Roch Kubatko

Game, Reimold and Peguero updates (Ortiz, Cruz and Napoli homer)

April 02, 2014, 3:28pm

Orioles

Game, Reimold and Peguero updates (Ortiz, Cruz and Napoli homer)

Ubaldo Jimenez's first inning as an Orioles starter tonight included a hit, walk and two strikeouts. Jimenez got a called third strike on leadoff hitter Daniel Nava before Dustin Pedroia singled into right field and David Ortiz walked. Mike Napoli popped up and Jonny Gomes struck out looking to strand two runners. Jimenez threw 17 pitches, including 10 for strikes. Xander Bogaerts singled off Jimenez with one out in the second, but A.J. Pierzynski flied out and Will Middlebrooks struck out...

Tags:

Updating Santana, Bundy, Peguero, Markakis, Patton and more

April 02, 2014, 1:00pm

Orioles

Updating Santana, Bundy, Peguero, Markakis, Patton and more

Left-hander Johan Santana threw 30 pitches off a full mound yesterday in Saraosta, mixing in everything in his repertoire. "That's progressing well," said manager Buck Showalter. "Don't ask me exactly what's next. I haven't heard anything else. Scotty McGregor updates us every day. "It's encouraging to see that Johan is throwing all his pitches. He's pitching like he's in a five-man rotation. Pitch, work day, pitch." Assistant athletic trainer Chris Correnti, who worked with...

Tags:

orioles dylan bundy francisco peguero johan santana jonathan schoop nick markakis steve lombardozzi steve pearce troy patton frontstory_orioles2

Orioles and Red Sox lineups

April 02, 2014, 11:00am

Orioles

Steve Lombardozzi is starting at second base tonight for the Orioles, while Ryan Flaherty remains at third. Jonathan Scoop takes a seat on the bench. David Lough is in left field and Nelson Cruz is serving as the designated hitter. For the Orioles Nick Markakis RF David Lough LF Adam Jones CF Chris Davis 1B Nelson Cruz DH Matt Wieters C J.J. Hardy SS Ryan Flaherty 3B Steve Lombardozzi 2B Ubaldo Jimenez RHP For the Red Sox Daniel Nava RF Dustin Pedroia 2B David Ortiz DH Mike Napoli 1B Jonny...

Tags:

orioles frontfeatured_orioles lineups steve lombardozzi frontstory_orioles3

More on Matusz

April 02, 2014, 2:14am

Orioles

Red Sox slugger David Ortiz made it through the first game of the 2014 season without having to face Orioles left-hander Brian Matusz. What are the chances that he makes it two in a row? Ortiz is 1-for-20 with 12 strikeouts against Matusz. They're bound to meet again - if not tonight or this series, maybe in Boston later this month. Matusz pitched to one batter on opening day and retired A.J. Pierzynski on an 0-2 changeup to strand two runners in the eighth inning. Pierzynski bounced to the...

Tags:

orioles brian matusz featured_sidebar frontfeatured_orioles frontstory_orioles2

Looking ahead to Jimenez's debut

April 01, 2014, 9:59am

Orioles

With no game to obsess over today, we may as well look ahead to Ubaldo Jimenez's official debut with the Orioles on Wednesday night at Camden Yards. Jimenez made four appearances in Grapefruit League games while trying to get caught up to the other starters. He allowed nine runs and 15 hits in 15 1/3 innings, with six walks, eight strikeouts and a hit batter. He also consented to one interview with me for a feature story in the first edition of Orioles Magazine, which will be available at...

Tags:

orioles featured_sidebar frontfeatured_orioles ubaldo jimenez frontstory_orioles2

Reflecting on the opener

March 31, 2014, 7:39pm

Orioles

The Orioles win their first game of the season and now they're off? Who planned this schedule? OK, it's pretty typical in the majors. I guess teams get exhausted after that first game. Or fans need 48 hours to find their way back to the ballpark. As I reflect on the 2-1 win on opening day, my thoughts keep returning to Ryan Flaherty's play at third base. He easily could be overshadowed, but he played a critical role in the outcome. Flaherty isn't Manny Machado. He isn't trying to be...

Tags:

orioles spring training brian matusz featured_sidebar monica barlow ryan flaherty zach britton frontstory_orioles2

Showalter speaks after 2-1 win

March 31, 2014, 3:35pm

Orioles

It was an opening day at Camden Yards filled with emotion, and it spilled into the interview room, where Monica Pence Barlow's husband and family stood near the back and greeted manager Buck Showalter as he entered for his postgame session with the media. Showalter embraced Barlow's mother, Ramona, before taking his usual seat, a poignant ending to the Orioles' 2-1 win over the Red Sox. Barlow would have loved every minute of today's game. "Obviously, you play the game with emotion,"...

