Roch Kubatko

Pregame notes and quotes (and more)

August 31, 2012, 2:28pm

Orioles

NEW YORK - Orioles manager Buck Showalter needed a lead blocker today to get through the visiting dugout at Yankee Stadium and take a seat on the bench for his pregame session with the media. This series is getting a lot of attention from national media and New York reporters who normally would hang in the home dugout during batting practice. Is there more importance attached to these next three games? "I'm sure there is on paper and on math," Showalter said. "Our guys were very focused...

Tags:

For Wolf, going to Orioles is "a silver lining in a nightmarish year"

August 31, 2012, 12:24pm

Orioles

NEW YORK - Wilson Betemit also arrived at Yankee Stadium today, joining Xavier Avery, Luis Exposito and Steve Tolleson as Friday additions to the expanded roster. Betemit will be activated from the disabled list after playing two rehab games at Double-A Bowie, where he hit a grand slam last night. The group of call-ups will expand. These are just the guys who reported early. Zach Britton is expected to start on Sept. 4. Jake Arrieta, Tommy Hunter and left-hander Zach Phillips also figure to...

Tags:

orioles randy wolf frontstory_orioles2

A few things about Wolf (with lineup and call-up updates)

August 31, 2012, 10:00am

Orioles

A few things about Wolf (with lineup and call-up updates)

NEW YORK - Randy Wolf will officially become a member of the Orioles this afternoon at Yankee Stadium. His debut could come this weekend as the second left-hander in the bullpen. Wolf has made only five relief appearances in his 371 major league games - allowing six runs and 10 hits, and striking out 11 in nine innings - but he figures to stay in the bullpen unless there's an injury or two in the rotation. Manager Buck Showalter keeps saying that both roles are options for Wolf, which is...

Tags:

orioles luis exposito randy wolf steve tolleson xaxier avery frontstory_orioles2

Trying to close out the month with another win

August 31, 2012, 7:40am

Orioles

Trying to close out the month with another win

NEW YORK - The Orioles are 17-9 in August, including 12-4 at home, the most wins in any month this season. The last time they won 17 games in any month was August 2010. So, how long has it been since they won 18 games in a month? Try September 2004. Tonight, the Orioles will try to equal that mark. They've got one chance remaining before we flip the page on the calendar. The Orioles have played eight road series against the American League East, winning six of them. They've taken two...

Tags:

orioles frontstory_orioles2

Back to the Bronx

August 30, 2012, 7:47pm

Orioles

The Orioles trail the first-place New York Yankees by three games in the American League East. They begin a three-game series tonight in the Bronx. You can do the math. It's another monumental challenge, with the Orioles sending out two rookie starters and a 24-year-old with a career 10.69 ERA in four outings in the Bronx. But I wouldn't bet against Miguel Gonzalez, Wei-Yin Chen and Chris Tillman. Not with the way this season is unfolding. Gonzalez hasn't pitched since Aug. 20. That's...

Tags:

orioles adam jones featured_sidebar miguel gonzalez pedro strop frontstory_orioles2

Showalter speaks after 5-3 win

August 30, 2012, 12:06pm

Orioles

Twice this season, the Orioles have taken a four-game series from the Chicago White Sox, who continue to lead the American League Central. Reason to be proud? "It is for today," manager Buck Showalter said following a 5-3 victory at Camden Yards. "There's another challenge starting tomorrow." That challenge takes the Orioles to the Bronx, where a three-game sweep would put them in a first-place tie with the Yankees in the American League East. Zach Britton, optioned after the game,...

Tags:

orioles buck showalter frontstory_orioles2

Britton optioned to make room for Wolf

August 30, 2012, 11:36am

Orioles

Minutes after earning his fourth victory by holding the White Sox to one run over eight innings, left-hander Zach Britton was shipped back to the minors. It's a tough business. The Orioles optioned Britton to Triple-A Norfolk. They will announce on Friday that they've signed left-hander Randy Wolf, who threw today in the Camden Yards outfield. Britton is 4-1 with a 4.80 ERA in eight starts with the Orioles this season. He's posted a 1.25 ERA in his last three starts, covering 21 2/3...

