Roch Kubatko

Orioles sign 33rd-rounder, and other notes

July 18, 2014, 1:23pm

Orioles

The Orioles announced today that they signed right-hander Brandon Koch, their 33rd-round selection in the 2014 First-Year Player Draft out of Temecula Valley (Calif.) High School. Koch had signed a national letter of intent to play for UC Riverside. Today was the deadline for signing picks. The Orioles continue to make changes to their minor league rosters, promoting reliever Jon Keller from low Single-A Delmarva to advanced Single-A Frederick. Keller, 21, was 3-0 with a 1.59 ERA in 24...

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Orioles getting first look at Samardzija

July 18, 2014, 9:43am

Orioles

Jeff Samardzija is living, breathing, spitting, scratching proof that wins and losses don't provide an accurate measurement of a pitcher's effectiveness and worth. Samardzija, who starts tonight against the Orioles, is a combined 3-8 with the Cubs and Athletics, but he's also registered a 2.78 ERA in 19 starts. He's allowed 108 hits, walked 32 and struck out 113 in 123 innings. The Orioles have never faced Samardzija and I'm guessing that most of them would have to look up the spelling of...

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Minor league recaps on Gonzalez, Alvarez, Walker, Yastrzemski and Johnson

July 17, 2014, 5:48pm

Orioles

Minor league recaps on Gonzalez, Alvarez, Walker, Yastrzemski and Johnson

Miguel Gonzalez made his start tonight at Triple-A Norfolk and threw 88 pitches in six innings. Gonzalez, optioned by the Orioles so he could get some work during the All-Star break, allowed three runs and five hits over six innings. He walked two, struck out one, gave up a home run and threw two wild pitches. As I've written previously, Gonzalez will be recalled and start the June 22 game in Anaheim. The Orioles will have a five-man rotation until Ubaldo Jimenez comes off the disabled list....

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Orioles set to begin the second half

July 17, 2014, 5:17pm

Orioles

It's back to baseball tonight for the Orioles, who begin a 10-game West Coast trip against the Athletics. Should Manny Machado expect a warm reception from Oakland fans? Probably not. But they may want to go easy on him. He's been a beast since his confrontation with Josh Donaldson and the bat-tossing incident. The only cool-down period came during his five-game suspension. Machado has reached base safely in 16 straight games since June 22 (.410/.455/.721), which is tied for his career-best...

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Bundy: "There are just some things I need to work on"

July 17, 2014, 12:08pm

Orioles

Bundy: "There are just some things I need to work on"

In three starts for short-season Single-A Aberdeen, right-hander Dylan Bundy allowed one run and struck out 22 batters in 15 innings. Opponents in the New York-Penn League hit .189 against him. In three starts for advanced Single-A Frederick, Bundy has allowed 12 runs and struck out six batters in 11 2/3 innings. Opponents in the Carolina League are hitting .326 against him. This just in: The competition grows tougher at each level of the farm system. Bundy worked four-plus innings last night...

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Orioles celebrating 60th anniversary

July 17, 2014, 10:21am

Orioles

This may come as a surprise to fans who think the Orioles don't look a day over 50, but they're actually celebrating their 60th season in Baltimore. The party really kicks in on Friday, Aug. 8 at Camden Yards - before, during and after their game against the St. Louis Cardinals. According to a press release, the club is welcoming back 23 Orioles Hall of Famers who will take part in a postgame celebration. Among the legends expected to attend are Brooks Robinson, Frank Robinson, Cal Ripken Jr....

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Britton on closing: "I'm definitely settling into the role"

July 16, 2014, 9:23pm

Orioles

Britton on closing: "I'm definitely settling into the role"

The All-Star break has pretty much ended for the Orioles, who are holding a workout today in Oakland before starting a three-game series on Friday. There shouldn't be any news coming out of it, since manager Buck Showalter already announced his second-half rotation on Sunday. Chris Tillman, Wei-Yin Chen and Kevin Gausman will start against the Athletics, and Bud Norris, Miguel Gonzalez and Tillman will start against the Angels in the series that follows. Ubaldo Jimenez will attempt to throw in...

