Roch Kubatko

Hearing from Showalter and Hunter

August 03, 2012, 6:43pm

Orioles

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. - Manager Buck Showalter suffered his 1,000th career loss tonight on the two-year anniversary of his first game with the Orioles. The result might have been different if the Orioles hadn't gone 0-for-7 with runners in scoring position and stranded 10. And if Tommy Hunter hadn't allowed two more home runs, though the lack of offensive support didn't leave any margin for error. "We did a lot of good things to get people out there, but there's two sides to that coin....

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Hunter takes over homer lead (Reynolds having unhappy birthday)

August 03, 2012, 5:19pm

Orioles

Hunter takes over homer lead (Reynolds having unhappy birthday)

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. - Tommy Hunter outlasted Tampa Bay left-hander Matt Moore tonight, but he allowed two homers and received no run support. In some ways, it's been a typical night for Hunter. Solo shots by B.J. Upton leading off the fourth inning and Desmond Jennings leading off the sixth have given the Rays a 2-0 lead at Tropicana Field. Hunter has surrendered 26 homers this season, most in the majors. Carlos Pena thought he tagged Hunter with No. 27 in the sixth, but Adam Jones made a...

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Andino could platoon at third base (Hunter allows another HR)

August 03, 2012, 2:28pm

Orioles

Andino could platoon at third base (Hunter allows another HR)

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. - Robert Andino is starting at third base against a left-hander tonight, and he could return to the hot corner under similar circumstances in future games. Wilson Betemit is batting .146 against left-handers, compared to .307 against right-handers. That's one reason. Omar Quintanila is swinging a pretty hot bat these days and manager Buck Showalter would like to keep him at second base. That's another reason. It looks like the Orioles could platoon at third...

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Andino starting at third base, Thome receives epidural (Roberts update)

August 03, 2012, 12:27pm

Orioles

Andino starting at third base, Thome receives epidural (Roberts update)

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. - The Orioles haven't announced any roster moves today. Nate McLouth isn't here, and I'm told the club won't find out today whether he exercised the opt-out clause in his contract. Lew Ford is starting in left field. Robert Andino has returned to the lineup. He's starting at third base against Rays left-hander Matt Moore. The Orioles did make one deal yesterday that flew under the radar. They sent Triple-A reliever Pat Neshek to the Athletics. I don't have any...

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Showalter showing the way again (with notes)

August 03, 2012, 5:18am

Orioles

Showalter showing the way again (with notes)

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. - Buck Showalter officially took the helm of the Orioles on Aug. 2, 2010, two years and one day ago today. We couldn't celebrate his anniversary on an off-day. He's got the Orioles five games above .500 and only 1 1/2 back in the wild card chase, which may come as a surprise to the folks who predicted his club would lose 100 this year. And there were lots and lots of them, both locally and nationally. The clock was supposed to be turned back to 1988. I've fielded the...

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Checking on Arrieta

August 02, 2012, 5:58pm

Orioles

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. - Jake Arrieta allowed one run tonight for Triple-A Norfolk. That's a good thing. Arrieta failed to complete six innings again because of his high pitch count. That's a bad thing. Greg Burke replaced Arrieta with the bases loaded and two outs, and he walked Columbus' Matt Pagnozzi to force in a run. Arrieta is charged with two runs and five hits in 5 2/3 innings, with four walks, five strikeouts, a wild pitch and a hit batter. He threw 116 pitches, 64 for strikes. The...

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The playoff chase moves to another city

August 02, 2012, 11:53am

Orioles

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. - It's time for the next leg of this two-city road trip. I'm grateful to have made it out of LaGuardia Airport. I had reached a point where I intended to find a comfortable place in the security line to blog and tweet for the next four days. Outfielder Nate McLouth isn't in Triple-A Norfolk's lineup tonight. He can opt out of his contract tomorrow and the Orioles want to keep him. Could he be joining them in St. Pete? While we've been kicking around ideas for...

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What's next for the Orioles?

August 01, 2012, 7:45pm

Orioles

NEW YORK - Just when it appears that the Orioles' rotation and roster are settled, at least for the short term, more rumblings can be heard from miles away. Sort of like Sidney Ponson with an empty stomach. We don't know whether left-hander Zach Britton will make his next start. We don't know whether Tommy Hunter will start on Friday, though he's scheduled to open the three-game series against the Rays. The entire rotation will be working on an extra days rest because of today's open...

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Britton talks about his start and the chances of another one

August 01, 2012, 1:37pm

Orioles

Britton talks about his start and the chances of another one

NEW YORK - Left-hander Zach Britton didn't make excuses for today's poor showing and he didn't pretend that he's a fixture in the Orioles' rotation. He admitted to reporters that he's concerned about being on a "short leash," as the question was phrased, and that he needs to produce better results if he wants to avoid a return trip to the minors. "Yeah, you try not to think about it, but we're in the hunt and I understand what I have to do to be at this level, and I'm not getting it...

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Will Britton get another start? (Bundy update)

August 01, 2012, 1:22pm

Orioles

Will Britton get another start? (Bundy update)

NEW YORK - So much for the rotation being settled after the Orioles failed to make a trade for a starter. Zach Britton allowed seven runs and seven hits in 2 2/3 innings today, with three walks and three strikeouts. He sat at his locker after the game, his head bowed, his next start in doubt. Manager Buck Showalter didn't offer Britton a vote of confidence. He was noncommittal when asked whether the left-hander would get another start. Showalter also raised questions about Tommy Hunter's...

