The Orioles await word today about Jason Hammel, who will likely undergo an MRI on his right knee after injuring it last night pitching.

Hammel had surgery on his knee in July and worked his way back to the club last week. Hammel said that when he had the surgery, it came with the expectation that it would not require further procedures. But Hammel said the injury felt exactly as it did when he first injured it. He said it felt as if someone was stabbing him in the leg.

One of the things that's been clear about Hammel this season is that he's a fierce competitor. So many people, including myself, knocked the deal that brought him here to Baltimore. The Orioles parted ways with Jeremy Guthrie, a pitcher who suffered, for the most part, from poor run support in Baltimore. But, Guthrie already flamed out in Colorado and was traded to Kansas City.

Hammel is 8-6 with the Orioles and has a 3.43 ERA, but has pitched much better than that when healthy. in fact, He's been the best Oriole starter. The look on his face said it all last night. He knew the reality of the pain he was suffering and knew that it's likely, barring a miracle, going to keep him out of the Orioles' postseason chase.

He deserves a better fate.

Posted Sept. 12, 2012