MacPhail on the Tatum decision & the trade market

MacPhail on the Tatum decision & the trade market
O's president Andy MacPhail made the decision this morning to option Craig Tatum to Triple-A to make roster room for Matt Wieters, who comes off the DL today. A few minutes ago, outside the manager's office, MacPhail talked about the decision to send Tatum out and also had some comments on the current trade market in baseball. "All the time I've been in baseball, sometimes the hardest thing for players to really get their arms around is sometimes things happen to him that really don't...
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Matusz: "I made a big stride today."

Matusz:  "I made a big stride today."
Brian Matusz hates questions about his previous starts. But he had to know someone would ask how he dealt with giving up 10 ER over 4 2/3 coming into this start tonight. Was it a test for him mentally as he took the mound tonight vs. Minnesota, coming off those two outings? "For me, I take one game at a time. If I have a bad game, I forget about it. But the media likes to put a lot on, you know, if he has a couple bad starts is he going down (to the minors) and you guys make a big deal...
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Mixed bag for Matusz

Mixed bag for Matusz
Well, this was a better outing for lefty Brian Matusz. Not good, but better. After giving up 10 ER in just 4 2/3 over his past two starts, tonight he gave up six hits and three runs over five innings. Matusz's velocity seemed to be up over his last outing and he hit 91 and 92 on the gun, more Matusz- like. But his control abandoned him at the start as he walked three of the first four hitters to load the bases. But he gave up just one run that inning and did a very good job of minimizing...
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An update on Erbe at Aberdeen (also Mickolio)

An update on Erbe at Aberdeen (also Mickolio)
In his first outing in a game since June 20 for Norfolk vs. Toledo, right-hander Brandon Erbe allowed two runs in the third inning at Ripken Stadium tonight for Aberdeen vs. Hudson Valley. Erbe, who has been out since then with right shoulder soreness, pitched scoreless ball in the first and second innings. He gave up just one hit and the two runs over three innings with two walks and one strikeout. Erbe hit the first batter of the game and then retired the next six. His fastball was...
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Does a lack of runs hurt Matusz's cause?

Does a lack of runs hurt Matusz's cause?
Since Brian Matusz shut down the Boston Red Sox on just two hits over seven scoreless innings on the fourth of July, he has made back-to-back starts where he lasted just three and 1 2/3 innings. He has given up 10 ER over 4 2/3 in those two starts as his ERA jumped from 4.56 to 5.21. I'm still firmly on the Matusz bandwagon, in fact I couldn't even find the edge to jump off if I wanted to, I am so firmly on that bandwagon. Having said that, it would silence some of the doubters a bit if he...
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Minor league news on Erbe, Mickolio and Joseph

Minor league news on Erbe, Mickolio and Joseph
Norfolk Tides pitcher Brandon Erbe, who made four injury rehab starts for the Aberdeen IronBirds last year, will be back at Ripken Stadium tonight, beginning another injury rehab assignment. He'll be joined by Norfolk and former O's reliever Kam Mickolio. Erbe has been on the DL since June 25 and has not pitched since June 20 due to right shoulder soreness. He is 0-10, 5.73 in 14 Triple-A starts this year. Mickolio, who pitched in three O's games back in April, hasn't pitched since June...
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Townsend moves to Frederick

Townsend moves to Frederick
After a recent hitting tear, Delmarva Shorebirds first baseman Tyler Townsend has moved to Frederick. He will join the Keys for their game tonight vs. Myrtle Beach. In 30 games for the Shorebirds, Townsend, last year's third-round draft pick, hit .342 (40-117) with three home runs and 26 RBIs. Townsend's bat, like the weather, heated up this month. In 21 games, he batted .354 with three home runs and 21 RBIs. He also totaled 10 doubles. As of July 24, he leads the Orioles minor league...
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Looks like Luke is locked in

Looks like Luke is locked in
Did you ever notice that Luke Scott seldom hits what some might call a "cheap homer." One of those balls where the outfielder leaps at the wall and it just goes over his glove. No, he usually hits the kind where the outfielder doesn't need to bother running out near the wall, because the ball is sailing well over it. Like his two-run blast off Minnesota's Anthony Slama last night. He turned around a 94-MPH fastball on a 1-1 count, driving it 394 feet to right field. It gave the O's a...
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B-Rob on the win and his first game back

B-Rob on the win and his first game back
Brian Roberts is back and the Orioles won. Jeremy Guthrie's pitching and Luke Scott's clutch homer had a lot to do with that, but Roberts was back on the field for the O's for the first time since April 9th in their 3-2 win over Minnesota. He went 0 for 4 with two ground outs, a strikeout and a line out to the outfield. He had a few routines plays in the field. Here are his post-game comments. How did it go? "It was good, it was fun to be back out there, be with the guys and play the...
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Guthrie and Scott come up big as the O's edge the Twins

Guthrie and Scott come up big as the O's edge the Twins
Jeremy Guthrie, who was the first AL pitcher to suffer 10 losses this year, ended a nine-start winless drought, as the Orioles beat Minnesota 3-2 Friday night. Guthrie gave up six hits and two runs over seven innings, throwing 99 pitches as he gained his fourth win of the year and first since May 25 vs. Oakland. In four career starts vs. Minnesota, Guthrie is 3-0, 2.96. Jeremy Guthrie talks with the media about his start in the O's 3-2 win over the Twins Guthrie took a shutout to the...
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Sixth-inning homers

