Roch Kubatko

Notes on Cruz, Young, Jimenez, Markakis, Machado, Jim Johnson and more

August 03, 2014, 9:05am

Orioles

Notes on Cruz, Young, Jimenez, Markakis, Machado, Jim Johnson and more

Nelson Cruz is out of the Orioles lineup today for only the second time this season. Cruz's average is down to .262. He batted .215/.282/.364 in June and .211/.292/.379 in July, and he's 1-for-8 with four strikeouts this month. "They're not getting him out. He's getting himself out mostly," said manager Buck Showalter. "It's so tough. You get down 1-2, you just miss a pitch, you hook a ball foul you might normally have kept fair because you're a little quick with your front hip....

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Cruz sits today

August 03, 2014, 6:57am

Orioles

Chris Davis has returned to the Orioles lineup today. Nelson Cruz is on the bench. Cruz is in a 1-for-28 slump. He struck out three times last night. Delmon Young is batting cleanup. He has one at-bat in the fourth spot this season. Manny Machado has four multi-hit games in his last six games, going 11-for-29 (.379). He's totaled six hits in his last two games. Over their last 12 games, Orioles relievers have posted a 1.67 ERA in 37 2/3 innings. Brad Brach has a 1.23 ERA in his last 13...

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Tillman vs. Iwakuma in series finale

August 02, 2014, 7:26pm

Orioles

Now that the Orioles' streak of one-run games has ended at seven, they can concentrate on increasing their lead in the American League East. The important stuff. They must be tired of playing the American League West. Not that they're thrilled with Monday's makeup game in D.C., or how they're forced to play at night before boarding their flight to Toronto. Would an afternoon game have killed the Nats? Anyway, Chris Tillman will try to win his second home game this afternoon. He's 1-5...

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Showalter speaks after 6-3 loss

August 02, 2014, 7:18pm

Orioles

The Orioles need to get their offense cranked up. They've scored three runs or fewer in six of their last eight games, and four or fewer in 12 of 13 games. The pitching has been outstanding, but that's too much pressure to put on the arms every single night. Miguel Gonzalez's streak of quality starts ended at four. Here's a sampling from manager Buck Showalter following a 6-3 loss to the Mariners before 36,508 at Camden Yards: On Gonzalez "OK. Really made one mistake. Obviously, he's...

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Gonzalez gives up run in third, more on SOR Night at the Yard (O's lose 6-3)

August 02, 2014, 4:08pm

Orioles

Gonzalez gives up run in third, more on SOR Night at the Yard (O's lose 6-3)

Dustin Ackley homered onto the flag court in right field with one out in the top of the third to draw Seattle even with the Orioles at 1-1. Miguel Gonzalez followed his 11-pitch first inning with 30 pitches in the second, leaving the bases loaded. He wishes he hadn't thrown Ackley that two-seam fastball in the third. The Orioles stranded two runners in the bottom of the second after J.J. Hardy reached on an infield hit and Jonathan Schoop walked. James Paxton has thrown 46 pitches in two...

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Game update and Davis note

August 02, 2014, 3:30pm

Orioles

Miguel Gonzalez had a nice little 11-pitch inning in the top of the first, retiring the Mariners in order on a line drive, popup and ground ball. Robinson Cano is now 2-for-25 against Gonzalez after his roller to second. Mariners left-hander James Paxton came off the 60-day disabled list to make tonight's start. He hasn't faced major league hitters since April 8. Manny Machado followed Nick Markakis' leadoff walk with a double to left field, and Adam Jones' ground ball gave the Orioles a...

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Notes on Davis, the rotation and more

August 02, 2014, 12:59pm

Orioles

Chris Davis is out of the Orioles lineup tonight for a variety of reasons, but his prolonged slump seems to be the primary issue. Davis batted .175/.292/.381 with six homers and 36 strikeouts in June, and .167/.250/.333 with four homers and 38 strikeouts in July. He showed up early again today to work on his swing mechanics in the indoor cage. The Orioles are facing a tough young left-hander in Seattle's James Paxton. Nick Markakis is the only left-handed batter in tonight's lineup. Also,...

