A confident, even cocky Arrieta is okay with Allenson

A confident, even cocky Arrieta is okay with Allenson
With continued speculation that Jake Arrieta could be Baltimore bound at some point soon, I went to the guy today that has been his manager at Triple-A Norfolk the last two years. That is Gary Allenson, now the O's interim third-base coach. He admits that Arrieta can be confident, even bordering on cocky at times, but says that is a good thing and that Arrieta has simply been among the best pitchers in the International League this year. "That's fine by me. Being cocky and knowing that...
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Some notes and quotes after Boston's 8-2 win

Some notes and quotes after Boston's 8-2 win
Going the wrong way: That's ten straight losses for the Orioles. They are now just 3-17 over their last 20 games. They are 10-32 over the last 42 games vs. Boston. Jeremy Guthrie said: "I had a good fastball and was able to locate it well. My slider was not that good tonight and I got away with a few mistakes. "I'm always trying to put up zeroes, it doesn't matter who the other pitcher is. That doesn't factor in. That is always a tough lineup to face, they really work the...
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Maybe this is why Arrieta only pitched two innings tonight

Maybe this is why Arrieta only pitched two innings tonight
O's manager Juan Samuel said the club was "keeping its options open" and that was why Jake Arrieta did not start, but came on in relief in tonight's Triple-A Norfolk vs. Buffalo game. But it's also possible that Arrieta's innings were limited over concern for Jeremy Guthrie, who made his 12th start of the season tonight. Don't get alarmed, I don't think we've got another injury here, but Guthrie did admit after the game that he's felt some "general soreness" lately, although he...
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Handed a chance for the win, the O's politely refused

Handed a chance for the win, the O's politely refused
It's not often a good team like the Red Sox says to the Orioles "here, take this game from us," but the Red Sox just did. The 2010 version of the Orioles said "don't bother." With Boston leading by just a 1-0 score, Jon Lester walked three straight Orioles to load the bases with one out in the seventh and Daniel Bard came on. Bard, with an ERA of 7.36 vs. the Birds this year, got pinch hitter Luke Scott to fly to shallow center and Corey Patterson hit a foul pop to third. A big blown...
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It's not bothering Guthrie tonight

It's not bothering Guthrie tonight
Over the last nine games, the Orioles pitching staff ERA is 6.12. The Birds have scored just 14 runs in that time and you have to wonder if the lack of offense isn't finally getting to the starting pitchers, who have worked just 9 1/3 combined innings over the last three games before tonight. It must be exhausting to feel like you have to throw a shutout every night and that the game hangs in the balance on almost every pitch. We could ask Kevin Millwood about this, but he's too classy to...
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Arrieta is not starting tonight

Arrieta is not starting tonight
Jake Arrieta did not make tonight's start for Norfolk vs. Buffalo. I have found out he is not hurt, this has nothing to do with any injuries. Is he Baltimore bound? There is no word on any of that at this point, but he did not make tonight's start for Norfolk as scheduled. Andy Mitchell is on the mound.
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The power outage

The power outage
Some of the numbers on the Orioles recent lack and season-long lack of offense. *The O's are on a pace to score 530 runs this year (3.27 per game) which would be the fewest in team history. The fewest number of runs scored by the O's during a 162-game season was 550 by the 1988 Orioles. Of course, the O's are also on pace for a record of 44-118. *The Orioles have scored just eight runs over the past seven games and just 14 runs during their nine-game losing streak. They have just 11...
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Arrieta is up tonight

Arrieta is up tonight
Well, not in the big leagues, but he'll take the ball tonight at home for Triple-A Norfolk vs. Buffalo. Arrieta is 3-0, 0.82 over his last three starts and in 22 innings has allowed just two earned runs with 16 hits and 23 strikeouts. After his last start, he told me he felt 100 percent ready for the Majors. Arrieta leads the International League in ERA and is tied for first with 71 innings. Opponent batters have hit just .183 against him and he is fifth in the league with 62...
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Bergy on his move to the bullpen

Bergy on his move to the bullpen
O's right-hander Brad Bergesen last pitched in relief during the 2008 season, once for Bowie and once for Frederick. But he will be in the bullpen tonight here at Camden Yards vs. Boston. With Orioles' starters, including Bergesen, having pitched just 9 1/3 innings combined over the last three games, Bergesen is in the pen tonight. As for how long he stays, there, the O's are not saying for certain right now. "I am going to the bullpen for tonight. I'm going to skip at least one...
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Talking drafts and budgets with Jim Callis

Talking drafts and budgets with Jim Callis
Here is the final part of my series of interviews with Jim Callis of Baseball America. Today he discusses the O's drafts under Joe Jordan and the dollars the Orioles have spent on the draft. He gives Jordan solid marks for his drafts. "They've been good. I know some Baltimore fans, at least from the emails I get, are a little impatient, saying Matt Wieters isn't all he was cracked up to be and Brian Matusz is struggling. But those were two very good picks. They were guys that didn't...
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Dickerson to manage at Norfolk

