Mussina and Dauer talk about going into the Orioles Hall of Fame

Mussina and Dauer talk about going into the Orioles Hall of Fame
Mike Mussina still has the same thin build that we remember when he stood on the mound for 18 seasons, including the first 10 in Baltimore. The only real change in his appearance is the goatee, which is speckled with gray hairs. Otherwise, he looks like the same guy who won 147 games and spun three one-hitters with the Orioles. Mussina and former second baseman Rich Dauer will be inducted into the Orioles Hall of Fame before Saturday's 7:05 p.m. game against the Blue Jays at Camden Yards....

If Flaherty is here, who goes?

If Flaherty is here, who goes?
The Orioles begin a seven-game homestand tonight, and they're expected to go back to a four-man bench. Ryan Flaherty didn't play in Triple-A Norfolk's game at Durham last night, and I've heard that the Orioles are prepared to activate him from the 15-day disabled list. We'll see. I got the impression - and yes, I do impressions - that the Orioles were going to keep Flaherty on his rehab assignment for the maximum 20 days if allowed by Major League Baseball. However, he's 11-for-23 with...

Cubs claim Socolovich, Orioles change plans with Berken (and note)

Cubs claim Socolovich, Orioles change plans with Berken (and note)
The Orioles announced this afternoon that the Chicago Cubs claimed reliever Miguel Socolovich off waivers. They designated him for assignment nine days ago to make room for left-hander J.C. Romero on the 40-man roster. The Cubs optioned Socolovich to Triple-A Iowa. Socolovich posted a 1.90 ERA in 28 games at Triple-A Norfolk and was named to the International League All-Star team. However, he registered a 6.97 ERA in six appearances and 10 1/3 innings with the Orioles during two stints with...

Sorting through the latest changes to the rotation

Sorting through the latest changes to the rotation
There's no crying in baseball and there's no reason to shed any tears over a 3-3 road trip to Detroit and Texas. The Orioles fell to 24-40 last night when their opponent scores first and 17-43 when they score three runs or fewer. So... they need to score first and score more than three runs. Simple as that. The Orioles are now 33-26 when they don't commit an error. The defense wasn't the issue last night. The starting pitching let them down. Tommy Hunter faced eight batters in the fourth...

Homers hurt Hunter again (O's lose 12-3)

Homers hurt Hunter again (O's lose 12-3)
Tommy Hunter has served up three more home runs in four innings tonight, including two to Rangers third baseman Adrian Belte and a grand slam to Mitch Moreland. Beltre's two-run shot in the fourth broke a 1-1 tie, and Moreland's slam later in the inning gave the Rangers an 8-1 lead. Hunter faced eight batters in the inning and didn't retire any of them. Beltre added a third home run off Kevin Gregg in the fourth, giving him two in the inning and five RBIs on the night. Rangers 10,...

Orioles and Rangers lineups (rotation update)

Orioles and Rangers lineups (rotation update)
Orioles manager Buck Showalter is breaking out his right-handed lineup against Rangers left-hander Derek Holland. Lew Ford replaces Chris Davis as the designated hitter. Adam Jones moves up to third in the order, with Matt Wieters batting fourth and Nate McLouth seventh. For the Orioles: Nick Markakis RF J.J. Hardy SS Adam Jones CF Matt Wieters C Mark Reynolds 1B Lew Ford DH Nate McLouth LF Manny Machado 3B Robert Andino 2B Tommy Hunter RHP For the Rangers: Ian Kinsler 2B Elvis...
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More on Jim Johnson and the rotation (updated)

More on Jim Johnson and the rotation (updated)
Since giving up six earned runs in one-third of an inning on July 27 against the Athletics, Orioles closer Jim Johnson has recorded eight saves in nine appearances and allowed only three runners into scoring position. In those nine games, Johnson has permitted only three hits, walked one and struck out six over nine innings. Opponents are batting .100 against him, going 3-for-30, and he's retired the side in order seven times. The Orioles have announced their rotation for the Blue Jays...

Back of the 'pen isn't broke, so don't fix it

Back of the 'pen isn't broke, so don't fix it
Didn't we spend a chunk of the winter debating whether Jim Johnson should be a starter instead of the closer? Didn't manager Buck Showalter suggest that Johnson could make some starts last September, or be placed on a starter's schedule in spring training? Will we have the same argument and hear the same talk this winter? I'll say again that Johnson is my choice for Most Valuable Oriole. His 38 saves rank second on the club's all-time single-season list. He's tied with Fernando Rodney...

Strop wins battle with Hamilton (O's win game, 5-3)

Strop wins battle with Hamilton (O's win game, 5-3)
If the Orioles are going to win tonight's game against the Rangers, they will need their bullpen to step up again. Darren O'Day tripped after replacing Chris Tillman with two outs in the seventh. He walked Ian Kinsler and gave up a single to Elvis Andrus. Pedro Strop replaced O'Day with Josh Hamilton representing the go-ahead run. He fell behind 2-0 on 97 and 96 mph fastballs, got a called strike with a 97 mph fastball, fell behind 3-1 with a 98 mph fastball and threw three straight...

McLouth makes big contribution with small ball approach (O's lead 5-3)

McLouth makes big contribution with small ball approach (O's lead 5-3)
Nate McLouth isn't your prototypical No. 3 hitter, but Nick Markakis shouldn't be batting first if we're playing by those rules. McLouth scored the Orioles' only run tonight in classic small-ball manner. He walked with two outs in the top of the first inning, stole second base, took third on a throwing error by Rangers catcher Geovany Soto and scored on a wild pitch by Scott Feldman. (Yes, I think of the Seinfeld bizarro world episode every time I hear Feldman's name.) Soto didn't do...