Sixth-inning homers
The Orioles entered the sixth inning leading by a run and exited it the same way. Just with a different score. After Joe Mauer's two-run homer in the top of the sixth off Jeremy Guthrie gave Minnesota a 2-1 lead, Luke Scott crushed a pitch for a two-run homer in the last of the sixth for a 3-2 O's lead. Scott hit a 1-1 pitch from Anthony Slama (yes, his real name) out to the left of the big scoreboard in right field. It was a 394-foot shot that didn't take long to leave the Yard. This...
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Snyder back to Norfolk (update - he homers)

Snyder back to Norfolk (update - he homers)
Brandon Snyder was activated off the DL by the Triple-A Norfolk Tides today and is batting seventh and playing first base at Lehigh Valley tonight. Snyder, who last played for the Tides on June 17, went 3 for 13 with a double and homer in three games on an injury rehab assignment with Aberdeen. Snyder resumes his play with the Tides with a five-game batting streak, during which he went 7 for 18. Update: His first time up tonight, Snyder hit a two-run homer in the top of the second in that...
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Roberts set to return to lineup

Roberts set to return to lineup
It was Friday afternoon, April 9 and the Orioles were playing Toronto in their home opener. It was 55 degrees at game time and 48,891 filled the Camden Yards stands. And Brian Roberts was in the O's lineup. He re-injured his back that day sliding into second base on a successful steal in the bottom of the first. He later scored, but soon after came out of the game. He has not been seen in the O's lineup since. That changes tonight, when Roberts officially comes off the DL to bat first...
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Wiggy reacts to his suspension

Wiggy reacts to his suspension
Ty Wigginton had a two-word response when asked today about getting a three-game suspension and fine for allegedly bumping umpire Gary Darling in last night's game. "Shock. Surprised," he said. Wigginton got the news just before reporters were allowed in the clubhouse. He said he was told the suspension was handed down because it was ruled that he did bump Darling. "Yep, yep (that is why I got suspended). It wasn't like a definite bump. I feel like if I bump somebody there, that...
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Jordan says contract talks with Machado have begun

Jordan says contract talks with Machado have begun
O's scouting director Joe Jordan confirmed this afternoon that the Orioles have begun contract negotiations with top draft pick, shortstop Manny Machado. "We've gotten that one opened up. It's a long way from being complete, but there is some dialogue going on which is good. Like I said before, I just don't have a real timeline on that one." Jordan said dollar figures have been exchanged, but "we still have a lot of ground to cover." Andy MacPhail told O's season ticket holders...
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O's frustations boil over & Millwood gets it together

O's frustations boil over & Millwood gets it together
For some fans, even in a 5-0 loss to Minnesota last night, maybe there was something to be pleased about. They saw passion, emotion and a little anger from Juan Samuel and Ty Wigginton. They both got ejected but also got some of their loudest ovations of the year. You could almost sense the crowd saying "Right on, it's about time you guys showed you are as ticked off as we are." Pitching coach Rick Kranitz, who was also ejected, pretty much admitted what seemed obvious. The arguments...
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Wigginton and Kranitz on their ejections

Wigginton and Kranitz on their ejections
After a volatile night with three O's ejected from tonight's 5-0 loss to Minnesota, pitching coach Rick Kranitz and Ty Wigginton talked about their ejections. (Roch has posted comments from Juan Samuel, who was also tossed). Kranitz was ejected after Wigginton's ejection for arguing a safe call at first base. Kranitz was tossed by home plate ump Bill Hohn. "I didn't say anything," Kranitz said. "I sarcastically clapped in the way that the umpire, I guess Bill Hohn took offense to. ...
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The umpires speak

The umpires speak
Tonight, I served as the pool reporter for the reporters covering the game and asked some post-game questions to crew chief Gary Darling about the ejections of Ty Wigginton and pitching coach Rick Kranitz from tonight's game. Darling admitted that he got the call at first base wrong on the tag play and safe call in the top of the seventh that led to Wigginton's argument and ejection. "We looked at it, he missed him the first time and on a close play, he got him the second time it looked...
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Wiggy's ejection (Juan & Kranny too)

Wiggy's ejection (Juan & Kranny too)
If fans were looking for someone to show fire and passion on this team, they just saw it. Ty Wigginton was ejected by first base umpire Gary Darling for arguing a play in the top of the seventh. J.J. Hardy broke for second on a steal then turned around and retreated to first. When Wigginton took the throw and applied the tag on Hardy he was expecting an out call that didn't come. He immediately charged toward Darling, but did not make contact with him as Darling put up his hand to throw...
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Millwood gets on a roll

Millwood gets on a roll
Too bad he gave up three runs in the first inning tonight. Since then, Kevin Millwood has had a strong outing that should be somewhat encouraging for fans and O's brass alike. Millwood has allowed just one run and three hits from innings two through six. He gave up a bomb to Michael Cuddyer for a solo homer in the fourth. It went 434 feet and was one of those blasts that Jamie Walker used to refer to as a "rocket ship." But Millwood has been pretty solid since giving up that...
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