Tags:

orioles randy wolf zach britton frontstory_orioles3

A Teagarden party turns into free-for-all (O's win 5-3)

August 30, 2012, 9:41am

Orioles

A Teagarden party turns into free-for-all (O's win 5-3)

Not many people showed up for it today, but what did you expect? The Orioles may have their smallest crowd of the season, but it's not expected to be a record-low. The fans who maneuvered around all the road closures to get here today just saw Taylor Teagarden hit his second home run, a solo shot with two outs in the bottom of the third inning that tied the score, 1-1. Nick Markakis and J.J. Hardy followed with back-to-back doubles and Adam Jones hit his career-high 26th homer for a 4-1...

Tags:

orioles adam jones taylor teagarden zach britton frontstory_orioles2

Notes and updates

August 30, 2012, 7:44am

Orioles

The Orioles are 20-14 against left-handed starters this season. They were 19-28 last year and 18-33 in 2010. Their last winning record vs. left-handed starters was 33-19 in 2007. The Orioles will try to improve to 22-19 in series finales. They've won five of their last six finales at home. Randy Wolf played catch today, but he wasn't scheduled to throw in the bullpen because he had a side session two days ago. The Orioles will sign him and add him to the roster on Friday, which will require...

Tags:

orioles chris tillman nick johnson randy wolf troy patton wilson betemit zach britton frontstory_orioles3

Reynolds batting cleanup, Wieters gets day off (Wolf is here)

August 30, 2012, 5:54am

Orioles

Reynolds batting cleanup, Wieters gets day off (Wolf is here)

The Orioles are going with an unusual lineup for an unusual 12:35 p.m. starting time for today's game against the White Sox at Camden Yards. Mark Reynolds is batting cleanup for the first time this season. He's hit fifth in eight games, the highest he's risen in the lineup before today. Manny Machado moves up to seventh despite a 5-for-33 slump. Taylor Teagarden is catching a day game after a night game, which puts Matt Wieters on the bench. The Orioles are facing another left-hander,...

Tags:

orioles manny machado mark reynolds taylor teagarden frontstory_orioles2

The search for Henry Urrutia (and me)

August 30, 2012, 3:14am

Orioles

I'm preparing to leave the house and fight the traffic to Camden Yards, where I hope to make it before the seventh inning stretch. Rush hour mixed with road closures for the Grand Prix figure to complicate my morning. I'm packing a snack in case it takes longer than expected. And a lunch. Anyway, I wanted to pass along an update on Cuban outfielder Henry Urrutia, since I've been asked about him frequently on this blog and Twitter. Urrutia is back in Haiti, where he established residency...

Tags:

orioles henry urrutia frontstory_orioles2

Showalter and Saunders speak after 8-1 loss

August 29, 2012, 6:33pm

Orioles

Showalter and Saunders speak after 8-1 loss

Orioles manager Buck Showalter isn't going to judge Joe Saunders after one outing. He expects the left-hander to contribute down the stretch. Tonight, Saunders gets a mulligan. "I think he's had eight days off. Probably a little rusty. Then he settled in and pitched pretty well there. Gave up an unearned run," Showalter said following the Orioles' 8-1 loss to the White Sox. "He'll be better. Thought second, third and fourth, you can see what he's capable of. His work day, get back in...

Tags:

orioles featured_sidebar frontstory_orioles2

Slow start for Saunders, sensational start for Arrieta (O's lose 8-1)

August 29, 2012, 3:32pm

Orioles

Slow start for Saunders, sensational start for Arrieta (O's lose 8-1)

This isn't the way left-hander Joe Saunders imagined that his Orioles debut would unfold. Four of the first five White Sox reached base against Saunders, who allowed four runs and four hits in the first inning. Chicago loaded the bases on two singles and a walk, and Alex Rios stroked a two-run double. Alexei Ramirez looped a two-out, two-run single into right field before catcher Tyler Flowers struck out on Saunders' 31st pitch. In his last three starts, including two with the...