Orioles and Rangers lineups

Orioles and Rangers lineups
Shortstop J.J. Hardy is back in the Orioles' lineup tonight, and Omar Quintanilla is back at 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 Chris Tillman RHP For the Rangers: Ian Kinsler 2B Elvis Andrus SS Josh Hamilton CF Adrian Beltre 3B Nelson Cruz RF Michael Young DH David Murphy LF Geovany Soto C Mitch Moreland 1B Scott Feldman RHP The Orioles have lost...

Matusz tosses scoreless inning

Matusz tosses scoreless inning
Left-hander Brian Matusz made his third relief appearance today for Triple-A Norfolk, and the results were much better. Matusz walked one Gwinnett batter in a scoreless eighth inning. He didn't allow a hit, and he threw 10 of 19 pitches for strikes. Pat Egan pitched the ninth and completed an 8-0 victory that moved the Tides, winners of six of their last seven games, to within 2 1/2 games of the wild card lead. In his most recent appearance Sunday, Matusz stranded two inherited runners...

Who gets the call in September?

Who gets the call in September?
Teams can expand their rosters beginning Sept. 1, which is right around the corner, and the Orioles are in a different mindset from previous seasons. They're thinking like playoff contenders. Well, when they actually think about it. "Thought about it? Not that much, to be honest with you," manager Buck Showalter said last week. "Trying to do the things for the next two weeks that allows September to mean something here. But there will be a time and a place for that. "The good thing is...

Patton and game updates (O's lose 5-1)

Patton and game updates (O's lose 5-1)
Orioles reliever Troy Patton is eligible to come off the disabled list on Aug. 27, but that's no longer a realistic target date. Patton said in a text message tonight that it's been a little slower to get the swelling out of his sprained right ankle than he anticipated. He still hasn't been cleared to run or throw while rehabbing at the Ed Smith Stadium complex in Sarasota, and he just got into the pool for the first time today. Manager Buck Showalter has wanted a second left-hander in the...

Hardy out of tonight's lineup (updated)

Hardy out of tonight's lineup (updated)
J.J. Hardy isn't in the Orioles' lineup tonight. He's due for a rest, and as I pointed out earlier, he's 2-for-27 lifetime against Rangers starter Ryan Dempster. Robert Andino is starting at second base and Omar Quintanilla has shifted to shortstop. For the Orioles: Nick Markakis RF Robert Andino 2B Nate McLouth LF Adam Jones CF Matt Wieters C Chris Davis DH Mark Reynolds 1B Omar Quintanilla SS Manny Machado 3B Miguel Gonzalez RHP For the Rangers: Ian Kinsler 2B Elvis Andrus...

Orioles getting rare chance to go Dempster diving

Orioles getting rare chance to go Dempster diving
Ryan Dempster will make his fourth start with the Rangers tonight, and only his second career start against the Orioles, who begin a three-game series in Arlington. Dempster has surrendered eight earned runs in two of his three starts since the Cubs traded him, and he's sporting an 8.31 ERA in the American League. He's served up five home runs in 17 1/3 innings. In his only game against the Orioles, Dempster allowed one run and three hits in 5 1/3 innings. Shortstop J.J. Hardy, who...

A few random thoughts (and Pettit note)

A few random thoughts (and Pettit note)
A road trip that was supposed to crush the Orioles has produced two wins in the first three games. Reminds me of the trip to New York and Tampa Bay that was supposed to crush them. This just in: The bullpen is still really, really good. It's the No. 1 reason why the Orioles would make the playoffs if the season ended today. Jim Johnson would get my vote for Most Valuable Oriole if I had to submit my ballot today, but I'd still like to make an exception and just give it to the entire...

The Matusz relief experiment after two games

The Matusz relief experiment after two games
Brian Matusz made his second relief appearance tonight for Triple-A Norfolk, and he lasted one inning against Charlotte before Tides manager Ron Johnson went back to his bullpen. Matusz replaced starter Jason Berken with two outs in the seventh and was charged with two runs and two hits, with two walks, one strikeout, one wild pitch and one balk. He stranded two inherited runners in the seventh, but Zach Phillips replaced him with two outs in the eighth. Matusz made his relief debut on...

First inning challenges Chen again (O's win 7-5)

First inning challenges Chen again (O's win 7-5)
Wei-Yin Chen fell behind by five runs today before he could record his second out of the game. The first inning continues to challenge Chen. He's allowed 19 runs in the opening frame this season, the most in any inning. The Royals took a 4-0 lead against him on Aug. 9 before finally making an out. The Rays led 5-0 in the first back on June 1. Chen has surrendered 20 home runs this season, including two today. Six of them have come in the first inning. Omar Infante homered with one out in...

Orioles and Tigers lineups

Orioles and Tigers lineups
Taylor Teagarden gets the start behind the plate today for the Orioles. Mark Reynolds and Manny Machado continue to handle the infield corners. Chris Davis moves up to fifth in the lineup. For the Orioles: Nick Markakis RF J.J. Hardy SS Nate McLouth LF Adam Jones CF Chris Davis DH Mark Reynolds 1B Manny Machado 3B Omar Quintanilla 2B Taylor Teagarden C Wei-Yin Chen LHP For the Tigers: Austin Jackson CF Omar Infante 2B Miguel Cabrera 3B Prince Fielder 1B Jhonny Peralta SS Delmon...