Roch Kubatko

This and that

September 07, 2012, 8:34pm

Orioles

The Orioles were 31-19 without Jason Hammel, further illustrating how they keep finding replacements and reinforcements. They had to call their first audible during workouts at Ed Smith Stadium and they haven't stopped. Manager Buck Showalter planned on making left-hander Tsuyoshi Wada - remember him? - the No. 2 starter when the Orioles broke camp. Wada hasn't thrown a single pitch for them and is recovering from ligament-reconstructive surgery on his left elbow. Nolan Reimold was...

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Showalter speaks after 8-5 loss

September 07, 2012, 6:25pm

Orioles

Manager Buck Showalter isn't worried about Wei-Yin Chen's final line tonight or the possibility that the Taiwanese left-hander is running out of gas during the final month of the regular season. "I'll tell you, he had good stuff," Showalter said after the Orioles' 8-5 loss to the Yankees at Camden Yards. "You've just got to give them some credit. He didn't make many mistakes, and the ones he did, they obviously made him pay for it. We all know we live in a results-oriented sports...

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Chen was cruising until he wasn't (O's lose 8-5)

September 07, 2012, 4:23pm

Orioles

Chen was cruising until he wasn't (O's lose 8-5)

Wei-Yin Chen threw 35 pitches over the first three innings tonight and allowed only one baserunner, on Alex Rodriguez's leadoff single in the top of the second. The momentum, shall we say, shifted in the fourth inning. Chen hit Nick Swisher, who vowed to celebrate excessively after the pain subsided, and walked Robinson Cano on four pitches. Rodriguez struck out on a 91 mph fastball, but Chen served up a three-run homer to Russell Martin and a two-run shot to former Oriole Steve...

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Cubs claim Berken off waivers (scoring change gives Machado triple)

September 07, 2012, 12:59pm

Orioles

Cubs claim Berken off waivers (scoring change gives Machado triple)

The Chicago Cubs have claimed reliever Jason Berken off waivers. The Orioles designated Berken for assignment to make room for left-hander Zach Phillips on the 40-man roster. Berken appeared in one game for the Orioles this year, allowing seven runs (two earned) in one inning in a May 7 game against the Rangers. He was 5-6 with a 3.50 ERA in 26 starts with Norfolk. Before this season, Berken was 10-17 with a 5.34 ERA in 105 major league games, all with the Orioles, who selected him in the...

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Orioles lineup against Yankees (Tillman update, Arietta recalled)

September 07, 2012, 11:02am

Orioles

Not much changes with the Orioles' lineup these days. Does this one look familiar? For the Orioles: Nick Markakis RF J.J. Hardy SS Nate McLouth LF Adam Jones CF Matt Wieters C Mark Reynolds 1B Chris Davis DH Manny Machado 3B Robert Andino 2B Wei-Yin Chen LHP The Orioles have 12 extra-base hits against the Yankees in the last four games, all of them home runs. Reynolds has eight homers in his last seven games. He's 3-for-9 with a double, two homers and five RBIs lifetime against...

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About last night and the Orioles' past ...

September 06, 2012, 10:54pm

Orioles

Biggest win of the season? That's the debate after the Orioles gave up five runs in the top of the eighth inning last night to blow a 6-1 lead and proceeded to hit three home runs in the bottom half to send a sellout crowd into a frenzy and avoid falling two games back in the American League East. I've been saying that the 17-inning win in Boston was the best game of the season. You can make a solid argument that last night's victory topped it because it's September and the Orioles pulled...

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Showalter speaks after 10-6 win

September 06, 2012, 7:36pm

Orioles

Manager Buck Showalter spoke to reporters for over 11 minutes following tonight's 10-6 victory, which pulled the Orioles into a first-place tie with the Yankees in the American League East. He wasn't particularly chatty. It's just that the Orioles are suddenly a national story. The interview room was packed. A cameraman asked a question. Maybe Showalter is right about how there are no roles around here. Here are some of the highlights from Showalter's press conference: On the mood in...