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Orioles maintain interest in Cuban outfielder Rusney Castillo

July 16, 2014, 2:09pm

Orioles

The Orioles will be among the teams attending Cuban outfielder Rusney Castillo's workout July 26 at the University of Miami. The session is termed a "showcase" for interested clubs. Castillo, 26, defected to the Dominican Republic in December and the Orioles scouted him two months later. They want to take another look at him. Castillo, listed at 5-foot-9 and 185 lbs., has spent the majority of his career in center field, but he also has played the corner positions on a more limited basis....

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Yastrzemski moves up again, plus other notes

July 16, 2014, 12:14pm

Orioles

Yastrzemski moves up again, plus other notes

The Orioles have promoted outfielder Mike Yastrzemski to Double-A Bowie, his third affiliate since the start of the 2014 season. Yastrzemski, chosen in the 14th round of the 2013 First-Year Player Draft out of Vanderbilt University, was batting .312/.364/.462 with seven doubles, a triple, one home run and 19 RBIs in 23 games at advanced Single-A Frederick. He also was 5-of-5 in stolen base attempts. Yastrzemski began the season at low Single-A Delmarva and batted .306/.365/.554 with 14 doubles,...

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Because You Asked - Revenge of the Fallen

July 15, 2014, 6:37pm

Orioles

Because You Asked - Revenge of the Fallen

The World Cup is over. The All-Star Game is over. I no longer have a reason to live. Wait, I still have my reader mailbag, which allows me to churn out another sequel to the "Because You Asked" series. As you know, sequels rarely live up to the original, but these don't cost you anything except a few minutes of your time. And they exist because of you. You ask, I answer, you ask again, I wonder whether I'm operating inside the cone of silence, Then, I wonder whether you get the...

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Cruz, Jones hitless in first trips to plate in All-Star Game (updated)

July 15, 2014, 5:12pm

Orioles

Cruz, Jones hitless in first trips to plate in All-Star Game (updated)

It never fails. A player catches a routine fly ball and leads off the next inning. Adam Jones did it tonight in the All-Star Game at Target Field in Minnesota, squeezing Andrew McCutchen's fly ball to center field to end the top of the second and immediately coming to the plate in the bottom half. Happens all the time, folks. But seriously, Jones took a Clayton Kershaw pitch out of the strike zone and popped up to third baseman Aramis Ramirez. He's 0-for-1. Jones is hitting behind teammate...

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Roberts talks about Markakis

July 14, 2014, 8:00pm

Orioles

I've never been a huge fan of the Home Run Derby. If it has any shot at holding my attention, either the baseballs or the players need to be juiced again. But seriously ... Todd Frazier advances to the finals after hitting one home run? Somebody cork this competition. I can't endorse a home run contest that doesn't include Giancarlo Stanton in the last round. That's a fly ball in the ointment. Nice showing by Orioles center fielder Adam Jones, who advanced to the second round and would have...

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Jones advances to second round of Home Run Derby (Jones eliminated)

July 14, 2014, 6:30pm

Orioles

Jones advances to second round of Home Run Derby (Jones eliminated)

The Home Run Derby at Target Field in Minnesota has moved to the second round, and Orioles center fielder Adam Jones is going along with it. Jones is facing off against Oakland's Yoenis Cespedes, the defending champion. Toronto's Jose Bautista, the team captain who extended the invitation to Jones, received a bye after launching 10 home runs. Bautista will square off against Jones or Cespedes in the third round. Jones hit four home runs in the first round, the longest measured at 426...

