Valencia and Teagarden in Orioles' lineup

Valencia and Teagarden in Orioles' lineup
Orioles manager Buck Showalter chose Danny Valencia over Henry Urrutia as his designated hitter for tonight's game against the Royals. Urrutia had three hits last night, but Valencia is 11-for-20 with seven RBIs lifetime against Royals left-hander Bruce Chen. Taylor Teagarden is behind the plate tonight. Matt Wieters will sit despite being 9-for-21 with two doubles, a home run, two RBIs, two walks and five runs scored during a five-game hitting streak. The Orioles are playing the fifth of...

More on Reimold's surgery

More on Reimold's surgery
Orioles outfielder Nolan Reimold is resting comfortably, or as much as humanly possible while propped up in bed and wearing a neck brace, following corrective surgery this morning to fuse two vertebrae at the Florida Spine Institute in Clearwater, Fla. Reimold isn't permitted to talk, but he provided information in a text message that was passed along to me this afternoon. The pseudarthrosis, or false fusion, was causing irritation and compressing the nerve. Dr. Robert Kowalski, a...

Quick updates on Dickerson, Alvarez and Reimold (updated)

Quick updates on Dickerson, Alvarez and Reimold (updated)
A few teams have expressed interest in outfielder Chris Dickerson and the Orioles are continuing attempts to trade him, according to a club official. Dickerson was designated for assignment on Friday to make room for outfielder Henry Urrutia on the 25- and 40-man rosters. The Orioles have until the weekend to trade Dickerson or get him through waivers. He figures to be claimed if multiple teams are involved in discussions with executive vice president Dan Duquette. Dickerson batted...

Big start for Hammel?

Big start for Hammel?
Jason Hammel is making his 20th start for the Orioles tonight, matching his total for the entire 2012 season. That's where the similarities end. Hammel hasn't won since May 27, a span of eight starts. His ERA is up to 5.24. In his last outing, he allowed six runs and 10 hits in six innings against the Blue Jays. Manager Buck Showalter moved Scott Feldman ahead of Hammel in the rotation. Should we read anything into it? I don't sense that Hammel is on the verge of being yanked from the...

Urrutia having a career night (O's win 9-2)

Urrutia having a career night (O's win 9-2)
I understand that it's a short major league career for Henry Urrutia, but his second start has been second to none. Urrutia is 3-for-3 tonight, with all of his singles going to left field. He's 4-for-8 in three games since the Orioles selected his contract from Triple-A Norfolk. My math skills are poor, but that's a .500 average. His baserunning needs work, as advertised, but he's a designated hitter who's getting on base. The Orioles will take it. The Royals are starting former...

Wieters, gloves and Urrutia (updated)

Wieters, gloves and Urrutia (updated)
The Orioles jumped on Royals starter Wade Davis for two runs in the top of the first inning, as they continue to take early leads and take advantage of their opponents' shoddy defense. Nate McLouth drew a leadoff walk and scored on an error by Kansas City third baseman Mike Moustakas, making me wonder whether the Royals watched video of the Rangers series. Nick Markakis singled, and Chris Davis lifted a sacrifice fly to increase the lead to 2-0. Matt Wieters also singled, extending his...

Urrutia back in the lineup

Urrutia back in the lineup
With a right-hander opposing the Orioles tonight, Henry Urrutia has returned to the lineup as the designated hitter in his second major league start. Urrutia is batting eighth, as he did in Saturday's debut. He's 1-for-5 with an RBI in two games. For the Orioles Nate McLouth LF Manny Machado 3B Nick Markakis RF Adam Jones CF Chris Davis 1B Matt Wieters C J.J. Hardy SS Henry Urrutia DH Brian Roberts 2B Scott Feldman RHP For the Royals Alex Gordon LF Eric Hosmer 1B Billy Butler...

Cuban outfielder Dariel Alvarez takes his physical

Cuban outfielder Dariel Alvarez takes his physical
Outfielder Dariel Alvarez, who defected from Cuba last summer, took his physical today in Baltimore after agreeing to terms with the Orioles last week. The Orioles haven't announced Alvarez's signing, but he told MLB.com that he would receive an $800,000 bonus. The Orioles signed another Cuban outfielder, Henry Urrutia, for $778,500 after he finally arrived in the U.S. in late February. Urrutia agreed to terms in July 2012, but was detained in Haiti while waiting for his work...

Cleaning out my notebook

Cleaning out my notebook
The Orioles begin a four-game series tonight in Kansas City, where Scott Feldman is 3-1 with a 2.72 ERA in 10 career appearances, including five starts. Manager Buck Showalter moved Feldman ahead of Jason Hammel in the rotation following the All-Star break. Alex Gordon is 6-for-15 with a double and triple against Feldman. Billy Butler is 5-for-24 with a home run. J.J. Hardy is 8-for-22 with three doubles against Royals starter Wade Davis. Matt Wieters is 8-for-23 with two doubles. Wieters...

Tillman, gloves and Valencia (O's win 4-2, complete three-game sweep)

Tillman, gloves and Valencia (O's win 4-2, complete three-game sweep)
Orioles right-hander Chris Tillman understands how the West was won. Tillman began tonight with a career 10-1 record and 2.03 ERA in 12 starts against the American League West, and he's leading 4-1 as the game moves to the bottom of the seventh inning. Tillman is trying to produce the Orioles' seventh quality start in the last eight games. He hasn't dominated tonight, but he's held the Rangers to one run so far. In three career starts in Arlington, including tonight, Tillman has allowed...

