Roch Kubatko

Notes on Gonzalez, Cruz and Joseph

October 14, 2014, 1:44pm

Orioles

KANSAS CITY - Miguel Gonzalez will start Game 4 of the American League Championship Series unless he's needed in relief tonight. Gonzalez hasn't started since Sept. 28 in Toronto in the final regular season game. The layoff, however, isn't the reason for his assignment on Wednesday. "That whole thing about time off, this time of the year... In fact, Gonzo has handled it pretty well when we've given him extra time," said manager Buck Showalter. Nelson Cruz will start in left field in...

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Orioles and Royals lineups for Game 3 (Gonzalez and Vargas in Game 4)

October 14, 2014, 12:24pm

Orioles

KANSAS CITY - Nick Hundley is behind the plate for the Orioles tonight in Game 3 of the American League Championship Series. Everything else is predictable, including Alejandro De Aza starting in left field and batting second with Ryan Flaherty starting at third base. The Royals aren't going to tweak a lineup that's produced two wins in the ALCS. Mike Moustakas continues to bat ninth despite hitting four home runs in the postseason. He totaled two over the last two months of the regular...

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Anderson reminds Orioles to keep their perspective going into Game 3

October 14, 2014, 10:38am

Orioles

KANSAS CITY - The sun is shining today and there isn't a hint of rain in the forecast. Game 3 of the American League Championship Series will be played without interruption. Just don't mind the wind. I went to bed in Missouri and woke up in Kansas. I'm talking heavy, blustery winds. The kind that violently shake flag poles, as I've witnessed, and turn every fly ball and pop-up into an adventure. But it's not raining. Following the Orioles' Game 2 loss at home to the Royals, I approached...

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Leftovers for breakfast

October 13, 2014, 8:17pm

Orioles

KANSAS CITY - It wasn't long ago that Orioles manager Buck Showalter fielded questions about his club growing stale after clinching its division so quickly, about how it could lose its edge and bring no momentum into the playoffs. Move ahead to yesterday, when Showalter was asked whether the Orioles might benefit from the rain that washed away Game 3 of the American League Championship Series. Maybe they needed a little more time to recover from the two losses at home. Maybe the Royals would...

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Duquette: "I'm sure they'll be ready to play ball when we can play ball"

October 13, 2014, 3:19pm

Orioles

Duquette: "I'm sure they'll be ready to play ball when we can play ball"

KANSAS CITY - Should the American League Championship Series go the full seven games, the Orioles will need a fifth starter unless they use someone on short rest. Rookie Kevin Gausman could end up on the mound for Game 7. It would depend on whether manager Buck Showalter inserted him earlier in the series. Lots of moving parts. We know that Wei-Yin Chen is starting Game 3 on Tuesday. Chris Tillman could start on normal rest Wednesday in Game 4 or be pushed back to Game 5, if needed, on...

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Who follows Chen to the mound in ALCS?

October 13, 2014, 2:02pm

Orioles

KANSAS CITY - It's raining harder at Kauffman Stadium than a few hours ago. Major League Baseball made the right decision to postpone Game 3 of the American League Championship Series. Orioles manager Buck Showalter confirmed that Wei-Yin Chen remains the Game 3 starter on Tuesday night. He didn't commit to a Game 4 starter, saying Miguel Gonzalez and Chris Tillman are options. Gonzalez hasn't pitched since the final regular season game in Toronto, unless you count a simulated game at...

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Game 3 of ALCS postponed

October 13, 2014, 12:36pm

Orioles

KANSAS CITY - Game 3 of the American League Championship Series has been postponed due to rain and rescheduled for 8:07 p.m. on Tuesday. Game 4 has been moved to 4:07 p.m. on Wednesday, with Game 5 (if needed) at 4:07 p.m. on Thursday. No workout day on Thursday at Camden Yards. The Royals currently hold a 2-0 lead in games. Orioles left-hander Wei-Yin Chen eventually will make his third career postseason start, tying Chien-Ming Wang for the most playoff starts by a Taiwanese-born pitcher in...

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Still raining, Chen vs. Royals, Walling retiring

October 13, 2014, 10:08am

Orioles

Still raining, Chen vs. Royals, Walling retiring

KANSAS CITY - You want a weather update? It's still raining in Kansas City. Kaufmann Stadium is a wading pool. The forecast still calls for a 100 percent chance of rain through the night. I can't imagine Game 3 of the American League Championship Series being played tonight, but stranger things have happened. I'm compiling my list. The decision rests with Major League Baseball, not the teams or local meteorologists. I won't speculate on the rotation until Game 3 is postponed and reporters...

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The rain and controlling Royals' attitude and running game

October 12, 2014, 6:32pm

Orioles

The rain and controlling Royals' attitude and running game

KANSAS CITY - It will be a huge surprise if Game 3 of the American League Championship Series is played tonight. I hate to be Debbie Downer, but the forecast doesn't bring a whole lot of encouragement. We've been warned that the chance of rain ranges from 90 to 100 percent. The Orioles are attaching spikes to their galoshes. During yesterday's workout, Jonathan Schoop practiced turning a double play while holding an umbrella. You want a window? Check back next weekend. Before you ask, Game 3...

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Hearing from Chen, Showalter, Gonzalez and Hundley during today's workout

October 12, 2014, 2:38pm

Orioles

Hearing from Chen, Showalter, Gonzalez and Hundley during today's workout

KANSAS CITY - Wei-Yin Chen's postseason career with the Orioles has been a mixed bag. One earned run allowed in 6 1/3 innings in an American League Division Series start against the Yankees in 2012. Five earned runs in 3 2/3 innings in an ALDS start against the Tigers in 2014. He's got to be good on Monday. The Orioles are depending heavily on him after losing the first two games of the American League Championship Series at home to the Royals. "Oh, man, he's been one of our best arms all...

