Roch Kubatko

Champagne and comments from inside the Orioles' clubhouse

October 05, 2012, 9:08pm

Orioles

ARLINGTON, Texas - If anyone wondered whether the Orioles would celebrate a wild card game victory, they did so with great enthusiasm and impressive aim. Champagne and beer soaked the walls, the floor, the players, coaches, manager and executive vice president. Team employees, and yes, every member of the media. I learned that my shoes aren't liquid-proof. I'm just glad I don't have to drive back to the hotel. "Officer, I'm sure you get this all the time, but..." Jim Johnson was...

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Orioles are going to the ALDS

October 05, 2012, 7:58pm

Orioles

ARLINGTON, Texas - Orioles manager Buck Showalter always says he can't wait to find out what the boys have in store for him. Tonight, they won the wild card game and finally got to celebrate. No wonder he couldn't wait. Joe Saunders held the Rangers to one run over 5 2/3 innings, and the bullpen worked its usual magic in a 5-1 victory over the Rangers. Darren O'Day retired six of the seven batters he faced, permitting only an infield hit to Ian Kinsler in the eighth with the Orioles...

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Saunders stepping up for Orioles (O's lead 3-1)

October 05, 2012, 6:24pm

Orioles

ARLINGTON, Texas - Manager Buck Showalter is being rewarded for his faith in Joe Saunders. Saunders had held the Rangers to one run in five innings, and the Orioles have taken a 2-1 lead in the sixth on Adam Jones' sacrifice fly. J.J. Hardy and Chris Davis opened with singles, and Jones lifted a fly ball to right field to break the scoreless tie. Yu Darvish, who had retired 15 of 17 batters heading into the sixth, needed the attention of the Rangers' head athletic trainer and manager Ron...

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Flaherty ruling among the postseason Rule 5s (we're tied)

October 05, 2012, 4:38pm

Orioles

Flaherty ruling among the postseason Rule 5s (we're tied)

ARLINGTON, Texas - The Orioles' starters were just introduced, joining the reserves to form a long line from home plate to third base. Ryan Flaherty was the next-to-last player to run out of the dugout. He's also the first Rule 5 player to start a postseason game after being drafted the previous winter since the Dodgers' Chad Fonville in 1995, according to STATS Inc. Fonville was selected by the Expos from the Giants' organization in the 1994 Rule 5 draft, designated for assignment on...

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Showalter meets the press before tonight's wild card game

October 05, 2012, 3:35pm

Orioles

Showalter meets the press before tonight's wild card game

ARLINGTON, Texas - The Rangers have left the field and it's the Orioles' turn to take batting practice. Manager Buck Showalter met with the media this afternoon, sitting in a chair low enough to put him eye-level with the microphone. "I know we're underdogs, but..." he said. "Maybe I'll stand today." Showalter wanted to know the name of Secretariat's jockey (that would be Ronnie Turcotte). Yes, he's relaxed. In one of those classic Showalter moments, he immediately pointed out...

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A few pre-wild card notes

October 05, 2012, 2:16pm

Orioles

ARLINGTON, Texas - It took 15 years for the Orioles to get back into the postseason, and they're facing a team that's beaten them 10 of their last 12 games and outscored them, 102-36. But nothing seems to faze them, so what's another challenge? Besides, maybe the tide is due to turn. The Orioles hit .120 (11-for-92) in the Tampa Bay series. That probably won't be good enough tonight. However, they posted a 2.16 ERA and the starters only gave up four earned runs in 18 innings. Cal Ripken...

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O's stick with same lineup for wild card game (with Rangers lineup)

October 05, 2012, 12:44pm

Orioles

O's stick with same lineup for wild card game (with Rangers lineup)

ARLINGTON, Texas - Manager Buck Showalter is breaking out the same lineup tonight for the fifth consecutive game. It makes no difference that the Orioles are preparing for their first playoff game since 1997. Once again, Chris Davis is in right field and batting third. Ryan Flaherty is starting at second base and batting eighth, with Manny Machado hitting ninth. For the Orioles: Nate McLouth LF J.J. Hardy SS Chris Davis RF Adam Jones CF Matt Wieters C Jim Thome DH Mark Reynolds 1B Ryan...

