Roch Kubatko

Orioles lineup vs. Rays

October 01, 2012, 11:38am

Orioles

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. - Ryan Flaherty gets another start at second base tonight against Rays right-hander Alex Cobb. Chris Davis stays in right field and bats third. 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 Flaherty 2B Manny Machado 3B Wei-Yin Chen LHP

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Orioles release ticket information for possible tiebreaker game

October 01, 2012, 9:44am

Orioles

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. - The Orioles today announced that tickets for a possible tiebreaker game to be played Thursday at Camden Yards go on sale tomorrow online at www.orioles.com. Here is the rest of the information: Full and 29-game season plan holders who paid their postseason invoice have already received tiebreaker tickets along with their postseason tickets and will be charged only if a tiebreaker is played. Beginning at 10:00 a.m. until noon, 13-game plan holders will receive their...

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Off to Tampa and ...?

October 01, 2012, 2:49am

Orioles

I packed up half of my closet and headed to the airport this morning for my 7:35 a.m. flight to Tampa. The Orioles and Rays are playing a three-game series, but what happens after Wednesday is anybody's guess. A one-game playoff with the Yankees on Thursday at Camden Yards? A flight to Detroit? Chicago? Oakland? None of the above? Almost lost in the fuss over clinching a playoff berth last night is how the Orioles have one fewer victory than the Rangers. One fewer victory than the team...

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Showalter, Duquette and statement on the unscheduled landing

September 30, 2012, 8:16pm

Orioles

Showalter, Duquette and statement on the unscheduled landing

A busy day for the Orioles has given way to a busy night - one including an unscheduled landing and a confirmed spot in the playoffs. Manager Buck Showalter and executive vice president Dan Duquette spoke to reporters a few minutes ago in a conference call. Showalter was first asked about the team charter making an emergency landing in Jacksonville. "We were in good hands," Showalter said. "It was just a precautionary thing, just to be on the safe side. We had a little something heat up on...

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Orioles clinch playoff berth while flying to Tampa

September 30, 2012, 6:25pm

Orioles

It took 15 years and one really bizarre day, but the Orioles are heading back to the playoffs. The Angels lost to the Rangers tonight in Game 2 of their doubleheader 8-7, which thrust the Orioles into the postseason for the first time since 1997. Joe Nathan, who blew the save in Game 1, stranded the tying run on first base, allowing the Rangers and Yankees to also clinch playoff berths. Mike Napoli drove in six runs against his former team. He should receive a muffin basket from the...

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Showalter speaks after 6-3 win (O's closer to clinching)

September 30, 2012, 1:28pm

Orioles

Showalter speaks after 6-3 win (O's closer to clinching)

The Orioles have waited this long to celebrate a playoff berth, so what's a few more hours? Or another day? Or... Manager Buck Showalter took in the scene that unfolded following the Orioles' 6-3 victory over the Red Sox. Players stood together and watched the top of ninth inning of the Angels-Rangers game being shown on the JumboTron. Nobody wanted to go back inside the clubhouse. "It's sincere," Showalter said. "They want to watch it together. One thing I challenged them with since...

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Saunders talks about win and waiting

September 30, 2012, 1:07pm

Orioles

Joe Saunders was handed the ball today with the possibility that the Orioles could clinch their first playoff berth since 1997. He did his part. Saunders picked up his third win, allowing three runs in 7 1/3 innings and receiving a huge ovation as he walked off the field. "It was awesome," he said. "I'm very humbled to get the opportunity to do this, and to be able to come out and get a victory for the ballclub was pretty special. "You always want to set the tone early, especially...

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O's win, waiting on Angels to lose (updated)

September 30, 2012, 11:59am

Orioles

O's win, waiting on Angels to lose (updated)

Jim Johnson recorded his 50th save, and the Orioles completed their sweep of the Red Sox with a 6-3 win at Camden Yards. Johnson is the 10th pitcher to record 50 saves in a single season since it became an official stat in 1969. The Orioles are 73-0 when leading after the seventh and 74-1 after the eighth. Johnson retired the side in order with a fly ball and two ground outs. The Orioles filed out of the dugout as usual. No wild celebration, since the Angels game isn't a final. The Rangers...

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How would the Orioles celebrate? (O's lead 6-3, Saunders done)

September 30, 2012, 8:47am

Orioles

The Orioles are expecting a sellout or close to it for this afternoon's regular-season home finale. Will fans get to watch them celebrate on the field after clinching a playoff berth? It could happen if the Angels lose Game 1 of their doubleheader and the Orioles defeat the Red Sox. But how enthusiastically would the Orioles celebrate? How would they react? "Honestly and sincerely," said manager Buck Showalter. "That's how they'll act, if it happens. And it's not something where I'm...

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Lineups and Steve Johnson update

September 30, 2012, 6:56am

Orioles

Matt Wieters is behind the plate again today for the home regular-season finale against the Red Sox. 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 Flaherty 2B Manny Machado 3B Joe Saunders LHP For the Red Sox: Ellsbury CF Pedroia 2B Ross RF Gomez 1B Valencia 3B Lavarnway C Nava LF Ciriaco DH Iglesias SS Stewart RHP Steve Johnson said his right foot is much better today after being hit by Dustin...

