Roch Kubatko

Chen balk translates into run (O's lose 3-1)

July 24, 2012, 4:50pm

Orioles

Chen balk translates into run (O's lose 3-1)

Wei-Yin Chen's eyes widened and his feet took him off the mound. With his arms held out, he paced the infield and offered a non-verbal plea to the umpires to reconsider the balk call in the sixth inning that advanced B.J. Upton to second base. To no one's surprise, it didn't work. Upton moved to second with no outs, took third on a sacrifice bunt and scored on Jeff Keppinger's broken-bat bloop single along the right field line. Matt Joyce flied to deep center and Chris Davis made a...

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Showalter talks about trade deadline rumors (O's trail 2-1)

July 24, 2012, 3:44pm

Orioles

Showalter talks about trade deadline rumors (O's trail 2-1)

Orioles manager Buck Showalter doesn't feel an extra sense of excitement or anticipation with the non-waiver trade deadline a week away. His attention and interest remains tied to the 25 players in his clubhouse. He knows that rumors are swirling, but his head doesn't turn to follow them. "It's exciting for us to win our first three games in Cleveland. That's where my focus is," he said. "That type of thing, I don't read it. Someone will ask me about it, like here." You can be sure...

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Orioles exploring trade options with Pearce (and Urrutia note)

July 24, 2012, 1:15pm

Orioles

Believe it or not, there isn't much news to report here today. I've talked to a few people in the organization who are seriously downplaying the possibility of the Orioles trading for Marlins third baseman Hanley Ramirez. I'm not saying it definitely won't happen, but I'm not rearranging my schedule for his introductory press conference. I've heard that the Orioles still haven't placed outfielder Steve Pearce on waivers. They're exploring trade possibilities first, so his situation...

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Quintanilla starting at second base tonight

July 24, 2012, 11:12am

Orioles

Quintanilla starting at second base tonight

Omar Quintanilla gets another start for the Orioles tonight, shifting over from shortstop to second base. Chris Davis has returned to left field after starting at first base last night. For the Orioles: Nick Markakis RF J.J. Hardy SS Jim Thome DH Adam Jones CF Matt Wieters C Wilson Betemit 3B Chris Davis LF Mark Reynolds 1B Omar Quintanilla 2B Wei-Yin Chen LHP More trade rumors: The Boston Globe's Nick Cafardo tweeted that the Orioles and Marlins are "discussing scenarios." No names were...

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How would another corner infielder impact Reynolds?

July 23, 2012, 6:27pm

Orioles

How would another corner infielder impact Reynolds?

It's been a while, but the Orioles have found their way back to Camden Yards after an eight-game road trip. And as usual, I'll set my GPS because I've totally forgotten how to get there. It's somewhere downtown, right? Wei-Yin Chen opposes Tampa Bay's Jeremy Hellickson tonight, as the Orioles' rotation tries to churn out its seventh consecutive quality start. Chen is 4-2 with a 3.32 ERA and five quality starts in nine outings at home. In his only career start against the Rays, back on...

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Big baserunning blunder in Orioles' 3-1 loss

July 23, 2012, 5:06pm

Orioles

The Orioles had a chance to either tie tonight's game in the eighth inning or put two runners in scoring position with one out. They chose something from column C. In case you missed it, Nick Markakis singled with one out, and Indians manager Manny Acta made a surprising pitching change, removing starter Justin Masterson and bringing in reliever Vinnie Pestano. Endy Chavez followed with a double in the left field corner, and Markakis ran through third base coach DeMarlo Hale's stop sign and...

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Flaherty collects another hit (O's trail 2-1)

July 23, 2012, 3:41pm

Orioles

Flaherty collects another hit (O's trail 2-1)

Ryan Flaherty picked up a hit in his fourth consecutive game tonight with a leadoff single in the top of the third inning. Flaherty has only one hit in each of those games, but the modest streak includes two home runs. He's also driven in four runs. At least for now, manager Buck Showalter is continuing to start Flaherty at second base against right-handers. He gave Omar Quintanilla the start at shortstop while keeping Flaherty in the lineup. It's a little strange seeing J.J. Hardy leaning...