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Orioles announce wild card roster

October 05, 2012, 12:07pm

Orioles

ARLINGTON, Texas - No real surprises on the Orioles' wild card roster except perhaps second baseman Omar Quintanilla, who was a bubble guy. Starters Miguel Gonzalez, Wei-Yin Chen and Chris Tillman were omitted because they wouldn't have been available tonight. Keep in mind that manager Buck Showalter can make more changes to the roster if the Orioles advance to the Division Series. INFIELDERS/OUTFIELDERS/DH (12) Robert Andino INF Endy Chavez OF Chris Davis RF Ryan Flaherty INF Lew Ford...

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Alan Mills talks about the Orioles and their bullpen

October 05, 2012, 9:53am

Orioles

ARLINGTON, Texas - The Orioles had to submit their wild card roster by 10 a.m. today. That doesn't mean they had to make it public. I'm still waiting for the club to release the names, as the Rangers did with their roster much earlier. In the meantime, I had a chance to catch up with former Orioles reliever Alan Mills, the pitching coach at short-season Single-A Aberdeen who drove Kevin Gausman to Tropicana Field for his bullpen session. Mills was part of the Orioles' American League...

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Will Showalter go with his familiar lineup? (ALDS times announced)

October 04, 2012, 8:13pm

Orioles

Will Showalter go with his familiar lineup? (ALDS times announced)

ARLINGTON, Texas - The Atlanta Braves already posted their lineup for today's National League wild card game. It actually was tweeted yesterday. Orioles manager Buck Showalter isn't in quite the same hurry. We won't know his lineup until later this afternoon, but it shouldn't be difficult to figure out, based on the pattern that he's established. Four of Showalter's last six lineups have been identical, all of them with the Orioles facing a right-handed starter. The two exceptions came...

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Showalter's return, the roster and Reynolds (updated)

October 04, 2012, 3:21pm

Orioles

Showalter's return, the roster and Reynolds (updated)

ARLINGTON, Texas - No shortage of storylines here. You want the ex-Ranger factor? The Orioles have six of them: Chris Davis, Darren O'Day, Pedro Strop, Tommy Hunter, Taylor Teagarden and Endy Chavez. Perhaps a fired manager returning to the scene tickles your fancy. Buck Showalter guided the Rangers from 2003-06. What does it mean to Showalter to be back in Arlington in the postseason, with a chance to knock out his former team? "We grinded like heck for a chance to roll the dice in...

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A few words from Steve Johnson, Saunders and Jones

October 04, 2012, 2:29pm

Orioles

A few words from Steve Johnson, Saunders and Jones

ARLINGTON, Texas - Unless Joe Saunders steps on a nail on his way to Rangers Ballpark on Friday, Steve Johnson will be sitting in the Orioles' bullpen at first pitch. Johnson said he's ready to help out in a relief role. No pain in his left knee and no hard feelings over being passed over for Saunders. "Disappointed wouldn't be the right word," he said. "It was great to at least be considered. It means a lot to me. But Joe's getting them out and he's going to do a great job. I'm...

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Reynolds hurting but not sitting

October 04, 2012, 1:28pm

Orioles

ARLINGTON, Texas - Mark Reynolds has his left foot wrapped after fouling a ball off a bone near his big toe during Wednesday night's game against the Tampa Bay Rays. X-rays were negative, but he's hurting. Just not badly enough to consider missing the wild card game. "It's sore, but it's not anything I'm going to sit out over," he said. "It won't be a problem once you get under the lights and get a little adrenaline flowing. We know how important this game is and I'm sure all the...

