Roch Kubatko

Former Orioles pitching coach Rick Adair talks about Jake Arrieta

October 07, 2015, 1:04pm

Orioles

Jake Arrieta takes the mound tonight and the knife turns. Orioles fans must cringe as Arrieta gets the assignment for the Cubs in the National League wild card game in Pittsburgh. He's 22-6 with a 1.77 ERA in 33 starts, with four complete games, three shutouts and a no-hitter. He's exactly what the Orioles thought he would become after drafting him in the fifth round in 2007 out of TCU. (Side note: The Orioles took right-hander Tim Bascom in the fourth round out of Central Florida because...

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J.J. Hardy on his shoulder injury

October 06, 2015, 6:54pm

Orioles

As Colby Rasmus was rounding the bases last night following his home run for the Astros in the American League wild card game, did anyone reflect back on his negotiations with the Orioles over the winter? Rasmus came very close to signing with the Orioles, who thought they had an agreement on a one-year deal that guaranteed around $7 million. Then, agent Casey Close decided to keep looking and landed a deal with the Astros for $8 million. Close threw a better curve than anyone on the Orioles...

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Medical update on Brian Matusz

October 06, 2015, 10:48am

Orioles

Orioles reliever Brian Matusz underwent a successful medical procedure yesterday on his right shoulder and has returned home to Arizona. Matusz stayed back in Baltimore and had arthroscopic surgery to repair the AC joint, allowing him to get a head start on his recovery. Ravens physician Dr. Leigh Ann Curl also cleaned out about a centimeter worth of arthritic bone in the shoulder. "Everything went great and just as planned. On the road to recovery," Matusz said in a text message. "From my...

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More thoughts on the Duquette/Showalter news conference

October 05, 2015, 8:30pm

Orioles

More thoughts on the Duquette/Showalter news conference

I'm happy to report that the end of the 2015 season hasn't diluted the passion here. Executive vice president Dan Duquette's comments yesterday at an exit press conference stirred the masses. A few of you were shaken. Here's what I took out of the 30-minute session with Duquette and manager Buck Showalter: * The Orioles want to re-sign Chris Davis. Duquette said it, Showalter said it, managing partner Peter G. Angelos said it. But stating the intention isn't the same as offering a...

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Dan Duquette on the 2015 season and what lies ahead

October 05, 2015, 2:47pm

Orioles

Dan Duquette on the 2015 season and what lies ahead

Orioles executive vice president Dan Duquette and manager Buck Showalter met with the media today for about 30 minutes to recap the 2015 season and share some thoughts on improvements needed to get back into the playoffs. It's done every year after the final game. The topics also included the six pending free agents, the coaching staff and the possibility of negotiating an extension with third baseman Manny Machado. Here are some comments from Duquette. Check Steve Melewski's blog for...

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Nuggets from today's news conference

October 05, 2015, 1:07pm

Orioles

Orioles executive vice president Dan Duquette and manager Buck Showalter stated today that they want to remain in their current roles in 2016 and downplayed reports of friction between them, laughing at various points when asked about it. "It's a great honor to manage the Baltimore Orioles and I don't plan to do anything else," Showalter said, adding that this will be his "last rodeo." "It's healthy when you have different styles of leadership," Duquette said. I'll post more comments...

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Angelos on whether Showalter and Duquette will return: "Absolutely yes"

October 05, 2015, 8:20am

Orioles

Angelos on whether Showalter and Duquette will return: "Absolutely yes"

While the Orioles clubhouse may undergo signficant changes with six pending free agents set to hit the market, executive vice president Dan Duquette and manager Buck Showalter are expected to remain in their current roles in 2016. Managing partner Peter G. Angelos attempted today to squelch rumors that changes may be on the horizon. Asked whether Duquette will stay in the front office and Showalter in the dugout following a .500 season, Angelos replied, "Absolutely yes." Duquette and...

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The good, bad and ugly from the 2015 season

October 04, 2015, 8:21pm

Orioles

The good, bad and ugly from the 2015 season

It wasn't all bad. I don't suggest that the Orioles adopt this line as their slogan. Nor would I go with "It could have been worse." But honestly, there was plenty to like about this season and lots more to lament. Manny Machado played in all 162 games. That alone was cause for celebration following two knee surgeries and the scrutiny that accompanied his every move at minicamp and spring training. But he took his game to a whole new level by batting .286/.359/.502 with 30 doubles, 35 home...

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A day of loss for Buck Showalter as Orioles win finale

October 04, 2015, 4:25pm

Orioles

Players walked off the field in a straight line today as they do after every victory, except each one stopped in front of the dugout to embrace manager Buck Showalter. Pitching coach Dave Wallace hugged the guys in his rotation and bullpen, pausing to pat Wei-Yin Chen on the face and say a few words to him. Fans chanted "We want Chris" as Davis did a postgame interview on MASN following a 9-4 win over the Yankees that guaranteed the Orioles a third-place finish in the division and a .500...

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Matt Wieters on catching today and his future (O's win 9-4)

October 04, 2015, 10:50am

Orioles

Matt Wieters on catching today and his future (O's win 9-4)

Matt Wieters felt it was important today to catch the final game of the 2015 season. Catch what could be the final game of his Orioles career. No matter the circumstances, no matter his physical condition, he wanted to be behind the plate. He had to be behind the plate. Wieters comes across today as both motivated and melancholy. "Yeah, I wanted to catch today," Wieters said while surrounded by reporters at his locker. "No matter what happened the last few weeks, I was going to do whatever I...

