The offensive barrage (updated)

The offensive barrage (updated)
The O's scored five runs on seven hits in the last of the third to take a 5-3 lead on Florida. This time the Marlins have blown the early lead. The five runs is one off their biggest inning of the year and seven hits is the most in any inning this year. Their previous best was six hits in one frame. The inning saw Miguel Tejada drive in a run with an RBI single. He began tonight with just one RBI over his last 23 games and 99 at bats. The streak reached 100 when he flied out in the top...
Continue reading

The first inning gets Millwood again

The first inning gets Millwood again
Coming into tonight's start, Kevin Millwood had allowed 18 runs over the first innings of his last six starts. His first-inning ERA on the year was 10.20. Then, the Marlins, looking to sweep this series, got two runs on four hits off him in the top of the first. Hanley Ramirez, still tormenting O's pitching and Dan Uggla came up with RBI singles. Millwood's season has taken a downturn despite him getting his first win of the year last weekend at San Diego. Over his first seven starts...
Continue reading

Samuel on Bergesen, Fox, Jones and more

Samuel on Bergesen, Fox, Jones and more
O's skipper Juan Samuel did not actually say the words that Brad Bergesen will be his starting pitcher on Saturday, but he did say Bergesen will join the team tomorrow. I think it's a pretty safe assumption at this point that Bergy takes the mound here Saturday at 4:05 p.m. Samuel was asked about Bergesen returning so soon, after just two Triple-A outings this time when he went back, covering 7 2/3 innings. "The report is he threw the ball okay in his starts and then his bullpen session...
Continue reading

O's facing roster decisions as Bergy and Koji set to return

O's facing roster decisions as Bergy and Koji set to return
O's interim manager Juan Samuel said today that Brad Bergesen will join the Orioles tomorrow and that Koji Uehara could be activated as soon as Saturday. The O's will then likely be facing two roster moves over the next few days, to activate Bergesen to make Saturday's start and another move to get Uehara back active. Samuel today said those moves would probably involve removing one pitcher and one position player from the 25-man active roster. Koji pitched a simulated inning today,...
Continue reading

O's tell Britton to throw more change-ups

O's tell Britton to throw more change-ups
Earlier this week, O's left-handed pitching prospect Zach Britton found out he was selected to the USA team for the Futures Game. One reason Britton got selected for the prestigious game is his excellent sinker-slider combination of pitches that has made him one of the top pitchers in the Eastern League this year. But he also found out recently that, while the O's are delighted with his success, they want him to work hard on improving his change-up as well. The message was delivered in an...
Continue reading

Wondering about a manager's decision

Wondering about a manager's decision
Sometimes managers make moves that can get second guessed. Actually, that seems to happen with any move a manager makes that didn't work. I am second guessing Juan Samuel's decision tonight to bring in Alfredo Simon to pitch in the top of the ninth. It was not a save situation. In fact, Florida led 6-5 as it came to bat in the ninth. The Marlins would add a run and four hits off Simon, a big insurance run and go on to win the game, 7-5. This move had little to do with the O's loss,...
Continue reading

Marlins grab the lead (updated)

Marlins grab the lead (updated)
Brian Matusz entered the top of the seventh having retired 11 batters in a row. But now, Florida has pushed across a tie-breaking run to gain a 5-4 lead after they trailed 4-0 in the second inning. Matusz walked Mike Stanton on a 3-1 pitch to start the inning. After he advanced to second on a ground out, Ronny Paulino's double just inside the right-field line scored Stanton for a 5-4 lead, the Marlins first lead of the night. The next hitter,Chris Coughlan has just doubled off the...
Continue reading

Mummey joins IronBirds

Mummey joins IronBirds
The Orioles fourth-round draft pick, Auburn outfielder Trent Mummey, joined the Aberdeen IronBirds today in Staten Island, New York. Mummey, the 118th overall selection in the draft and highest O's pick to agree to terms so far, will be officially activated as soon as his contract is approved by Major League Baseball, which could happen any day. The 21-year-old lefty hitter batted .366-17-54 in 36 games for Auburn this season and was first-team all SEC. He is likely to stay as a center...
Continue reading

Will Fox get off the bench? (plus Vito checks in)

Will Fox get off the bench? (plus Vito checks in)
No one is saying or even hinting that Jake Fox could even begin to be the answer to all that ails the Orioles offense. But it would be nice to see him get a few starts along the way. Did they trade for the guy just as a utility/bench player? It's only two games since he has been here, but Fox is not in today's starting lineup either. I know the guy got designated for assignment and is batting just .214-2-12 in 98 at bats, but does he need to become the latest player to find the O's bench...
Continue reading

Britton talks about making the Futures Game

Britton talks about making the Futures Game
Zach Britton was probably not expecting to find out this way. But when he got to his locker in the clubhouse Tuesday afternoon at Reading, there was an official looking letter from Major League Baseball. "When I got to my locker (yesterday) there was a letter from Major League Baseball. I wondered if I was in trouble. But then I saw it was a nice letter saying 'Congratulations, you've been selected to participate on the USA team for the 2010 MLB All-Star Futures Game.' "This is real...
Continue reading

