Heading into this season, many fans were excited to track the progress of Josh Bell and Brandon Snyder at Triple-A. They could be future cornerstones at the corner infield spots in Baltimore. When they both started slowly, some jumped off their respective bandwagons. And, while no one is hyping anything about their play, both are hitting better recently and improved their stats from April to May, perhaps showing some progress. Both have really picked it up at bat over the last several...

The Orioles are wearing throwback uniforms on June 26. Unfortunately, it's the '62 Mets. But seriously... As I drove home from MASN's Hunt Valley studio, I listened to Jeremy Guthrie give up a 1-0 lead in the first inning that Nick Markakis provided for him. Two doubles, two singles and a walk. At least the Jays didn't homer. That's an accomplishment. Guthrie threw 27 pitches, and they took me all the way into Eldersburg. Naturally, Miguel Tejada swung at the first pitch in the second...

Here are some pre-game stats and facts to consider before the final game of the Orioles-Blue Jays series in Toronto. After 5-0 and 5-2 losses, the O's will need a win today to avoid being swept in a three-game series for the fifth time on the year. They have been swept at home vs. Toronto and Tampa and on the road at Seattle and New York. The Orioles have won just two series all year and are 2-13-2 in series this season. They are 0-11-1 in their last 12 road series since taking the series...

When the Orioles acquired Kevin Millwood from the Texas Rangers last December for reliever Chris Ray, they were expecting him to be the leader of an inexperienced rotation and show the Orioles' young starters what it takes to be a consistent member of a major league staff. Millwood has gone beyond expectations. Now if only the Orioles could give him some support. Millwood lost his last start in Toronto to fall to (0-5) on the season. But his winless record is misleading. Millwood has an...

Matt Angle, one of the O's top outfield prospects, was moved today from Bowie to Triple-A Norfolk and immediately joined the Tides lineup as the leadoff hitter and center fielder. Angle went 5 for 22 in 16 games for the Orioles in spring training but suffered a broken hamate bone in his right hand very late in camp and underwent surgery. He joined Double-A Bowie on May 13 and hit .383-1-9 in 14 games. He went six for nine in his last two Baysox games on Thursday and Friday and hit .429 vs....

Cla Meredith is heading to Triple-A Norfolk. You have to wonder whether Alberto Castillo will be nipping at his heels. Maybe not that close, but Castillo hasn't exactly taken full advantage of his latest opportunity in the Orioles' bullpen. His roster spot is in jeopardy. Again. Castillo entered today's game as the lefty specialist and served up a two-run homer to Lyle Overbay on his first pitch, a slider that left the ballpark in a hurry. That's the fifth homer allowed by Castillo in 12...

WOODBRIDGE, Va. --- Left-handed relief pitcher Clayton Dill continues to progress with the Potomac Nationals. He was impressive in his relief appearance last week versus the Kinston Indians. The 5'11" Dill hails from Pine Bluff, Arkansas, and was a 35th round selection of the Nationals in 2008. He pitched for the GCL Nats as a rookie, Vermont and Hagerstown last season. Dill attended Arkansas-Little Rock and pitched at White Hall HS. Dill notched three strikeouts Wednesday in two...

I am not going to jump on Jason Berken. He is finally getting a deserved chance today to pitch in the later innings and not in long relief. But O's relief pitchers seem to make bad pitches at bad times lately. See Cla Meredith recently vs. Josh Willingham and Kevin Kouzmanoff. See Mike Gonzalez from the first week. See various other pitchers at other points late in games. Berken just left a 2-2 curve ball up and in, the definition of a hanging breaking ball, that Vernon Wells crushed to...

I wondered how Chris Tillman would respond after the long wait in the dugout during the Orioles' two-run sixth inning. It wasn't a marathon, but it might have seemed that way to Tillman, who's accustomed to taking a seat on the bench, removing his cap to wipe the sweat off his forehead and getting right back up. The Orioles actually provided some rest for Tillman, along with a 2-1 lead, but Aaron Hill crushed his first pitch in the bottom half of the inning for the tying home run. Tillman...

The Orioles came up with three straight hits with two outs in the sixth inning today to take a 2-1 lead at Toronto. They took advantage of a mental error by Blue Jays left fielder Fred Lewis. First, Cesar Izturis hit a two-out double to right and Julio Lugo singled to left to tie the game, 1-1. On Lugo's single, Lewis made the wrong decision and threw home where he had no chance to get Izturis. His throw was not only well off line, but missed the cutoff man allowing Lugo to run to second...