The stat that keeps rearing its ugly head did again for the Orioles last night. They went 1 for 12 with runners in scoring position and today a couple of players talked about the lack of hitting in those key situations. "Is it tougher? (hitting in those spots)," Adam Jones repeated the question. "You've just go to be more selective. It's baseball, the opposition is trying to get you out and they're succeeding now. "We have so much scouting today and technology to keep people in...

For the Orioles: Corey Patterson LF Ty Wigginton 2B Nick Markakis RF Miguel Tejada 3B Matt Wieters C Luke Scott DH Adam Jones CF Garrett Atkins 1B Julio Lugo SS Kevin Millwood RHP For the Royals: Podsednik LF Kendall C DeJesus RF Butler 1B Guillen DH Callaspo 3B Maier CF Betancourt SS Getz 2B Greinke RHP

After he was roughed up in Syracuse to start the season, the Nationals decided to convert right-hander Collin Balester from a starter to a reliever. So they sent Collin to extended spring training in Viera, Florida, where he has faced off against the Astros, Braves and Tigers, among other squads. In his most recent outing, Balester told me he went two innings and allowed no runs. "I felt my changeup was a lot better. The two-seam fastball and curveball were good. This experience will help...

Since the Orioles have struggled all year when batting with runners in scoring position, here is a closer look at that stat. Lowest average, AL, with RISP: .217 - CWS .221 - Orioles .233 - Oakland .234 - Seattle Fewest at bats AL with RISP: 277 - CWS 303 - Orioles & Cleveland 310 - Toronto Most at bats AL with RISP: 372 - Detroit 366 - NYY 358 - Texas O's hitters with RISP: Atkins: .240 (6 for 25) Izturis: .238 (5 for 21) Jones: .200 (5 for 25) Lugo: .125 (2 for 16) Markakis: .276 (8...

Talk about a win/win for Nationals fans. As you may know, Nats PR pro Lisa Pagano is running a campaign to raise $75,000 for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society (LLS) in 10 weeks. Two great events are approaching quickly and both will be very rewarding for Nationals fans. This Thursday, you can purchase a ticket for the Mets vs. Nationals game at Nationals Park and $8 will be donated to LLS, the world's largest nonprofit organization dedicated to blood cancer research, education and patient...

Food Network star Paula Deen will attend two events at Nationals Park on Wednesday, May 19th prior to the Nationals game against the Mets that evening. With Deen's help, Sean and Jessica Burnett, Adam and Rachel Dunn, Wil and Yormarie Nieves, and John Lannan and Maryanne Garry will help to deliver more than 100,000 servings of donated food to the Capital Area Food Bank as part of Smithfield's Helping Hungry Homes initiative. The event will promote the Nationals' Annual Food Drive. Fans...

There is a subtle change coming to the O's minor leagues. It might even be one a lot of fans won't notice. There are indications the Orioles will begin to use some of their prospects and maybe others as well at multiple positions. It's worth seeing if a player can play multiple positions and it just makes sense. It's the minors, that's where you should be learning about your players and experimenting. This may not apply to every player, but it's expected to begin to be something they...

I'd be in a miserable mood this morning if the weather wasn't so nice. Oh wait... So, to make sure I've got this straight: Garrett Atkins should bunt with runners on first and second. Corey Patterson shouldn't bunt with runners on first and second. Here's my take: The second inning may seem too early to give up an out, but with Atkins scuffling and the Orioles desperately needing to manufacture runs, I'd have him bunting. The same goes for Patterson. Not because you want to take...

Brad Bergesen didn't feel like he brought his best stuff into tonight's start. "It was a really a battle, but when I look back on it, it was really that one breaking ball to Billy Butler that was the one that sticks out," he said. "Kranny (Rick Kranitz) and (Matt) Wieters both came out there and told me, 'All 0-2 pitches, everything out of the zone.' And sure enough, first pitch, I try and get it down and I hung one right in the zone and he made me pay for it. I can't do that. That was...

Ty Wigginton met with reporters at his locker after the game. Here are a few quotes to get you through the night: On Kyle Davies: "He made good pitches. I was underneath them. He's tough. He's got a nice little cutter and he did his job." On lost opportunities: "We definitely had the opportunities. Garrett (Atkins) had a great at-bat to start that ninth inning, Izzy (Cesar Izturis) gets down the bunt, Corey (Patterson) does his job, they walk Nick (Markakis) and it's up to me next. I...