Roch Kubatko

Wieters doing it right from the left

April 07, 2014, 4:38pm

Orioles

NEW YORK - I'm writing quickly this morning because I left my power cord in the Yankee Stadium press box yesterday and my laptop battery is running low. You may read slowly, however. No pressure. J.J. Hardy has missed three of the last four games due to spasms and tightness in his lower back. If he's still on the shelf today, with little or no improvement, it's perfectly fine to express concern and speculate about a trip to the disabled list. Losing Hardy and Manny Machado on the left...

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Hearing from Jimenez and Cruz (and Schoop)

April 07, 2014, 1:38pm

Orioles

Hearing from Jimenez and Cruz (and Schoop)

NEW YORK - Ubaldo Jimenez couldn't locate his breaking ball today, couldn't get it down, and the Yankees made him pay. Jimenez didn't last through the fifth inning and was charged with four runs and eight hits, with five walks 109 pitches thrown. He's 0-2 with a 6.75 ERA in his first two starts with the Orioles. "It was all about getting the breaking ball down," he said. "It was kind of tough to throw inside and especially, I couldn't find any of them to put away hitters. I was able to...

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Showalter speaks after 4-2 loss

April 07, 2014, 1:23pm

Orioles

NEW YORK - With shortstop J.J. Hardy unavailable today due to tightness in his lower back, Orioles manager Buck Showalter couldn't make moves in the late innings that normally would have been automatic for him. Showalter addressed that topic after a 4-2 loss to the Yankees, along with Ubaldo Jimenez's start and the decision to move outfielder Nolan Reimold to the 60-day disabled list. Here you go: On Jimenez: "He went through some really good sequences and then just got out of whack. He was...

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Jimenez can't finish fifth or lower portion of Yankees lineup (O's lose 4-2)

April 07, 2014, 11:09am

Orioles

Jimenez can't finish fifth or lower portion of Yankees lineup (O's lose 4-2)

NEW YORK - Orioles starter Ubaldo Jimenez threw 109 pitches in 4 2/3 innings today. The five walks didn't do him any favors. Same with the eight hits. Jimenez threw 13, 19, 18, 32 and 27 pitches over five innings. He needed 96 pitches to get through six innings in his debut Wednesday against the Red Sox at Camden Yards and has issued eight walks in 10 2/3 innings this season. He's got to become more economical. Got to throw more strikes. A two-out walk to Kelly Johnson in the fourth today was...

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Game update and Showalter talks about Jeter (updated)

April 07, 2014, 10:02am

Orioles

Game update and Showalter talks about Jeter (updated)

NEW YORK - The Yankees have taken a 1-0 lead in the third inning today on Derek Jeter's double play bouncer. Not the most dramatic way for Jeter to celebrate his last opening day at Yankee Stadium, but it's still early. Ubaldo Jimenez fielded Jeter's comebacker and chose to start a 1-6-3 double play rather than throw home for the easy out on Yangervis Solarte, who led off with a walk and took third on Brett Gardner's single. Jimenez overcame two walks in the second inning by striking out...

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Orioles acquire Guilmet from Indians

April 07, 2014, 9:28am

Orioles

NEW YORK - The Orioles announced today that they've acquired pitcher Preston Guilmet from the Indians for minor league outfielder Torsten Boss. Guilmet was optioned to Triple-A Norfolk. To make room for Guilmet on the 40-man roster, the Orioles have transferred outfielder Nolan Reimold to the 60-day disabled list. Guilmet, 26, owns a lifetime 2.57 ERA and 90 saves in 196 games (15 starts) over five minor league seasons in the Cleveland system. He's struck out 9.8 batters and walked 1.9 per...

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Hardy and Showalter provide injury updates

April 07, 2014, 7:43am

Orioles

Hardy and Showalter provide injury updates

NEW YORK - Orioles shortstop J.J. Hardy remains day-to-day with spasms in his lower back. He continues to receive treatment and didn't expect to perform baseball activities this morning. Hardy has no idea whether he will return to the lineup on Tuesday. He's been on the bench for three of the last four games and was walking gingerly to his locker this morning, his movements clearly restricted. "It feels better than yesterday," he said. "It's still a little bit tight, but it's definitely...

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Orioles and Yankees lineups

April 07, 2014, 5:47am

Orioles

NEW YORK - Shortstop J.J. Hardy is out of the lineup again today because of lingering back issues. The early-season absences are particularly frustrating to Hardy because he said this year's spring training was one of the healthiest of his career. With Hardy sidelined, the Orioles will go with Ryan Flaherty at short, Steve Lombardozzi at second and Jonathan Schoop at third. For the Orioles David Lough LF Nick Markakis RF Adam Jones CF Chris Davis 1B Matt Wieters C Nelson Cruz DH Steve...

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New city and old starting time

April 06, 2014, 7:37pm

Orioles

NEW YORK - Stop me if you've heard this one: The Orioles are playing a day game, their fourth in a row since leaving Baltimore. They hunger for a postgame spread that isn't lunch. In this case, the 1:05 p.m. start has nothing to do with plummeting temperatures and the need to bask in whatever warmth is available in Detroit in the month of April. It's opening day at Yankee Stadium, with the first Bleacher Creature roll call of 2014. I always feel a special bond with the city of New York...

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Jones breaks tie, Tillman breaks trend (O's win 3-1)

April 06, 2014, 11:16am

Orioles

Jones breaks tie, Tillman breaks trend (O's win 3-1)

Adam Jones battled Tigers starter Justin Verlander in the top of the eighth inning today, fouling off four pitches and taking two out of the strike zone before lifting a sacrifice fly to deep left-center field that broke a 1-1 tie. Jones drove an 87 mph slider into the gap, where Tyler Collins made a nice running catch. Jones picked up only his second RBI of the season, scoring Nick Markakis from third base. Markakis delivered his first extra-base hit of the season with a triple to...

