Roch Kubatko

Showalter speaks after 3-2, 10-inning loss

September 24, 2013, 7:16pm

Orioles

Showalter speaks after 3-2, 10-inning loss

The Orioles are officially eliminated from the playoff race. They can still finish with a winning record, but they need one more victory. They've failed in their last six attempts, losing tonight to the Blue Jays 3-2 in 10 innings. One year after finally get back to the postseason, the Orioles will be home in October. "A time like right now, that's probably one of those reflective things that I'm not probably real good at right now," said manager Buck Showalter. "I understand the math...

Tags:

Free baseball! (O's eliminated from playoff race with 3-2 loss)

September 24, 2013, 6:03pm

Orioles

Free baseball! (O's eliminated from playoff race with 3-2 loss)

The Orioles don't care how early reporters were flying out of Tampa this morning. They're in no rush to leave Camden Yards. We've got free baseball, with the Orioles and Blue Jays tied 2-2 in the top of the 10th. The Orioles are 8-6 in extra innings this season. They're 9-10 when tied after the eighth. They've now scored four runs or fewer in 17 of their last 21 games. All the scoring tonight came on back-to-back home runs by Brian Roberts and Nate McLouth in the third. Including...

Tags:

orioles frontstory_orioles1

Orioles get back-to-back at Jays (we're tied)

September 24, 2013, 4:08pm

Orioles

For the fifth time this season, the Orioles have hit back-to-back home runs in an inning. Tonight, it allowed them to take a 2-1 lead over the Blue Jays at Camden Yards. Brian Roberts led off the bottom of the third inning with his seventh homer, and Nate McLouth followed with his 12th, depositing the ball onto the flag court in right field. Roberts also homered yesterday, creating his own back-to-back scenario. McLouth now has 100 career home runs, putting him only 662 behind Barry Bonds....

Tags:

orioles brian roberts chris tillman nate mclouth

Updating Machado's injury (and more)

September 24, 2013, 2:37pm

Orioles

Orioles executive vice president Dan Duquette and head athletic trainer Richie Bancells confirmed today that third baseman Manny Machado suffered a torn medial patellofemoral ligament in his left kneecap during Sunday's game at Tropicana Field. The ligament is located in the inner portion of the knee. Machado, 21, did not suffer any damage to the anterior cruciate ligament or medial collateral ligament, which comes as a huge relief to the Orioles. Machado, who's currently receiving...

Tags:

orioles manny machado featured_sidebar frontstory_orioles3

Casilla talks about collision

September 24, 2013, 1:45pm

Orioles

The Orioles announced that they officially released infielder Wilson Betemit, who was designated for assignment on Sept. 16. Alexi Casilla remains with the team, but he may not play again this season. Casilla underwent a CT scan yesterday in St. Petersburg, Fla., after slamming his head into right fielder Nick Markakis' leg while diving for a shallow fly ball. The Orioles held their bus in case Casilla was cleared to fly back to Baltimore. Casilla sat at his locker this afternoon and took...

Tags:

orioles alexi casilla wilson betemit

Showalter optimistic about Machado's recovery time from injury (update)

September 24, 2013, 12:40pm

Orioles

Showalter optimistic about Machado's recovery time from injury (update)

The Orioles are waiting for team orthopedist Dr. John Wilckens to read the MRI on Manny Machado's left knee. The club should have an update on the third baseman's condition after batting practice. It sounds as though the news is better than anticipated. Showalter confirmed that Machado won't play again in the final six games, but he added, "I feel very confident that Manny will be playing for us early in the year next year, but it won't be this year. And I feel confident of that...

Tags:

orioles frontfeatured_orioles manny machado

Flaherty at third base (with Casilla update)

September 24, 2013, 11:08am

Orioles

Flaherty at third base (with Casilla update)

While the Orioles await the results of the MRI on Manny Machado's left knee, Ryan Flaherty is starting at third base tonight against the Blue Jays at Camden Yards. This is the first lineup without Machado since the Orioles selected his contract on Aug. 9, 2012. Nate McLouth is batting second tonight. Dan Johnson will make his first start for the Orioles as the designated hitter. For the Orioles Brian Roberts 2B Nate McLouth LF Adam Jones CF Chris Davis 1B Matt Wieters C Nick Markakis...

