Roch Kubatko

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...

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Reimold talks about his recovery

September 28, 2012, 2:00pm

Orioles

Nolan Reimold has been at Camden Yards for the past few days, though he wasn't visible to the media until he strolled through the clubhouse this afternoon and plopped down on Chris Tillman's chair. Reimold is in town to get checked by a team physician and hang out for a little while. He's progressing well from surgery to remove a herniated disc and fuse the vertebrae, but he's not close to playing again. He couldn't suddenly be activated from the disabled list and become part of a playoff...

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Notes on Wieters, Hardy, Hammel, Ford and more (updated)

September 28, 2012, 1:04pm

Orioles

Notes on Wieters, Hardy, Hammel, Ford and more (updated)

As I wrote in my last blog entry, Matt Wieters is expected to rejoin the team for Saturday's game. He won't be here tonight, according to manager Buck Showalter. Wieters still hadn't gotten any sleep by 3 p.m. today. He's past the 24-hour mark, which is fine if you're hosting a telethon, but not if you're a major league catcher. "He's got his priorities where they need to be," said manager Buck Showalter, who has exchanged a few text messages with Wieters today. "He's still at the...

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Wieters not catching tonight (updated)

September 28, 2012, 11:05am

Orioles

Taylor Teagarden will be behind the plate for tonight's game against the Red Sox at Camden Yards. Matt Wieters became a father for the first time today at 5:11 a.m. The clubhouse isn't open to the media yet, so I don't know whether he's at the ballpark and sleeping on a couch. I'll pass along an update later. Wieters is 5-for-7 with four doubles lifetime against Red Sox starter Aaron Cook. For the Orioles: Nate McLouth LF J.J. Hardy SS Chris Davis RF Adam Jones CF Jim Thome DH Mark...

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Orioles release fan appreciation information

September 28, 2012, 8:55am

Orioles

The Orioles will hold their annual Fan Appreciation Celebration during their final regular-season series that begins tonight against the Boston Red Sox at Camden Yards. Here's the information: The three day celebration includes many opportunities for the Orioles to give back to their fans. Celebrations on Friday, Sept. 28 include randomly selecting a fan to throw out the first pitch, randomly selecting nine fans to take the field with Orioles starters for the National Anthem, and post-game...

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Now it's Tillman's turn (Wieters baby update)

September 28, 2012, 5:22am

Orioles

Now it's Tillman's turn (Wieters baby update)

The Orioles' rotation is a constant guessing game. Unlike the burger joint, you won't find Five Guys. Pitchers don't always work on normal rest. The MVO might be TBA. Chris Tillman gets the ball tonight against the Boston Red Sox in the first game of the final homestand of the regular season. Rookie Steve Johnson will start on Saturday before a sellout crowd. Sunday is undecided, with left-hander Joe Saunders a possibility. Tillman faced the Red Sox in his last start on Sunday and held...

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This and that after dark

September 27, 2012, 3:05pm

Orioles

It's usually a morning blog entry, but I'm feeling a little bold as the sun goes down. I found a few leftovers that might be of interest, including this first item from Elias: Last night, the Orioles hit home runs with men on base in the fifth inning (Chris Davis), sixth (Mark Reynolds), seventh (Davis again) and eighth (Manny Machado) in their 12-2 win over the Blue Jays at Camden Yards. According to Elias, it's the the first time in more than six years that a team hit home runs with men...

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It's getting crowded in here

September 27, 2012, 8:46am

Orioles

The Orioles' announced crowd of 26,513 last night brought the 76-date season total to 1,981,154. The average attendance at Camden Yards this season is 26,068. By my math, which is as sketchy as the guy who sold me the Rolex in Times Square this summer, the Orioles need 18,846 to reach the two-million mark. I'm told that Saturday's game against the Red Sox is sold out. The Orioles occasionally get seats returned by the visiting team or season plan holders, so fans should always check back,...

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Orioles remain an enigma wrapped in a riddle

September 26, 2012, 10:47pm

Orioles

The Orioles have six games remaining in the regular season, and I still haven't figured them out. They had lost three of their last four games before destroying the Blue Jays last night. The offense was sluggish before they erupted for seven home runs in a 12-2 victory. The rotation had become a major concern before Miguel Gonzalez turned in his third consecutive quality start. Manager Buck Showalter has provided extra rest for Gonzalez, going to great extremes, but the right-hander was...

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Showalter speaks after 12-2 win

September 26, 2012, 7:15pm

Orioles

The Orioles remain 1 1/2 games behind the Yankees in the American League East after tonight's 12-2 romp over the Blue Jays at Camden Yards. Manager Buck Showalter wrote out two lineups before the game because he was unsure whether shortstop J.J. Hardy could play with a sore finger on his throwing hand. "J.J.'s battling through a lot of things right now that most people would be sitting on the bench with," Showalter said. "I had two lineups up until about 6:30 tonight. Last thing he told...