with events and causes that benefit children. On the Orioles first off day of the season I spent the evening at the Harford County Boys & Girls club annual fund raising dinner. My wife Bonnie and I were invited to attend and I was asked to emcee the...

Rhyne Hughes, who is joining the Orioles in Boston today, reached base via hit or walk in all 14 games that he started for Triple-A Norfolk. Hughes batted .372 (16-43) with two homers and seven RBIs against right-handers, and .250 (2-8) with one homer and four RBIs vs. lefties. You'll like this one: Hughes batted .429 (6-14) with one homer and nine RBIs with runners in scoring position. He'll stick out like a sore thumb in the Orioles' clubhouse. I'm not sure if manager Dave Trembley...

I have always been impressed with professional athletes who go out of their way to give back to the community. Its one thing to have a charitable foundation but it's special when the athletes are out in the community in person especially with events and causes that benefit children. On the Orioles' first day off of the season I spent the evening at the Harford County Boys & Girls club annual fundraising dinner. My wife Bonnie and I were invited to attend and I was asked to emcee the...

Is it a stretch to say that it's been such a tough start for the Orioles that now former O's first-round picks long since forgotten are now helping O's division rivals out of their doldrums? That is exactly what happened with Darnell McDonald and the Boston Red Sox earlier this week. Boston entered Tuesday's game with Texas at 4-9 and with five losses in a row. The Sox trailed 6-2 after five innings. But McDonald, called up from Triple-A earlier in the day, hit a pinch-hit, game-tying,...