Dickerson to manage at Norfolk
The Orioles will name Bobby Dickerson as interim manager of the Triple-A Norfolk Tides today, replacing Gary Allenson who is joining the Orioles staff as coach. The 44-year-old Dickerson has been serving as the O's Latin-American field co-ordinater and their minor league infielder co-ordinater. Whether he will stay as manager at Norfolk for the rest of the season has not been decided. Dickerson begins as skipper of the Tides tonight when they start an eight-game homestand vs. Buffalo. He...
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One man's take on Trembley's ouster

One man's take on Trembley's ouster
News official: The Orioles made the news official this morning. Juan Samuel is taking over as interim manger and Dave Trembley has been dismissed. Gary Allenson has been named interim third base coach. The club will hold a news conference today at 2:30 p.m. with Andy MacPhail and Juan Samuel. When Andy MacPhail sits in front of a bank of microphones and makes the announcement today - that Dave Trembley is being relieved of his duties as O's manager - I hope MacPhail also says something...
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Givens to the DL

Givens to the DL
Since we have so much good news coming our way with the Orioles these days, add this to the latest - shortstop Mychal Givens has been placed on Delmarva's disabled list. The 20-year-old Givens, the O's second-round draft pick out of Plant High in Tampa, Florida, suffered a sprained left thumb sliding into a base vs. Greensboro on Tuesday night. He was wearing a soft cast on the hand yesterday. Givens is expected to be out for at least two weeks, maybe longer. He'll be examined further at...
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Taillon-Jordan meeting goes well (w/draft speculation)

Taillon-Jordan meeting goes well (w/draft speculation)
If you've noticed, a lot of my pre-draft stories have centered around prep pitcher Jameson Taillon. Since everyone is speculating on Monday's first-round at this point, I'll add my two cents. My sense of it is that Taillon is the player the Orioles would like to get. They can get him if the Pirates pass on the 18-year-old right-hander with the second pick. If Taillon is not there, most assume the O's would then pick Miami high school shortstop Manny Machado. I think in that scenario,...
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Checking in with Joe Jordan

Checking in with Joe Jordan
In an interview Wednesday night with MASNsports.com, O's scouting director Joe Jordan provided an update on his scouting meetings this week. He also indicated he may now know which player he will take with the third pick in the first-round on Monday. At least he seems to have settled on his first choice at this point. "I think we have a scenario that we want to happen. But we are spending a lot of time talking about the other scenarios and try not to fall victim to overlook the obvious. ...
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Jim Callis: "I'd take Taillon over Machado."

Jim Callis:  "I'd take Taillon over Machado."
Here is the second part of my three-part series of interviews with Jim Callis of Baseball America. I asked Jim if both prep players, shortstop Manny Machado and pitcher Jameson Taillon are available when the Orioles select third in the draft on Monday, which player would he take? "I'd take Taillon. Either one would be a fine pick, but I think Taillon's ability is more rare than Machado's. Nothing wrong with a possible five-tool shortstop, though," Callis said. Machado is considered the...
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Don't know what to make of this

Don't know what to make of this
A reporter almost never reveals his sources. But Ben Badler of Baseball America has sources that are telling him the Orioles could be looking to land a top player when the international signing period begins on July 2nd. The article from the BA website is premium contest, but here are the first few lines if you have not seen it: As if the American League East needs to become even more fiercely competitive. The Yankees and Red Sox are always financial heavyweights in the international...
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Don't blame the pitching for losses vs. New York

Don't blame the pitching for losses vs. New York
The Orioles are 1-6 this year now with six losses in a row vs. the Yankees. I say it's sure not the pitcher's fault. The O's team ERA this year vs. New York is 3.97 in those seven games and they gave up just one earned run last night. This vs. a Yankees team that leads the AL in team average, on base percentage and runs scored. At home, New York is averaging 6.6 runs per game this season. They have scored 18 runs in four home games this year vs. O's pitching, an average of just 4.5 per...
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Baseball America's Jim Callis on the O's in this year's Draft

Baseball America's Jim Callis on the O's in this year's Draft
He is 6'6" and 225 pounds and throws a fastball that has touched 99 miles per hour. He fanned 19 this season during a seven-inning no-hitter. He struck out 16 Cuban batters over seven innings last summer at the Pan American Junior Championships. He is just 18 years old. Oh yeah, and he could be the Orioles selection with the third pick in the First-Year Player Draft next Monday. He is Jameson Taillon, a right-handed pitcher from the Woodlands High School in Texas. Very few know the...
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Arrieta: "I feel like I'm 100 percent ready."

Arrieta:  "I feel like I'm 100 percent ready."
If it's possible, right-hander Jake Arrieta has kicked up his performance recently to an even higher level and continues to show that he looks ready to join the Major Leagues whenever the Orioles make the call. Arrieta, the O's fifth-round pick in 2007, is 6-2, 1.77 in 11 starts on the year. Over 71 innings, he has allowed just 45 hits. But over his last three starts, Arrieta is 3-0, 0.82. Over his last 22 innings, he has given up 16 hits and two earned runs with six walks and 23...
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