Has anyone eaten the crab cakes at G&M Restaurant in Linthicum Heights?
I just had a few bites of one because MASN's Amber Theoharis was nice enough to share, and it...was...awesome.
I used Amber's fork after she assured me that I couldn't get pregnant. I'm not exactly sure how that works.
Kevin Millwood's return to the Orioles has hit a few bumps.
They're roughly the size of Minneapolis.
Millwood retired the first two batters in the opening inning, but Joe Mauer doubled, Jason Kubel...
President of baseball operations Andy MacPhail walked out of interim manager Juan Samuel's office after batting practice without making a decision on whether to activate Brian Roberts.
"He's campaigning," MacPhail said.
Just a hunch, but I bet Roberts is activated tomorrow.
The Twins lead the majors with a .289 average with runners in scoring position. The Orioles rank last at .226.
Minnesota pitchers have issued the fewest walks with 202.
A bizarre stat for runs scored: The Twins have...
Brian Roberts is here and waiting to be activated.
The Orioles haven't decided whether to put him on the 25-man roster tomorrow or wait until the Kansas City series next week. Toronto remains a possibility, but Roberts would be eased back into the lineup because of...you guessed it...the artificial surface. The club would rather avoid it.
"B-Rob offered to write the lineup down today," interim manager Juan Samuel said, "but I was afraid he would write his name down."
Scott Moore is a...
For the Orioles:
Felix Pie LF
Miguel Tejada 3B
Nick Markakis RF
Luke Scott DH
Ty Wigginton 1B
Adam Jones CF
Scott Moore 2B
Craig Tatum C
Cesar Izturis SS
Kevin Millwood RHP
For the Twins:
Span CF
Hudson 2B
Mauer DH
Kubel RF
Cuddyer 1B
Young LF
Hardy SS
Punto 3B
Butera C
Pavano RHP
I told you about Michael Aubrey's hot streak at Triple-A Norfolk, which included a grand slam last night. He also added a two-run shot, giving him six RBIs.
He's batting .237, so consistency has been an issue, but there's no denying that his bat is sizzling right now.
Frank Mata, optioned over the weekend, allowed a run and two hits in two-thirds of an inning. He also threw two wild pitches.
Kevin Millwood comes off the disabled list today and pitches for the first time since July 5 in...
Pitcher Saulo Alcantara, a right-hander from the Orioles' Dominican Summer League team, has been suspended 50 games for violating minor league baseball's Drug Prevention and Treatment program.
Alcantara, signed as a non-drafted free agent in 2009, is 1-2 with a 2.77 ERA in 11 games this season. He went 1-1 with a 5.27 ERA last season in the Dominican.
Single-A Frederick pitcher Brian Parker received a 50-game suspension last summer.
On a better note, Single-A Delmarva's Tyler Townsend...
That didn't take long.
The Orioles optioned Troy Patton to Triple-A Norfolk after today's game, making room for Kevin Millwood on the 25-man roster.
Patton came here as bullpen insurance and didn't pitch.
At least he got to see the inside of the Camden Yards clubhouse.
Interim manager Juan Samuel pointed to two key plays in today's game that cost the Orioles.
Juan Samuel talks with the media after the O's 5-4 loss to the Rays
Miguel Tejada fielded Jason Barlett's ground ball with...
The Orioles put the tying run on base with one out in the eighth inning when Ty Wigginton doubled off Tampa Bay right-hander Joaquin Benoit.
Then it went bad.
Pinch-runner Scott Moore broke for third on Adam Jones' routine grounder to short, and he was an easy out.
So much for having a runner in scoring position.
Interim manager Juan Samuel decided to pinch-hit for Jake Fox, who had an RBI double today. Felix Pie struck out to end the inning.
Rays 5, Orioles 4.
Julio Lugo and Cesar...
Brad Bergesen must hope for a no-decision on a day when he gutted out 5 1/3 innings and clearly lacked his quality stuff.
Bergesen is charged with five runs and nine hits, with three walks and seven strikeouts. He left with the score tied, 4-4, but Jason Berken walked Evan Longoria with the bases loaded to force in a run.
Bergesen threw 104 pitches, 65 for strikes. Not the most economical start of his career.
In his last five starts, Bergesen has surrendered 21 runs and 40 hits in 29...
Ty Wigginton has homered in two straight games, his two-run shot today in the fourth inning reducing Tampa Bay's lead to 4-2.
Wigginton has passed Adam Jones for the team lead in home runs with 16.
Are the Texas Rangers paying attention? Any other teams?
He's heating up again at the right time.
Jones followed with a single. He's hit safely in 31 of his last 39 games.
Jake Fox doubled to score Jones. The Rays' lead is down to 4-3.