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Manny Machado: "This is the organization I want to be with"

October 04, 2015, 9:48am

Orioles

Manny Machado: "This is the organization I want to be with"

As he approaches the final game today in his finest season as a professional, Orioles third baseman Manny Machado said he's open to discussing a contract extension if the team wants to resume a dialogue. The sides spoke in the past without coming close to an agreement. Maybe it's time to try again with Machado now eligible for arbitration and his production substantially on the rise. Machado is the only major league player to appear in every game this season, and he's only the second in...

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Orioles lineup vs. Yankees

October 04, 2015, 8:22am

Orioles

Adam Jones and Jonathan Schoop remain out of the Orioles' lineup on the final day of the 2015 season. Nolan Reimold is leading off and playing center field. Ryan Flaherty is starting at second base. Manny Machado is the first Oriole to homer in four straight games since Caleb Joseph on Aug. 2-9, 2014 (five games). It's the 24th such streak in club history. Chris Davis and Reggie Jackson share the record with six games in a row. Steve Pearce has collected six doubles, six home runs and 14 RBIs...

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Orioles reach their 162nd game

October 03, 2015, 6:34pm

Orioles

Another season comes to a close this afternoon. The last game of 2015, started by the same pitcher who opened it. Chris Tillman is trying to finish at .500, a modest goal considering his combined 29-13 record the past two seasons. His 5.05 ERA looks strangely out of place next to 3.71 and 3.34 in the two previous years. For the first time in three seasons, Tillman won't reach the 200 inning mark that is so important to him unless he manages to go 32 1/3 today. And the expanded roster and extra...

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Showalter speaks after sweep

October 03, 2015, 6:29pm

Orioles

The Orioles keep putting their best foot forward despite no longer being in a race. They know the remaining games are important to teams in playoff contention, so they continue to field competitive lineups rather than experiment. The result today was a doubleheader sweep of the Yankees, including a 4-3 win in the nightcap that's moved them within one game of .500 with one left on the schedule. "It's just what you're supposed to do, regardless of who you're playing, and our guys have all...

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Reimold hits first leadoff home run, Mancini a hit with Orioles (O's win 4-3)

October 03, 2015, 3:40pm

Orioles

Nolan Reimold reached base four times as the leadoff hitter in Game 1, and he homered in his first at-bat from the same slot in Game 2. Reimold seems to like the view from atop the order. This is Reimold's first career leadoff home run and the sixth for the Orioles this season. He drove a 94 mph fastball from Yankees starter Luis Severino into the seats in left-center field after taking a 93 mph fastball for a strike. Gerardo Parra followed with a single, giving him five hits in the...

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Orioles' Game 2 lineup vs. Yankees

October 03, 2015, 1:18pm

Orioles

The Orioles didn't make many changes to their Game 1 lineup as they prepare for the nightcap against the Yankees. Nolan Reimold is in center field again while Adam Jones remains unavailable due to tightness in his back. Ryan Flaherty is at second base again while Jonathan Schoop nurses a bruised right hand. Steve Pearce is in left field, Gerardo Parra is in right and Steve Clevenger remains the designated hitter. Two of the adjustments now have Caleb Joseph behind the plate and Paul Janish at...

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Buck Showalter on Wei-Yin Chen and a 9-2 win

October 03, 2015, 12:20pm

Orioles

Buck Showalter on Wei-Yin Chen and a 9-2 win

Wei-Yin Chen walked off the mound for the final time today to a nice ovation, many fans standing to applaud his performance in Game 1. The final time today. Probably the final time as an Oriole. The pending free agent was charged with two runs as he sat on the bench, but his 20th quality start this season pointed the Orioles toward a 9-2 victory over the Yankees before an announced crowd of 29,227 at Camden Yards. Chen is 11-8 with a 3.34 ERA in 31 starts - the lowest ERA he's posted in four...

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Game 1 update and notes (O's win 9-2)

October 03, 2015, 8:50am

Orioles

The Orioles worked Yankees Game 1 starter Ivan Nova for 24 pitches in the bottom of the first inning and took a 1-0 lead on Manny Machado's double play grounder after back-to-back singles by Nolan Reimold and Gerardo Parra. Chris Davis doubled with two outs, barely missing his 46th home run, and Matt Wieters walked before left fielder Steve Pearce flied to the warning track in left field.'' Wei-Yin Chen threw nine pitches while retiring the side in order in the top of the first. Chris Young...

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Orioles' Game 1 lineup vs. Yankees

October 03, 2015, 6:07am

Orioles

Second baseman Jonathan Schoop (hand) and center fielder Adam Jones (back) are absent today from the Orioles' Game 1 lineup. Nolan Reimold is batting leadoff and playing center field. Ryan Flaherty is starting at second base. Matt Wieters is catching Game 1, with Steve Clevenger serving as the designated hitter. For the Orioles Nolan Reimold CF Gerardo Parra RF Manny Machado 3B Chris Davis 1B Matt Wieters C Steve Pearce LF Steve Clevenger DH J.J. Hardy SS Ryan Flaherty 2B Wei-Yin Chen LHP As a...

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Another doubleheader and another look at Chris Davis' pending free agency

October 02, 2015, 8:17pm

Orioles

Another doubleheader and another look at Chris Davis' pending free agency

Let's try this again. The Orioles are scheduled to play games at 12:05 p.m. and 7:05 p.m. They're just hoping to get three more done before scattering for the winter. They'd like to receive the gate on those games after having a series moved to Tropicana Field and being forced to play a few single-admission doubleheaders. You want the Orioles to re-sign all these free agents and give raises to their arbitration-eligible players? The baseball gods need to stop being jerks. Chris Davis wants...