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Orioles trade Wallace to Blue Jays

July 14, 2014, 12:49pm

Orioles

The Orioles are spending the All-Star break reshuffling their minor league deck. The club confirmed this afternoon that Triple-A first baseman Brett Wallace has been traded to the Blue Jays for cash considerations. I heard earlier today that it's a "nominal" fee. Also, the Orioles confirmed that left-hander Randy Wolf was released from his Triple-A contract. I wrote yesterday that Wolf opted out of his deal. Wallace, a former first-round draft pick, was batting .265/.329/.389 with 12...

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Norris on Bowie start: "Pretty excited with the work day"

July 14, 2014, 9:21am

Orioles

Norris on Bowie start: "Pretty excited with the work day"

BOWIE - Bud Norris walked into the home clubhouse at Prince George's Stadium with his sweat-soaked game jersey in one hand and a look on his face that screamed for a cool shower. Norris threw 98 pitches in 4 1/3 innings under a scorching sun for the Double-A Bowie Baysox, his first outing since the Orioles optioned him last week. He allowed three runs and four hits, walked five, struck out seven and hit a batter. Considering that Norris was here to build up his pitch count, the day was...

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Norris starting today at Bowie (Norris done after 4 1/3 innings)

July 14, 2014, 7:43am

Orioles

Norris starting today at Bowie (Norris done after 4 1/3 innings)

BOWIE - Bud Norris is wearing the home whites today with his last name stitched across the back of his jersey, but he's pitching in a minor league ballpark with a different number. Oh yes, there's also the 11:05 a.m. starting time. The Orioles did it once this season on Patriots' Day at Fenway Park, but it's still unusual. Norris has tossed two scoreless innings at Double-A Bowie, allowing an infield hit, walking two and striking out three. The Orioles want his pitch count around...

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Orioles didn't catch many breaks before the break

July 13, 2014, 9:08pm

Orioles

We've reached the All-Star break and everything has gone according to plan for the Orioles, said no one ever. Let me run this scenario past you: It's late March and the Orioles are preparing to break camp. I post a morning blog entry informing you that third baseman Manny Machado won't be ready for opening day and will miss the first month of the season while recovering from knee surgery, and another five games due to a suspension. You gasp with such force, all the air is sucked out of the...

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Showalter reveals rotation beyond All-Star break

July 13, 2014, 8:57pm

Orioles

Showalter reveals rotation beyond All-Star break

The Orioles will go into the All-Star break 10 games above .500 and four ahead of the Blue Jays in the American League East. Of course, they had to endure a 2 hour, 22 minute rain delay tonight before being awarded a 3-1 victory over the Yankees in a game halted in the bottom of the fifth inning due to rain. Kevin Gausman is credited with a complete-game victory after allowing one run and four hits in five innings. Chris Tillman, Wei-Yin Chen and Gausman will start the three games in Oakland...

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Home run puts Gausman in early hole (game called, O's win 3-1)

July 13, 2014, 4:32pm

Orioles

Home run puts Gausman in early hole (game called, O's win 3-1)

Entering tonight's game, Kevin Gausman had allowed one home run in his first six starts with the Orioles this season. Make it two. Brett Gardner took Gausman deep on the fourth pitch to give the Yankees a quick 1-0 lead at Camden Yards. Gausman threw four consecutive fastballs clocked at 92, 95, 93 and 94 mph. The last one ended up on the flag court in right field. Oakland's Coco Crisp hit the other home run off Gausman this season back on June 7 at Camden Yards. Mark Teixeira singled with...

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Pregame notes from Camden Yards

July 13, 2014, 2:23pm

Orioles

It's been a fairly slow news day at Camden Yards, which is a nice change of pace. Ubaldo Jimenez played catch in center field before batting practice to test his sprained right ankle. The Orioles placed him on the 15-day disabled list to make room for Kevin Gausman, who's starting tonight against the Yankees. Suk-min Yoon, on the minor league disabled list with an impingement in his right shoulder, pitched in a simulated game and is close to rejoining Triple-A Norfolk. Veteran left-hander...