Don't grow too attached to Troy Patton. Interim...
Michael Gonzalez understands that he won't regain his closer duties immediately upon getting dressed for today's game. He'll have to earn it.
"Whatever they want to do, that's fine," he said. "My goal was to get back up in the big leagues. That's definitely where I needed to be. I think everything's going to even itself out once I'm up here and showing them I'm healthy. It's just going out and showing them I'm healthy. You can't go out and say much from their standpoint when they...
Just to review: Josh Bell has been optioned to Triple-A Norfolk, Troy Patton has been recalled and Michael Gonzalez has been activated.
The Orioles made room for Gonzalez on the 40-man roster by transferring reliever Jim Johnson to the 60-day disabled list.
For the Orioles:
Corey Patterson LF
Miguel Tejada 3B
Nick Markakis RF
Luke Scott DH
Ty Wigginton 1B
Adam Jones CF
Jake Fox C
Julio Lugo 2B
Cesar Izturis SS
Brad Bergesen RHP
Troy Patton is using Chris Tillman's locker, which is a sure sign that the Orioles recalled him from Triple-A Norfolk last night.
Patton is 6-9 with a 4.91 ERA in 18 starts with the Tides. He gave up five earned runs (seven total) and 10 hits in 4 2/3 innings in his last start.
Patton is insurance for the next few days. His next scheduled start was today, so he's available to pitch out of the bullpen.
It appears that Josh Bell has been optioned, though we're waiting for official...
Did the last one end?
The clubhouse opens at 9 a.m. today, but players aren't required to report that early. Interim manager Juan Samuel will meet with reporters at 11:15 a.m.
Go back to bed.
The Orioles are 7-3 in extra innings this season. I'd like to avoid watching them try to build on that record. A tidy 2 hour, 20 minute victory will suffice.
Brad Bergesen, the subject of all sorts of roster speculation, will make another start today. The pressure eases a little now that Chris...
Luke Scott:
"Hitting is contagious. We help each other out in the lineup as a group and we were able to put together solid at-bats and make the pitcher work."
"Anything positive is going to be a confidence builder. The way things have gone with the adversity that we faced, it's refreshing to have days like this."
Ty Wigginton (on Carl Crawford's injury):
"When he (Jake Arrieta) was throwing over, I just reached for the ball and I wasn't sure what it hit. But I had a pretty good idea...
President of baseball operations Andy MacPhail said he's looking for reinforcements for the bullpen tomorrow.
MacPhail met with interim manager Juan Samuel after tonight's 13-inning victory over the Rays.
Left-hander Michael Gonzalez will likely be activated from the disabled list to provide one fresh arm. Samuel indicated that another move could be made.
Chris Tillman was optioned to Triple-A Norfolk earlier today, which was supposed to create room for Kevin Millwood.
Willy Aybar's two-out single in the 12th inning scored Carlos Pena to give Tampa Bay a 10-9 lead.
Pena stole second base as Gabe Kapler struck out, and he took third on catcher Craig Tatum's throwing error. Aybar jumped on the next pitch from Alfredo Simon and lined it into right field.
Simon gave the Orioles 2 2/3 innings tonight, his highest mark of the season, after pitching one inning last night.
I guess that elbow is holding up.
Simon's previous high was 1 2/3, which he reached...
The first three batters reached against Rays closer Rafael Soriano in the ninth inning, with Miguel Tejada's double scoring Cesar Izturis (single) and Felix Pie (double) to tie the game.
Pie and Tejada both clapped their hands vigorously upon reaching second base. Tejada crouched slightly and looked like he might draw blood from his palms, except he didn't want to steal A.J. Burnett's idea.
Nick Markakis struck out, making him 0-for-5, with pinch-runner Julio Lugo on second base. Corey...
Luke Scott picked up his third RBI tonight with a two-out single in the seventh inning that scored Miguel Tejada and reduced Tampa Bays lead to 8-7.
Scott is running as if he dumped a box of thumb tacks in his shoes. He told me a few days ago that he would be smart and not risk reinjuring his hamstring.
David Hernandez started the eighth inning and served up a home run to Reid Brignac.
Rays 9, Orioles 7.
Craig Tatum has three hits and one close call. He appeared to injure his right foot or...
It happened at Double-A Bowie, too.
Joel Guzman, Joe Mahoney and Brandon Waring homered in succession in the fourth inning at Prince George's Stadium.
Has such a thing ever occurred at two levels of the same organization on the same night?
Guzman hit his 20th, Mahoney his fourth and Waring his 17th.
Unreal.
Brian Roberts, serving as the designated hitter tonight, is 3-for-4 with a double and run scored. He's batting .556 with the Baysox.
Steve Johnson has allowed two unearned runs and...