Senators pitcher Matt Chico continues to work hard to get back to the Major Leagues and had a very good outing this week for Harrisburg at Reading, his first win of the season. I caught up with Matt this week and he talked about the conditions of his start and his new pitch, the two seam fastball. "I had no problems in the 40 degree weather. It is cold but you are warm. "It wasn't bad. It was one of those games where I like the result but I didn't feel good. One of those nights I had...

This has not been an easy day for Orioles pitching coach Rick Kranitz. Today he had to tell a pitcher that has been solid for him for a few seasons, that he was going back to the minor leagues. Kranitz and manager Dave Trembley met with Jim Johnson earlier today here at Camden Yards to tell the right-hander he was being optioned to Triple-A Norfolk. "Number one, this is very hard for me, for what he has given this organization. We've asked him to close, we've asked him to go three...

Manager Dave Trembley called reliever Jim Johnson into his office this afternoon, closing the door behind them. Johnson knew what was coming. The possibility kept him awake much of the night - same as Trembley. The Orioles optioned Johnson to Triple-A Norfolk to make room for tonight's starter, Brad Bergesen, on the 25-man roster. Johnson posted a 6.52 ERA in 10 appearances, and he allowed the tying and go-ahead runs to score last night in another brutal outing. He was bumped from the...

The question popped up in the press box and spread like a virus. "Does Jim Johnson have options left?" I made the first inquiry, just out of curiosity. Two writers sitting in front of me didn't have an answer despite my constant badgering. One of them thought he could silence me with a shrug of his shoulders. So naive. As the debate continued, someone else walked over to me and said, "Does this guy have options left?" Pure coincidence, but it spoke volumes about Johnson's performance...

Well, I guess when you go just 2-16 vs. a team like the Orioles did last year vs. the Red Sox, it is hard to not do better the next season. But in 2010 the Orioles are 2-2 vs. the Red Sox and the O's have won the last two games vs. Boston, each in ten innings. O's first four games vs. Boston: 2009: 0-4 and outscored 30-14 2010: 2-2 and each team has scored 21 runs Friday's win ended the O's seven-game home losing streak vs. Boston. Four to score and win: The Orioles are now 5-3 when...

Nick Markakis on the win: "It's big. You look at the past, we've fell short in those situations. We just did a great job all around. Our bullpen came in and got some big outs." Adam Jones on having Miguel Tejada on the team: "Me and Wiggy were talking about that and he said, 'Wait and see how Miggi really hits,' because I haven't had the opportunity to play with him. The last couple days, you could see it. You put him in a tough situation and he usually comes through." What was...

The Orioles will need to remove a player from the 25-man active roster to activate Brad Bergesen to pitch here on Saturday. A few days ago, it looked like Matt Albers could be the player going. But now he seems to be making a case to stick around. He pitched a 1-2-3, 10th inning tonight vs. Boston and got the win, throwing 11 pitches, seven for strikes. He is now 1-3. Albers said the pending roster move has not been something he can think about. "You know that's one thing I wasn't...

On a night the Orioles bullpen gave up another lead, thanks to Miguel Tejada, the Orioles did not give up another game. Tejada's 417-foot homer off Daniel Bard in the 8th tied the game 4-4 and his RBI single to center off Manny Delcarmen gave the Orioles the 5-4, walk-off, 10-inning win over the Red Sox. "This is really big, not only for myself but the whole team," Tejada said. "The first day I came here I felt welcomed here. This team means a lot to me and I have a lot of respect for...

Miguel Tejada tied tonight's game with a home run and won it with a 10th-inning single. And he did all of it while playing through some discomfort in his hip. "He's not 100 percent right now. He's not," manager Dave Trembley said. "Night before last, running through the base and making the turn, he tweaked it. (T-Bone) Shelby alerted us that he probably should come out of the game, and Tejada yelled over, 'I'm not coming out.' "It's just great to have him on our side. He's a...

Pitching for the third straight night, Matt Albers retired all three Boston hitters he faced in the top of the 10th inning. Albers got a pop up, a fly ball and a strikeout to keep the score tied. Is he aware that the Orioles have to remove a reliever from the 25-man roster tomorrow? Albers has tossed 3 1/3 scoreless innings over these three appearances, allowing only one hit. I'm so confused. Albers is trying to save his roster spot. He's making it more difficult for the Orioles to pass...