Rick Kranitz talks about Koji at Bowie

Rick Kranitz talks about Koji at Bowie
O's pitching coach Rick Kranitz is sitting a few rows behind home plate here in Bowie and watched Koji Uehara pitch. Now he is getting an up close look at lefty Zach Britton as Erie leads Bowie 4-0 in the fifth. Kranitz indicated it is likely Koji will make at least one more minor league appearance. "It was a quick look. He's a strike-thrower and we are just looking for him to get his arm strength back and feel back and get some innings under his belt," Kranitz said. I asked him if...
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Koji quotes after his outing at Bowie

Koji quotes after his outing at Bowie
After one scoreless inning here today at Bowie and a total of just 13 pitches, Koji Uehara said he feels ready to return to the Orioles. Koji said he has not been told by the team when he will be activated off the DL, but when asked if he is ready to pitch again in the Majors, through his interpreter, Jiwon Bang, Koji simply said "yes." "I could have thrown more," Koji said. "It's not for me to decide (when I will be activated). "I'm not that interested in the results, I just want...
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Koji's first and only inning

Koji's first and only inning
Wearing a white number 19 Bowie Baysox jersey, Koji Uehara gave up a walk, but no runs or hits in the Erie top of the first. Koji worked fast and pitched out of the stretch throughout. Leadoff hitter Chris White grounded out to first on an 0-2 pitch. Koji then fell behind Wilkin Ramirez 3-0, then ran the count full and walked him on the 3-2 pitch which missed outside. On a 1-1 pitch to third hitter Josh Burrus, Ramirez was thrown out stealing by catcher Phil Britton, who made a strong and...
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Live from Bowie where Koji pitches at 11 am

Live from Bowie where Koji pitches at 11 am
I have arrived at the press box at Prince Georges Stadium for today's Bowie Baysox vs. Erie game. Koji Uehara will start for the Baysox and we are not sure if he will pitch just one inning or more. Lefty Zach Britton will follow him on the mound. Koji has not pitched for the O's in the regular season and went on the DL March 26th with a left hamstring strain. He pitched a scoreless inning for the Baysox on Tuesday here, throwing 15 pitches, 11 for strikes. Today's game is a special 11...
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Audio from Chris Tillman's no-hitter

Audio from Chris Tillman's no-hitter
Chris Tillman pitched a no-hitter for the Norfolk Tides Wednesday night as the Tides won at Gwinnett 6-0. The 22-year-old right-hander walked one and fanned six and threw 63 of his 105 pitches for strikes. It was Norfolk's first nine-inning no-hitter since Dave Telgheder threw one on May 15, 1992 vs. Pawtucket. Audio: Tides broadcaster Bob Socci calls the final out of Chris Tillman's no-hitter The only trouble Tillman ran into came in the fifth inning, as Brent Clevlan worked a leadoff...
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Guthrie apologizes to fans and teammates for his poor outing

Guthrie apologizes to fans and teammates for his poor outing
A somewhat despondent Jeremy Guthrie met with reporters a few minutes ago in the O's clubhouse, saying he was embarrassed by his performance and he apologized to teammates and fans for his outing tonight. "Let me start by saying, I'm embarrassed by the way the game started. I'm embarrassed by the way the game finished. I'm embarrassed that I had to run the bullpen out there for 4 1/3 innings because I was not able to keep the pitch count down. "I'm apologetic to fans that come and...
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Looks like the win streak will end at two

Looks like the win streak will end at two
Maybe the Yankees were still mad at Jeremy Guthrie after he hit Mark Teixeira in spring training. Maybe they were upset with their play last night or the loss last night or all of the above. They lead tonight 6-1 after four. A Lou Montanez error in left helped New York to two runs in the first and Guthrie hit the leadoff batter in the second and later Nick Swisher tripled in two. Robinson Cano's solo homer in the third produced New York's sixth run. Guthrie has thrown 80 pitches and the...
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Sizing up Guthrie and Sabathia

Sizing up Guthrie and Sabathia
Jeremy Guthrie (0-2, 3.46) tonight makes his fifth start. He has posted four straight quality starts to begin this season. Last year he picked up his 4th quality start in his 10th outing. Guthrie is 3-6, 4.92 in 11 career starts vs. NY. The Orioles have scored a total of ten runs in his four starts in 2010. Guthrie has not allowed a first-inning run this season after allowing 29 last year. Right-handed hitters are batting .204 vs. Guthrie this year while lefties are hitting...
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Millwood: "I'll get my share of wins."

Millwood:  "I'll get my share of wins."
When Kevin Millwood was traded to the Orioles in December, he joined the club with 155 career wins to his credit. Despite pitching well in five starts so far where he has kept his team in the game, he doesn't have a single win yet this year. He is 0-3, 3.38 in 32 innings. But he doesn't sound the least bit discouraged by his personal record at this point. "There is really not much you can do about it. Any time I pitch, I try to give us a chance to win and that's all you can do. I...
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Playing good ball vs. Boston and New York

Playing good ball vs. Boston and New York
Here's a strange thought. At 4-16, the 2010 Orioles look less overmatched by the Red Sox and Yankees than the 2009 Orioles did. They went a combined 7-29 vs. New York and Boston last year and now are 2-2 vs. the big two in a stretch of 12 straight against them. Perhaps it won't be long before those teams assert their usual and expected dominance over the Birds of Baltimore, but the Orioles have sure gone toe to toe with them the last four games. They are 2-2 in this stretch and the O's...
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Some post-game notes and quotes after the Orioles beat the Yankees