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Davis out of Orioles lineup vs. Mariners

August 02, 2014, 11:03am

Orioles

One day after returning to the Orioles lineup following a bout with the flu, Chris Davis is sitting once again. Davis has started just one of the Orioles' last five games and is mired in a lengthy slump. Steve Pearce will man first in his place. Miguel Gonzalez, tonight's starter, is 2-2 with a 3.24 ERA in seven home starts this season. He's faced the Mariners once in his career, allowing one earned run in six innings on July 27. Robinson Cano is 2-for-24 lifetime against Gonzalez....

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Orioles attempted to trade for Asdrubal Cabrera

August 01, 2014, 10:15pm

Orioles

The non-waiver deadline has passed, but I can't seem to let it go. I'm not sure why, since I mostly find it annoying. This could explain my relationship issues. But seriously... The Orioles failed to trade for a hitter Thursday despite making a final push shortly before 4 p.m. Executive vice president Dan Duquette was trying to work a couple of deals, and he came close to acquiring Indians middle infielder Asdrubal Cabrera, according to sources. The Indians decided to take Nationals...

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Showalter on Chen, Miller and a 2-1 win

August 01, 2014, 6:25pm

Orioles

In case you missed it in my last entry, the Orioles tied the franchise record tonight with their seventh consecutive one-run game. You have to go all the way back to June 21-29, 1956. The Orioles have won five of those games during the current stretch, including tonight's 2-1 victory over the Mariners at Camden Yards. Wei-Yin Chen is riding a career-high five-game winning streak. His 12 victories this season tie his career-high. Chen has gone eight and 7 1/3 innings in his last two...

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orioles andrew miller buck showalter wei-yin chen frontstory_orioles2

Sweet Chen music (O's win 2-1)

August 01, 2014, 5:26pm

Orioles

For Wei-Yin Chen, the song remained the same while facing the Seattle Mariners. Last week, Chen tossed eight scoreless innings at Safeco Field, leading manager Buck Showalter to tweak the rotation and pair them again tonight. It worked. Chen went 7 1/3 innings tonight, holding the Mariners to one run and five hits. He walked one, the final batter he faced, and struck out a season-high eight. Andrew Miller replaced Chen in his Orioles debut. He got Dustin Ackley to ground into a force and...

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Game update, notes and Duquette on Saunders (O's lead 2-1)

August 01, 2014, 3:45pm

Orioles

Game update, notes and Duquette on Saunders (O's lead 2-1)

Adam Jones is celebrating his 29th birthday today, and I mention it for reasons other than to make you feel guilty for not sending him a card or ordering an ice cream cake. As the Orioles pointed out in today's notes, Jones has four multi-hit games in six career games on his birthday. He's batting .375 (9-for-24) with two RBIs and two runs scored. Jones grounded into a double play tonight to end the first inning, with Mariners third baseman Kyle Seager making a nice stop to his...

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Orioles sign Saunders to minor league deal, Showalter on roster move

August 01, 2014, 2:11pm

Orioles

The Orioles have signed veteran left-hander Joe Saunders, part of their 2012 playoff roster, to a minor league contract. Saunders will report to Triple-A Norfolk on Monday and initially will be used out of the bullpen. He's never pitched in relief in 229 major league games. The Royals released Saunders, 33, after he went 1-2 with a 6.75 ERA in four starts at Triple-A Omaha. He was 0-5 with a 6.13 ERA in eight starts with the Rangers, who released him on July 4. Saunders went 3-3 with a 3.63...