Tags:

orioles buck showalter chris tillman evan meek jonathan schoop nelson cruz ryan flaherty tommy hunter frontstory_orioles2

Closing time for Hunter in 2-1 win

March 31, 2014, 2:06pm

Orioles

Evan Meek walked two batters and retired two in the top of the eighth today. Brian Matusz replaced him and fielded A.J. Pierzynski's comebacker for the final out, stranding two runners and preserving a 2-1 lead. Who led off the top of the ninth? Will Middlebrooks. Who came in for the Orioles in a save situation? Tommy Hunter. They have a past. Middlebrooks homered twice off Hunter in two spring training games, leading to his humorous strategy for the next time they met. "He likes...

Tags:

orioles tommy hunter frontstory_orioles3

Cruz gives Orioles lead, Britton gives them sinking feeling

March 31, 2014, 1:30pm

Orioles

Nelson Cruz just delivered his Welcome to Baltimore moment. Cruz homered on the first pitch from Red Sox left-hander Jon Lester leading off the bottom of the seventh, the ball easily clearing the left field fence to break a 1-1 tie. Cruz is 1-for-2 with a walk today and is 11-for-24 with three homers and five RBIs lifetime against Lester. Yes, he's Cruzing. Or he's on Cruz control. Take your pick. Zach Britton tossed two scoreless innings in relief of starter Chris Tillman, allowing one...

Tags:

orioles frontfeatured_orioles nelson cruz zach britton

Orioles take first lead of 2014 (we're tied and Tillman's done)

March 31, 2014, 12:09pm

Orioles

If you're ready to collect your money today after choosing Delmon Young in the "first Oriole to get an RBI" pool, I've got bad news for you. A double play doesn't produce an RBI. Just a run. Not that there's anything wrong with it. Young grounded into an unconventional 4-3-6 double play with runners on the corners and one out in the second inning to give the Orioles a 1-0 lead against Red Sox left-hander Jon Lester. Nelson Cruz walked after falling behind 0-2 in the count and Matt...

Tags:

orioles chris tillman delmon young frontfeatured_orioles nelson cruz

The opening day festivities (game update)

March 31, 2014, 11:13am

Orioles

The opening day festivities (game update)

The mood at Camden Yards today has taken swings more intense than anything Chris Davis will deliver at home plate. MASN's Jim Hunter, serving as emcee for the opening day festivities, introduced tributes to former center fielder Paul Blair, public relations director Monica Pence Barlow and author and minority owner Tom Clancy. Blair is the only Oriole to start more consecutive opening days at one outfield position (12) than Nick Markakis (eight). The Orioles announced that Barlow's seat in...

Tags:

orioles chris davis chris tillman jj hardy manny machado monica barlow frontstory_orioles3

Markakis in today's lineup

March 31, 2014, 8:24am

Orioles

Nick Markakis will bat leadoff and play right field for today's Orioles opener against the Red Sox at Camden Yards. Markakis made it through batting practice without experiencing any discomfort in his neck. Nelson Cruz starts in left field and Delmon Young is the designated hitter For the Orioles Nick Markakis RF J.J. Hardy SS Adam Jones CF Chris Davis 1B Nelson Cruz LF Matt Wieters C Delmon Young DH Ryan Flaherty 3B Jonathan Schoop 2B Chris Tillman RHP

Tags:

orioles nick markakis frontstory_orioles2

Showalter says Markakis is "viable possibility today" (updated)

March 31, 2014, 7:34am

Orioles

Showalter says Markakis is "viable possibility today" (updated)

The Orioles won't post their opening day lineup until right fielder Nick Markakis takes batting practice. Markakis' neck is feeling better and he's already stopped by manager Buck Showalter's office twice to campaign for the start, which would be his eighth in a row on opening day. Markakis tried to take batting practice yesterday, "but we caught him," Showalter said. Nelson Cruz will start in left field if Markakis can play. Otherwise, Cruz will move to right and David Lough will...

