Former Orioles shortstop Mike Bordick just spent three days with first-round pick Manny Machado, though two of them were abbreviated because of the Florida rain.
The weather didn't dampen Bordick's enthusiasm for the kid.
"I think the first impressions were great," Bordick told me in a phone conversation last night. "He's got a good attitude. He's excited about being there. I think those first impressions have a big impact on how you approach these guys.
"It looked like he's anxious...
The Orioles announced after tonight's loss that they've optioned Armando Gabino to Triple-A Norfolk.
A corresponding roster move will be announced tomorrow. Jim Johnson will be activated from the disabled list. No big mystery here.
Look for Jason Berken to be transferred to the 60-day disabled list to make room for Johnson on the 40-man roster.
Gabino served up Alex Rios' two-run homer tonight. Nice parting gift.
Gabino allowed seven earned runs in 4 2/3 innings over five appearances...
I wouldn't look for a quality start from Jake Arrieta tonight.
He's allowed three runs, which still makes it possible, but he's also thrown a ton of pitches.
Arrieta threw 350 in the first inning - or maybe it was 35. He was up to 70 after the third, and the White Sox held a 3-0 lead.
Arrieta allowed five hits and walked three batters. He also was charged with one bad mustache.
Instant update: Arrieta gave up another run with two outs in the fourth inning. He gets ahead in the count,...
Orioles manager Buck Showalter still won't allow himself to be pressed into naming a closer, no matter how hard the media tries.
Asked about Koji Uehara's role and whether the right-hander has emerged as the closer, Showalter said he'll continue to do "what's best for the Orioles."
That might be Uehara one night and someone else the next. He mentioned how Alfredo Simon is still capable. He knows that Michael Gonzalez has closed games in the past.
"But Koji, he's got a hot hand right...
Here's the new lineup:
Brian Roberts 2B
Corey Patterson LF
Nick Markakis RF
Luke Scott DH
Ty Wigginton 1B
Felix Pie CF
Matt Wieters C
Cesar Izturis SS
Josh Bell 3B
Jake Arrieta RHP
Manager Buck Showalter suggest that we jot down the lineup in pencil, in case Adam Jones is a late scratch.
For the Orioles:
Brian Roberts 2B
Nick Markakis RF
Ty Wigginton 3B
Luke Scott 1B
Adam Jones CF
Felix Pie LF
Matt Wieters C
Corey Patterson DH
Cesar Izturis SS
Jake Arrieta RHP
For the White Sox:
Juan Pierre LF
Omar Vizquel 3B
Alex Rios CF
Paul Konerko 1B
Carlos Quentin RF
A.J. Pierzynski C
Alexei Ramirez SS
Mark Teahen DH
Gordon Beckham 2B
Edwin Jackson RHP
A victory tonight in Chicago would give the Orioles their fourth series win in seven series since Buck Showalter took over as manager on Aug. 3. The Orioles won just four of their first 34 series this year.
The Orioles are 1-9 in games that decide the winner of a three-game series, including 0-4 on the road. Their only win came May 13 against Seattle.
Jake Arrieta has posted a 3.29 ERA in two starts on five days rest, as opposed to a 5.00 ERA in 10 starts on four days rest. He's pitching on...
The Orioles gained a game on the Yankees last night.
You can look it up.
Take full advantage of them while A-Rod is gone.
Brian Matusz doesn't look like a young pitcher needs to be shut down in September. He's allowed one earned run or fewer in four of his last five starts and has posted a 2.32 ERA this month.
I'm still wondering how the rotation will look over the final weeks of the season. The Orioles don't seem eager to add an extra starter, especially with two veterans who prefer...
Koji Uehara hasn't been named the closer, but he worked the ninth inning again in a save situation.
It was as hairy as his sideburns. Uehara got the first two outs before giving up back-to-back hits, including Carlos Quentin's triple that drove Corey Patterson into the fence and reduced the lead to 4-2.
Uehara struck out A.J. Pierzynski to end the game and notch his second North American save, but he's not the closer. That's a dirty word in this town. He's just the latest guy to pitch...
Matt Wieters was mired in a 7-for-38 slump when he lined a double to left field in the fifth inning that scored Felix Pie for 1-0 lead.
Wieters moved to third base with one out and looked like he might be stranded, but Corey Patterson singled to left with two down to increase the lead to 2-0.
Two big hits.
Patterson was 6-for-16 lifetime against White Sox starter Mark Buehrle before tonight. Buehrle walked Brian Roberts intentionally after falling behind, 2-0, to bring Patterson to the...
Adam Jones probably could play tonight if the Orioles really needed him, but the range of motion in his left arm is still limited after Gavin Floyd drilled him with a fastball last night. Look for him to play tomorrow.
