Roch Kubatko

Duquette: "I like our chances with this ballclub"

September 30, 2014, 4:48pm

Orioles

Duquette: "I like our chances with this ballclub"

We're down to the final workout before Game 1 of the Division Series. One more day and Camden Yards comes alive again - dressed in orange, volume cranked to the maximum. The 5:37 p.m. starting time may not suit everyone, but why complain when the alternative is spending the postseason on your couch? As Orioles manager Buck Showalter says, you show up when they tell you and you play the games. Chris Tillman opposes Max Scherzer in Game 1. Showalter should clue us in on the rest of his...

Tags:

Tigers announce starters for Division Series

September 30, 2014, 9:33am

Orioles

Tigers announce starters for Division Series

Tigers manager Brad Ausmus told reporters today in Detroit that he's sending Max Scherzer, Justin Verlander, David Price and Rick Porcello to the mound for the Division Series. Mickey Lolich must not be available. Scherzer (18-5, 3.15 ERA in 33 starts) is 3-1 with a 3.92 ERA in six career starts against the Orioles, with nine walks and 45 strikeouts in 39 innings, and 1-0 with a 4.95 ERA in three starts at Camden Yards. Scherzer is 11-1 with a 2.68 ERA in 14 starts at home and 7-4 with a 3.49...

Tags:

orioles alds frontstory_orioles2

Quick update on Davis

September 30, 2014, 7:42am

Orioles

Chris Davis is making another start at third base today in the instructional league. He's scheduled to play five innings and receive a minimum of four at-bats in a game against the Red Sox in Sarasota. Davis also started at third base yesterday against the Rays in Port Charlotte. He flied out to right field, lifted a sacrifice fly to right-center, grounded a single into right and struck out. Davis made his instructional league debut on Friday in Sarasota, collecting an infield hit and a walk...

Tags:

orioles chris davis featured_sidebar frontstory_orioles3

This, that and the other

September 29, 2014, 4:35pm

Orioles

The Orioles will conduct the first of their two workouts today at Camden Yards, which is closed to the media. Reporters will have access to the team on Wednesday. Manager Buck Showalter indicated that he may finalize his Division Series roster today rather than wait until the 10 a.m. deadline on Thursday. No sense dragging it out. Showalter doesn't want to leave players in limbo, especially the ones who have been with the club all season but may not be included on the roster. Yesterday, I...

Tags:

orioles buck showalter featured_sidebar john russell manny machado frontstory_orioles3

Division Series start times announced through Sunday

September 29, 2014, 2:07pm

Orioles

Division Series start times announced through Sunday

Major League Baseball has announced the starting times of the Division Series games through Sunday. Game 1 between the Orioles and Tigers at Camden Yards will start at 5:37 p.m. if the Royals win the American League wild card game, and 6:07 p.m. if the Athletics are victorious. Game 2 on Friday at Camden Yards will begin at 3:07 p.m. if the Pirates win the National League wild card game, and 12:07 p.m. if the Giants are victorious. Game 3 on Sunday in Detroit is slated for 3:45 p.m. That time...

Tags:

orioles alds featured_sidebar frontstory_orioles3

Cruz named finalist for Hank Aaron Award

September 29, 2014, 12:12pm

Orioles

Cruz named finalist for Hank Aaron Award

The word on the street is that Major League Baseball won't announce the starting times for the American League Division Series until Tuesday. I don't know what time they're going to announce it. I don't even now what time it is as I'm typing this entry. I do know that MAVTV, a channel I've never heard of until today, is currently showing "Brian's Song." I will not cry. I will not cry. I will ... Nelson Cruz has been named as one of 30 finalists for the 2014 Hank Aaron Award. Each club...

Tags:

orioles featured_sidebar nelson cruz frontstory_orioles2

Esposito wins Gold Glove

September 29, 2014, 8:56am

Orioles

Single-A Frederick third baseman Jason Esposito, the Orioles' second-round pick in the 2011 First-Year Player Draft out of Vanderbilt University, has been named a Rawlings Gold Glove Award recipient. Esposito, 24, is the first Keys player to win the award, which was reintroduced to the minors in 2011 after a nearly 50-year hiatus. I don't know what time Esposito will receive it, and I still don't have confirmation on starting times for the Division Series. In 118 games, Esposito paced all...

