Roch Kubatko

This, that and the other

September 05, 2013, 8:36pm

Orioles

While wondering whether the Ravens will ask to borrow the Orioles' defense... I'm going to make a bold prediction here, so stay with me. The Orioles will not rely on home runs for all of their scoring in their remaining 23 games. A single might do the trick. Maybe a double. Heck, they may bring back the sacrifice fly that was all the rage for two nights. The Orioles are on pace to hit 219 home runs, the second-highest total in club history. They belted 257 in 1996. This year's club is...

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Showalter speaks after 3-1 win

September 05, 2013, 6:32pm

Orioles

Orioles starter Miguel Gonzalez looked like a different pitcher tonight than the one who lasted only four innings in New York. What made the difference? "I wish I had the answers every time," said manager Buck Showalter. "Obviously, I don't." Showalter did his best to come up with some answers following the Orioles' 3-1 win over the White Sox at Camden Yards. "I thought he was commanding the ball down in the zone consistently," Showalter said. "A lot of counts in his favor. The...

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Hardy and Roberts make sure the homers keep coming (O's win 3-1)

September 05, 2013, 4:51pm

Orioles

Hardy and Roberts make sure the homers keep coming (O's win 3-1)

The Orioles have hit three home runs tonight, which is pretty much the norm these days. No small ball. Not a lot of production with runners in scoring position. Just aim for the seats. Shortstop J.J. Hardy led off the bottom of the fifth inning with his 25th home run to break a 1-1 tie, and Brian Roberts added a solo shot with two outs. All 10 runs scored by the Orioles in the last three games have come via the long ball, and their last 14 runs overall. During their nine-game road trip,...

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Jones goes 30/100 tonight (updated)

September 05, 2013, 3:37pm

Orioles

Adam Jones did more than give the Orioles a 1-0 lead tonight in the first inning. He rounded off a few key numbers. Jones hit his 30th home run, a line drive to left field off White Sox starter Jose Quintana. It also produced his 100th RBI, a career high for the Orioles' center fielder. Jones and Chris Davis are the first pair of Orioles to drive in 100 runs in the same season since Aubrey Huff (108) and Melvin Mora (104) in 2008. This is the 10th time in club history that the Orioles have...

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More pregame notes and quotes

September 05, 2013, 2:02pm

Orioles

Orioles manager Buck Showalter explained to reporters today why the club optioned left-hander Zach Britton to Aberdeen following last night's abbreviated start. Britton allowed four runs in the first inning in Cleveland and was done after 2 1/3. "With the limited number of pitches, 50-ish, he could pitch Sunday (for Aberdeen)," Showalter said. "If they win the first round, they're off Monday. He's eligible to pitch there. That's another good thing about having clubs in the playoffs....

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Clevenger on his return home

September 05, 2013, 1:38pm

Orioles

After joining the Orioles in New York over the weekend and making the trip to Cleveland, catcher Steve Clevenger has finally come home again. Take that, Thomas Wolfe. Clevenger grew up in the Pigtown area and played baseball at Mount St. Joseph in Baltimore. Being at Camden Yards obviously has special meaning to him beyond joining the expanded roster of a contender. "Oh definitely," he said. "Coming home, my hometown team, the team I watched growing up. I've got a lot of special...

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Teagarden clears waivers, and other notes

September 05, 2013, 12:48pm

Orioles

Teagarden clears waivers, and other notes

Catcher Taylor Teagarden has cleared waivers and accepted an outright assignment to Triple-A Norfolk. The Orioles designated Teagarden for assignment over the weekend in New York to create a 40-man roster spot for catcher Chris Snyder. Norfolk's season is over, but Teagarden could report to the minor league complex in Sarasota and participate in the instructional league. It's also possible that the Orioles decide to select his contract later this month and bring him back to the major...

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Markakis out of tonight's lineup

September 05, 2013, 11:24am

Orioles

With three left-handers starting for the White Sox over the next three nights, Orioles manager Buck Showalter figures to put Michael Morse in the lineup and keep him there. Morse is starting in right field tonight in the series-opener at Camden Yards. It's the position that comes as a bit of a surprise. Nick Markakis is out of the lineup. He's played in 136 of the Orioles' 138 games this season. More on his exclusion later this afternoon, after reporters meet with Showalter. Nate McLouth...

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Orioles recall Steve Johnson (Britton optioned, Hammel reinstated)

September 05, 2013, 11:05am

Orioles

The Orioles have recalled pitcher Steve Johnson, who had been part of the instructional league roster in Sarasota. Johnson is currently tossing a football in the outfield at Camden Yards. Later, he'll watch the game from the bullpen, providing a fresh arm for manager Buck Showalter. Johnson is 1-1 with a 7.82 ERA in six games with the Orioles, including one start. He was 2-3 with a 4.11 ERA in 10 games with Triple-A Norfolk, including eight starts. In other news, the Astros claimed...

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What's next for Gausman and the Orioles?

September 04, 2013, 7:10pm

Orioles

The road trip is over. After nine games in three cities, it's finally done. Talk about a buzz-kill. So much hype surrounding it, and the Orioles lost two of three games at each stop. They didn't get consistent starting pitching, they didn't hit in the clutch, they didn't show any signs of putting together the kind of run necessary to blow past the clubs ahead of them in the division and wild card races. Can a team that hasn't won more than five consecutive games string together enough...