Tags:

orioles dan johnson manny machado nate mclouth ryan flaherty frontstory_orioles2

Non-update updates

September 24, 2013, 10:16am

Orioles

Still no word on Manny Machado's MRI, which took place early this afternoon. The Orioles are expected to make an announcement later today. That's all I've got at the moment. The only certainty is that Machado won't play again in 2013. I wrote this morning that Danny Valencia and Ryan Flaherty are two candidates to replace Machado at third base, and Jonathan Schoop has played the position in the minors. Manager Buck Showalter hasn't used Schoop while his club's been in a pennant race,...

Tags:

orioles alexi casilla chris tillman danny valencia frontfeatured_orioles jonathan schoop manny machado ryan flaherty

Tidbits for a Tuesday

September 23, 2013, 6:57pm

Orioles

TAMPA - The more observant readers will notice that the dateline has changed on this blog entry. I spent the night at the Tampa Airport Marriott again, turning in my rental car around 9:30 p.m. and racing to the TGI Friday's for a quick bite to eat, a beverage and another scan of the blog comments. It's nice to roll out of bed, splash cold water on your face and stagger to your gate for the flight home. Just make time to do something with your hair. That's my only rule. Brushing your teeth...

Tags:

orioles alexi casilla buck showalter featured_sidebar manny machado frontstory_orioles1

More comments from the clubhouse

September 23, 2013, 5:06pm

Orioles

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. - The Orioles were swept by the Rays in a four-game series at Tropicana Field. They've lost five games in a row and are five behind the Indians for the second wild card. They only have six left in the regular season. Could it get any worse? It did today with a knee injury to Manny Machado and a possible concussion suffered by Alexi Casilla. The fear, of course, is that Machado tore ligaments in his left knee. An MRI in Baltimore on Monday could bring confirmation. The...

Tags:

orioles frontstory_orioles3

Showalter talks about injuries in 5-4 loss

September 23, 2013, 4:32pm

Orioles

Showalter talks about injuries in 5-4 loss

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. - Orioles manager Buck Showalter had lots to say about losing Manny Machado and Alexi Casilla to injuries in today's 5-4 loss to the Rays before 17,830 at Tropicana Field. I'll give you his quotes, and later pass along comments from concerned teammates. "It started out as a real good road trip and we ran into some problems here and a lot of that has to do with Tampa," Showalter said. "They played real well. It's frustrating because our guys really left it all out on...

Tags:

orioles alexi casilla buck showalter featured_sidebar frontstory_orioles1 manny machado

Quick updates on Machado and Casilla

September 23, 2013, 3:42pm

Orioles

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. - Orioles third baseman Manny Machado will fly back with the team tonight and undergo an MRI on his left knee Tuesday morning in Baltimore. Machado had the knee X-rayed at Tropicana Field, but the film hasn't been read. Machado was taken off the field on a stretcher in the seventh inning after his knee buckled and ankle turned as he hit the bag on an infield single. The Orioles don't want to speculate on the severity of the injury until the MRI. Machado wasn't...

Tags:

orioles alexi casilla frontfeatured_orioles manny machado

Machado injured in seventh inning (O's lose 5-4)

September 23, 2013, 1:57pm

Orioles

Machado injured in seventh inning (O's lose 5-4)

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. - The Orioles' road trip just got a whole lot worse. Manny Machado was taken off the field on a stretcher, his left leg immobilized, after tripping over first base in the top of the seventh inning. He appeared to suffer an injury to his knee. Machado let out a scream and laid on his side while athletic trainers Richie Bancells and Brian Ebel and manager Buck Showalter raced out of the dugout. First base coach Wayne Kirby immediately ran to Machado, who had tears in his...