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Quintanilla gets first start with Orioles (and note on Jim Gilbert)

July 23, 2012, 11:55am

Orioles

Omar Quintanilla will follow up two appearances with the Orioles as a defensive replacement at second base with his first start tonight at shortstop. J.J. Hardy gets a rare breather, and it comes after he collected two hits, including a home run, and drove in three runs yesterday afternoon. Ryan Flaherty stays at second base, and Endy Chavez replaces Chris Davis in left field. Davis is starting at first base. For the Orioles: Nick Markakis RF Endy Chavez LF Jim Thome DH Adam Jones CF Matt...

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Good wins Hunter

July 23, 2012, 10:00am

Orioles

You may choose to focus on one set of Tommy Hunter statistics and ignore the others, depending on whether you view the glass as half full or half empty. Half full: Hunter is 9-2 with a 2.82 ERA in 19 career appearances in July - the most wins and lowest ERA for any month. He has a 1.10 WHIP (lowest) and opponents are batting .225 (lowest) against him. In his only start for the Orioles this month, he held the Twins to one run and didn't walk a batter in 7 1/3 innings, which began the...

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Orioles are taking a left turn

July 22, 2012, 7:34pm

Orioles

After watching the Orioles for 95 games, I've come to the conclusion that the only thing they do consistently is fail to hit with runners in scoring position. Otherwise, they're all over the map. The rotation is good, bad and good again. It's strung together five consecutive quality starts, which was unimaginable a week ago. The bullpen has been outstanding for most of the season, but the starters' early exits had caused cracks to form in it. Remove the ninth inning yesterday, and the...

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Hardy homers for 2-0 lead (O's win 4-3)

July 22, 2012, 11:21am

Orioles

When the Orioles hit a home run, they tend to do it without flying solo. Eleven of their last 15 homers have come with runners on base, including J.J. Hardy's two-run shot in the top of the first inning today that gave the Orioles a 2-0 lead against Indians starter Josh Tomlin. Meanwhile, 21 of the last 23 home runs allowed by the Orioles have come with the bases empty. Nick Markakis reached on an infield hit, making him 15-for-40 in the leadoff spot, and Hardy followed with his 14th home...

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Flaherty stays at second base, Teagarden starts behind the plate (and Indians lineup)

July 22, 2012, 8:19am

Orioles

Flaherty stays at second base, Teagarden starts behind the plate (and Indians lineup)

Ryan Flaherty is getting another start at second base today, as manager Buck Showalter plays the hot hand. Flaherty has homered in back-to-back games. Also, Taylor Teagarden is behind the plate today, with Matt Wieters joining the reserves. For the Orioles: Nick Markakis RF J.J. Hardy SS Jim Thome DH Adam Jones CF Wilson Betemit 3B Chris Davis LF Mark Reynolds 1B Ryan Flaherty 2B Taylor Teagarden C Zach Britton LHP Over his last six games, Thome is 9-for-26 (.346) with three...

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Roberts still unsure whether he'll need surgery

July 21, 2012, 7:27pm

Orioles

Roberts still unsure whether he'll need surgery

On the same night that Ryan Flaherty homered for the second consecutive game as the Orioles' starting second baseman, Brian Roberts watched from his Sarasota home and wondered if he would get the chance to reclaim his job. Roberts remains on the 15-day disabled list after being diagnosed with a labral tear in his right hip. He hit some soft tosses again yesterday at the Ed Smith Stadium complex. He fielded ground balls, played catch, ran a little, did some lateral movements. "I'm trying...

