Milledge, Bucs Impressed with Strasburg
Two outs into Stephen Strasburg's would-be impressive major league debut, the past stepped into the batter's box to meet the future. Lastings Milledge strolled to the plate greeted by a chorus of boos from the sold-out crowd of 40,315. After two called strikes, Milledge swung at strike three and the crowd erupted.
Milledge was the first of Strasburg's nine strikeout victims on the night. In fact, every hitter that faced Strasburg struck out at least once and five of them struck out...
Frank Mata retired the only batter he faced in the sixth inning, getting Alex Rodriguez to bounce out with the bases loaded and the count full. It wasn't tidy, but it was gutsy.
Interim manager Juan Samuel played the matchup game in the seventh, bringing in left-hander Mark Hendrickson with two left-handers and a switch-hitter due up.
Ah, the percentages.
The Yankees just hung six runs on the board, with Matt Albers replacing Hendrickson and giving up a bases-clearing double to Nick Swisher...
No action in the Orioles' bullpen, though Kevin Millwood is up to 99 pitches through five innings. He's allowed six runs and seven hits, walked four and struck out six.
Ty Wigginton just singled to score Julio Lugo and cut the Yankees' lead to 6-3. Interim third base coach Gary Allenson sent Lugo, though a few people in the press box doubted the wisdom. I wasn't one of them.
Matt Wieters has two singles and an RBI. This is the hardest I've seen him hit the ball in a while.
Maybe that...
Livan Hernandez knows something about sell-out crowds, national attention and baseball hype in Washington. After all, he was on the mound for one of the most important moments in D.C. baseball history -- the return of baseball to the nation's capital in 2005.
While it's a bit of a stretch to compare that exciting moment to tonight's debut of Stephen Strasburg, there are certainly similarities. Both moments closed the book on painful memories and ushered in a new era of baseball in the...
On day two of the First-Year Player Draft, the Orioles selected 28 players, completing rounds two through 30.
Of the O's 29 picks to date, 15 are pitchers and 14 position players with 20 of the 29 selections being college products.
A few moments ago, O's scouting director Joe Jordan talked about the second day of the draft with reporters here in the Camden Yards press box.
"It was a good day. We got a lot of guys we targeted and, like every year, that's what you try to do. Had a couple...
The Orioles completed the second day of the draft by selecting South Houston High right-hander Jaime Esquivel in the 28th round, UNC Wilmington left-hander Cameron Roth in the 29th round and UNC Wilmington shortstop Michael Rooney in the 30th round.
Director of scouting Joe Jordan is heading to the press box to meet with reporters.
Update: Check Steve Melewski's blog for quotes from Jordan. You might find it interesting that the Orioles currently view third-round pick Daniel Klein as a...
Kevin Millwood gave up a two-run homer in the first inning tonight to Nick Swisher. It's the fourth game in a row where Millwood has been scored on in the first inning after he pitched shutout ball in the opening inning of his first nine starts.
Maybe it's time for some mild concern over Millwood. In his last two starts, he gave up 10 ER and 16 hits over 11 2/3, including four homers.
Then some balls were hit very hard off him in that opening inning tonight.
In six starts from April 21...
Nats starting pitcher John Lannan remembers his major league debut in Philadelphia in 2007. He admits he was a little nervous in part from all the waiting around for the game to start.
Lannan knows how Stephen Strasburg felt in his first major league start.
"It was the anticipation that got to me a little bit, you know, the sitting around. Got there pretty early, it was a day game.
I was really excited, a little nervous, but all that stopped once I got on the mound.
He is psyched up...
The Orioles selected San Marcos High School right-hander Sebastian Vader (already my favorite name in the draft) in the 18th round, Santa Fe CC right-hander Kenneth Wise in the 19th round, UC Los Angeles left-hander Matt Drummond in the 20th round, Southern Mississippi right-hander Scott Copeland in the 21st round and Mountain Ridge High School catcher Tanner Murphy in the 22nd round.
Update: The Orioles selected Echerd College center fielder Christopher Clinton in the 23rd round, Georgetown...
There has been a lot of talk about catcher Matt Wieters and his offensive numbers, or lack thereof.
I asked Wieters about his offense today and also if carrying such a heavy load with catching and playing almost every day hurts his offense a bit.
"I don't think so. I think you can look at my numbers last year and they are probably similar to this point in the same number of at bats. You have a good month or couple of weeks and you are right back where you need to be."
You know what,...
The Orioles selected Pacific catcher Joe Oliveira in the 15th round, Fresno Community College outfielder Brandon King in the 16th and Hillsborough (Fla.) CC left fielder David Richardson in the 17th.
Corey Patterson remains day-to-day after aggravating a left groin injury that he originally sustained during the last homestand while running the bases in a game against Oakland. He tweaked it again in his last game, against Boston, while chasing a fly ball and trying to avoid shortstop Cesar...