Tags:

orioles nick markakis tommy hunter frontstory_orioles2

Opening day at Camden Yards

March 30, 2014, 7:42pm

Orioles

Happy opening day. And shame on Hallmark if it doesn't make a card for this occasion. The Orioles have won 11 of their last 13 openers and are 3-0 under manager Buck Showalter. The last time they played in March, they lost 6-2 to the Rays in 2008. Jeremy Guthrie, Matt Albers and Brian Burres pitched for the Orioles. Luis Hernandez, the team's last rookie to get the nod in an opener, started at shortstop and was replaced by Brandon Fahey after Jay Payton pinch-hit for him. Such...

Tags:

orioles adam jones featured_sidebar frontstory_orioles2

Hearing from Showalter, Schoop, Clevenger, Hunter, Meek and Davis (with update)

March 30, 2014, 12:44pm

Orioles

Hearing from Showalter, Schoop, Clevenger, Hunter, Meek and Davis (with update)

Nick Markakis has started in right field for the Orioles on seven consecutive opening days. Whether he makes it eight in a row is up in the air. That's also where Markakis developed neck stiffness, while on a flight yesterday from Sarasota to Norfolk. "Still a little sore," said manager Buck Showalter. "Hopefully, it will get better. I've got two lineups, one with him in it and one without him in it. There's some thought about letting him get the benefit of another day with it, but I...

Tags:

orioles buck showalter chris davis evan meek featured_sidebar jonathan schoop nick markakis steve clevenger tommy hunter frontstory_orioles2

Belfiore designated for assignment, Escalona placed on 60-day DL

March 30, 2014, 11:43am

Orioles

Belfiore designated for assignment, Escalona placed on 60-day DL

The Orioles finalized their roster this afternoon and created two openings on the 40-man roster for reliever Evan Meek and outfielder Delmon Young. Left-hander Mike Belfiore was designated for assignment and pitcher Edgmer Escalona was placed on the 60-day disabled list. Belfiore allowed one run and five hits in two innings with the Orioles last season and went 2-1 with a 3.18 ERA in 37 games at Triple-A Norfolk. Escalona made one appearance in an exhibition game this spring before being...

Tags:

orioles spring training edgmer escalona francisco peguero johan santana manny machado michael almanzar mike belfiore nolan reimold frontstory_orioles1

Markakis uncertain about opening day

March 30, 2014, 11:06am

Orioles

The Orioles are working out indoors today because of the rain. They haven't posted a lineup due to the uncertain status of right fielder Nick Markakis, who was scratched from yesterday's lineup in Norfolk with neck stiffness. Markakis received treatment again today and told me that his neck is "much better than yesterday." Asked about playing on opening day, he replied, "I don't know." Neither does manager Buck Showalter, who's written two lineups for Monday - one with Markakis and...

Tags:

orioles spring training buck showalter jonathan schoop nick markakis frontstory_orioles3

Working out the 40-man roster

March 29, 2014, 10:05pm

Orioles

I'm heading to Camden Yards this morning for the workout that precedes opening day. Don't try to stop me. The weather may force the Orioles indoors for batting practice. As long as the clubhouse still has a roof over it, the media will be perfectly fine. I'll check on Nick Markakis, who was scratched from yesterday's lineup due to neck stiffness. I'll check on Nelson Cruz, who took an Alex Cobb curveball off his batting helmet during Thursday's game against the Rays. I'll check on...

Tags:

orioles spring training buck showalter delmon young evan meek featured_sidebar nick markakis tommy hunter frontstory_orioles2

Orioles option Gausman, McFarland and Weeks

March 29, 2014, 1:18pm

Orioles

The Orioles reduced their roster to 32 players following today's rain-shortened 4-3 win at Harbor Park by optioning pitchers Kevin Gausman and T.J. McFarland and infielder Jemile Weeks to Triple-A Norfolk. They will get down to the required 25 by putting Manny Machado, Edgmer Escalona, Francisco Peguero, Nolan Reimold, Michael Almanzar and Johan Santana on the disabled list, and by having Troy Patton on the restricted list while he serves a 25-game suspension. Barring a late addition,...

Tags:

orioles spring training jemile weeks kevin gausman tj mcfarland frontstory_orioles2

Still waiting on 25-man roster (and note)

March 29, 2014, 10:57am

Orioles

Still waiting on 25-man roster (and note)

The Orioles continue to check the waiver wire and explore any possible deals before announcing their 25-man roster. They aren't going to commit to a player and suddenly break the news that he's actually headed to the minors because someone better became available. The Orioles need to remove 10 players by 3 p.m. Sunday, and the moves are obvious at this point. The only holdup is the possibility of an outside addition. Manny Machado, Edgmer Escalona, Francisco Peguero, Nolan Reimold, Michael...