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Hammel hit but not hurt (Jones, Reynolds, Davis homer, O's win 10-6)

September 06, 2012, 4:34pm

Orioles

Hammel hit but not hurt (Jones, Reynolds, Davis homer, O's win 10-6)

Jason Hammel took a Robinson Cano line drive off his right elbow in the top of the fourth inning, bringing the sounds of silence from a sellout crowd, along with manager Buck Showalter and assistant athletic trainer Brian Ebel from the dugout. As if the Orioles need another starter to go down with an injury. The ball caromed off Hammel's elbow and rolled into left field. Hammel shook his arm and paced behind the mound before Showalter and Ebel reached him. Hammel squeezed Ebel's hand and...

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Showalter remembers his playing days against Ripken (O's erupt in 1st)

September 06, 2012, 3:22pm

Orioles

Showalter remembers his playing days against Ripken (O's erupt in 1st)

"Being an Oriole is also about playing meaningful games in September." - Cal Ripken Jr. "The Streak didn't define Junior. Junior defined what The Streak was about." - Billy Ripken Outstanding ceremony for Cal Ripken Jr. earlier today, as his statue - depicting him fielding - was unveiled in the old picnic area. Current Orioles in attendance included Adam Jones, Mark Reynolds, J.J. Hardy and Nick Markakis. Manager Buck Showalter and executive vice president Dan Duquette also were...

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Arrieta and injury updates, Yankees lineup

September 06, 2012, 12:53pm

Orioles

Arrieta and injury updates, Yankees lineup

Though Jake Arrieta is here, he won't officially be recalled from Triple-A Norfolk until Friday. He wouldn't be available to pitch tonight anyway. Manager Buck Showalter said again today that Arrieta is a candidate to pitch in relief or to start. Chris Tillman is being examined today by team orthopedist Dr. John Wilckens. He could be cleared to play catch today or Friday. Tillman said his right elbow feels good, but he could be skipped a full turn in the rotation. Troy Patton will test...

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Orioles lineup against Yankees (Arrieta in clubhouse)

September 06, 2012, 11:06am

Orioles

Orioles manager Buck Showalter is giving Robert Andino another start at second base against a right-hander, the Yankees' David Phelps. The rest of the lineup is predictable. Nate McLouth's in left field and batting third again, Mark Reynolds is at first base and Chris Davis is the designated hitter. For the Orioles: Nick Markakis RF J.J. Hardy SS Nate McLouth LF Adam Jones CF Matt Wieters C Mark Reynolds 1B Chris Davis DH Manny Machado 3B Robert Andino 2B Jason Hammel RHP Update:...

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Ripken talks about Machado at third base (Angelos' statement on Modell)

September 06, 2012, 2:49am

Orioles

Ripken talks about Machado at third base (Angelos' statement on Modell)

The Orioles almost made it through another game last night without committing an error. They were clean for six innings before Adam Jones skipped a throw past Manny Machado in the seventh that allowed Anthony Gose to score. Who knew that the defense would become ... I won't say a "strength," but a contributing factor in the Orioles' surge? In the past 11 games before last night, the Orioles had posted a .990 fielding percentage that led the American League. They've now committed only...

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Tillman not included in Yankees series (O's lose 6-4)

September 05, 2012, 3:43pm

Orioles

Tillman not included in Yankees series (O's lose 6-4)

The Orioles announced their rotation for the Yankees series that begins Thursday night, and Chris Tillman isn't in it. Tillman could have pitched Friday night on regular rest or Saturday night as part of a six-man rotation, but he's being pushed back after being diagnosed yesterday with an inflamed nerve in his right elbow. Jason Hammel will be activated from the disabled list and take the ball on Thursday, his first start since July 13. He will oppose David Phelps, who walked six batters...