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The good side of Chris Tillman (O's win 3-1)

July 21, 2012, 4:52pm

Orioles

The good side of Chris Tillman (O's win 3-1)

One start after failing to clear the first inning, Chris Tillman has held the Cleveland Indians to one run through the sixth. The only issue for Tillman was a lack of offensive support, but Jim Thome just belted a two-run homer off Indians right-hander Zach McAllister in the top of the seventh inning. Orioles 2, Indians 1. Thome has homered in back-to-back games, giving him 611 for his career. Tillman has allowed two earned runs in three starts and 15 innings with the Orioles this season,...

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Pearce designated for assignment

July 21, 2012, 1:06pm

Orioles

The Orioles created space for middle infielder Omar Quintanilla on their 25-man roster today by designating outfielder Steve Pearce for assignment. The decision came down to Pearce or Steve Tolleson. The Orioles decided they wanted to keep Tolleson, who has options remaining, so they would have a right-handed hitting infielder to share at-bats with Quintanilla and Ryan Flaherty. The Orioles could have placed reliever Matt Lindstrom on the disabled list after he took a Johnny Damon line drive...

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Flaherty starting at second base tonight

July 21, 2012, 12:01pm

Orioles

Flaherty starting at second base tonight

Ryan Flaherty is getting another start at second base tonight for the Orioles. Newly acquired middle infielder Omar Quintanilla will join the team today, but he won't be in the starting lineup. And he's not listed on the lineup card among the reserves. For the Orioles: Nick Markakis RF J.J. Hardy SS Jim Thome DH Adam Jones CF Matt Wieters C Wilson Betemit 3B Chris Davis LF Mark Reynolds 1B Ryan Flaherty 2B Chris Tillman RHP

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Tillman's troubles in the first inning

July 21, 2012, 10:54am

Orioles

Chris Tillman didn't make it out of the first inning in his last start against the Minnesota Twins, allowing one earned run (seven total) and five hits in two-thirds of an inning. A Mark Reynolds error complicated Tillman's night, but the opening frame has been a challenge throughout his career. In 38 career starts, Tillman has posted an 8.12 ERA in the first inning and opponents are batting .348/.416/.585 against him. Tillman has made two starts against the Indians, allowing seven runs...

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Duquette: "We'll do everything we can to stay in the hunt"

July 20, 2012, 7:52pm

Orioles

Duquette: "We'll do everything we can to stay in the hunt"

In a brief phone conversation yesterday morning with executive vice president Dan Duquette, I asked whether the Orioles were comfortable platooning Steve Tolleson and Ryan Flaherty at second base, or whether they needed to bring in someone from outside the organization. "We'll see what comes on the market," Duquette replied. "If Tolleson and Flaherty can do it, we'll let them do it. If they can't do it, we'll have to look for some other alternatives." Later that afternoon, the Orioles...

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Lindstrom leaves with injury (O's win 10-2)

July 20, 2012, 6:02pm

Orioles

Lindstrom leaves with injury (O's win 10-2)

Orioles reliever Matt Lindstrom took a Johnny Damon line drive off the inside portion of his left knee, forcing him out of the game with two outs in the bottom of the eighth inning. Lindstrom bent at the waist a few times and kept grimacing as manager Buck Showalter and assistant athletic trainer Brian Ebel checked on him. He didn't bother to throw a few warmup tosses. His night was over. Kevin Gregg replaced Lindstrom with the bases loaded and retired Casey Kotchman on a fly ball to center...

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Game tied and opportunities lost (O's lead 10-2)

July 20, 2012, 3:43pm

Orioles

Game tied and opportunities lost (O's lead 10-2)

J.J. Hardy was in a 7-for-70 slump before doubling in the first inning tonight and racing home on a wild pitch by Indians starter Derek Lowe. The lead didn't last long. Asdrubal Cabrera homered off Miguel Gonzalez in the bottom of the inning, and the Indians left the bases load. Gonzalez threw 25 pitches in the inning. Lowe threw 26. Gonzalez surrendered one home run with Triple-A Norfolk. He's given up one in each of his three starts with the Orioles. Since June 29, 19 of the last 21...