Roch Kubatko

A few pregame notes from Camden Yards (game delayed, 7:55 p.m. start)

April 25, 2014, 12:49pm

Orioles

A few pregame notes from Camden Yards (game delayed, 7:55 p.m. start)

It's raining hard in Frederick, where Orioles third baseman Manny Machado is supposed to start his injury rehab assignment. Manager Buck Showalter indicated that Machado could serve as the designated hitter tonight instead of playing in the field if the game isn't postponed. Machado would play third base on Saturday. A simple tweaking of his schedule. The Orioles are taking batting practice, but they anticipate rain tonight which could interrupt the game. In the event of a postponement,...

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Orioles and Royals lineups

April 25, 2014, 11:01am

Orioles

Jonathan Schoop is starting at second base tonight and Ryan Flaherty is at third for the Orioles' series-opener against the Royals at Camden Yards. Nelson Cruz, batting second again as the designated hitter, will attempt to drive in a run in his eighth consecutive game. For the Orioles Nick Markakis RF Nelson Cruz DH Chris Davis 1B Adam Jones CF Matt Wieters C J.J. Hardy SS Ryan Flaherty 3B Jonathan Schoop 2B David Lough LF Ubaldo Jimenez RHP For the Royals Nori Aoki RF Omar Infante...

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MLB announces change to transfer rule

April 25, 2014, 8:47am

Orioles

Orioles manager Buck Showalter told reporters in Boston over the weekend that Major League Baseball would make a significant adjustment to the controversial transfer rule within the next few weeks. That was the word on the street. It happened today. MLB announced that the Playing Rules Committee has provided its official view of how umpires should apply the rules when a fielder loses possession of a ball when attempting to transfer it to his throwing hand. The change will be implemented...

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This, that and the other

April 24, 2014, 6:21pm

Orioles

How many Orioles fans are bypassing Camden Yards tonight and heading to Frederick for Manny Machado's first injury rehab game? Machado is scheduled to play nine innings at third base. He won't be babied on this assignment. Machado is expected to spend the entire weekend with the Keys, so plan accordingly. Once Machado was cleared to slide into the bases and play in extended spring training games, the Orioles aimed for him to come off the disabled list in the first week of May. That's...

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Manufacturing a lead (Cruz extends RBI streak, O's win 11-4)

April 24, 2014, 5:17pm

Orioles

Manufacturing a lead (Cruz extends RBI streak, O's win 11-4)

Except for Jonathan Schoop's long home run to left field, the Orioles aren't mashing the ball tonight. They're getting on base, taking the extra base and taking the lead against the Blue Jays. David Lough is the poster child for manufacturing runs. He walked in the fifth inning, stole second base, raced to third on a fly ball to left and scored. He doubled with one out in the seventh, stole third base and scored. Oh yeah, and he's playing Gold Glove defense in left field. The Orioles...

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Outfield defense gets another assist (Schoop homers)

April 24, 2014, 3:44pm

Orioles

Outfield defense gets another assist (Schoop homers)

Part of David Lough's appeal to the Orioles is his ability to run down fly balls or hits in the gap and to make strong and accurate throws. Lough put his defensive skills on display in the bottom of the first inning tonight at Rogers Centre on Edwin Encarnacion's two-out double. Lough fired the ball to shortstop J.J. Hardy, who cut down Melky Cabrera at the plate for the Orioles' eighth outfield assist. The Orioles and Angels were tied for the major league lead with seven outfield assists...

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Orioles and Blue Jays lineups

April 24, 2014, 11:47am

Orioles

Nelson Cruz has registered at least one RBI in six consecutive games. The last Oriole to record an RBI in seven straight games was Mark Reynolds from Sept. 15-22, 2012. Can Cruz tie Reynolds tonight? Cruz has 20 RBIs in April for the first time in his career. Miguel Tejada holds the club record for RBIs this month with 31 in 2005. Chris Davis has hit 18 homers and Adam Jones 14 against the Blue Jays since the start of the 2012 season. No other major leaguer has accumulated as many as 10 against...

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Wieters wielding a hot bat

April 24, 2014, 7:25am

Orioles

Now that the smoke has cleared from last night's offensive eruption at Rogers Centre - better keep that roof open - we can get a clearer view of Matt Wieters' statistics. They're eye-opening, to say the least. Did anyone predict that Wieters would produce a slash line of .344/.382/.590 on April 24? Or that he'd have three doubles, four homers and 13 RBIs? If so, I'm just as impressed by your ability to look into the future and ignore the trends. Wieters owns a career .321 on-base...

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Looking back and ahead

April 23, 2014, 9:15pm

Orioles

It was strange to watch last night's game without my laptop in front of me or in the trunk of my car. I kept an eye on one of the 5,000 or so televisions at Looney's Pub in Bel Air and saw the Orioles fall behind big and storm back for a 10-8 victory over the Blue Jays. It was nice to get confirmation that other teams can lose sizable leads. Does Nelson Cruz look like a bargain to the rest of you? Imagine how the lineup will look after Manny Machado comes off the disabled list. He's...

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A few notes before tonight's game in Toronto

April 23, 2014, 12:00pm

Orioles

A few notes before tonight's game in Toronto

The Orioles will attempt to even their series against the Blue Jays tonight at Rogers Centre, where they've gone 8-12 in their last 20 games. Limiting the number of three-run homers surrendered would be a smart strategy. Before last night, the Orioles hadn't allowed nine runs or more in a game with all of them scoring on homers since Aug. 29, 2005 against the Athletics, according to Elias. The Orioles lost 10-5 in 12 innings, with Mark Ellis and Dan Johnson hitting three-run homers, and Jay...