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Pregame notes and Blue Jays lineup (and O's lineup)

September 05, 2012, 10:59am

Orioles

Pregame notes and Blue Jays lineup (and O's lineup)

The Orioles' PR department provided some interesting nuggets, including the following: So far on the 4-1 road trip, the Orioles are batting .311 and have posted a 1.43 ERA (1.50 for the starters, 1.29 for the bullpen). A win tonight would mark the Orioles' first three-game sweep at Rogers Centre since April 22-24, 2005. The Orioles are 24-19 in series finales in 2012, including an 11-10 mark on the road. The Orioles have held the Blue Jays to three and four hits in the first two games of...

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Ripken on the Orioles and Thursday's ceremony

September 05, 2012, 6:17am

Orioles

With the Orioles having at least a share of first place in September for the first time since 1997, it seems appropriate that Cal Ripken Jr. will be at Camden Yards twice in the next four days. Ripken will be on hand Thursday for the unveiling of his statue in the picnic area and for the on-field ceremony that follows. And he'll be in the TBS broadcast booth on Sunday, making his debut providing analysis with former Braves pitcher John Smoltz. They'll talk about the playoff race, and the...

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Only the smart fans saw it coming

September 04, 2012, 7:26pm

Orioles

Not only did the smart fans predict back in March that the Orioles would be tied for first place on Sept. 5, they also knew that Miguel Gonzalez would be on the mound tonight with a chance to give them sole possession. They followed his progress in the Mexican League and his recovery from injuries that robbed him of two full seasons of pro ball. Oh, they knew. They knew that Nate McLouth, released by the Pirates after batting .140 in 34 games, would be hitting .255 with the Orioles and...

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Reynolds stays hot (O's win 12-0, move into first-place tie)

September 04, 2012, 4:30pm

Orioles

Reynolds stays hot (O's win 12-0, move into first-place tie)

Mark Reynolds must really, really want the Orioles to pick up that $11 million option for next season. Reynolds clubbed a three-run homer in the top of the fifth inning to break a scoreless tie against the Blue Jays at Rogers Centre. If you're scoring at home, that's five homers in five days for Reynolds, and nine since Aug. 8. He's sizzling. Blue Jays starter Carlos Villanueva had allowed one hit in four innings before Adam Jones led off the fifth with a double. Chris Davis walked with...

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Tillman's MRI doesn't show structural damage (minor leaguer suspended)

September 04, 2012, 2:00pm

Orioles

Tillman's MRI doesn't show structural damage (minor leaguer suspended)

The Orioles received some good news this afternoon regarding pitcher Chris Tillman. A team official confirmed that the MRI on Tillman's right elbow revealed some inflammation in a nerve, but no structural damage. Manager Buck Showalter passed along the news to reporters in Toronto, and the interview will air on "O's Xtra," which begins at 6:30 p.m. on MASN2 HD. Tillman will work out with Double-A Bowie, which begins the Eastern League playoffs Wednesday night. He could make his next...

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Orioles and Blue Jays lineups and notes (updated)

September 04, 2012, 11:39am

Orioles

Nick Markakis remains in the Orioles' lineup tonight after being drilled in the left arm by a pitch yesterday. Adam Jones stays in center field despite appearing to twist his ankle in that same game. Robert Andino makes another start at second base. The Orioles haven't announced that they've recalled left-hander Zach Britton, but he's on the mound tonight. UPDATE: They just announced it. For the Orioles: Nick Markakis RF J.J. Hardy SS Nate McLouth LF Adam Jones CF Matt Wieters C...

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On the brink of first place

September 04, 2012, 2:16am

Orioles

First place in September? The Orioles could claim a share of it tonight. A win over the Blue Jays, coupled with a Yankees loss at Tropicana Field, would create a first-place tie in the American League East. And it wouldn't involve the Rays or Red Sox. It would be the team widely predicted to lose 100 games this season. The Orioles have won eight of their last 10 games and 14 of 20. And they're no longer bullied in their own division. They improved yesterday to 29-21 against the AL...