David Hernandez says his right shoulder feels much better and he's still scheduled to throw in the bullpen tomorrow for the first time since being scratched from yesterday's start against the Indians. The Orioles would consider placing Hernandez on the disabled list if he can't complete the session. Hernandez played catch yesterday and again today, "and I didn't feel any pain," he said. "I was able to get on top of everything. I was able to get to my arm slot." The bullpen session...

Did Andy MacPhail put Garrett Atkins on the hot seat today? When asked by the Baltimore Sun, how long he would stick with his struggling first baseman he said "it doesn't have to be that way forever." Atkins is hitting just .243-0-6 and was asked today if he feels he's been put on notice. "I'm not too worried about it, it's been 100 at bats. You get five or six more hits, you're hitting .300. Just trying to come in here every day and work to get better and produce a little more out...

Nolan Reimold started at first base for Triple-A Norfolk yesterday, as you know if you've been reading this blog. And the reasoning is fairly obvious. "The club does want to see what he can do at first base. That's why he was taking ground balls there at the end of spring training and why he was doing it here. And it was a good opportunity for him when he went to Triple-A to see if he could get acclimated to that there," manager Dave Trembley said. "There's a need right now. He did at...

Brian Roberts will report to the minor league camp in Sarasota on Wednesday to continue his baseball-related activities. That's it for the injury updates. Manager Dave Trembley didn't have any information on reliever Mike Gonzalez, who threw live batting practice today. The Orioles will bring up a position player by the time they visit Washington this weekend for their first interleague series. "I would think when we play a National League club, we would want another position player for...

MASN has announced plans to televise Stephen Strasburg's next two expected starts at Triple-A Syracuse. The Nationals prospect will take on the Rochester Red Wings on Wednesday, May 19th and the Toledo Mud Hens on May 24th. On Wednesday, the game will air on tape delay at 10:30 p.m. following Nats Xtra. On Monday, the game will be televised live at 7 p.m. Both games will appear on MASN. In his last outing, the heralded prospect tossed six scoreless, hitless innings and earned the win. ...

For the Orioles: Corey Patterson LF Nick Markakis RF Ty Wigginton 2B Miguel Tejada 3B Luke Scott DH Matt Wieters C Adam Jones CF Garrett Atkins 1B Cesar Izturis SS Brad Bergesen RHP For the Royals: Podsednik LF Aviles 2B DeJesus RF Butler 1B Guillen DH Callaspo 3B Maier CF Betancourt SS Kendall C Davies RHP

The lines of O's fans waiting in the spitting rain to meet Matt Wieters stretched around the building. One ESPN Zone employee even told me that anticipating the enormous crowd, she arrived at 6:45 a.m. - only to find that one Orioles fan beat her there. It was by far the most crowded ESPN Zone Orioles Q&A in the last few years, and extra tables accommodated the packed house to within arm's reach of young Oriole. You wouldn't have guessed it to look at Wieters, however. The same ease we...

The Nationals are going for it. With Drew Storen called up Sunday and Stephen Strasburg starting (most likely) June 4, Mike Rizzo is announcing to the senior circuit that you can't spell National League without the National(s). This was not the case last season (or the year before that, or the....stop!). The Nats would make mistakes or get crushed in the bullpen and nothing would happen. Now, the team is making moves to get the guys on the 25-man who can play and play now. Rizzo told me...

This one should take place in an outdoor ring in Vegas. You could order it on pay per view. $49.95 seems a little steep, though. Brad Bergesen will face the Royals tonight for the first time since Billy Butler slammed a line drive off his left shin and sent him hobbling to the dugout. It was the most painful sprint in recorded history, and it concluded with Bergesen collapsing in the tunnel and writhing in pain. If you attended the game at Camden Yards, you can still hear the ball striking...

Happy Monday! I hope that you all had a relaxing weekend. Are you ready for another homestand? This week's challenge: Where is this photo on display at Nationals Park? Bonus points if you tell us something interesting about the subject of the photo. The answer will be posted on Wednesday. Answer: Actually, it's Thursday! So you had an extra day. The answer is on the new pennants outside of the PNC Diamond Club on the concourse level.