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Before you injure both fists bashing Kevin Gregg ... (O's lose 12-3)

August 01, 2012, 11:21am

Orioles

Before you injure both fists bashing Kevin Gregg ... (O's lose 12-3)

Here we go again. Kevin Gregg has a bad inning and the venom flows like Dick Vermeil's tears. Fans demand that the Orioles trade or release him. They say he only pitches effectively if inactive for long periods. They say he never should enter a game with runners on base. They blame him for the economy and Arsenio Hall's return to late-night television. OK, let's start with the reason he's pitching today: Zach Britton lasted 2 2/3 innings and - stop me if you've heard this one before -...

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Orioles notes and quotes before series finale (O's down 11-1)

August 01, 2012, 8:33am

Orioles

NEW YORK - The Orioles are going for their first sweep of a three-game series in the Bronx since June 6-8, 1986. If it happens today, it would mark the first time that the Orioles have swept the Yankees and Red Sox on the road in the same season since 1980, according to Elias. The Orioles have won four straight games in the Bronx, their longest winning streak since taking six in a row from Sept. 16, 1996-Sept. 6, 1997. The Orioles are 5-5 when going for a sweep this year, including 2-4 on...

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Wieters behind the plate again today

August 01, 2012, 7:51am

Orioles

NEW YORK - So much for my theory that Taylor Teagarden would catch an early game today. Matt Wieters is behind the plate. His rest will come tomorrow with an open date on the schedule. For the Orioles: Nick Markakis RF J.J. Hardy SS Chris Davis DH Adam Jones CF Matt Wieters C Wilson Betemit 3B Mark Reynolds 1B Endy Chavez LF Omar Quintanilla 2B Zach Britton LHP For the Yankees: Derek Jeter SS Curtis Granderson CF Nick Swisher DH Robinson Cano 2B Andruw Jones RF Russell Martin...

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Will the Orioles bring their brooms to the Bronx?

July 31, 2012, 7:53pm

Orioles

NEW YORK - For whatever reason, the Orioles are playing a 1:05 p.m. game in the middle of the week. Had I planned it better, I would have taken the train back home tonight, spent the off day there and flown to Tampa on Friday. But enough about me. How about those Orioles? They've won three games in a row, and this is the first time they've won consecutive series in the Bronx in the same season since 2007. Today, they go for the sweep. "Any game you play that's with a division rival,...

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The battery speaks, and more

July 31, 2012, 7:22pm

Orioles

NEW YORK - Chris Tillman looks like a guy who should be wrapped in a blanket and fed chicken soup, not a major league pitcher who should be standing on the mound in front of a hostile crowd at Yankee Stadium. It hurts to watch Tillman try to speak, to think, to stand up straight while waiting for reporters to approach him. But he gutted out five innings tonight to win his third consecutive start and snap a three-game losing streak to the Yankees, defeating them for the first time since Sept....

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Showalter speaks after 11-5 victory

July 31, 2012, 7:07pm

Orioles

NEW YORK - Orioles manager Buck Showalter made contingency plans yesterday in case Chris Tillman was too sick to take the mound tonight at Yankee Stadium. Showalter sent Tillman back to the team hotel yesterday with antibiotics and instructions to stay in bed. Tillman almost was sent to the showers in the first inning tonight, but he survived the Yankees' five-run onslaught and shut them out over the next four frames. "We talked to him that first inning," Showalter said following the...

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Big Apple taking another big bite out of Tillman (O's win 11-5)

July 31, 2012, 3:40pm

Orioles

Big Apple taking another big bite out of Tillman (O's win 11-5)

NEW YORK - The Yankees don't have Mark Teixeira or Alex Rodriguez tonight, but they still have Chris Tillman's number. They grabbed a 3-0 lead only three batters into the game, and it took Tillman 15 pitches to record his first out. Two more runs scored, as the Yankees sent nine batters to the plate and Matt Lindstrom began to warm in the bullpen. Four of the five runs were earned. Tillman committed an error on Ichiro Suzuki's comebacker before Russell Martin's RBI single. Yes, it's...

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Andino, Showalter and more pregame notes

July 31, 2012, 2:39pm

Orioles

Andino, Showalter and more pregame notes

NEW YORK - Robert Andino is back with the Orioles. Now he has to get back in the lineup. Andino will begin tonight's game on the bench, but at least he's off the disabled list after a brief injury-rehab assignment at Triple-A Norfolk. "Played two games down there pain-free," he said. "Did a little bit of sliding and everything. Ground balls. No pain. See how it goes. "Hardest thing was probably diving glove side right now. The other thing was probably sliding head-first." Andino...

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Duquette: "There will be other opportunities to add to the team"

July 31, 2012, 2:18pm

Orioles

Duquette: "There will be other opportunities to add to the team"

NEW YORK - Executive vice president Dan Duquette just completed a conference call with reporters following today's non-waiver trade deadline, which passed without the Orioles making a deal. "The opportunities we looked at had a cost and I wasn't convinced that they weren't a lot better than the people we had in the organization, and you know, hence, we weren't able to make some of the deals we had on the table," Duquette said. "There will be some other opportunities in the month of...

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Orioles don't make a trade at deadline, Thome to DL (updated)

July 31, 2012, 12:08pm

Orioles

NEW YORK - The 4 p.m. non-waiver deadline has passed and the Orioles didn't make a trade. Executive vice president Dan Duquette will be available to the media in a conference call later this afternoon. So much for the heated trade talks with the Phillies for pitcher Joe Blanton. Nothing came of it. Keep in mind that trades can still be made after today. However, the players must pass through waivers. Update: I talked to an Orioles official who said, "We're trying to improve on what...