No wonder I didn't recognize the two teams playing as I walked past the bar television at Fresco's. Those throwback uniforms threw me. On the ride home, I received a text message that said, "Snakebit!!" I assumed that the Orioles no longer held that 3-2 lead. Sure enough, I got back to my parents' house in time to watch the top of the ninth - fast game - and get the recap. In an attempt to find the silver lining, I'll point out that Brad Bergesen held the Royals to two runs over seven...

On a night when the Orioles got a very solid outing from struggling starter Brad Bergesen, they lost to Kansas City on another late home run. Billy Butler's two-run shot in the eighth on a 98 mile per hour David Hernandez fastball, gave the Royals a 4-3 win on Saturday night at Kauffman Stadium. Jim Hunter and Mike Boddicker talk with Juan Samuel following the O's 4-3 loss It was Butler's 10th homer of the year and the 50th of his career. Hernandez had come on in the eighth with a 3-2...

Matt Hobgood, last year's O's first-round draft pick, left his start for Delmarva tonight after just nine pitches at Lexington. A club official informs me that Hobgood left due to lower back spasms. It's too early to know if he will miss his next start and of course he'll get examined further over the next few days. I understand the trainer came out along with manager Ryan Minor after Hobgood had given up a single, followed by another single and three-run homer. At that point, he left...

The Royals traded Rick Ankiel to the Braves, so you can scratch him from tonight's lineup. Here's the new one: Getz 2B Kendall C Butler 1B Guillen DH Gordon LF Aviles 3B Maier CF Bloomquist RF Betancourt SS Greinke RHP Rick VandenHurk is the fifth Netherlands-born player to appear in the majors since 1900. He'll have to wait to make his Orioles debut, since he's been assigned to Triple-A Norfolk. Josh Bell was added to the Orioles' roster tonight. Scott Moore takes Bell's place on...

The Orioles will assign newly acquired right-hander Rick VandenHurk to Triple-A Norfolk. They're expected to recall left-hander Troy Patton and use him in long relief, but discussions are ongoing. Mark Hendrickson could be used in a shorter role, since Will Ohman served primarily as a specialist. But the Orioles need depth at long relief because their starters have been exiting games early. The Orioles asked for VandenHurk earlier today and were turned down. The couldn't reach agreement on...

I've just gotten confirmation that the Orioles traded Will Ohman to the Florida Marlins. Nothing else to report at the moment, but the Orioles have swung their second trade in three days. Update: The Orioles receive right-hander Rick VandenHurk. So much for "unlikely." Luke Scott and Ty Wigginton remain in the organization, but the Orioles have dealt their left-handed specialist, whose 51 appearances without a decision are a club record. Here are the lineups: For the Orioles: Brian...

It is not a role change for the right-hander, but the Orioles will now have Ryan Berry, their ninth-round pick last year out of Rice, pitch out of the Frederick bullpen. He has thrown 104 1/3 innings this season between Delmarva and Frederick and Berry will now come out of the pen as they limit his innings the rest of the way. Berry went 0-3, 3.50 in eight starts with Delmarva and is 2-2, 3.57 in 12 starts with the Keys. Over 58 Frederick innings, he has allowed 47 hits with 20 walks, 46...

On Saturday morning, Nationals rookie Ian Desmond visited with boys and girls in Prince George's County to participate in a baseball skills clinic. Desmond was a big hit with the kids. He taught them how to field infield grounders and they practiced throwing to various bases. They also practiced flipping short double plays. One child made a barehanded grab and fired a laser to first base. Desmond reacted by humming the theme to Sports Center and telling the youngster that he made a...

There's a headline you probably thought you would not see this season. Don't look now but the pitcher some O's fans seem to be most critical of, has put together a real good stretch of pitching. Matt Albers has pitched to an ERA of 1.93 in 10 games this month with a batting average against of .185 in 18 2/3 innings in July. "I think, just being able to throw my curveball and slider early in the count for strikes has helped a lot. I usually throw a lot of fastballs and some guys were...

Update: I just got off the phone with president of baseball operations Andy MacPhail, who said it's "unlikely" that the Orioles will make a trade today. "At this point, I would believe not," he said. I'll check back with him later this afternoon. Now, back to your original entry, already in progress: The 4 p.m. non-waiver trade deadline is bearing down on us, and I passed up a chance to accompany my parents and the birthday girl to the beach this morning because I need to make phone...