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orioles brad brach buck showalter jim johnson joe saunders ryan webb ubaldo jimenez frontstory_orioles3

Orioles designate Webb off 25-man roster

August 01, 2014, 12:52pm

Orioles

The Orioles made room for new reliever Andrew Miller today by designating Ryan Webb off the 25-man roster. This is the same move made with Evan Meek earlier this season. It's procedural. Webb remains in the organization and will be optioned to Triple-A Norfolk. Teams don't put in claims for players DFA'd off the 25-man. It's not the same as being taken off the 40-man. Webb, 28, is 3-2 with a 3.80 ERA in 42 2/3 innings over 42 appearances with the Orioles this season. The Orioles signed...

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Orioles lineup vs. Mariners

August 01, 2014, 10:54am

Orioles

Chris Davis has returned to the Orioles lineup tonight after being used as a pinch-hitter last night and getting a second at-bat as the designated hitter. New reliever Andrew Miller is in the clubhouse and wearing No. 48. The corresponding roster move will be announced after batting practice. Orioles left-hander Wei-Yin Chen shut out the Mariners over eight innings last week in Seattle, and he's trying to find the same success tonight in the opener of a three-game series at Camden...

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More on the Miller trade and how to make room for him

July 31, 2014, 8:31pm

Orioles

More on the Miller trade and how to make room for him

The Orioles will introduce reliever Andrew Miller to the Baltimore media today and make a roster move to accommodate his arrival from the Red Sox. They could go in a few directions. Brad Brach, T.J. McFarland and Ryan Webb have options. McFarland could be expendable with three other relievers in the bullpen, but we know how much manager Buck Showalter values his contributions, his ability to "defend himself" against left-handed and right-handed hitters, his work as the long man behind the...

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Showalter speaks after 1-0, 13-inning loss

July 31, 2014, 8:23pm

Orioles

Showalter speaks after 1-0, 13-inning loss

Though the Orioles played 13 innings tonight in a 1-0 loss to the Angels, they won't need to call up a fresh reliever for Friday night's series opener against the Mariners. Andrew Miller will join the team, with a corresponding roster move pending. Bud Norris tossed seven scoreless innings and didn't get a decision. The bullpen followed with five scoreless innings before the Angels pushed across a run against Ryan Webb in the 13th. Angels left-hander Tyler Skaggs didn't allow a hit in 4...

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Notes on Joseph and Cruz, and game update (O's lose 1-0 in 13 innings)

July 31, 2014, 3:58pm

Orioles

Notes on Joseph and Cruz, and game update (O's lose 1-0 in 13 innings)

Orioles catcher Caleb Joseph threw out Erick Aybar attempting to steal tonight in the top of the second inning, making the Angels 0-for-3 in the series. Seriously, I'll take whatever offensive production Joseph provides in exchange for his 52 percent success rate. Joseph has nabbed 17 of 33 would-be base stealers. The guy who once was labeled in the minors as having a decent bat, but questionable skills behind the plate. Joseph played 24 games at first base in the minors, 20 in left field...

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Duquette on today's trade

July 31, 2014, 1:43pm

Orioles

The trade today that brought Red Sox reliever Andrew Miller to Baltimore was in the works for the past few weeks, according to executive vice president Dan Duquette. It gained steam over the last three or four days, though Duquette tried to keep Double-A Bowie left-hander Eduardo Rodriguez. Duquette said he tried a few combinations, but the Red Sox wanted Rodriguez. Here's a transcript from Duquette's press conference: On the impetus for making the trade "We were looking to add some depth...

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Showalter on trade

July 31, 2014, 12:54pm

Orioles

Orioles manager Buck Showalter expects new reliever Andrew Miller to arrive here around 10:30 p.m. "He's pitched the last two days," Showalter said. "He'll be in uniform and available tomorrow." The Orioles acquired Miller from the Red Sox today for minor league pitcher Eduardo Rodriguez, strengthening a bullpen that's already been solid. "He's just another good piece," Showalter said. "He goes with some other good pieces down there. He gives us more depth down there, keep...