When a pitcher has a record of 0-9 and ERA of 6.23, it seems it would be hard to find some progress that pitcher is making. Those are Brandon Erbe's numbers right now for Triple-A Norfolk. While Erbe has made two starts without giving up a run since May 13th, he has also allowed four runs or more in four of his last five starts. Despite the numbers, Norfolk pitching coach Mike Griffin remains upbeat about Erbe and his progress. "Brandon is learning how to pitch at this level. Brandon,...

Despite scoring just one run last night, the O's offense may be showing some signs of life on Juan Samuel's watch. Over the last five games, the Orioles have produced 53 hits and a team batting average of .291. They have as many sac bunts, five, since Samuel was named interim manger, as they had up until then. In the first 54 games, they stole 18 bases and the O's have stolen four over the last two games and seven in seven games with Samuel, with just one caught stealing. A major...

Alfredo Simon is expected to arrive in Baltimore later today after rehabbing his injured left hamstring in Sarasota. Simon could throw a simulated game tomorrow if pitching coach Rick Kranitz wants to see him face left-handers and right-handers. But he isn't dealing with an arm injury, so the Orioles might decide to skip it. Interim manager Juan Samuel isn't sure whether Simon will come off the disabled list Monday. The club would have to make a corresponding roster move. Koji Uehara is...

For the Orioles: Corey Patterson LF Miguel Tejada 3B Nick Markakis RF Ty Wigginton 1B Luke Scott DH Adam Jones CF Craig Tatum C Julio Lugo 2B Cesar Izturis SS Brian Matusz LHP For the Mets: Reyes SS Pagan CF Wright DH Davis 1B Bay LF Tatis 3B Barajas C Francoeur RF Tejada 2B Takahashi LHP

The Frederick Keys can wrap up the Northern Division first half title in the Carolina League tonight with a win at home over Salem or a Wilmington loss. The Keys magic number is now down to one. The Keys lost to Salem 8-5 last night, but their number to clinch dropped from two to one with Wilmington's loss. Frederick is looking for its fifth first half title in its 22-year history. The Keys last playoff berth was in 2007 when they won the Carolina League championship. Rick Zagone,...

It was the eighth inning last night and Brad Bergesen came running in from center field to pitch. He was going to make his first-ever Major League relief appearance. It just didn't look right, seeing Bergy as a reliever. I am not sure if that's the right role for him. He's become somewhat of the odd man out right now. He's in the pen for a couple of reasons. One, he wasn't pitching consistently well as a starter (16 ER over his last 14 1/3) and two, right now the other five starters...

I guess it's worth repeating. Interim manager Juan Samuel was asked after last night's game whether he's given any thought to moving Miguel Tejada to short. Samuel is giving the same answer we've been hearing, from the front office and former manager Dave Trembley, since the winter. "It never crossed my mind," he said. OK, that's not the exact same answer, but the message is a duplicate. Tejada will not be replacing Cesar Izturis. That wasn't part of the equation when they signed...

The Indians beat the Nationals 7-2 Friday night at Progressive Field behind a dramatic 2 home run 4 RBI performance by their former teammate. Austin Kearns blasted a 3-run shot in the 1st inning that quickly erased an early Nats lead. Then in his second at-bat, Kearns lauched another Luis Atilano (5-3) pitch over the left center field wall for a 4-1 Tribe advantage. Jake Westbrook (4-3) befuddled the Nats after they started the game with three consecutive base hits, going seven and...

Some notes from the Mets 5-1 win over the Orioles on Friday night and some post-game quotes from Jeremy Guthrie and Brad Bergesen. Guthrie on the Chris Carter three-run homer in the fourth: "I wouldn't say it was a bad pitch, it was a wrong pitch. He did a good job on it. Chris is a former teammate of mine, we played at Stanford together. He did a nice job, drove that pitch and hit a homer, it was a big difference. "I felt very comfortable out there. Had decent command of the...

The Orioles collected 11 hits tonight and scored one run. That won't win you many games. "Tonight, we faced a very tough, a different type of knuckleball," interim manager Juan Samuel said, referring to Mets starter R.A. Dickey. "It was a little bit unusual to see a knuckleball with that kind of velocity. We had a situation where we could have scored some runs there, loaded the bases, and I think he added a little velocity to that knuckleball and made it tough for our hitters. "We got...