I campaigned for reliever Jason Berken as first half Most Valuable Oriole, and you know what happened next. It's probably not a good idea to have me in your corner. It won't do much for your career or your health. A few reporters were standing around the clubhouse earlier this week nominating potential MVOs. Helps pass the time while waiting for manager Buck Showalter to begin his pre-game media session or for Rick VandenHurk to begin speaking in other languages. (While on the subject of...

There is no rule that would keep the Orioles from sending top draft pick Manny Machado to play in the Arizona Fall League. But they are not going to do it. Club sources indicate the O's are not considering sending Machado to play in the AFL, even with the minor league seasons winding down as he is about to start up. It's just too soon for that for an 18-year-old about to begin his pro career. Machado is expected to wrap up with his physical in Baltimore this week and then head for...

Senators left-hander Tom Milone struck out 13 batters and first baseman Chris Marrero contributed 4 RBI as Harrisburg crushed Erie 10-1 Wednesday night. Milone went 6 2/3 innings, scattering seven hits, allowing one run and no walks to go with the season-high 13 strikeouts. Milone has struck 32 batters in his last 3 games (20 innings). He has not issued a free pass in four games and has allowed only two walks in his last seven starts. Milone is 5-2 with a 2.39 ERA in his last 10 games, and...

Nationals left-hander Matt Chico had one of his best outings for Syracuse Wednesday, hurling six shutout innings. The Chiefs were unable to finish off Louisville and lost 5-3, but Chico was very pleased with how he pitched. Chico scattered six hits, allowed no runs, no walks and struck out five after allowing at least three runs in four of his last five starts. Chico said the key to his outing was getting his off speed pitch to connect, saying, "My change up felt good tonight. I was able...

Potomac first baseman Tyler Moore hit his 25th home run of the season, a grand slam, Wednesday in the Nationals 9-1 win at Kinston. Moore now has 94 RBI on the season. The Brandon, Mississippi native finished 2-for-3 with 1 HR, 5 RBI and a run scored. He has hit 18 home runs since early July. Coming into this season, Moore had hit 15 homers combined in two pro seasons at Vermont and Hagerstown. Hitting coach Matt Nokes says Moore worked on his batting stroke after struggling early on...

Baseball can be a game of inches, they say, and I guess it's a game of key pitches as well. Some you want back and wish you never had thrown. Jeremy Guthrie felt that way after Wednesday's 6-5 loss to Seattle. His slider on a 2-1 count to Matt Tuiasosopo in the second inning was belted for a three-run homer. Sometimes after a game, pitchers lament the location of a pitch, but this time Guthrie was unhappy with the selection of the pitch he threw. Jeremy Guthrie talks with the media about...

After winning their first three series under manager Buck Showalter, the Orioles have now dropped two in a row. Matt Tuiasosopo homered in consecutive games in this series after hitting one in his first 30 games of the season. He knocked in seven runs in the last two games after collecting a grand total of two RBIs in his first 30 games. His diving catch of Matt Wieters' slicing fly ball to end the eighth inning was the final dagger. "That was a good play. That was a major league play,"...

The O's have hit their first speed bump on Buck Showalter's watch. After starting 8-1 for their new manager, they have now lost five of the last seven after falling 6-5 to Seattle Wednesday night in the series finale. The O's got the possible tie run to second in the last of the ninth, but David Aardsma retired Brian Roberts and Nick Markakis to end the game as Seattle took the series victory. Jeremy Guthrie's run of six straight quality starts ended as he gave up six runs (five...

The Orioles fought back in the bottom of the eighth, scoring once off reliever Jamey Wright and putting the tying run on second base with two outs. Adam Jones looked like he would score easily on Matt Wieters' slicing fly ball to left, but Matt Tuiasosopo couldn't pass up another opportunity to torture the Orioles. He made a sensational diving catch - as good as it gets - to preserve a 6-5 lead. Wieters rounded first base, came to a stop and just tilted his head back. He couldn't believe...

If you are keeping track, that is a new career high 10 homers for Matt Wieters after he connected for a two-run shot off David Pauley in the last of the seventh. That pulled the O's within 5-4 of the M's. Wieters probably caught Pauley early last year when both played for Norfolk. Wieters last year: 9 homers in 354 at bats. Wieters this year: 10 homers in 336 at bats. He had just one homer over his last 17 games before he drilled a 3-1 pitch for a 397-foot shot to right. It was just his...