Roberts, gloves and Tillman (updated)

Roberts, gloves and Tillman (updated)
Does Orioles second baseman Brian Roberts look more comfortable at the plate these days? Roberts is 2-for-2 with an RBI and a run scored tonight, and 4-for-6 with a double, three RBIs and two runs scored in the last two games. Roberts is 6-for-14 in his last five games. He's collected hits in six of the last nine, raising his average to .266. Ryan Flaherty is going to have all sorts of trouble getting off the bench with Roberts in a groove and Henry Urrutia on the roster. Roberts doubled...

McLouth, gloves and Gausman (and more Wieters)

McLouth, gloves and Gausman (and more Wieters)
Nate McLouth is leading off tonight against a left-hander, the Rangers' Martin Perez, rather than moving down the order and surrendering the top spot to Nick Markakis. Manager Buck Showalter could be playing a hunch - or the hot hand. McLouth led off with a single tonight, making him 6-for-14 in his last four games. He has a double, triple, RBI and three runs scored during the streak. Third baseman Manny Machado wore his batting gloves for his first at-bat last night, then took them off...

Davis in tonight's lineup, Urrutia is not (with Rangers lineup)

Davis in tonight's lineup, Urrutia is not (with Rangers lineup)
Chris Davis remains at first base for the Orioles tonight after fouling a ball off his right ankle last night and playing in obvious pain. Henry Urrutia is on the bench against Rangers left-hander Martin Perez, with Danny Valencia serving as the designated hitter. Since June 25, 2012, Chris Tillman is 20-6 and has the second-highest winning percentage (.769) among American League starters, trailing only Max Scherzer (23-3, .885). Tillman is 8-1 in 10 starts since May 24, tying him with...

Does Urrutia start again tonight against a southpaw?

Does Urrutia start again tonight against a southpaw?
The Orioles are playing a rare Sunday night game, which gives manager Buck Showalter more time to craft his lineup. He's probably got a few already made out. That's the norm with Showalter. The Rangers are sending another southpaw to the mound: Martin Perez, who gave up two earned runs (four total) in six innings July 9 at Camden Yards. Left-handers are batting .286 against him, compared to .257 by right-handers. Consider that stat, and factor in Henry Urrutia's success against...

Urrutia with first major league hit and RBI (O's win 7-4)

Urrutia with first major league hit and RBI (O's win 7-4)
Two trips to the plate, two bases-loaded situations. Henry Urrutia's first major league game tonight has been anything but dull. Urrutia lined a single off Rangers left-hander Joseph Ortiz with no outs in the top of the third inning for his first major league hit and RBI, increasing the Orioles' lead to 5-0. Ortiz, who replaced starter Ross Wolf, threw two straight sliders. Urrutia fouled off the first one and pulled the second one into left field to score Chris Davis, who remains in the...

McLouth with a steal, Urrutia with a strikeout (Jones homers, Davis hurting)

McLouth with a steal, Urrutia with a strikeout (Jones homers, Davis hurting)
Orioles left fielder Nate McLouth singled and stole second base tonight. It might not seem like a big deal, but it's noteworthy. McLouth hadn't swiped a base since June 19. He attempted only one since that night, getting thrown out in a June 22 game against Toronto. Pitchers have been quicker to the plate with McLouth on first base, and he's been extremely patient. McLouth scored tonight on Adam Jones' single, and Nick Markakis scored on Chris Davis' single for 2-0 lead. Davis was...

Urrutia batting eighth as the DH tonight (with Rangers lineup, start delayed)

Urrutia batting eighth as the DH tonight (with Rangers lineup, start delayed)
Cuban defector Henry Urrutia, who had his contract selected from Triple-A Norfolk on Friday, will make his major league debut tonight as the Orioles' designated hitter. Urrutia is batting eighth against Rangers right-hander Ross Wolf, the former Orioles farmhand. J.J. Hardy will bat ahead of Urrutia, and Brian Roberts will bat behind him. For the Orioles Nate McLouth LF Manny Machado 3B Nick Markakis RF Adam Jones CF Chris Davis 1B Matt Wieters C J.J. Hardy SS Henry Urrutia DH Brian...

Steve Johnson update and more

Steve Johnson update and more
Pitching for the first time since going on the disabled list with a strained left oblique, Orioles right-hander Steve Johnson threw two scoreless innings this morning with the Gulf Coast League team in Sarasota. Johnson didn't allow a hit, walked one batter and struck out three. The plan calls for Johnson to continue his rehab with short-season Single-A Aberdeen, where he's expected to report on Wednesday. He's flying back to Baltimore tonight to attend his grandmother's funeral. Johnson...

A few thoughts on Urrutia and Reimold

A few thoughts on Urrutia and Reimold
The only drama following the news that Henry Urrutia would be joining the Orioles in Arlington was whether he would start against one of the Rangers' left-handers. It didn't happen last night and it may not happen Sunday, but Urrutia was a slam dunk to start tonight against right-hander Ross Wolf, the former Orioles farmhand. The Orioles didn't bring up Urrutia so he could sit on the bench every game. That would make no sense. He needs to play and they need to evaluate him. And he's...

Chen still stingy with the runs (O's win 3-1)

Chen still stingy with the runs (O's win 3-1)
Orioles left-hander Wei-Yin Chen has made two starts since coming off the disabled list, both of them against the Texas Rangers. He's allowed two runs and 11 hits in 13 1/3 innings. In three career starts against the Rangers - tonight was the first in Arlington - Chen has surrendered only three earns runs in 21 innings. Tonight was a bit of a struggle, but Chen registered his seventh quality start of the season. He allowed one run and eight hits in 6 1/3 innings, with two walks and three...