Reliever Jim Johnson threw in the bullpen today and pronounced himself ready to pitch. "Everything went fine," he said."My arm feels good. I'll be in there." Johnson had some swelling in his right elbow caused by a slight muscle strain. "It's something I haven't really had before," he said. "It's just muscular, nothing with a ligament. The meds and ice worked. Pretty much Advil and ice. So we're good." Outfielder Felix Pie will attempt to throw today and is available to...

Brian Roberts 2B Adam Jones CF Nick Markakis RF Miguel Tejada 3B Luke Scott LF Matt Wieters C Nolan Reimold DH Garrett Atkins 1B Julio Lugo SS Brian Matusz LHP

Oregon native Brian Bruney was very young when his uncle Mike first started taking him to the Kingdome in Seattle to watch Mariners games. His uncle lived in Portland and together they'd make the three hour trek north to watch Mariners games during the late 80's and early 90's. "I used to kid Alex [Rodriguez] in New York that when I was kid going to Mariners games, he'd never give me an autograph," Bruney said. Though he couldn't remember the specific opponent of that first game,...

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...