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Adam Jones named MVO

September 30, 2012, 6:15am

Orioles

Adam Jones has been voted the winner of the 2012 Louis M. Hatter Most Valuable Oriole Award by members of the local media who cover the team on a regular basis. Jones is the seventh Oriole to win the award in consecutive seasons, joining Frank Robinson (1966-67), Boog Powell(69-70), Jim Palmer (72-73), Eddie Murray (81-85), Cal Ripken Jr. (90-91) and Rafael Palmeiro (95-96). Jones will receive his award during an on-field ceremony prior to today's home finale against the Red Sox. Jim...

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Is today the day?

September 30, 2012, 4:22am

Orioles

In a season that's gone completely mad, a season that's often defied logic - along with every industry expert who predicted 100 losses - it would seem appropriate for the Orioles to clinch a playoff berth from the team hotel in St. Petersburg, Fla. It's possible that the Orioles will find out later tonight that they've reached the postseason for the first time since 1997. As I tried to explain last night, they're officially in if they win today and the Angels lose one of the games in...

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Showalter speaks after 4-3 win

September 29, 2012, 7:04pm

Orioles

The Orioles' magic number for clinching a playoff berth is down to two. If they win tomorrow and the Angels lose one of their doubleheader games, the Orioles clinch. If the Orioles lose and the Angels are swept, they clinch. If the Dempsey's sign on the warehouse lights up in a certain inning... OK, not that one. The Orioles have scored 25 runs in their last three games, 21 coming via home runs. Chris Davis had a two-run shot, his 30th homer, and Manny Machado went deep in the seventh to...

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Before first pitch ... (O's win 4-3, tied for 1st place)

September 29, 2012, 3:13pm

Orioles

Before first pitch ... (O's win 4-3, tied for 1st place)

Brooks Robinson received plenty of loud ovations today during his statue unveiling and his on-field ceremony. The crowd really erupted when he said, "I don't like to call you fans, I like to call you friends." Among the players attending the statue unveiling were Adam Jones, Mark Reynolds, Jim Thome, Chris Davis and Ryan Flaherty. Robinson summoned manager Buck Showalter to come over and say hello before the ceremony started. Hall of Fame manager Earl Weaver had tears in his eyes as...

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Hammel will pitch Monday in Sarasota

September 29, 2012, 12:55pm

Orioles

The Orioles have arranged for Jason Hammel to pitch four or five innings in a simulated game Monday morning at Ed Smith Stadium in Sarasota. He will face both left-handed and right-handed hitters. Hammel threw a sim game in the bullpen yesterday and said his knee felt good today. Steel Russell, son of Orioles bench coach John Russell, will catch Hammel on Monday. Pitching coach Rick Adair will attend the game, and manager Buck Showalter may join him. The Orioles won't know whether Hammel...

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Wieters catching tonight

September 29, 2012, 11:13am

Orioles

Matt Wieters has rejoined the Orioles and will bat cleanup tonight against Red Sox left-hander Felix Doubront. Lew Ford, who had an MRI on his hip earlier this week, will serve as the designated hitter. For the Orioles: Nate McLouth LF J.J. Hardy SS Adam Jones CF Matt Wieters C Chris Davis RF Mark Reynolds 1B Manny Machado 3B Lew Ford DH Robert Andino 2B Steve Johnson RHP

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Orioles acquire Pearce - again (with Duquette quote)

September 29, 2012, 10:42am

Orioles

Baseball's circle of life has taken another spin, bringing Steve Pearce back to the Orioles. The Orioles claimed Pearce off waivers from the Yankees today, reuniting him with a team that's trying to catch one of his former teams in 2012. There have been a few of them. To review: Pearce signed with the Yankees as a free agent on March 29. The Orioles purchased him from the Yankees on June 2 before he could opt out of his contract. The Astros claimed Pearce off waivers from the Orioles on...

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As Orioles go for division title, Hammel is the wild card

September 28, 2012, 8:09pm

Orioles

The Orioles have been keeping Elias busy. Here's the latest: The 18 consecutive runs scored on home runs in the last two games were the most since the Orioles moved to Baltimore in 1954. Manager Buck Showalter doesn't reveal much about his rotation, which leaves the rest of us trying to guess how it's lined up for the postseason. The TBAs tend to complicate the process. Here's what I learned yesterday: Joe Saunders is starting on Sunday in the final home game of the regular season....

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Showalter speaks after 9-1 win

September 28, 2012, 6:27pm

Orioles

The Orioles are a 90-win team with a magic number of three to clinch a playoff berth. And they have five more games to play in the regular season. Yep, we all saw it coming back in March. The Orioles have scored 21 runs in their last two games and have recorded double-digit hits in nine of their last 12 games, going 9-3 in that stretch. Also, the Orioles have a plus-7 run differential, the first time they've been off the negative side since June 24. The Orioles are 69-21 when their starter...

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Orioles dig the long ball (Tillman and attendance updates, O's win 9-1)

September 28, 2012, 3:41pm

Orioles

The Orioles hit two more home runs in the first inning tonight, giving them a franchise-record 122 at home this season. That's only part of the story. Chris Davis hit a two-run homer to wipe out the Red Sox's 1-0 lead. The Orioles loaded the bases with two outs against Boston starter Aaron Cook, and Ryan Flaherty launched his first career grand slam. Orioles 6, Red Sox 1. Cook threw 30 pitches in the first inning. Alfredo Aceves began warming in the bullpen before Flaherty's...