Blake Davis hit a grand slam tonight for Triple-A Norfolk, connecting off Durham's Ramon Ortiz for his fourth home run of the season.
Lou Montanez is 2-for-2 with a double and RBI. He's batting .310.
Former Oriole Chris Richard hit a two-run homer off left-hander Zach...
Adam Jones isn't in tonight's lineup after being hit on the left shoulder by a Gavin Floyd fastball last night.
Brian Roberts 2B
Corey Patterson LF
Nick Markakis RF
Ty Wigginton 1B
Luke Scott DH
Felix Pie CF
Matt Wieters C
Cesar Izturis SS
Josh Bell 3B
Brian Matusz LHP
Here's the White Sox lineup:
Juan Pierre LF
Alexei Ramirez SS
Alex Rios CF
Paul Konerko 1B
Carlos Quentin DH
A.J. Pierzynski C
Andruw Jones RF
Omar Vizquel 3B
Gordon Beckham 2B
Mark Buehrle LHP
It's pretty quiet around here today. Maybe you're still exhausted from last night's loss. Or maybe you also closed Seacrets.
Left-hander Brian Matusz is pitching on five days rest tonight. His ERA is 3.38 in nine starts this year when getting that extra day, and 3.80 for his career. His ERA is 5.64 in 14 starts this season on four days rest.
Leadoff hitters have posted a .357 average against Matusz this season, the highest average for any spot in the order. They're batting .351 against...
Brian Matusz, who takes the ball tonight in Chicago, has allowed one earned run or fewer in three of his four August starts.
Mark Buehrle has lost once in four starts this month, when he allowed four runs (three earned) and 10 hits in seven innings at Camden Yards. He tossed seven scoreless innings in his last outing.
For his career, Buehrle is 5-4 with a 2.81 ERA in 15 games against the Orioles.
Nick Markakis is 9-for-20 with three doubles, a home run and three RBIs against Buehrle. Corey...
It took about an hour, but I'm finally able to create a blog entry.
I'm having another one of those mornings. Every connection times out and the system is running at a snail's pace.
I lost my patience about 45 minutes ago, but that's typical.
Anyway, I need to file something simple because I'm not equipped to actually flip screens and check statistics and information at other sites. That would take another hour. By that time, my wireless card will be nestled under my back tire as I hit...
Adam Jones hustled from first to third on Felix Pie's ground ball single into right field in the second inning. It looked like a gamble with no outs, but he didn't even draw a throw.
At that moment, Jim Palmer noted on the MASN telecast that the Orioles are playing with more energy than he's seen in a few years.
Matt Wieters followed with a hard grounder to first, where Paul Konerko fielded the ball and threw to second to start a 3-6-3 double play. Jones froze on the play and remained at...
Orioles manager Buck Showalter told reporters in Chicago that reliever Jim Johnson could be activated from the disabled list as early as Friday in Anaheim. Johnson threw two scoreless innings today for Double-A Bowie, allowing one hit and striking out three in the first game of a doubleheader against Akron.
Ryan Adams' 13th homer provided all the scoring in a 1-0 victory.
Johnson was supposed to work back-to-back days, but that schedule has changed after he threw 28 pitches today.
Look for...
For the Orioles:
2B Brian Roberts
RF Nick Markakis
1B Ty Wigginton
DH Luke Scott
CF Adam Jones
LF Felix Pie
C Matt Wieters
SS Cesar Izturis
3B Josh Bell
RHP Jeremy Guthrie
For the White Sox:
LF Juan Pierre
3B Omar Vizquel
CF Alex Rios
1B Paul Konerko
RF Carlos Quentin
C A.J. Pierzynski
SS Alexei Ramirez
DH Mark Teahen
2B Gordon Beckham
RHP Gavin Floyd
The Orioles will get another look at hometown righty Gavin Floyd, who held them to two runs over seven innings in a 4-2 victory on Aug. 7.
Floyd is 2-1 with a 2.54 ERA lifetime against the Orioles, the team that we'll assume he rooted for as a kid.
Nick Markakis is 3-for-10 with two doubles, a homer and three RBIs against Floyd. Felix Pie is 3-for-6. Adam Jones is 2-for-6 with a homer.
Brian Roberts is 3-for-14, but two of those hits are home runs. Luke Scott is 2-for-11.
I'm starting to...
I'm heading back down to Ocean Pines this morning and might actually see the beach this time. I'm shooting for tomorrow and Thursday, since it's overcast today and I'm getting a late start. All I need is for the Orioles to cooperate. No trades or managerial changes.
I should be safe.
I'm averaging three Joe Mahoney questions a day, so I'll just mention here that he has a shot to surface in Baltimore sometime next summer. It won't be on Opening Day. The Orioles won't approach free...