Don't pitch to Hanley

Don't pitch to Hanley
Whenever the Orioles play Tampa, MASN's Rick Dempsey usually says "don't pitch to Pena." It's his way of reminding fans, and O's pitchers, how well the guy hits Baltimore pitching. If the O's played the Marlins more, the Demper would probably change that to "don't pitch to Ramirez." After missing Sunday's game with a hamstring injury, Ramirez returned to the lineup last night for the Marlins. And picked up where he left off last June in again tormenting O's pitching. Ramirez...
Continue reading

Marlins hook O's, 10-4

Marlins hook O's, 10-4
If it seems like the Orioles lose often when they play the Florida Marlins in interleague games, they do. Florida blasted the O's 10-4 tonight to win for the ninth time in the last ten games between these teams. Florida is 17-5 all-time vs. the Birds. Hanley Ramirez, who missed Sunday's game with a hamstring injury, returned to the Marlins lineup with three hits and three RBI. Florida scored six times over the final three innings to break open a 4-3 game. The O's fall to 19-51 as they...
Continue reading

Miclat set to move to Double-A

Miclat set to move to Double-A
Shortstop Greg Miclat, who played tonight in the Carolina League vs. California League All-Star game, will soon be joining the Double-A Bowie Baysox. Miclat was batting .311-1-19 in 48 games with Frederick with an OBP of .403 and OPS of .806. The fifth-round pick out of the University of Virginia in 2008, was batting .348 in 18 games in June and went six for 12 with two doubles and 5 RBI in his last three games with Frederick. Miclat will likely join the Baysox in time for Thursday's game...
Continue reading

Mummey and Frabizio notes

Mummey and Frabizio notes
O's fourth-round draft pick Trent Mummey is at Camden Yards watching the Orioles tonight. Mummey had his physical in Baltimore this week and it appears everything checked out fine, as expected. The outfielder from Auburn is expected to join the Aberdeen IronBirds in the next few days. The 21-year-old Mummey hit .366-17-54 in 36 games in college this year after beginning the season missing 28 games with an ankle injury. Meanwhile an O's official did confirm tonight that minor league...
Continue reading

Welty in the HR Derby

Welty in the HR Derby
Ronnie Welty of the Frederick Keys made the semifinals of the home run derby before tonight's California League/Carolina League All-Star Game in Myrtle Beach, S.C., hitting five first-round homers, the most of any of the 10 competitors. In the semis, he was beaten by Winston-Salem's Jon Gilmore, two homers to one. Gilmore beat High Desert's Rich Poythress in the finals, four homers to three. Thanks to reporter Pete Kerzel, who is covering the game for milb.com for that note. Welty is...
Continue reading

Jake Fox talks about joining the Orioles

Jake Fox talks about joining the Orioles
Yes, the Orioles did trade a Wolf for a Fox. Pitcher Ross Wolf goes to Oakland and a few moments ago Jake Fox completed his first interview with Baltimore reporters. Fox found out yesterday morning he would be an Oriole and today settled into his locker in the Camden Yards clubhouse. "I'm excited about it. It's always good to have a change and go someplace where hopefully you fit in. Where I came from, it just wasn't the right fit for anybody. I didn't fit into their style and it's...
Continue reading

It's all about the young players

It's all about the young players
Over the next few weeks and months fans and reporters will be tracking the Orioles for a couple of reasons. One, the constant watch to see just how historically bad this team turns out to be. Two, to see who might become the next manager. For me, this season has turned out so badly, I don't care if they lose 100, 110, 120 or 130 games. At this point, what difference does it make? Here is what I am most interested in the rest of this season: Will the core group of young players that...
Continue reading

O's draftee gets College World Series save

O's draftee gets College World Series save
The Orioles third-round draft pick, right-hander Dan Klein, picked up a save in the College World Series on Monday night. He pitched a shutout ninth inning as his UCLA squad beat TCU, 6-3. It was his tenth save of the season as UCLA improved to 2-0 in the series. Klein, showing a 93-MPH fastball, along with a change and curve, gave up a one-out single but nothing else in closing out the win. The Orioles will not be talking contract with Klein or the other two players they drafted from UCLA...
Continue reading

Minor moves

Minor moves
Here are a couple of roster moves from the Orioles farm system today: *RHP Zach Clark goes from Bowie to Norfolk. *LHP Chris George goes from Norfolk to Bowie. *SS Pedro Florimon joins Aberdeen on an injury-rehab assignment. Clark, who has been with the O's since 2006, was 1-1, 3.41 with Bowie. George pitched in 14 games, nine as a starter at Triple-A and went 2-2, 4.28 in 61 innings with the Tides. The 23-year-old Florimon has struggled this year at Bowie in his first full season at the...
Continue reading

Townsend set to return to the diamond

Townsend set to return to the diamond
It's been a tough season for first baseman Tyler Townsend, the Orioles third-round pick out of Florida International in the 2009 draft. It began with Townsend suffering a hamstring injury during winter workouts. But he felt fine when spring training began. Then, he hurt the hamstring again and didn't report to Delmarva until April 20. He would go 5 for 10 at bat with 2 RBI over the next three games. Then, he hurt that same hamstring in his left leg again. He returned to Sarasota for...
Continue reading