Gonzalez Comes Off DL To Face Yanks
The Orioles activated Miguel Gonzalez from the 15-day disabled list May 21 in time to start against the Yankees during the second game of the series. 

Shell-shocked O's Suffer Another Loss
Jim Johnson's struggles continued May 20 with his third consecutive blown save, and the Orioles' losing streak hit six with yet another heartbreaking defeat, 6-4, in a 10-inning contest against the Yankees.

Stan The Fan's MLB Power Rankings
The Orioles have dropped to No. 14 in Stan "The Fan" Charles' weekly MLB power rankings as lots of stuff that went right a year ago has fallen by the wayside with injuries to starters Miguel Gonzalez and Wei-Yin Chen and the mystifying ineffectiveness of Jason Hammel.

When It Rains, It Pours For Slumping Orioles
The Orioles have lost five in a row after getting swept by the Padres and Rays. Can Baltimore get back on track and take at least two out of three from the Yankees? 

Orioles Option Flaherty, Recall Valencia
The Orioles optioned Ryan Flaherty to Triple-A Norfolk May 18, sending the struggling second baseman to the minor leagues for the first time during his Orioles career.

Jurrjens Becomes O's 10th 2013 Starter
Jair Jurrjens was called up May 18 to start against the Tampa Bay Rays, becoming the Orioles' 10th different starting pitcher this season. Jurrjens, 27, is a veteran of 126 major league games, mostly with the Atlanta Braves.

Stan The Fan: Success May Lead To Costly Contracts
So far this season, the Orioles have posted one of the best records in Major League Baseball, but will they be able to afford to re-sign the players who are arbitration eligible or impending free agents?

Boog Powell: Meat Of The Order
Former Orioles slugger Boog Powell is an enduring figure at Camden Yards, doling out goodwill one sandwich at a time.

Hall Of Fame Exhibit Honors Scouts' Accomplishments
The National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum has opened an exhibit titled "Diamond Mines," which serves the dual purpose of honoring the tireless work of baseball scouts while also honoring those whose peers have singled them out in the Professional Baseball Scouts Association and its Scout of the Year Foundation.

Despite Lack Of Hype, Johnson Showing Value As Closer
Seven years after making his major league debut, Jim Johnson is now entrenched as one of baseball's most effective closers, anchoring an outstanding Orioles bullpen that led the club to a breakout 93-win season in 2012.

Rare Jim Johnson Blown Save Costs O's
Closer Jim Johnson's regular-season streak of 35 consecutive saves without a blown save came to an end May 14 thanks to the Padres' barrage of singles in the ninth, and the Orioles fell to the Padres, 3-2.

Chen's Injury Leads To Roster Shuffle
With Wei-Yin Chen on the 15-day disabled list, the Orioles are again left scrambling for a starter. Currently they have only three starting pitchers on the active roster -- Jason Hammel, Chris Tillman and Freddy Garcia -- but Miguel Gonzalez is eligible to return from the DL on May 19. 

Stan The Fan's MLB Power Rankings
Manny Machado has a better average than the Angels' Mike Trout and the Nationals' Bryce Harper. His .444 average, three RBIs and five runs scored from May 6-12 helped the Orioles climb to No. 8 in Stan "The Fan" Charles' latest MLB Power Rankings.

Another Successful Series For Orioles
Following the Orioles' 6-0 shutout of the Twins May 12, Paul Folkemer shares his thoughts about the injury Wei-Yin Chen suffered during the game, as well as the Orioles' lack of sweeps and Nolan Reimold's struggles at the plate this season.

Orioles Demote Steve Johnson After Rough 2013 Debut
Steve Johnson became the latest one-and-done Orioles starting pitcher this year, as the Birds optioned him back to Triple-A Norfolk after he gave up six earned runs and seven hits in four innings during an 8-5 loss to the Twins May 11.
• Orioles Report: Orioles Recall Steve Johnson, Option Alex Burnett

Did Showalter, Guthrie Turn The Page?
After Royals pitcher Jeremy Guthrie beat the Orioles May 9, he and Orioles manager Buck Showalter said they'd turned the page on Guthrie's time as an Oriole, and Stan "The Fan" Charles thinks the page hasn't turned smoothly.

Orioles Still Can't Break Out Brooms
The Orioles remain sweepless in 2013 after dropping the finale of their three-game series to the Royals, 6-2, May 9, marking the fourth time during their last six series that the O's have lost a game that would've completed a sweep.

Fans Greet Guthrie Warmly In Return To Baltimore
You don't often hear the Camden Yards crowd cheer and applaud the opposing team's starter. But Royals starter Jeremy Guthrie received a nice ovation from the Baltimore faithful upon taking the mound in the bottom of the first inning May 9.

Orioles Place Gonzalez On Disabled List 
The Orioles' ever-changing starting rotation shifted again May 9, as the team placed right-handed pitcher Miguel Gonzalez on the 15-day disabled list, backdated to May 4, with a blister on his right thumb.

Stan The Fan's MLB Power Rankings
Stan "The Fan" Charles thinks the Orioles dodged a big bullet as slugger Chris Davis missed only one game after a possible knee injury May 3, but the Birds did drop one spot to No. 9 in his weekly MLB power rankings.

2013 AL East Standings Reminiscent Of 2004
As familiar as the AL East standings might look at the moment, Jim Henneman points out that you'd have to go back to 2004 to see an identical look. 

O's Struggle Against Left-handed Pitching
For the second time during the past five games, the Orioles have struggled against a left-handed starter. But the real concern may be the injury to Chris Davis, who left Friday's game in the fifth inning with what was called a knee injury after trying to beat out a groundout.

Orioles Select Contract Of Freddy Garcia From Triple-A
The Orioles have selected the contract of RHP Freddy Garcia from Triple-A Norfolk. To make room for him on the 25- and 40-man rosters, RHP Zach Clark has been designated for assignment.

Tillman Sets Tone As O's Beat Angels
Displaying his best velocity of the 2013 season, Orioles right-hander Chris Tillman dominated the Angels through eight shutout innings as Baltimore posted a 5-1 victory in Anaheim, Calif., May 2.

Opinions About Baseball Ballparks Run Deep
The news that Chicago officials are thinking about modernizing Wrigley Field got Phil Jackman thinking about the attachment baseball fans feel to ballparks, including Baltimoreans' affinity for Memorial Stadium.

Alomar A Hall Of Famer, But Not For O's
Stan "The Fan" Charles has a gripe with the Orioles' decision to induct former second baseman Roberto Alomar into the Orioles Hall of Fame, because he thinks Alomar didn't give his best effort during his three years with Baltimore.

Roberto Alomar Elected To Orioles Hall Of Fame
Former Orioles second baseman Roberto Alomar has been elected to the Orioles Hall of Fame. Former Orioles scout and baseball operations executive Don Pries will be inducted as this year's Herb Armstrong Award winner.

Strengths, Weaknesses Of O's Lineup
Chris Davis, Adam Jones, Nate McLouth, Manny Machado and Nick Markakis have gotten off to great starts this season, but Stan "The Fan" Charles sees a couple of key positions that are simply not pulling their weight in the Orioles' lineup.