More from the minor league award winners (plus O's notes)

When the Orioles' minor league Player and Pitcher of the Year sat at a table at Camden Yards before last night's game, taking questions from reporters at a press conference, we saw a bit of a contrast.

On one side of Orioles executive vice president of baseball operations Dan Duquette was catcher Chance Sisco. The expectations were high for Sisco, selected in the second round of the 2013 draft with the 61st overall pick. On the other side was lefty reliever Donnie Hart, who was not drafted until the 27th round and 819th pick in the same draft. There were no expectations for Hart. But both players got an opportunity and ran with it

Both players have had solid careers and Hart has already made the majors. Both deserved the awards they were presented yesterday.

Sisco was asked about the hardest thing in his continuing improvement on defense at catcher.

"The hardest thing for me has been footwork and controlling the running game," he said. "Working with the pitchers on that. They have to help me, I have to help them. I've made huge strides in that since spring."

Hart is clearly a big Sisco fan. They played together at Single-A Delmarva in 2014 and again this year at Double-A Bowie. Hart sees Sisco as a much-improved catcher who called the game so well that he didn't have to shake off signs this year when they were together in the Eastern League.

"I joked with him that this year at one point, he wasn't even finishing putting down a sign and I came set," Hart said. "We knew what page we were on. As a pitcher, especially in the seventh, eighth or ninth, when you have that comfortability with your catcher and feel that solid with him back there, that makes your job a lot easier. Plus he'll give you a good AB every time up and he goes back behind the plate and he sees things that a lot of the pitchers don't. He's learning and it's been fun to watch it happen."

Sisco received the Brooks Robinson Award and Hart the Jim Palmer Award before last night's game.

The Orioles also recognized catcher Yermin Mercedes who won the South Atlantic League batting title, hitting .353 in 91 games with Delmarva.

"I put in a lot of work and was focused on everything," Mercedes said of his strong season. "I'm thankful for the Orioles for giving me a chance. But the hard work is the reason I'm here. I got my first (batting title). I have to go for more and more. I feel great about that."

In addition to the players, the Orioles honored Dave Walker. He has been in the organization for 23 seasons. Walker is the minor league medical coordinator and was named the winner of the Cal Ripken Sr. Player Development Award, presented to a minor league staff member that exemplifies the qualities of the late Oriole who is regarded as the architect of "The Oriole Way." Walker has helped many injured players get back on the field and worked extensively with Dylan Bundy in his rehab from Tommy John surgery.

If you don't think these awards are meaningful, you should have seen Walker get a bit choked up when talking about getting an award named after such a great Oriole.

"It's humbling," Walker said, his voice filled with emotion. "To be linked to that as a non-uniform personnel. For the athletic training profession to be recognized - we are kind of behind the scenes and we don't really expect an award like this. I think it is great for the athletic trainers after me. A trainer got this award that is typically for a manager, coach or instructor. It's humbling. I'm very honored and thank the organization for the recognition."

Area scout Thom Dreier (southern Texas) received the Jim Russo Scout of the Year Award, named in honor of the man who spent 33 years in various scouting capacities with the Orioles beginning with their move from St. Louis in 1954. Dreier has been an Orioles scout for six drafts, having started with the organization in 2011. Among the players he has signed are Hart and Tanner Scott.

I asked Dreier what it is like to see a 27th-round pick like Hart beat the odds and make the major leagues.

"It's a little surreal," he said. "As an amateur scout, we have to dream on these guys and see what they will be in three or four years. You almost can't believe seeing them at that level. We sign them, send them out and then they appear three or four years later and there they are. You think, 'Last time I saw you, you were at Texas State, pitching against A&M-Corpus Christi.' It's a cool feeling.

"I remember when I saw Hart (in college), he came in and I got my gun out and he was 87 to 89 (mph). None of the other scouts were really paying attention except my friend from the Red Sox. We made eye contact and put our guns away real quick. We didn't want anyone else to notice. Got to see him later. He could sink it and slide it and was athletic. They made some errors behind him, but he didn't flinch. The Donnie you see today is the Donnie I saw that day."

It was nice to see the players get their awards yesterday while also two key guys behind the scenes get some deserved recognition as well.

Now, about those Orioles: Well, the Orioles beat the first-place Red Sox in their ballpark. They took two of three at Fenway Park and came home just one game out of first place with a 6-3 road trip. But now they have lost two of three to the team at the bottom of the division. Those have been two costly losses to Tampa Bay and the Orioles are now three games out of first in the American League East.

Is the division title chance slipping away?

Starting Monday, the Orioles get four more shots at Boston. They can take care of some business in head-to-head matchups. But how far out will they be when that series begins and will they be in a hole too deep to climb out of?

The Orioles' 11-game homestand is off a poor start. They have time to turn it around. But today, struggling Wade Miley takes the mound. His performance does not generate confidence right now. But the Orioles need to split this series by winning today and then take aim one more time at first in the division.