Strasburg makes a statement
Nationals right-hander Stephen Strasburg has made a statement with his pitching.
He also made a statement about Bryce Harper before the signing deadline last week that really defines where this team is at right now, how they feel about themselves, and what they expect people outside the organization to think about the Nats:
"If he wants to play here, then he is going to play here," Strasburg said. "He doesn't need any advice from anybody. You don't need to convince him otherwise. If he...
Potomac Nationals first baseman Tyler Moore continues to have a career year with 28 homers and 102 RBI, guiding the P-Nats to challenge for the Northern Division title in the second half of the season. The franchise record for RBI is 113 by Troy Farnsworth in 2000. Moore has 16 games remaining to break that record.
It is hard to believe this is the same guy that was hitting .195 almost three months into the season. Since then, he has hit 18 homers and won the Carolina Player of the Week...
Before closing my laptop for the final time tonight, I wanted to pass along some quotes from Brian Matusz following tonight's gem.
You might recall that Matusz was 1-1 with a 10.95 ERA in three career starts against the Rangers before tonight. In two outings this year, both in Arlington, he pitched into the third inning in one and finished three in another. That's it.
"It definitely felt good out there today, especially coming off two bad outings against Texas this year," he said. "I...
Harrisburg Senators second baseman Steve Lombardozzi is off to an outstanding start following his promotion to Double-A last week. Lombardozzi is hitting .346 with two doubles in his first seven games for Harrisburg, after hitting .293 with 71 runs and 38 RBI for Potomac.
His manager at Potomac, Gary Cathcart, says Lombardozzi is pretty special.
"He is probably as focused a minor league player that I have seen at any level in all my years of coaching.
"He is 21. The thing I would say...
Ty Wigginton didn't want to elaborate on his altercation, if you want to describe it as such, with the Rangers' Andres Blanco. No sense inciting the players in the visiting clubhouse. We still have three more games left in this series.
"The guy did a nice piece of hitting, got the ball in the gap and thought he was going to make a triple and we had a nice relay and he was out," Wigginton said.
How big was the play?
"There's nobody out and the guy hits the ball in the gap. You've got a...
Not only did the Orioles string together three straight starts of eight innings or more for the first time since May 2005, it's only the second time that the club has accomplished the feat in the 2000s.
"I guarantee those guys in the clubhouse want to try to make it four," manager Buck Showalter said. "They're trying to pass the baton now and give us a chance to win. I think this time of year, to see guys getting a little stronger instead of going in the other direction is really...
This time, Brian Matusz got the better of the Texas Rangers.
In two starts earlier this year, Matusz had allowed 11 ER and 14 hits over 5 1/3 vs. Texas for an ERA of 18.56. His career ERA over three starts vs. Texas was 10.95.
Those numbers will come down now after Matusz pitched eight shutout innings vs. the AL West leaders Thursday night as the Orioles beat Texas 4-0 to start a four-game series.
The Orioles turned two double plays and made several nice plays behind him as he gave up just...
If you don't want to smack your head and hand on an infielder's leg, don't dive into the bag.
That's why God gave you spikes.
That's the popular opinion around here after the Rangers' Andres Blanco started jawing at Ty Wigginton, who knelt on his right knee to block the bag and apply the tag after taking Brian Roberts' relay throw in the sixth inning.
Blanco had a leadoff double. He wanted a triple. Wigginton wouldn't give it to him.
Blanco jumped to his feet after being called...
The O's and Texas head to the sixth inning in a 0-0 tie.
Brian Matusz has allowed just three singles in the game and the O's have turned two double plays behind him. He has fanned six and thrown 72 pitches.
A nice change for Matusz vs. Texas. In his first two starts this year vs. this club, he had allowed 11 ER and 14 hits over just 5 1/3 innings.
Colby Lewis, who began with game with a batting average against of just .163 with runners in scoring position, best in the AL and second best...
In his last start, Brian Matusz gave up five runs in the fourth inning. Four of them scored on Kelly Shoppach's grand slam. He was gone after 75 pitches.
Matusz took a two-hit shutout into the fifth inning tonight, with one walk and five strikeouts.
That's improvement.
Matusz struck out two in the first, on his changeup and slider. He got another strikeout on his slider in the second, and another on his changeup to end the third.
If only he could get some run support.
Not that he's...
If a pitcher can look good in a non-game situation, I'm told that O's third-round pick Dan Klein did this afternoon at Aberdeen.
Klein threw a live batting practice session today. His fastball was in the low 90's (yes we have a BP velocity report) and he touched 95 once. The off-speed stuff showed some good movement as well.
I wonder if he threw a knuckle-curve, because he has one.
Gil Kubski, the O's area scout that watched Klein pitch at UCLA this year, had this scouting report on...