Orioles scouting director Joe Jordan has taken four high school players and two collegians with his six first-round picks since he was named to that post in November of 2004. Right now, he is in the final days of his preparation for another draft and the Orioles have the fourth pick in Round 1 next Monday night. There are several draft projections and predictions that have the Orioles taking Oklahoma right-handed high school pitcher Dylan Bundy with that pick. There is also a segment of fans...

The Washington Nationals are struggling. Like, really struggling. After Monday's 5-4 loss to the Philadelphia Phillies, they have lost their last three games - all by one run. They have lost eight of their last nine, 10 of 12 and 13 of 17. The Nats are losing close games (5-12 in one-run games in 2011) and blowouts (1-6 when the game is decided by five or more runs). After 53 games, nearly a third of the season, they are 22-31, a .415 winning percentage. Over a 162-game schedule, that works...

While wondering if former Ohio State football coach Jim Tressel's next contract will include a vesting option ... And while wondering if anyone got that joke ... If I'm Jake Fox, I'm wondering where I fit on this team. Fox didn't pinch-hit yesterday despite having a few opportunities. I explained in one entry why he isn't an automatic choice with a left-hander on the mound, considering that he's 3-for-28 against them this season and is a career .206 hitter against them. But playing...

Nationals prospect left-hander Sammy Solis pulled off a solid debut for 2011 with the Single-A Hagerstown Suns at Kannapolis Intimidators on Monday. Solis went four and 2/3 innings with seven strikeouts, three walks and four hits. He allowed only one hit until the fifth inning, giving up three runs and getting a no decision. Solis said the start went well but he ran out of gas in that fifth inning. He threw 87 pitches and was sitting between 92 and 95 miles per hour on his fastball, so that...

The Orioles are now one loss away from following a five-game win streak with five consecutive losses. They are now 0-4 on their current road trip after this afternoon's 4-3 loss at Seattle, as they fall to 24-28. The Mariners have won 10 of 12 games to improve to 27-26. Jake Arrieta had the shortest start of his career as he allowed four runs and four hits in just 2 1/3 innings and 68 pitches. He falls to 6-3 with an ERA of 4.97. Arrieta issued two bases-loaded walks in the Seattle third, a...

Alfredo Simon kept today's game at Safeco Field from spinning out of control. If the Orioles brought their bats, he might be in line to get the win. Simon struck out the first two batters he faced to leave the bases loaded in the third inning and keep Jake Arrieta's line from growing uglier. He gave manager Buck Showalter 3 1/2 scoreless innings, allowing only two hits, walking one and striking out four. Just what the doctor ordered. And the manager. Simon threw 55 pitches over two...

While wondering why Major League Baseball insists that teams celebrate Memorial Day by wearing ugly caps... Matt Wieters commits his first error and Jack Cust triples. So it's going to be that kind of a day? Jake Arrieta threw 24 pitches in the first inning while surrendering two runs to the Mariners and putting the Orioles in an early hole. Arrieta receives a lot of run support. He'll need at least three today. Arrieta gave up two hits, including Cust's first three-bagger, and...

Here are some notes and stats about the Orioles and Mariners as they begin a three-game series this afternoon. It's the second leg of a two-city road trip for the Orioles, who are 24-27 overall and 9-13 in road games. * The Orioles swept a three-game series from the Mariners May 10-12 in Baltimore by scores of 7-6, 4-2 and 2-1. They won the first and third games of the series with walk-off, extra-inning wins. O's starting pitchers worked to an ERA of 1.29 in that series. * The Mariners are...

Manager Buck Showalter waited longer than usual to post his lineup today. He had to check on Adam Jones, who apparently needed one more day to lessen the discomfort in his right shoulder. For the Orioles: Felix Pie CF J.J. Hardy SS Nick Markakis RF Vladimir Guerrero DH Matt Wieters C Luke Scott 1B Nolan Reimold LF Mark Reynolds 3B Robert Andino 2B Jake Arrieta RHP Also, the Orioles made their roster move official earlier today by announcing that they recalled pitcher Chris...

The Orioles are hopeful that 2010 first-round draft pick Manny Machado will play in extended spring training games in Sarasota, Fla., starting Wednesday or Thursday. Machado has been out since May 5 with a left knee injury. In 25 games with Single-A Delmarva before that, he was hitting .333 with five homers, 21 RBIs and a 1.062 OPS. If he continues to progress he could return to the Delmarva lineup sometime next week. Double-A Bowie first baseman Joe Mahoney, who has been on the disabled...