Tags:

orioles jason esposito frontstory_orioles2

Looking back and ahead (with note)

September 28, 2014, 4:38pm

Orioles

I'm wondering whether fans are in a reflective mood today or focused entirely on the Division Series. My guess is the latter, with maybe a few exceptions. The regular season is over, but the Orioles aren't done playing. Game 1 is set for Thursday against the Tigers at Camden Yards, with an anticipated start time of 6 p.m. That is not official. Major League Baseball should send out a release later today. These two teams have never met in the postseason. I've got to cancel my hotel room...

Tags:

orioles chris tillman featured_sidebar nelson cruz zach britton frontstory_orioles2

Today's lineup could be repeated in Game 1 (O's win 1-0, to face Tigers in ALDS)

September 28, 2014, 9:18am

Orioles

Today's lineup could be repeated in Game 1 (O's win 1-0, to face Tigers in ALDS)

Did Orioles manager Buck Showalter give us a preview today of his Game 1 lineup in the Division Series? He's not going to say so, but it looks that way to me. Ryan Flaherty has two of the six errors that Orioles third basemen have committed over the last nine games, but he's regarded as a good defender at every infield position and he's got Showalter's trust. I'd expect him to be the regular third baseman in the playoffs, but we'll see. Orioles third basemen committed 13 errors last...

Tags:

orioles nick hundley ryan flaherty frontstory_orioles2

Jones one home run away from milestone

September 28, 2014, 7:24am

Orioles

Orioles center fielder Adam Jones has struggled against knuckleballer R.A. Dickey in the past, going 3-for-22 (.136) with one home run. A second home run off Dickey today at Rogers Centre would put Jones in select company in Orioles history and allow him to reach another milestone. Jones hit his 29th homer yesterday in a 4-2 loss to the Blue Jays. With one more, he will become the fifth Oriole with at least three 30-home run seasons, joining Eddie Murray (five), Rafael Palmeiro (four), Boog...

Tags:

orioles adam jones frontstory_orioles2

Flaherty at third base today (Jays lineup added)

September 28, 2014, 6:45am

Orioles

Flaherty at third base today (Jays lineup added)

We've finally reached the 162nd game of the regular season. The Orioles will try to avoid being swept by the Blue Jays today before taking off Monday. They open the Division Series on Thursday against the winner of the Central Division. The Tigers hold a one-game lead over the Royals. The Orioles have lost three in a row for the second time since May. They were swept by the Cubs at Wrigley Field. The defense remains shaky, committing three errors in three of their last nine games. The...

Tags:

orioles alexi casilla ryan flaherty frontstory_orioles2

Gonzalez on mound for last regular season game

September 27, 2014, 4:29pm

Orioles

Gonzalez on mound for last regular season game

I don't suggest that you wager on baseball, but if you can't resist, make sure to avoid putting any money on Miguel Gonzalez pitching a complete game today. Or still being on the mound for the seventh inning stretch and the "OK Blue Jays" song. You've got a diamond You've got nine men You've got a hat and a bat And that's not all You've got the bleachers Got 'em from spring 'til fall You got a dog and a drink And the umpire's call Waddaya want? Let's play ball! Gonzalez will make...

Tags:

orioles featured_sidebar miguel gonzalez frontstory_orioles2

Impact of Casilla on roster (Jones homers, O's lose 4-2)

September 27, 2014, 12:18pm

Orioles

Impact of Casilla on roster (Jones homers, O's lose 4-2)

Alexi Casilla was a career .500 hitter against Blue Jays left-hander J.A. Happ as he stepped to the plate today at Rogers Centre for his first at-bat with the Orioles in 2014. No wonder they added him to the expanded roster. It all makes sense. OK, it was one hit in two at-bats. A small sample size. Casilla joined the Orioles due to concerns over the poor defense at third base. It's not his natural position, but someone else may as well try to handle the hot corner without getting burned....