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Good job by bullpen, but bad ending to a disappointing road trip

September 04, 2013, 6:16pm

Orioles

Good job by bullpen, but bad ending to a disappointing road trip

When a starter only goes 2 1/3 innings, the result is fairly predictable. Not many teams are going to win those games. The Orioles managed to tie tonight's game and take left-hander Zach Britton off the hook, but Kevin Gausman allowed two runs in the fifth inning in a 6-4 loss to the Indians at Progressive Field. This all-important road trip ends with the Orioles losing six of the nine games. They're now 15-7 in two-run games. They're heading in the wrong direction. Gausman, Francisco...

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Bad beginning for Britton (O's down 6-4)

September 04, 2013, 3:47pm

Orioles

Bad beginning for Britton (O's down 6-4)

Big start for Zach Britton tonight and a big disappointment in the first inning. Britton allowed four runs and five hits in the opening frame against the Indians, with one walk and one strikeout. Yan Gomes and Mike Aviles had RBI singles, and Ryan Raburn delivered a two-run double. Left fielder Nate McLouth threw out Raburn at the plate on Aviles' single to end the first, but the damage clearly was done. The Indians sent eight batters to the plate. They also sent a message that they...

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Orioles and Indians lineups

September 04, 2013, 11:47am

Orioles

The Orioles conclude their nine-game road trip tonight in Cleveland and will attempt to win their 25th series. Ryan Flaherty is starting at second base tonight, with Brian Roberts leading off again and serving as the designated hitter. Flaherty is 2-for-5 with a home run against Indians right-hander Zach McAllister. Nate McLouth, who has homered in back-to-back games, moves up to seventh tonight. J.J. Hardy is 5-for-10 in his last three games, with a home run, three RBIs, three runs and two...

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Davis has a case of the Wednesdays

September 04, 2013, 9:58am

Orioles

Orioles first baseman Chris Davis has hit 12 home runs on Wednesdays this year. Yes, someone is keeping count. Why do I mention it? Because in American League history, only Tino Martinez has hit more Wednesday homers in a season. He bashed 14 for the Yankees in 1997. Davis' 12 homers are tied with Roger Maris (1961) and Frank Thomas (2000) for second. You want to know the major league record, don't you? It's OK to admit it. The MLB record for Wednesday homers is 19 by Jeff Bagwell in...

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As the rotation turns

September 03, 2013, 6:11pm

Orioles

Is there a more unsettled and fluid rotation among contenders than the one belonging to the Orioles? Seriously, I'm asking here. And I'm not taking injuries into account. Miguel Gonzalez is healthy, but he's being pushed back to Thursday night against the White Sox at Camden Yards. Manager Buck Showalter has always handled him with care, to the point where he's on a wacky schedule. Gonzalez started on Aug. 20, pitched twice in relief and made his next start on Aug. 30 in New York,...

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Tillman through five (O's lose 4-3)

September 03, 2013, 4:51pm

Orioles

Chris Tillman has held the Indians to one run over five innings tonight. What he can't do so far is enjoy a lead. Indians starter Ubaldo Jimenez is shutting out the Orioles over six innings. He left the bases loaded in the sixth, allowing a single to Manny Machado and walking Chris Davis and Matt Wieters. Michael Morse, who singled in his first at-bat tonight, bounced to the mound to end the threat. He's 3-for-7 in two games with the Orioles. Morse was a career .350 hitter with the bases...

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Britton starting Wednesday in Cleveland

September 03, 2013, 2:54pm

Orioles

Orioles manager Buck Showalter is shaking up his rotation. Or maybe it's more of a tweak. During his pregame session with the media in Cleveland, part of which aired on "O's Xtra" on MASN2, Showalter announced that left-hander Zach Britton would start Wednesday's series finale against the Indians at Progressive Field. Britton's insertion in the rotation pushes back the other starters. Miguel Gonzalez will start the first game against the White Sox on Thursday at Camden Yards, followed...

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McLouth batting ninth tonight (and notes)

September 03, 2013, 11:28am

Orioles

McLouth batting ninth tonight (and notes)

After being lowered to eighth in the Orioles' lineup yesterday and collecting two hits, including a home run, left fielder Nate McLouth will bat ninth tonight against the Indians at Progressive Field. McLouth has been in the ninth spot in four games this year, though he's only had five at-bats. Michael Morse is making his second start for the Orioles, and his first as the designated hitter. Nick Markakis is batting seventh, followed by J.J. Hardy and McLouth. For the Orioles Brian...

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What's at stake for Tillman tonight

September 03, 2013, 9:57am

Orioles

Chris Tillman won a grand total of 16 major league games over his first four seasons. Nine of those victories came in 2012. Tonight, Tillman will attempt to become the Orioles' first 16-game winner in the 21st century. Let that one marinate in your minds. The last Orioles pitcher to reach 16 wins was Mike Mussina, who notched 18 victories during the 1999 season. In 12 road starts this season, Tillman is 8-1 with a 2.93 ERA and eight quality starts in 76 2/3 innings. The Orioles are 10-2...

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Looking back, ahead and sideways

September 02, 2013, 7:15pm

Orioles

The Orioles scored 13 runs in the first five games of the road trip. They've totaled 14 over the last two days. Scott Feldman pitched seven innings on Saturday and allowed one run. Bud Norris pitched seven innings on Monday and allowed one run. In between, Wei-Yin Chen lasted only four innings. The bullpen posted a 6.43 ERA on the road trip before registering five scoreless innings on Sunday. Matt Wieters had four hits yesterday, making him 5-for-9 in the last two games. Nate McLouth lost...