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Saunders will start Friday (Reynolds update)

October 04, 2012, 12:44pm

Orioles

Saunders will start Friday (Reynolds update)

ARLINGTON, Texas - Orioles manager Buck Showalter is ignoring Joe Saunders' career stats against the Rangers and will start him Friday night in the wild card game. Saunders, who will be working on normal rest, is 3-7 with a 6.48 ERA in 11 career starts against the Rangers, and 0-6 with a 9.38 ERA in Texas, with 41 hits allowed, 16 walks and 13 home runs in 31 2/3 innings. Showalter isn't certain that rookie Steve Johnson's left knee is completely healthy. He's also comfortable playing the...

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The game is bigger in Texas

October 03, 2012, 8:17pm

Orioles

TAMPA - The Orioles really wanted a home game. Flying to Dallas wasn't their first or second choice. They'll have to win a wild card game before they can get back to Camden Yards. If it's any consolation, the Rangers aren't thrilled about it, either. Jim Thome actually appeared in the last playoff game at Camden Yards as a member of the 1997 Cleveland Indians. He knows all about the electric atmosphere. "Fun," he said. "Baltimore is a great baseball town and I've experienced it from...

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Hearing from Tillman, Davis and Jones

October 03, 2012, 6:58pm

Orioles

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. - Chris Tillman couldn't locate his fastball to right-handed hitters tonight, which Tampa Bay's Evan Longoria - a right-handed hitter who feasts on misplaced fastballs - could easily attest. Tillman served up two home runs to Longoria and another to Ryan Roberts in a 4-1 loss to the Rays. "I didn't make my pitches," Tillman said. "I was trying to go away on him with all of them and just couldn't locate the ball to my glove side. I left the ball up in the zone....

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Showalter speaks after 4-1 loss

October 03, 2012, 6:47pm

Orioles

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. - Manager Buck Showalter had a few words for his players tonight before leaving the clubhouse to do his postgame interview on MASN and meet with reporters. "I told our guys how proud I am, and just to be associated with this bunch," he said following a 4-1 loss to the Rays that forced the Orioles onto the road for Friday night's wild card game. "They're a baseball-playing bunch of guys. They'll let it rip in Texas and it won't be from timidness. I can tell you...

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Orioles' tentative travel schedule comes into focus (O's lose 4-1)

October 03, 2012, 3:35pm

Orioles

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. - The playoff picture became a lot clearer this afternoon with the Athletics completing their improbable run toward the American League West title. The A's have been in first place for one day - today. They fell behind, 5-1, and stormed back for a 12-5 win that pushed the Rangers into the wild card and a possible matchup with the Orioles. To review: If the Orioles and Yankees win tonight, the Orioles would host the Rangers in the one-game wild card. If the Orioles lose,...

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MLB announces playoff times (and notes)

October 03, 2012, 1:37pm

Orioles

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. - If the Orioles and Yankees finish tied for first place in the American League East, a one-game playoff will begin Thursday night at 7:10 p.m. at Camden Yards. For this scenario to unfold, the Orioles must win tonight and the Yankees must lose to the Red Sox. The American League wild card game will start at 8:37 p.m. on Friday. The Orioles would host it if they win tonight and the Yankees defeat the Red Sox. Game 1 of the AL Division Series will begin at 6:07 p.m....

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Steve Johnson tests knee and says he's ready to pitch (updated)

October 03, 2012, 12:25pm

Orioles

Steve Johnson tests knee and says he's ready to pitch (updated)

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. - Steve Johnson threw a light bullpen session today and did some fielding drills to test his left knee. Johnson said he felt "really good" and is ready to pitch if the Orioles need him. Johnson is wearing a "Hammel brace," as he called it, similar to the one used by Orioles pitcher Jason Hammel. "It was just to get off a mound and see how everything felt and it was really good, didn't feel it one time," Johnson said. "So, just going to continue treatment, too, and...