Tags:

orioles alexi casilla frontstory_orioles2

Orioles DFA Guilmet

September 27, 2014, 10:02am

Orioles

The Orioles have designated reliever Preston Guilmet for assignment to make room for infielder Alexi Casilla on the 40-man roster. Casilla's contract was purchased today from Triple-A Norfolk and he's starting at third base today. Casilla, who's wearing No. 1, played 34 games at second base and 21 at shortstop with the Tides. He didn't appear at third base this year. Guilmet, 27, posted a 5.23 ERA in 10 games for the Orioles this season, allowing six earned runs in 10 1/3 innings. He...

Tags:

orioles alexi casilla frontstory_orioles2 preston guilmet

Casilla in Orioles lineup

September 27, 2014, 9:34am

Orioles

Alexi Casilla is leading off and playing third base today in his return to the Orioles. He didn't play third at Triple-A Norfolk this season and is making just his third start at third in the majors. Christian Walker is playing first base. Jonathan Schoop is starting at second base. Steve Pearce is in right field. Nick Markakis is on the bench. Wei-Yin Chen could become the first Orioles left-hander to win 17 or more games in a season since Jeff Ballard won 18 games in 1989. Chen has lost...

Tags:

orioles alexi casilla frontfeatured_orioles wei-yin chen

Reading into Casilla's arrival

September 27, 2014, 7:49am

Orioles

If you forgot that Alexi Casilla remained in the Orioles organization, he's providing a reminder today and it's anything but subtle. The Orioles are summoning Casilla from Arizona - he had permission to work out there instead of Sarasota - and he's expected to be in uniform for today's game against the Blue Jays at Rogers Centre. Manager Buck Showalter is clearly upset with his infield defense - third base has become a troublesome spot - and Casilla is the ultimate utility guy. The...

Tags:

orioles alexi casilla featured_sidebar frontstory_orioles2

More on Davis' first day in the instructional league

September 26, 2014, 9:25pm

Orioles

More on Davis' first day in the instructional league

The Orioles lost another game last night. Are they also losing their edge? That's the question posed to me every couple of hours, and I have no idea. I understand the logic behind resting the veterans and letting guys heal and staying away from certain relievers on certain nights to freshen up the bullpen before the Division Series. However, we can't measure how much edge is left until the playoffs start on Thursday. I do know that the defense has to improve. Maybe it happens with a more...

Tags:

orioles chris davis featured_sidebar frontstory_orioles2

Update on Davis and note on Gonzalez (Tillman's streak ends, O's lose 4-2)

September 26, 2014, 2:49pm

Orioles

Update on Davis and note on Gonzalez (Tillman's streak ends, O's lose 4-2)

Chris Davis made his debut today in the fall instructional league, reaching on an infield hit and drawing a walk in three plate appearances in a game against the Rays at the Ed Smith Stadium complex. Davis flew down to Sarasota on Tuesday. He hasn't been made available to the media. Davis, who played third base today, hasn't been in the Orioles lineup since Sept. 10 in Boston. Two days later, Major League Baseball announced that Davis was suspended 25 games for a second positive test for...

Tags:

orioles chris davis miguel gonzalez frontstory_orioles2

Orioles and Blue Jays lineups

September 26, 2014, 12:20pm

Orioles

Nick Markakis has been lowered to third in the Orioles lineup for tonight's series-opener against the Blue Jays at Rogers Centre. Alejandro De Aza is batting leadoff. Markakis has batted first in 147 games this season, second in two, third in three and fifth in one. Adam Jones, Nelson Cruz, J.J. Hardy and Steve Pearce are on the bench. Pearce homered last night in his first start since being scratched last Friday with a sore wrist. For the Orioles Alejandro De Aza LF David Lough CF Nick...

Tags:

orioles alejandro de aza nick markakis

Tillman attempting to stay unbeaten on the road

September 26, 2014, 9:55am

Orioles

Tillman attempting to stay unbeaten on the road

The Orioles will show up at Rogers Centre in Toronto later today with plenty of items on their agenda. * Try to win every game while keeping alive their faint hopes of gaining home-field advantage throughout the playoffs and build momentum heading into the Division Series. * Decide on a starter for Sunday afternoon's finale. Ubaldo Jimenez and Miguel Gonzalez are the primary candidates. * Decide whether a starter pitches a simulated game or heads down to Sarasota and faces batters to stay...