Roch Kubatko

Showalter speaks after 7-1 victory

August 10, 2012, 6:24pm

Orioles

Manager Buck Showalter would like to keep the Manny Machado hype at a reasonable level. You can tell by the tone of his voice and the measured responses, how he points out the small number of games that the kid has played and how a new one is coming up tomorrow. Machado isn't make it easy on Showalter. "He had a nice night, put a couple good swings on some breaking balls that were left out over the plate," Showalter said after Machado hit two home runs to lift the Orioles to a 7-1 victory...

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Machado making history tonight (O's win 7-1)

August 10, 2012, 5:13pm

Orioles

Machado making history tonight (O's win 7-1)

It's only been two games, but Manny Machado doesn't look like a kid who was rushed to the majors. Machado hit his second home run tonight, a three-run shot deep into the left field seats in the bottom of the fifth inning to give the Orioles a 7-1 lead. Machado is the youngest Orioles player to hit a home run since Jim Palmer, who was 19, on May 16, 1965. He's now the youngest ever to hit multiple home runs in the same game. Boog Powell collected two on May 2, 1962 against the Twins when he...

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Gonzalez burned by HR and benefits from one (Machado home run note)

August 10, 2012, 3:51pm

Orioles

Gonzalez burned by HR and benefits from one (Machado home run note)

Miguel Gonzalez had allowed a home run to the first batter he faced in both home starts this season - Detroit's Austin Jackson and Tampa Bay's Desmond Jennings - which made his battle tonight with Kansas City's Alex Gordon must-see TV. Gordon struck out. No repeat tonight. Gonzalez retired the side in order, but catcher Salvador Perez homered with one out in the second inning to give the Royals a 1-0 lead. Gonzalez has allowed 10 homers in seven starts with the Orioles. His only clean...

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Chavez staying in organization, Hammel to throw off mound Saturday

August 10, 2012, 12:57pm

Orioles

Chavez staying in organization, Hammel to throw off mound Saturday

Outfielder Endy Chavez has cleared waivers and will report to Triple-A Norfolk on Tuesday. Chavez could have opted to become a free agent, but he agreed to stay in the organization. The Orioles are expected to call him up when rosters expand on Sept. 1. Pitcher Jason Hammel is expected to rejoin the Orioles on Saturday unless he runs into some sort of travel issue. Hammel will throw off the front slope of the mound - not the pitching rubber - and will be reevaluated the following day before...

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Machado starting again tonight

August 10, 2012, 11:21am

Orioles

If you wondered whether Manny Machado would be part of a platoon at third base, he's starting again tonight against Royals right-hander Luke Hochevar. Wilson Betemit slides over to first base. Chris Davis is the Orioles' designated hitter. Mark Reynolds is on the bench. For the Orioles: Nick Markakis RF J.J. Hardy SS Chris Davis DH Adam Jones CF Matt Wieters C Wilson Betemit 1B Nate McLouth LF Manny Machado 3B Omar Quintanilla 2B Miguel Gonzalez RHP

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What I know

August 09, 2012, 7:44pm

Orioles

This will be a short blog entry, as you can imagine. The Orioles optioned Steve Johnson yesterday because they don't have a game on Monday and won't need a fifth starter until Saturday. They don't want him sitting in the bullpen or throwing 30-40 pitches in a relief outing and then being expected to throw 90-100 in a start. A Sept. 1 call-up is assured, and he could be here a lot sooner. J.J. Hardy isn't moving off shortstop. Suggesting that he shift to third or second is wasted energy....

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Showalter speaks after 8-2 loss

August 09, 2012, 6:22pm

Orioles

Do you want the good or the bad first? Let's start with the good, which would be Manny Machado going 2-for-4 with a triple and run scored in his first major league game. "I thought Manny did well," manager Buck Showalter said following an 8-2 loss to the Royals that halted the Orioles' winning streak at five games. "Presented himself well tonight. I'm proud of him. There was a nice calmness about him and a good start. He handled the situation well, all things considered. "He's up...

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Bad start to Wei-Yin Chen T-shirt Night (Machado 2-for-4)

August 09, 2012, 3:34pm

Orioles

Bad start to Wei-Yin Chen T-shirt Night (Machado 2-for-4)

Anyone know how to say "do over" in Mandarin Chinese? Wei-Yin Chen threw 26 pitches, served up two home runs, gave up four hits and took a shot off his left knee in the first inning. That's no way to celebrate your own T-shirt night. Or is this Manny Machado Night? I've sort of lost track. Alex Gordon hit his eighth career leadoff home run, and his third this season. Back-to-back singles by Alcides Escobar and Lorenzo Cain - the latter on a ball that scooted past a diving Machado at...

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Showalter: "We'll see what each day brings" (Steve Johnson optioned)

August 09, 2012, 1:01pm

Orioles

Showalter: "We'll see what each day brings" (Steve Johnson optioned)

Orioles manager Buck Showalter isn't revealing his plans for Manny Machado beyond tonight's game at Camden Yards. The same is true for Wilson Betemit and any other players who could be impacted by Machado's arrival. Machado is batting ninth and playing third base tonight. Whether he starts again tomorrow and is a regular presence in the lineup is assumed, but not confirmed. "We'll see how it goes tonight, see where it takes us," Showalter said. "We have 25 guys here who have...