Tags:

orioles manny machado frontstory_orioles3

Another short outing for Chen

September 23, 2013, 1:25pm

Orioles

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. - Rays manager Joe Maddon continues to take full advantage of the expanded September roster. Some would say he abuses it. Maddon used four pitchers in the top of the fifth, again playing matchups in the middle innings. He can't control himself. Orioles manager Buck Showalter continues to show more restraint, but he removed starter Wei-Yin Chen today after 4 1/3 innings with the Orioles leading 4-2. Sean Rodriguez led off the fifth with a double. Ben Zobrist struck out...

Tags:

orioles frontfeatured_orioles wei-yin chen

No. 52 for Davis (O's lead 4-2)

September 23, 2013, 12:30pm

Orioles

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. - The Orioles have a lead for the first time since the top of the seventh inning Friday night. Continue to breathe normally. Chris Davis belted a two-run homer off the batter's eye in center field - naturally going to the deepest part of the ballpark - to wipe out Tampa Bay's 1-0 lead in the fourth inning. He increased his team-record single-season home run total to 52 and upped his RBI total to 136. The Orioles lead the majors with 201 homers, but Davis produced the...

Tags:

orioles chirs davis frontfeatured_orioles

A few more pregame notes (O's down 1-0)

September 23, 2013, 10:53am

Orioles

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. - Not much to report before today's series finale against the Rays, which also represents the final road game of the 2013 regular season. Yes, I left the door open for the playoffs. The Orioles are 39-41 on the road, assuring themselves of a losing record after leading the American League with 46 road wins in 2012. As I wrote earlier, Chris Tillman said his ankle is fine following Sunday's bullpen session, and he's still scheduled to pitch Tuesday night against the...

Tags:

orioles buck showalter chris tillman frontfeatured_orioles

Orioles and Rays lineups

September 23, 2013, 8:51am

Orioles

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. - I don't think it's possible for rain to come down any harder than what I'm hearing at Tropicana Field. The roof is being severely tested right now. Let it pour buckets. First pitch will still happen at 3:10 p.m., give or take a few minutes. Dome sweet dome. Wei-Yin Chen has one win in his last nine starts. He's failed to complete the sixth inning in three of the last five. Brian Roberts is leading off as the designated hitter today, with Ryan Flaherty starting at...

Tags:

orioles brian roberts chris tillman wei-yin chen frontstory_orioles1

Backs against the wall

September 22, 2013, 6:44pm

Orioles

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. - It's still a little too soon to write the Orioles eulogy for the 2013 season. Not that a rough draft would be a bad idea. Always be prepared. The Orioles needed to take three of four from the Rays at the very least. Losing three of four or being swept was the equivalent of sticking a fork in a light socket. Or in the Orioles. There's plenty of blame to go around, of course. The offense has completely shut down, another collective slump like the kind we saw last year...

Tags:

orioles buck showalter frontstory_orioles3

Postgame comments following 3-1 loss

September 22, 2013, 1:41pm

Orioles

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. - The Orioles never wanted to be dependent on other teams to make the playoffs. Their remaining schedule contained games only against division opponents. Their fate rested in their hands. Now, they need a helping hand or two. Today's 3-1 loss to the Rays left the Orioles 4 1/2 games back in the wild card chase. Three teams separate them from the Indians, who currently hold the second spot. "Basically, how it's going to turn out is we're going to have to win out and...

Tags:

orioles adam jones brian roberts buck showalter featured_sidebar scott feldman frontstory_orioles2

Rays running on Feldman, Orioles running out of time (O's lose 3-1)

September 22, 2013, 11:42am

Orioles

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. - While the Orioles' bats remain in a deep freeze, the Rays scored twice in the bottom of the sixth to lead 3-0. T.J. McFarland warmed in the bullpen as Scott Feldman struggled to get three outs. Desmond Jennings led off with a bunt single and was removed for a pinch-runner after pulling up slightly as he reached the bag. Feldman threw a wild pitch while walking Ben Zobrist, and Fuld hustled all the way to third base. Matt Joyce followed with a sacrifice fly to increase...