I watched the play over and over. It was a play that won't count in the box score or the stat sheet but one that tells me things will be different this year for the Nationals. Josh Willingham versus Johan Santana with the bases juiced on Sunday in New York. Willingham launches a moon shot to center field that hits above the red line for a home run. During the live action, the umpires did not signal a home run so everyone kept on running. Adam Dunn came down the line with Willy Taveras...

An Orioles fan can hang his or her hat on that right now and almost nothing else. Through seven games, the ERA of the starters is 3.89 with four quality starts. Last April, the O's didn't produce a fourth quality start until game 16. But the solid pitching has been wasted by blown saves, awful hitting and base-running mistakes. The pitchers can only do so much. But moving forward, if they continue to get decent work like this from the starters, the wins should come. At least a few and...

So, Nats Buzz readers, I'm taking an eight week Spanish class on Wednesday nights to brush up on my Spanish speaking, reading and writing skills. I took several courses in high school and college, but I'm very, very rusty. And, as you can imagine, it's incredibly useful to understand Spanish if you love baseball -- as a fan or a writer. Have you ever tried to read a game recap in Spanish? You'll see the same words appearing over and over again. Same thing with the Spanish radio...

Following last night's loss to the Tampa Bay Rays, which might not have actually happened since nobody was there to see it (you know, the ol' tree falling in a forest), manager Dave Trembley suggested that he might shake up the lineup. "Yeah, I probably should do something," Trembley replied when asked if he'd consider it. "You lose your leadoff hitter, that isn't the greatest news in the world when that happens. And then you've probably got eight other guys trying to make up for his...

I knew that Mike Gonzalez left the team to be present for the birth of his daughter in Arizona. I didn't know he took most of the city with him. You probably can't blame last night's record-low attendance entirely on the Orioles' lousy start. Monday night games against the Rays aren't a big draw. But it's still painful. Brian Matusz takes the ball tonight, and I'm asking him again to behave like a veteran anchor of the pitching staff and end this skid. No pressure, kid. Matusz...

With the 5-1 loss vs. Tampa Monday, the Orioles fall to 0-4 on this homestand and 1-6 on the year. They have lost four in a row since the season's only win, last Thursday vs. the Rays. It's the O's worst start since 2002. The Rays, who went 4-5 at the Yard last year, are 45-57 all-time at Camden Yards. He's pretty good: Tampa's Carl Crawford, who went just 2 for 10 vs. the O's last week, went 4 for 4 tonight with a double and solo homer. Winning pitcher Matt Garza gave up just one...

Brandon Erbe took the loss tonight in his Triple-A debut. Erbe allowed four runs and six hits, with three walks, in 4 1/3 innings in Norfolk's 6-3 loss to Charlotte. Erbe struck out three, but his pitch count soared to 85 before Jim Miller replaced him. Charlotte starter Dan Hudson allowed a leadoff homer to Jeff Salazar before retiring 14 in a row. Josh Bell had an RBI double in the ninth, and he scored on Rhyne Hughes' single. The rally ended when former Oriole Greg Aquino retired...

Here are some of the post-game comments from the O's clubhouse after the 5-1 loss at home to Tampa. The O's fall to 1-6 for the first time since 2002. Nick Markakis of the frustration on not scoring a lot of runs so far: "It's not fun, it sucks. Overall, our pitching is doing a great job. Our offense needs to pick it up. I know for myself in the three hole I need to be more aggressive and get things going. "We all need to relax, it's a long season. No, it's not the way we wanted...

During his post-game session with the media, Orioles manager Dave Trembley said, "I think for the most part guys are doing the best they can." Dave Trembley talks with the media after the O's 5-1 loss to Tampa Bay I'd love to hear the exceptions. Jeremy Guthrie turned in a solid start, one that was worthy of a victory. His ball has more movement than last season. He's not pitching up in the strike zone as much. His slider is better. His record would be better if the Orioles would score...

Well, another night of little offense, clutch or otherwise. The Orioles are 1-6 with four losses in a row and are 0-4 on the homestand. Tonight's attendance of 9,129 was the smallest crowd in Camden Yards history. Tonight they went 0 for 3 with runners in scoring position in the 5-1 loss vs. Tampa. Felix Pie's homer leading off the game, his first-ever leadoff homer, produced the O's only run. The O's are now 1 for 17 the last three games with RISP and just 9 for 57 (.158) in that stat...