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This and that through three innings (game tied)

April 06, 2014, 9:56am

Orioles

This and that through three innings (game tied)

Well, look at Chris Tillman dishing out three clean innings to start today's game against the Tigers. That makes eight for the Orioles' pitching staff in 2014. Jonathan Schoop is on the 25-man roster because Manny Machado is on the disabled list following knee surgery. He's in today's lineup because of J.J. Hardy's back spasms. Opportunity can be found in many places, including body parts. Schoop may have gotten an infield hit in the third inning if he hadn't stumbled coming out of the...

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Hardy scratched from lineup

April 06, 2014, 8:35am

Orioles

Orioles shortstop J.J Hardy has been scratched from today's lineup due to another spasm in his lower back. Ryan Flaherty will move to shortstop, with rookie Jonathan Schoop playing third base. The Orioles announced that the spasm is located in a different spot from the one that forced him out of Friday's lineup. So much for that stat about Hardy hitting three home runs off Tigers starter Justin Verlander last season. For the Orioles David Lough LF Nick Markakis RF Adam Jones CF Chris...

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A few notes before today's game

April 06, 2014, 7:06am

Orioles

The Orioles are trying to avoid a three-game sweep in Detroit today before heading to New York for another supreme challenge. So much for easing into the 2014 season. Maybe they've got another five-run ninth-inning rally in them, which is fine if they're trailing by four. Yesterday's game produced the highest-scoring ninth inning for the Orioles since they also tallied five runs in the ninth on April 10, 2013 in Boston, according to the teams' public relations staff. Chris Davis homered,...

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Orioles and Tigers lineups

April 06, 2014, 6:18am

Orioles

Ryan Flaherty is back in the Orioles lineup today, playing third base and looking for his first hit of the 2014 season. David Lough is leading off and Nick Markakis is batting second. For the Orioles David Lough LF Nick Markakis RF Adam Jones CF Chris Davis 1B Nelson Cruz DH Matt Wieters C J.J. Hardy SS Ryan Flaherty 3B Steve Lombardozzi 2B Chris Tillman RHP For the Tigers Ian Kinsler 2B Torii Hunter RF Miguel Cabrera DH Victor Martinez 1B Austin Jackson CF Tyler Collins LF Nick...

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Wrong turns with the rotation

April 05, 2014, 7:42pm

Orioles

If you're unable to watch today's game in its entirety, be sure to check out the first and ninth innings. That's usually when the Orioles do their scoring. That is, if they're able to push across some runs against Tigers right-hander Justin Verlander. I'm told he's pretty good. Verlander is 8-1 with a 3.26 ERA in 11 career starts against the Orioles. It's tough to find anyone on the roster who's had sustained success against him. J.J. Hardy is only 8-for-31, but he's hit three home...

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Orioles and Tigers lineups

April 05, 2014, 6:02am

Orioles

J.J. Hardy's lower back spasms are no longer an issue, and he's in the Orioles lineup for today's game at Comerica Park against the Tigers. With Hardy in, Ryan Flaherty takes a seat, no real surprise considering he's 0-for-15 with seven strikeouts. Nick Markakis is today's DH, batting fifth. For the Orioles David Lough LF Nelson Cruz RF Chris Davis 1B Adam Jones CF Nick Markakis DH J.J. Hardy SS Matt Wieters C Steve Lombardozzi 2B Jonathan Schoop 3B Bud Norris RHP For the Tigers Ian...

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About today's game ...

April 04, 2014, 8:41pm

Orioles

The Orioles have scored 11 runs in their first four games, including a pair yesterday in the ninth inning. The starters have posted a 7.20 ERA in 20 innings. Where are you most concerned? I'm going out on a limb and saying the offense erupts this afternoon against Tigers starter Rick Porcello, who's carrying a career 6.58 ERA in 23 games in March/April and is 1-5 with a 5.14 ERA in seven starts against the Orioles. He's allowed 24 runs and 56 hits in 42 innings. (By the way, Porcello's...

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Checking on Gausman

April 04, 2014, 5:45pm

Orioles

I've noticed that lots of fans are clamoring for the Orioles to recall Kevin Gausman from Triple-A Norfolk just four games into the 2014 season. Actually, his name came up before the Orioles left Baltimore, but the demands for his services are louder and more pronounced. Gausman will pitch at Camden Yards this year. He may do it this month. But the Orioles aren't looking to make changes to their rotation during the first week of the season. Sorry folks, but they're not going to react that...

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Gausman starting tonight in Norfolk (O's lose 10-4)

April 04, 2014, 11:20am

Orioles

Gausman starting tonight in Norfolk (O's lose 10-4)

The Triple-A Norfolk Tides now list Kevin Gausman as tonight's starter after the Orioles held him out of last night's game. Gausman would have flown to Detroit if today's game at Comerica Park had been postponed due to rain, forcing a doubleheader on Saturday. Manager Buck Showalter indicated that Gausman could have served as an extra reliever. The Orioles were subjected to a 34-minute rain delay in the bottom of the fourth inning. Play resumed with Miguel Gonzalez returning to the mound,...

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Lough sets table as Orioles plate two (updated)

April 04, 2014, 9:40am

Orioles

The Orioles look pretty aggressive on the bases for a team working on 17 minutes sleep. David Lough collected his first hit as an Oriole with a one-out single in the first inning. He stole second and scored on Chris Davis' double to right field. Adam Jones also came around from first base after drawing his second walk in four games. He had 25 last season, folks. Lough went 0-for-4 and popped up a bunt attempt in the second game. He only cracked the lineup once at home because the Red Sox...