The Orioles are taking early batting practice today, and the group includes outfielder Lou Montanez, who isn't packing his bags and meeting up with the Triple-A Norfolk Tides in Syracuse, N.Y. Sorry, Nolan Reimold, but your time is up. And the only parting gift is an extra Brian Matusz T-shirt. Reimold will be the casualty when Corey Patterson is added to the 25-man roster. Maybe he can find his stroke, the way Chris Tillman rediscovered his command with the Tides, and make it back here in a...

Corey Patterson is more than just the older brother of Oakland's Eric Patterson. Here's a refresher to go with your lunch: The Cubs selected Patterson with the third overall pick in the 1998 draft. He's a career .252 hitter in 10 major league seasons with five teams. He turns 31 in August. The Orioles acquired Patterson from the Cubs in January 2006 for minor leaguers Nate Spears and Carlos Perez. He hit .276 with 19 doubles, five triples, 16 homers, 53 RBIs, 45 stolen bases and a .757...

This week, MASN will wire Willie Harris for the rubber match against the Mets. Full of personality, Harris is always entertaining when wired, so don't miss this special feature. Nats Xtra begins at 12:30 p.m. on Wednesday. On Thursday, MASN will Cover the Bases with veteran catcher Iván Rodriguez. Bob, Rob and Debbi will review Pudge's phenomenal career and talk to coaches and players about his hot start to the 2010 season. The Nationals take on the Rockies at 8:40...

A few quick hit notes to finish out the evening... Jason Marquis struggled in his rehab start in Woodbridge as Potomac fell to Winston-Salem 8-5. Marquis allowed 6 hits and 3 earned runs over 3 2/3. Jason threw 54 pitches and 36 for strikes. Marquis has been on the disabled list since April with bone chips in his elbow. Former National Ryan Langerhans hit a homer for the Mariners at Camden Yards in their 5-1 win over the Orioles. Nationals starter Craig Stammen told me he will try to...

I'm not sure whether the Orioles are depressing me or if I should blame the gray sky and rain. I slept like a baby last night. I woke up crying every two hours. It was tough getting out of bed this morning, and I almost tripped over my bottom lip while trudging down the stairs. I'm actually typing this blog entry from the fetal position. I'll perk up eventually, but I feel like a beaten man. I wrote yesterday how manager Dave Trembley dropped strong hints that a roster move was coming...

Of all the problems the Orioles have right now, here is one you can't put a stat on: teammates losing faith in one another. As in the starting pitchers wondering when the offense will provide them some support. It's the pitcher's job to get the hitters out no matter what, but besides the fans, I wonder who has noticed the O's lack of offense most? Probably the pitchers. Lowest run support in the AL: 1st - David Hernandez - 1.46 2nd - Kevin Millwood - 2.30 8th - Jeremy Guthrie -...

The Mets got to Brian Bruney and Tyler Clippard Tuesday as New York erupted for six runs in the eighth inning that turned a 6-1 lead into an 8-6 loss. Bruney did not record an out but allowed 3 runs, 2 earned on 2 hits in the eighth. Clippard recorded only a strikeout to Jeff Francoeur in his worst outing of the season, giving up 4 hits and 3 earned runs. It seems recently that the Nats have been getting away with problems in the seventh inning because the starters have been able to get to...

For the Orioles hitters, it was another night getting asked about the lack of offense the team is producing and another night to talk about a loss. The O's offense has produced just two runs and 18 hits and a batting average of just .188 over the past three games after losing 5-1 to Seattle on Tuesday night in front of 12,614 at Camden Yards. Ty Wigginton was asked how hard it is to try and stay confident and upbeat as the losses mount and the runs are not coming. "I think right after a...

O's starter David Hernandez must be wondering what he has to do to get a win. He began tonight with some of the best stuff he's had all year, at times dominating stuff. But he couldn't keep it going and, as usual when he pitches, there were not many runs to work with either. He remains winless on the year as the Orioles lost 5-1 to Seattle to begin an eight-game homestand. "I just talked to Matt (Wieters) right now and he said 'that's the best stuff you've had in the first four...

Nolan Reimold had one of the Orioles' eight hits tonight, so perhaps he should be honored with a parade down Pratt St. Unfortunately for Reimold, that single was the only positive aspect of tonight's game. He went 1-for-4 to leave his average at .205. (It actually went up two points. Cue the band.) He also committed an error in left field and still seems to have some trouble judging balls. I thought it was telling that manager Dave Trembley, when asked during his post-game session with the...