Jones joining MLB Network studio team (note on Davis)

Jones joining MLB Network studio team (note on Davis)
The Orioles didn't qualify for the playoffs this year, but Adam Jones will get to experience more of the postseason. Not the way that he did in 2012. Not as a center fielder. Jones will serve as a guest studio analyst for MLB Network during the month of October, joining Raul Ibanez, Mark Teixeira, Mark DeRosa and longtime broadcaster Ken "Hawk" Harrelson. Harrelson will be the first guest analyst on "MLB Tonight" with a two-night stint beginning Friday. Did anyone tell him that the...

Machado's second opinion matches the first

Machado's second opinion matches the first
Orioles third baseman Manny Machado received good news today following his visit to orthopedic specialist Dr. James Andrews in Gulf Breeze, Fla. I'm told that Andrews' recommendation matched up with the one provided by the Orioles' medical staff. Machado will rest and continue down the same rehabilitation path for his left knee that the club has laid out for him. Machado, 21, tore the medial patellofemoral ligament in the seventh inning of last Monday's game against the Rays at Tropicana...

Orioles version of Linsanity

Orioles version of Linsanity
As long as I'm looking back on the 2013 season, I'd like to pass along an anecdote from the final road game on Sept. 23 at Tropicana Field. May as well keep it light today. I mentioned that the Orioles let Wei-Yin Chen's interpreter, Tim Lin, deliver the lineup card to home plate before the anthem. Lin was all smiles as he walked back to the dugout, but his look soon changed to one of confusion as players and coaches motioned for him to go back. The four umpires posed for a photo with Lin,...

The morning after the 2013 season

The morning after the 2013 season
The Orioles currently hold the 17th pick in the 2014 First-Year Player Draft, but let's not get too far ahead of ourselves. Better to count down the days until pitchers and catchers report. Welcome to Day One of the offseason. It's going to be quiet for a while, with teams pretty much in shutdown mode during the playoffs. It seems like only yesterday that reporters were staking out Luis Ayala's locker in Sarasota, eagerly awaiting confirmation on whether he would pitch in the World...

Showalter speaks after 7-6 win

Showalter speaks after 7-6 win
Orioles manager Buck Showalter doesn't do well with goodbyes, and it showed again today following a 7-6 victory over the Red Sox at sold-out Camden Yards that officially closed the 2013 season. His eyes were moist as he talked about his team and the fan support, and he closed his media session by joking about how he wanted to avoid a Jerry Maguire/Roy Firestone moment. No more questions, please. "You've heard me talk about it a lot," he said. "We're sitting here with just such great...

Tillman with another no-decision to close season (O's win 7-6)

Tillman with another no-decision to close season (O's win 7-6)
Orioles right-hander Chris Tillman will finish the 2013 season with two wins in his last 11 starts. Tillman is 16-7 with a 3.71 ERA in 206 1/3 innings. The Orioles rallied to tie the game in the bottom of the fifth today, leaving Tillman with his fifth no-decision in that span. T.J. McFarland pitched the sixth inning and left the bases loaded. Tillman was charged with five runs (four earned) and eight hits in five innings, with one walk, five strikeouts, two home runs and a wild pitch. He...

Davis' season ends with injury in fourth inning (we're tied, attendance note)

Davis' season ends with injury in fourth inning (we're tied, attendance note)
Chris Davis received at least three standing ovations today. The first one came while receiving his award as Most Valuable Oriole. The second came as he stepped to the plate in the bottom of the first inning. The last one came as he walked off the field in the fourth with head athletic trainer Richie Bancells. It wasn't supposed to be this way. Davis appeared to injure his left wrist as a throw from catcher Steve Clevenger and Red Sox center fielder Jacoby Ellsbury arrived at his mitt at...

Game update and more notes

Game update and more notes
Chris Tillman wanted to start today in the Orioles' final game of the season. He didn't want the Red Sox to almost hit for the cycle against him in the first inning. Jacoby Ellsbury hit his 10th career leadoff homer, and his third this season, for a quick 1-0 lead. David Ortiz singled and Mike Napoli doubled with one out, and Ortiz lumbered home on Mike Carp's grounder to short. Ortiz began the day 0-for-13 against Tillman, the most at-bats against a pitcher without a hit in his career....

Notes and quotes before today's season finale

Notes and quotes before today's season finale
The Orioles expected to face John Lackey today, but they'll get rookie right-hander Allen Webster instead after the Red Sox clinched home field advantage in the playoffs yesterday following Oakland's loss. Webster is 1-2 with a 9.55 ERA in seven games (six starts), with 37 hits, 15 walks, 21 strikeouts and seven home runs in 27 1/3 innings. The Orioles and Yankees are tied for third place in the American League East with identical 84-77 records. Yes, this game matters. Buck Showalter said...

Davis named Most Valuable Oriole (plus lineups)

Davis named Most Valuable Oriole (plus lineups)
In maybe the least surprising news of the day, Chris Davis has been voted 2013 Most Valuable Oriole by the local media. Davis enters today's season finale leading the majors with 53 homers, 96 extra-base hits and 138 RBIs. His home run and extra-base hit totals are club records. He also ranks in the top three in the American League in slugging percentage, OPS, runs and doubles. He is only the third player in major league history to rack up at least 50 homers and 40 doubles in a season,...

