Nationals pitcher Scott Olsen pitched fairly well against the Phils in his first game in the majors since July 10th of last year. Olsen threw 91 pitches with 57 for strikes, went 5 2/3rd innings, allowed 5 hits, 4 earned runs, 3 walks and struck out 5 Phillies. Olsen told me he debuted a new pitch, the sinker, in that game, and had success throwing it. He says he feels comfortable with the grip and is excited to add it to his repertoire. Syracuse Chiefs pitching coach Greg Booker helped...

The Orioles four minor league affiliates are off to a combined 21 and 10 start. That is tied with Cleveland for the best combined minor league record in baseball right now. Norfolk: The Tides are 4-4 and have scored 15 runs in winning two in a row. Troy Patton pitches tonight at Durham. Josh Bell is hitting .214 and Brandon Snyder is at .200. Rhyne Hughes is 10 for 25 during a seven-game hitting streak. He's batting .400, 4th best in the league. Norfolk starters ERA is 2.97. Tides...

I recently had a chance to sit down with right-hander Brad Bergesen to talk about how his experiences from last season have translated to the mound this year and how looking back at a poor outing can help prepare Brad for his next start. We also touched on the overall success of the O's starting rotation, despite the team's struggles so far this season. Finally, watch the interview with Bergesen below to hear how the young Oriole knows which pitches will work best for him from one outing...

If you'd rather shield your eyes from the division standings, and it's like staring at the sun until you get a searing headache, I have a better race for you. Who is the greater source of frustration for manager Dave Trembley - Koji Uehara, Mike Gonzalez or Felix Pie? Uehara was limited to 12 starts last year because of hamstring and elbow injuries. The hamstring first became an issue in spring training. And his stamina was so poor, he'd break a sweat opening a bottled water. Now the...

The ESPN Zone in Baltimore's Inner Harbor has announced its summer schedule of Orioles activities, which include monthly player Q&As, a second annual Orioles Cook-off, another Battle of the Birds, and Brian's Baseball Bash. Each of the seven player Q&As will feature a current Oriole, and each round will be hosted by an O's broadcaster. Expect to learn a little more about some of your favorite Orioles, the chance to win Orioles tickets (by knowing your O's trivia!), and an autograph...

I'd say I don't remember a worse Orioles start ever, but I do. I remember 0 and 21 in 1988. I also remember the 1978 season when the Orioles were blown out in three straight games vs. Milwaukee. They were outscored 40 to 11 and Eddie Murray played third base. That didn't last long. Eddie at third or the losing. That team won 90 games. This team looks like it will lose 90. I don't think you could have dreamed up a worse start to the year. The team can't get a clutch hit, the...

Due to Major League Baseball's national broadcast restrictions, the Baltimore Orioles 4:00 p.m. ET game in Oakland on Saturday afternoon cannot be televised by MASN.   Major League Baseball's agreements with national television networks forbid any regional network from broadcasting any Major League Baseball game during the window reserved for nationally televised baseball games.   According to MLB's website: Due to Major League Baseball...

Has anyone been able to find the reset button on this season? I'll gladly take the tip of a pen and press it inside that little hole. Whatever it takes to start over. If the Orioles can't lead the league in wins, maybe they'll take first in injuries. Felix Pie's shoulder won't heal, and he left last night's game in obvious pain after taking a hard cut. Manager Dave Trembley has sat him against left-handers, but not only because of the percentages. He just can't use Pie every night...

Wins and losses: With the 6-2 loss at Oakland, the Orioles fell to 1 and 9 with seven losses in a row. The Orioles, off to their worst start since 1988, have the worst record in the Majors. They fall to 1-3 on the road and have not won since the third game of the year. The Orioles have now lost seven straight at Oakland and have not won there since July 22, 2007. The Orioles are 1-11 in their last 12 vs. the A's. Oakland is 66-28 vs. the O's since the start of the 1999 season. The O's...

I'm bouncing between programs tonight - the SNL special, the "30 for 30" documentary on Allen Iverson, the end of the Caps game. I check on the Orioles and see David Hernandez give up two runs in the first inning. I turn back later and see Cesar Izturis ground out to strand two runners. I flip back again and see Oakland add a run in the second inning and still have the bases loaded. Hernandez did a terrific job controlling the damage in the second. The game could have totally gotten out...