In the minors

In the minors this afternoon, the Double-A Bowie Baysox snapped a three-game losing streak with a 5-3 win at Erie. Brandon Waring and Joel Guzman hit back-to-back solo homers in the third. Miguel Abreu went 3 for 5 with an RBI and Ryohei Tanaka gave up 2 ER over 5 1/3 and is 2-0, 2.08. The Baysox improved to 10-4, matching the 1994 team's mark for best 14-game start ever at Bowie. The Baysox host Akron tomorrow at 7:05 to begin a homestand with a post-game fireworks show scheduled. Tim...
For the Orioles: Lou Montanez LF Ty Wigginton 3B Nick Markakis RF Matt Wieters C Luke Scott DH Adam Jones CF Garrett Atkins 1B Justin Turner 2B Cesar Izturis SS Kevin Millwood RHP For the Mariners: Ichiro Suzuki RF Chone Figgins 2B Franklin Gutierrez CF Jose Lopez 3B Casey Kotchman 1B Mike Sweeney DH Matt Tuiasosopo LF Rob Johnson C Jack Wilson SS Felix Hernandez RHP
Let's get a head start, shall we? Last year, Nats fans filled out thousands and thousands of ballots and sent Ryan Zimmerman to his first All Star game. Who will we send this year? Visit vote.mlb.com to start casting your ballots. Nationals starters Adam Dunn, Ivan Rodriguez, Ryan Zimmerman, Ian Desmond, Adam Kennedy, Nyjer Morgan, Josh Willingham and Willie Harris are all listed on the ballot, but you can also write in your favorite players. Vote early and vote often because voting...
Reliever Mike Gonzalez's visit to renowned orthopedist Dr. James Andrews in Birmingham, Ala. didn't reveal a more serious injury to his left shoulder than diagnosed by team physicians. President of baseball operations Andy MacPhail told me that Gonzalez received the "same prognosis as before." Gonzalez went on the 15-day disabled list, retroactive to April 10, with a strained left shoulder. Gonzalez, who sought another opinion that he hoped wouldn't lead to surgery, will report to...
A couple of pieces of Orioles info to note... B-Rob's B-Log You really can't miss out on Brian Roberts' latest video blog. B-Rob has serious plans to make this year's round of video blogs better than ever before, and this week's behind the scenes look at the Orioles clubhouse doesn't disappoint. Click here to watch as B-Rob takes you on a personal tour of the O's stomping grounds when the team is at home - from the dugout to the player's lounge to Brian's (two!) lockers next to...
The Orioles have claimed left-hander Pedro Viola off waivers from the Cincinnati Reds and optioned him to Triple-A Norfolk. I guess he can take Alberto Castillo's spot with the Tides. Lose a lefty, sign a lefty. Viola, 26, appeared in nine games for the Reds last season, posting a 5.14 ERA in seven innings after going 2-2 with eight saves and a 5.47 ERA in 54 games with Triple-A Louisville. So who's going to be the first person to mistakenly refer to him as "Frank?" I really hope it...
Recently in the Orioles Buzz we looked at the Full schedule of Orioles events at the ESPN Zone this summer. The first Oriole Player Q&A is rapidly approaching on Wednesday, April 28, and the O's have announced that new first-baseman Garrett Atkins will be the first to rub elbows with fans at the ESPN Zone. From noon to 1:00 p.m. fans will have the chance to get to know Atkins during the Q&A session, hosted by an Orioles broadcaster and followed up by an autograph session before things wrap...
Nothing major here, but I wanted to pass along via BlackBerry that Felix Pie is flying to Sarasota tomorrow to join the rest of the crew at extended spring training. Pie could be sidelined three months with this lat injury. It's never good when muscle pulls away from the bone. The Orioles don't believe that he'll require surgery, which would increase his recovery time. The body will just have to heal on its own. Pie has only been cleared to run. He'll eventually begin light exercises....
Julio Lugo was not the first Major Leaguer to jog to first base on a routine ground ball and he won't be the last. If you go to as many games at Camden Yards as I do, you see it every night on pretty much every team. That sure doesn't make it right. My take on it is this. That was Dave Trembley's chance to make an example of someone for lack of hustle. I wish he had been benched there. Dave doesn't and shouldn't have a sense of loyalty to Lugo and could have taken him from the game...
The Washington Nationals certainly spend a lot of time enriching the community around the ballpark. Everyday All Stars come from all walks of life and improve our communities in a variety of ways. But they share one very special quality -- the desire to give back. Major League Baseball has again teamed up with People Magazine to honor ordinary people who make a big difference in their communities this season. Fans can submit everyday "All Stars" by visiting PeopleAllStars.com before May...
For just the second time in his short pro career last night, Matt Hobgood took the mound and later left without yielding a run. Hobgood, in his third start of the year, pitched seven shutout innings, allowing just two singles, as Delmarva beat Greensboro, 1-0 on a Garabez Rosa homer in the last of the ninth. The Orioles first-round pick last June, Hobgood issued just one walk and had six strikeouts. His ERA for the season is 2.70. "I thought it was a really good outing. My fastball...