Some post-game notes and quotes after the Orioles beat the Yankees
The Orioles started a six-game homestand with a stirring 5-4 win over the Yankees that featured Alfredo Simon's first Major League save, a Cesar Izturis 3-RBI night and a combined 0 for 10 evening from Derek Jeter and Alex Rodriguez. Back-to-back firsts: Sunday Cla Meredith got his first Major League save in his 271st big league appearance. Tonight, Simon got his first in his 7th career big league outing. They are the first O's pitchers to pick up their first saves in consecutive games...
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Alfredo Simon talks about his first Major League save

Alfredo Simon talks about his first Major League save
Dave Trembley said he knew before the game that Alfredo Simon would be his closer tonight. What he didn't know was that Simon would need 29 pitches to get his first Major League save and that he would get key outs vs. Derek Jeter and Alex Rodriguez along the way. In the post-game interview Simon seemed as composed as he was on the mound, even after a Cesar Izturis two-out error gave the Yankees new life. "I just feel great. I'm glad they gave me the opportunity to close the game. I just...
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O's take advantage of Yankee mistakes to win

O's take advantage of Yankee mistakes to win
Tonight, for a change, it was the other team that made mistakes with the O's taking advantage to get an important victory. The Orioles beat the Yankees 5-4 in the series opener at Camden Yards. It ended with Alfredo Simon on the mound, picking up his first save since he was in the minors in 2005. He hit 96 and 97 on the stadium gun and got A-Rod out with runners on first and third and two out in the 9th. Oh, yes there was drama at the end. The Orioles three-run 6th, which produced a 4-2...
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They finally got clutch two-out hits

They finally got clutch two-out hits
The Orioles, who began tonight with just eight hits all year (in 74 at bats) with runners in scoring position and two outs, tonight just picked up three of them in a row in the last of the sixth. The three-run sixth, which came too late for Kevin Millwood, has given the O's a 4-2 lead after six. With two outs and none on in the O's 6th, Joe Girardi took out Phil Hughes after 109 pitches, even though he had not allowed a hit since the second. After a Boone Logan walk, David Robertson came...
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Millwood hangs tough (w-update)

Millwood hangs tough (w-update)
You have to give Kevin Millwood credit. He gets A-Rod and Cano out to get out of a bases loaded, one out jam in the top of the third. His own walk and a Miguel Tejada error prolonged the proceedings and Millwood threw a whopping 33 pitches in the inning and is at 67 for the game in three innings. Not only did he show poise getting out of that jam, but the Yankees top of the third followed the O's bottom of the second where Adam Jones hit into a double play with the sacks full and one out. ...
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What Simon said

What Simon said
Last April, Alfredo Simon began the year in the O's starting rotation. Two starts later he was on the DL and headed for Tommy John surgery. Now, less than a year later he is back with the Orioles and will join the O's bullpen tonight. "I just feel happy because they gave me the chance again. I want to help this team and do the best I can," the 28-year-old Simon said. "My arm feels like new. That's the best thing and I was throwing all my pitches for strikes. I feel great. I threw...
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MacPhail on Trembley, Wilfrido Perez and more (video added)

MacPhail on Trembley, Wilfrido Perez and more (video added)
O's president Andy MacPhail was asked about his manager Dave Trembley just a few minutes ago near the Orioles dugout. His comments today reflected his recent public comments about his skipper. "Same thing I've told everybody. Our complete energy and focus is on doing the things we can to improve the situation on the field. Part of that is going to be getting more timely hitting and wrapping up the games at the end. That needs the most improvement at the present time. "We talk all the...
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Will O's play with passion and intensity vs. NY?

Will O's play with passion and intensity vs. NY?
It looks like the Orioles offense is rounding into shape in time for the club's six-game homestand versus Boston and New York. Even without Brian Roberts, the callup of Rhyne Hughes and return of Miguel Tejada has pumped some life into the bats and the lineup. Now let's see that impact the whole team. It's no secret the O's clubhouse is filled with some low-key guys. Nothing wrong with that, there are plenty of good guys and real pros on the roster. But for the next six days the O's...
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Checking in on the Yankees

Checking in on the Yankees
Checking in with the team some around here know as the "Evil Empire" as the start of another O's-Yankees series is now a day away. The Yankees began the season with back-to-back series wins at Boston and Tampa. They are now 12-6 on the year. They own a 7-5 road record, including 3-3 on their current road trip. They won their first five series to tie a franchise record. But Sunday's loss to the Angels gave LA that series win, two games to one. Overall, New York has lost 3 of 4 since...
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Xavier Avery is off to a great start at Frederick

Xavier Avery is off to a great start at Frederick
Of all the players off to good starts in the O's minors, perhaps the one creating the most buzz is Xavier Avery. Some in the organization feel he has a real chance to be a future Major League leadoff hitter and right now Avery is doing nothing to hurt that projection. He is one of the youngest players in the Carolina League, but the 20-year-old outfielder is batting .375-0-9 with a .898 OPS and his name peppers the list of league leaders. Avery hit .262 last season at Delmarva, his first...
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