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Hardy and Wieters return to Orioles lineup (with Jays lineup)

April 23, 2014, 11:22am

Orioles

Shortstop J.J. Hardy's hamstring has healed and he's back in the Orioles' lineup for tonight's game against the Blue Jays at Rogers Centre. Matt Wieters is behind the plate tonight after missing last night's game with a sore right forearm. Jonathan Schoop is starting at second base and Ryan Flaherty is starting at third. Steve Lombardozzi goes to the bench. For the Orioles Nick Markakis RF Nelson Cruz DH Chris Davis 1B Adam Jones CF Matt Wieters C J.J. Hardy SS Ryan Flaherty 3B Jonathan...

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Notes on Hanrahan, Weeks and Yoon

April 23, 2014, 8:44am

Orioles

Do the Orioles retain interest in free agent reliever Joel Hanrahan? Well, they're checking his medical records again, according to an industry source. They also reviewed his records during the winter. Orioles executive vice president Dan Duquette has declined comment when asked whether the club scouted Hanrahan, 32, last Thursday while he threw at the University of Tampa. Approximately 20 teams were represented. Duquette refuses to talk about specific free agents. Hanrahan, a two-time...

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The blame starts with the starting pitching

April 22, 2014, 7:26pm

Orioles

The blame starts with the starting pitching

I'm here to offer a few simple facts and check whether you like your eggs scrambled or over easy. The starting pitching has to get better. Period. Bash the bullpen for allowing a pair of three-run homers in last night's 9-3 loss to the Blue Jays. Bash the offense for producing nothing except for Nelson Cruz's three-run homer. Bash Steve Lombardozzi for the error that opened both the bottom of the sixth inning and the floodgates. The bottom line is, the rotation can't give the Orioles...

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A lead lost in Toronto (O's lose 9-3)

April 22, 2014, 5:01pm

Orioles

Edwin Encarnacion is 3-for-20 lifetime against Orioles starter Miguel Gonzalez. All three hits are home runs. Is that weird? Encarnacion has hit 24 home runs versus the Orioles, the most against any opponent. Gonzalez took a shutout into the sixth before Encarnacion's three-run shot. Now he's out of the game and can't get a win. The Orioles didn't have a quality start during their four-game series against the Red Sox, and they're not getting one tonight. Gonzalez struck out seven...

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Machado to begin rehab assignment Friday and more notes

April 22, 2014, 2:25pm

Orioles

Machado to begin rehab assignment Friday and more notes

Orioles manager Buck Showalter confirmed to reporters in Toronto this afternoon that third baseman Manny Machado will begin his injury rehab assignment Friday night at Single-A Frederick. His pregame interview will air on MASN2 HD, which begins at 6:30 p.m. Machado had five at-bats today at extended spring training after receiving five yesterday and four on Saturday. The Keys conclude a three-game series against Myrtle Beach on Friday before hosting Carolina in a four-game series beginning...

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Orioles lineup and Machado note (and K.C. pitching matchups)

April 22, 2014, 12:31pm

Orioles

Shortstop J.J. Hardy and catcher Matt Wieters aren't in the Orioles lineup for tonight's game in Toronto. The Orioles are giving Hardy's hamstring an extra day to heal. No idea what's going on with Wieters, who didn't play yesterday morning following a night game. Adam Jones is 10-for-21 during a five-game hitting streak. Also, the Orioles made their roster move official, designating outfielder Steve Pearce for assignment and adding reliever T.J. McFarland to the 25-man...

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Roster update and Blue Jays lineup

April 22, 2014, 12:06pm

Orioles

The Orioles haven't posted their lineup for tonight's game in Toronto. Once they do, it's not expected to include outfielder Steve Pearce among the reserves. Barring a drastic change in plans, Pearce will be designated for assignment to make room for left-hander T.J. McFarland on the 25-man roster. The Orioles would temporarily go with a 13-man pitching staff to aid their bullpen, which was used extensively in Boston. One other way to make room for McFarland would have been to place...

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A few afternoon notes

April 22, 2014, 10:29am

Orioles

The Orioles made it out of Fenway Park with a split of a four-game series. Now, they've got to figure out a way to win at Rogers Centre, where they've lost every season series since 2005. Remember when they went 1-8 in 2009 and 0-9 in 2010? Good times. The Orioles have won the last two season series against the Blue Jays, going 10-9 last year. So, they have that going for them, which is nice. Knuckleballer R.A. Dickey presents a special challenge tonight, but he's 1-3 with a 6.26 ERA in...

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Thoughts on Pearce, Davis and a conversation between Dickerson and Schoop

April 21, 2014, 4:42pm

Orioles

Thoughts on Pearce, Davis and a conversation between Dickerson and Schoop

The Orioles may be too rested tonight as they begin their series in Toronto. A night game after a day game? Isn't it supposed to be the other way around? Left-hander T.J. McFarland has joined the club and will be in the visiting bullpen tonight at Rogers Centre. A corresponding move will be announced this afternoon. Eighteen games into the season and the Norfolk shuttle already is cranked up. I'm wondering about Steve Pearce's immediate future with the Orioles. As I noted yesterday,...

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Hearing from Jones, Hunter and Clevenger (O's will recall McFarland)

April 21, 2014, 12:02pm

Orioles

Hearing from Jones, Hunter and Clevenger (O's will recall McFarland)

BOSTON - The Orioles were working on short rest this morning after playing late into the night. Three of their relievers - Zach Britton, Brian Matusz and Darren O'Day - pitched in back-to-back games. A sellout crowd at Fenway Park was whipped into the usual frenzy as the Red Sox kept applying pressure, refusing to wilt after falling behind by six runs in the third. Convenient excuses if the Orioles lost. Not that anyone in the clubhouse was searching for one. "The game's a game. They say...