Tags:

orioles frontstory_orioles2

Pregame notes and quotes

August 29, 2012, 1:52pm

Orioles

With a win tonight, the Orioles would move to within 2 1/2 games of the first-place Yankees in the American League East. The Blue Jays posted an 8-5 victory in the Bronx earlier today. Also, the Orioles would be 15 games above .500 for the first time since the end of the 1997 season, when they posted a 98-64 record and reached the American League Championship Series for the second consecutive year. The Orioles are 16-8 in August, their most wins in any month this season. They won 15 games in...

Tags:

orioles featured_sidebar frontstory_orioles2

Orioles preparing to send Dylan Bundy to instructional league

August 29, 2012, 1:04pm

Orioles

Orioles manager Buck Showalter indicated today that the Orioles will send pitcher Dylan Bundy to the fall instructional league once Double-A Bowie's season ends, which apparently will keep the organization's top prospect from making his major league debut in 2012. Bundy, 19, has long been rumored as a September call-up at the latest, with the possibility of him working in relief or getting a start. He's 9-3 with a 2.08 ERA in 23 combined starts with three affiliates, with 67 hits, 28 walks...

Tags:

orioles featured_sidebar frontfeatured_orioles

Davis, Quintanilla back in lineup (and AFL note)

August 29, 2012, 10:52am

Orioles

Davis, Quintanilla back in lineup (and AFL note)

The Orioles' lineup tonight leans to the left, with Nate McLouth batting third, Chris Davis serving as the designated hitter and Omar Quintanilla playing second base. For the Orioles: Nick Markakis RF J.J. Hardy SS Nate McLouth LF Adam Jones CF Matt Wieters C Chris Davis DH Mark Reynolds 1B Omar Quintanilla 2B Manny Machado 3B Joe Saunders LHP Seven Orioles farmhands are included on the Mesa Solar Sox roster in the Arizona Fall League: Pitchers Michael Belfiore, Chris Petrini, Clay...

Tags:

orioles frontstory_orioles2

Turning over a new roster (and note)

August 28, 2012, 8:08pm

Orioles

The magnetic lineup board outside the Orioles' clubhouse and across the hall from manager Buck Showalter's office contained only one name after last night's game against the White Sox. Joe Saunders was listed as tonight's starting pitcher. The batting order will remain blank until this afternoon. Saunders will be the 29th player to make his Orioles debut this season. Is that a lot? Once the Orioles sign Randy Wolf, the veteran left-hander who could show up at Camden Yards today and throw...

Tags:

orioles featured_sidebar joe saunders randy wolf frontstory_orioles2

Hearing from Jones and Tillman

August 28, 2012, 6:41pm

Orioles

The Pirates released Erik Bedard today. Adam Jones hit the 100th home run of his major league career tonight, and Chris Tillman improved to 7-2 by shutting out the White Sox on one hit over seven innings. You see where I'm going here. "We're winning, we're playing good baseball," Jones said. "That's the most important part. Individual accolades, they're awesome, but we're winning." Jones mentioned on a postgame show that he was "on vacation." Is he back? "I booked the flight...

Tags:

orioles featured_sidebar frontstory_orioles2

Showalter speaks after 6-0 win

August 28, 2012, 6:24pm

Orioles

Buck Showalter moved above .500 as Orioles manager tonight, and his club moved 14 games above for the first time in seven years. The Orioles have won 16 of their last 22 games and 12 of their last 15 at home. Chris Tillman allowed one hit, the infield variety, over seven innings and improved to 7-2 with a 3.26 ERA. "He was really good," Showalter said after tonight's 6-0 win over the White Sox. "We're kind of getting to know him a little bit, too. Tilly's not conventional all the...

Tags:

orioles featured_sidebar frontfeatured_orioles

Jones homerless streak the longest of his career (O's win 6-0)

August 28, 2012, 3:31pm

Orioles

Jones homerless streak the longest of his career (O's win 6-0)

Adam Jones struck out looking tonight with J.J. Hardy on first base and one out in the bottom of the first inning. Jones wasn't happy with plate umpire Jordan Baker's call on the third strike. He can't be too pleased with his homerless drought, either. Jones hasn't homered since July 27, a stretch of 109 at-bats that's the longest of his career. He went 108 at-bats without one from May 1 to June 5, 2008. His next homer will be his 25th of the season and the 100th of his career. Chris...