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Machado at third, batting ninth

August 09, 2012, 11:32am

Orioles

Not only is Manny Machado here and soon to be officially added to the roster, but he's making his major league debut tonight against the Royals. Machado is batting ninth and playing third base for the Orioles, who have yet to announce the corresponding roster move. For the Orioles: Nick Markakis RF J.J. Hardy SS Adam Jones CF Matt Wieters C Lew Ford LF Mark Reynolds 1B Chris Davis DH Robert Andino 2B Manny Machado 3B Wei-Yin Chen LHP

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More on Manny Machado in the majors (plus his uniform number)

August 08, 2012, 8:38pm

Orioles

More on Manny Machado in the majors (plus his uniform number)

The Orioles are facing a left-handed starter tonight, with the Royals sending Will Smith to the mound. Manny Machado could be in the starting lineup at third base. Is he ready? I've been asked that question over and over, on the blog and via Twitter, since the Orioles announced late last night that Machado's contract was being selected from Double-A Bowie. There's only one way to find out - and I don't mean by using my crystal ball. The kid has to play. "One thing about Manny is he's a...

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Orioles selecting Manny Machado's contract (updated)

August 08, 2012, 7:41pm

Orioles

The Orioles just announced that they're going to select the contract of Double-A Bowie shortstop Manny Machado before tomorrow night's game against the Royals at Camden Yards. How's that for a surprise? The Orioles stated in the press release that Machado, the third-overall pick in the 2010 First-Year Player Draft, will be making his major league debut. However, he won't necessarily start tomorrow. And he's not going to unseat J.J. Hardy at shortstop. Machado, 20, is batting...

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Showalter and Wieters talk about Johnson's first major league win

August 08, 2012, 7:20pm

Orioles

Showalter and Wieters talk about Johnson's first major league win

Manager Buck Showalter didn't give any assurances that Steve Johnson will remain in the Orioles' rotation. You will have to read between the lines. "Let us get through (tonight)," Showalter said. "We've got a lot of moving parts right now. He certainly presented himself well tonight." You decide. "Stevie was good, huh?" Showalter said. "That was fun to watch. I tried to watch it as a manager trying to win a game, but also a fan of those type of situations." Showalter went to his...

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Steve Johnson talks about his big night

August 08, 2012, 7:02pm

Orioles

As Steve Johnson walked off the mound tonight after the top of the sixth inning, he had no idea whether he would come back out for the seventh. Manager Buck Showalter considered it - the sentimental side nudging at him - but he didn't want Johnson having another "up" and reliever Troy Patton perhaps entering an inning that wasn't clean. The night was a huge success anyway. No need to add to it. Johnson picked up his first major league win exactly 23 years after his father, Dave, did the...

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Wieters wielding a hot bat

August 08, 2012, 5:40pm

Orioles

Matt Wieters caught 14 innings last night. In the heat. In August. His body is screaming for rest, but not tonight. Not with Steve Johnson making his first major league start. Wieters called the pitches for Johnson and made certain that the rookie would have lots of run support, too. He's 2-for-4 with two doubles and five RBIs, as the Orioles have taken a 9-2 lead over the Mariners at Camden Yards. In the last two nights, Wieters is 5-for-10 with three doubles, two home runs and seven RBIs....

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Steve Johnson striking a pose in the first inning (O's lead 7-2)

August 08, 2012, 3:29pm

Orioles

Steve Johnson striking a pose in the first inning (O's lead 7-2)

Steve Johnson threw 12 pitches in the top of the first inning tonight, all of them for strikes. He struck out the first two Mariners, gave up a soft single on an 0-2 pitch and struck out the cleanup hitter. Who is the last Orioles pitcher to strike out the side in the first inning in his first major league start? Get Elias on the phone. Johnson disposed of Dustin Ackley and Michael Saunders on six pitches. Jesus Montero looped a single into right field, just in front of a charging Nick...

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Did you know...?

August 08, 2012, 1:45pm

Orioles

The Orioles are 64-36 against the Mariners at Camden Yards since it opened in 1992. The Orioles are on pace to win 87 games in Buck Showalter's second full season as manager, which would be an 18-game improvement over last year's 69-93 record. In 2004, Showalter's second full year in Texas, he led the Rangers to an 18-game improvement and was named the American League's Manager of the Year. Showalter led the Diamondbacks to a 35-game improvement in his second year in Arizona in 1999. The...

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Updates on Hunter, Flaherty, Hammel and Thome

August 08, 2012, 12:58pm

Orioles

Updates on Hunter, Flaherty, Hammel and Thome

Tommy Hunter is expected to start on Sunday against the Royals, taking Zach Britton's spot in the rotation, unless he's needed in relief tonight. Manager Buck Showalter said the Orioles may have kept Britton on the 25-man roster if last night's game hadn't gone into extra innings. Once it crept into the 14th, they needed to send him down and bring up Steve Johnson to start tonight and Miguel Socolovich to add depth to the bullpen. Ryan Flaherty actually was sent home before the last two...

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Flaherty on disabled list, Socolovich recalled (with Mariners lineup)

August 08, 2012, 11:16am

Orioles

Flaherty on disabled list, Socolovich recalled (with Mariners lineup)

The Orioles have placed infielder Ryan Flaherty on the 15-day disabled list, retroactive to August 2, with a bacterial infection and recalled reliever Miguel Socolovich from Triple-A Norfolk. Flaherty left the ballpark before last night's game with a 103-degree fever. He was getting blood work done today to determine whether he had mononucleosis. Socolovich has posted a 9.00 ERA in seven innings over four appearances with the Orioles this season. Also, Matt Wieters is behind the plate again...

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Flaherty's season takes another strange turn

August 08, 2012, 5:31am

Orioles

Flaherty's season takes another strange turn

Ryan Flaherty sat at his locker yesterday afternoon, a smile on his face, and talked to a small group of reporters about his favorite NFL team (he's from Maine, so cut him some slack) and how much he looks forward to Sundays in the fall. He asked about the Ravens, another team he roots for, and we agreed that their rivalry with the Steelers is the best in football. It was a nice, relaxed chat, different from the usual baseball talk or quick exchange of pleasantries, before the clubhouse...