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Hundley: "There's no panic in here"

October 12, 2014, 1:36pm

Orioles

KANSAS CITY - The Orioles don't give the appearance of a team that's uptight or in panic mode after losing the first two games of the American League Championship Series. Manager Buck Showalter talked college football, specifically Mississippi State being ranked No. 1, and tossed in a few quips to entertain and amuse the media. Players sat in front of televisions in the visiting clubhouse and watched NFL games, with Maine native Ryan Flaherty taking abuse anytime Patriots quarterback Tom...

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What's gone wrong in the ALCS?

October 11, 2014, 7:46pm

Orioles

In a victorious clubhouse yesterday at Camden Yards, Royals outfielder Jarrod Dyson was asked whether he expected to return to Baltimore for Game 6 of the American League Championship Series. "No sir, I don't," he said. "And I don't think they think that, either." Shots fired. Dyson has every reason to be overflowing with confidence and bravado as his team heads home with a 2-0 lead in the series, but the Orioles fully expect to win at least two games at Kauffman Stadium. Their backs are...

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Jones and Showalter talk about being down 0-2 in ALCS

October 11, 2014, 5:36pm

Orioles

Jones and Showalter talk about being down 0-2 in ALCS

The roster has been a challenge for the Orioles this season with key players lost to injuries and a suspension. The schedule has been a challenge with a multitude of starting times and some brutal travel. Being down two games to none in the American League Championship Series and heading to Kansas City? Just another challenge for the Orioles. Adversity takes on many appearances. "It's another challenge in our face," said center fielder Adam Jones following a 6-4 loss in Game 2 before 46,912...

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Another short start for Orioles (O's lose 6-4, down 2-0 in ALCS)

October 11, 2014, 2:18pm

Orioles

The Orioles can't rely this much on their bullpen, no matter how good it is in 2014. Bud Norris lasted only 4 1/3 innings today in Game 2 of the American League Championship Series - the same total that Chris Tillman produced in Game 1. Tillman was spared a loss after the Orioles rallied from a 5-1 deficit. Norris left with the Orioles trailing 4-3 in the fifth, and Brad Brach escaped a jam. Tillman went five innings in Game 1 of the Division Series. Wei-Yin Chen lasted only 3 2/3 innings...

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Orioles down early, Jones talks about postseason struggles (O's down 4-3)

October 11, 2014, 12:31pm

Orioles

Orioles Hall of Famer Scott McGregor threw out the ceremonial first pitch before Game 2 of the American League Championship Series. McGregor was on the mound for the final out of the 1983 World Series. Bud Norris is standing on it today, and he's fallen behind 2-0 after one inning. The Royals strung together three straight hits with one out. Nori Aoki punched a single into left field, Lorenzo Cain doubled to right and Eric Hosmer hit a broken-bat bloop single over shortstop J.J. Hardy's...

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Jones on O's mindset: "Seems like a normal day at the office to us"

October 11, 2014, 10:35am

Orioles

Jones on O's mindset: "Seems like a normal day at the office to us"

The Royals will start former Oriole Jeremy Guthrie in Game 3 on Monday at Kauffman Stadium. Jason Vargas is expected to start Game 4 the following night. Guthrie is 2-1 with a 2.67 ERA in four career starts against the Orioles. The Royals didn't steal a base last night after leading the majors in that category with 153 during the regular season and swiping 12 in the playoffs - by eight different players. Jarrod Dyson appeared to steal second, but his foot came off the bag during an...

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Chen slated for Game 3, Royals lineup

October 11, 2014, 8:48am

Orioles

Wei-Yin Chen and Miguel Gonzalez are in the bullpen today and will start the next two nights if not needed in relief. Chen would start Game 3 on Monday at Kauffman Stadium and Gonzalez would start Game 4 on Tuesday. Manager Buck Showalter chose Bud Norris over Chen this afternoon at Camden Yards. "I like Chen a little more in their ballpark and Bud's got experience in 4 o'clock games. Whatever. I don't know," Showalter said. "There were a couple other things. It still let Bud be in...

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Orioles' Game 2 lineup

October 11, 2014, 8:11am

Orioles

The Orioles haven't lost consecutive games at home since June 28-29. They went 31-10 in their final 41 regular season home games and are now 2-1 in Baltimore this postseason. They need to keep that streak alive today or they're going to fall behind two games to none in the American League Championship Series, which moves to Kansas City on Monday. The Royals won 8-6 in 10 innings last night. The Orioles went 6-for-15 with runners in scoring position, but they left 10 men on base. The bullpen...

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Hunter provides reminder that "it's the best of seven, so it's not too bad"

October 10, 2014, 9:54pm

Orioles

Hunter provides reminder that "it's the best of seven, so it's not too bad"

Tommy Hunter warmed up in the third inning last night and pitched in the fifth. Not the usual routine for the Orioles reliever, who tends to make later entrances. Welcome to October baseball. Routines go out the window. Hunter replaced starter Chris Tillman with one out in the fifth, the first time he pitched in that inning since September 2012. Billy Butler lifted a sacrifice fly and Alex Gordon singled before Hunter picked him off first base. Kevin Gausman replaced Hunter in the...

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Showalter on Game 2 starter and more

October 10, 2014, 9:34pm

Orioles

Orioles manager Buck Showalter confirmed tonight that Bud Norris will start Game 2 of the American League Championship Series on Saturday at Camden Yards. Showalter chose Norris over left-hander Wei-Yin Chen. He actually made the decision before an 8-6, 10-inning loss to the Royals in Game 1. Chen is expected to start Game 3, followed by Miguel Gonzalez in Game 4, but everything is subject to change. "We kept (Norris) around like we might need him," Showalter said. "He was trying to beat the...