Markakis reflects on his 2013 season

Markakis reflects on his 2013 season
Orioles right fielder Nick Markakis is still in learning mode after eight seasons in the majors. Markakis told me yesterday that it's his failure to make adjustments, not his health, that's contributed to his career-low 10 home runs and 23 doubles in 631 at-bats. The three surgeries last year and the neck injury in spring training didn't drain his power. "I just didn't feel comfortable at the plate this year," he said before collecting two singles, grounding into a double play and...

Showalter speaks after 6-5 win

Showalter speaks after 6-5 win
Chris Tillman will start Sunday's season-finale against the Red Sox at Camden Yards. It's not known whether Steve Pearce will be in the lineup against right-hander John Lackey - the odds are against it - but he was a huge contributor to tonight's 6-5 win with two doubles and three RBIs. "That's why his work has always been wanted," Showalter said. "Stevie's a professional hitter. He works hard at his trade. Part of the reason why he's been hurt is because he works hard at his trade....

Pearce gives Orioles the lead, Schoop is available (O's win 6-5)

Pearce gives Orioles the lead, Schoop is available (O's win 6-5)
Steve Pearce delivered a two-run double off Red Sox reliever Franklin Morales with one out in the bottom of the eighth to give the Orioles a 6-5 lead. Pearce has doubled twice and driven in a season-high three runs tonight. It's his third multi-RBI game of the season and his first three-RBI game since Aug. 11, 2012. Matt Wieters and Danny Valencia singled to start the rally. Nick Markakis struck out after almost hitting an opposite-field three-run homer, and Pearce moved the Orioles...

If Roberts is leaving, he won't go quietly (O's down 5-4)

If Roberts is leaving, he won't go quietly (O's down 5-4)
Is Brian Roberts trying to make a statement here? If so, it may go something like, "You really should re-sign me." Roberts homered again tonight, leading off the bottom of the third with a shot to left field off Red Sox left-hander Jon Lester to increase the Orioles' lead to 2-0. Roberts has eight home runs on the season, and three in his last five games. In that span, he's 8-for-20 with five runs scored. Approached by reporters again today, Roberts repeated that his first choice is to...

Notes and quotes before tonight's game

Notes and quotes before tonight's game
The Orioles still need one more win to clinch the season series against the Red Sox for the second straight year, which hasn't happened since 1991-92. Adam Jones needs one more hit to tie his career high of 186 set last season. The Orioles have recorded 200-plus home runs and 200-plus doubles for the second consecutive year. Prior to 2012, they had done it only three times in franchise history (1999, 1998 and 1996). Earlier today, manager Buck Showalter talked about a few of his injured...

Morse shut down with wrist injury

Morse shut down with wrist injury
The Orioles' expanded roster is being stretched thin. Manager Buck Showalter has five players who are unavailable for health reasons, including Michael Morse, who's been shut down with lingering soreness in his left wrist. Morse didn't inform the club of his injury until three or four days ago, according to Showalter. Morse, who's still with the team, will to be examined by hand specialist Dr. Brian Schofield in Sarasota. He also will go to the Mayo Clinic for a second opinion and decide...

Orioles lineup vs. Red Sox (plus Boston lineup)

Orioles lineup vs. Red Sox (plus Boston lineup)
Jason Pridie is in left field again tonight against a left-hander, Boston's Jon Lester, and Steve Pearce is serving as the Orioles designated hitter. Anyone seen Michael Morse? For the Orioles Brian Roberts 2B J.J. Hardy SS Chris Davis 1B Adam Jones CF Matt Wieters C Danny Valencia 3B Nick Markakis RF Steve Pearce DH Jason Pridie LF Wei-Yin Chen LHP For the Red Sox Shane Victorino CF Stephen Drew SS Dustin Pedroia 2B Mike Napoli DH Jonny Gomes LF Daniel Nava RF Brandon Snyder 1B David Ross...

Orioles still feeling good about Feldman

Orioles still feeling good about Feldman
Scott Feldman made his final start of the season last night, and it wasn't pretty. It also wasn't indicative of his time spent in an Orioles uniform. Feldman had allowed three earned runs or fewer in his last eight starts before the Red Sox shelled him. The Orioles won't judge him on it. The question is, will they re-sign him? Feldman will become a free agent following the season, and he's a favorite of manager Buck Showalter. The Orioles would like to retain him, but maybe not if...

Showalter speaks after 12-3 loss

Showalter speaks after 12-3 loss
The Orioles held another Fireworks Night following their 12-3 loss to the Red Sox. Seemed kind of redundant. Scott Feldman turned in his shortest outing as an Oriole, allowing eight runs and eight hits in 2 1/3 innings. "He was up. Basically up," said manager Buck Showalter. "There's a fine line there. I thought he might find his step. He had a pretty clean second inning, but he couldn't get back in there in the third. He just elevated a lot of pitches. "It's unfortanate. You're...

Davis sets another record (Ortiz ties Ripken on HR list, O's lose 12-3)

Davis sets another record (Ortiz ties Ripken on HR list, O's lose 12-3)
Each home run by Orioles first baseman Chris Davis causes me to grab the game notes to make sure he hasn't set another record. He just did. Davis hit his 53rd home run tonight, a solo shot off Red Sox starter Clay Buchholz that reduced Boston's lead to 8-3 in the sixth inning. It's also his 28th homer in Baltimore. Why is that significant? Because Davis was tied with Frank Robinson for the single-season franchise record at 27. Robinson did his damage at Memorial Stadium in 1966. Davis...