Roch Kubatko

Another Gonzalez note as Orioles trail, 10-1 (O's lose by same score)

July 25, 2012, 4:50pm

Orioles

Rays catcher Jose Lobaton hit his first major league home run tonight, a three-run shot off Orioles reliever Matt Lindstrom in the top of the fifth inning to increase Tampa Bay's lead to 10-1. Kevin Gregg is warming in the bullpen. If I'm Orioles manager Buck Showalter, I'm warming up my car and getting the heck out of here. According to Elias, Orioles right-hander Miguel Gonzalez is the first major league pitcher to allow leadoff home runs in his first two home starts since the Rockies'...

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Gonzalez has first-batter issues again, and lots more (O's down 7-1)

July 25, 2012, 3:38pm

Orioles

Gonzalez has first-batter issues again, and lots more (O's down 7-1)

You've heard of pitchers who struggle in the first inning? Miguel Gonzalez struggles with the first batter. Gonzalez served up a home run to the leadoff hitter tonight for the second time in four starts. Tampa Bay's Desmond Jennings found the left field seats on the first pitch thrown by Gonzalez - one fewer pitch than it took for Detroit's Austin Jackson to give the Tigers a quick lead back on July 15 at Camden Yards. Gonzalez's troubles didn't stop there. They just got worse. He...

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Pregame notes include Buck Showalter's comments on Vi Ripken

July 25, 2012, 1:18pm

Orioles

Pregame notes include Buck Showalter's comments on Vi Ripken

Orioles manager Buck Showalter said he hadn't heard the news of Vi Ripken's abduction yesterday morning and safe return early today until told by a reporter around 4 p.m. "Obviously, our thoughts and prayers go out to the Ripken family," he said. "That's something that happened to my mother years ago. Someone broke into the house at night. It's tough. It's a crazy world. I know the Ripken family and I know the stock, not only from Senior, but from Vi." The story truly hit close to...

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Teagarden behind the plate, Wieters the DH

July 25, 2012, 11:06am

Orioles

Teagarden behind the plate, Wieters the DH

The Orioles' lineup tonight against Tampa Bay left-hander David Price includes Taylor Teagarden behind the plate and slumping Matt Wieters batting cleanup and serving as the designated hitter. Wieters is hitting .354/.418/.524 against left-handers. He's 7-for-21 lifetime against Price. Seeking more right-handers to face Price, manager Buck Showalter is inserting Steve Tolleson in left field. However, that leaves left-handed hitting Omar Quintanilla at second base. For the Orioles: Nick...

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For Orioles, more rumors swirl in trade winds (Ripken family statement)

July 24, 2012, 8:43pm

Orioles

The Pirates are buyers, proving again that it's a mad, mad, mad, mad world. It is not 1971 or 1979. I took the time to check. In case you missed it, the Pirates acquired pitcher Wandy Rodriguez from the Astros last night for minor leaguers Rudy Owens, Robbie Grossman and Colton Cain. The Astros will be sending a nice hunk of cash, too. The Orioles spoke to the Astros about Rodriguez, as I wrote here, but they weren't overly enthusiastic. I've heard that his salary was a big turnoff -...

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A few more postgame notes and quotes

July 24, 2012, 7:08pm

Orioles

Second base umpire Gary Darling made the balk call on Wei-Yin Chen. "To be honest with you, I have no idea (why)," Chen said through his interpreter. "I have a standard routine when I was on the mound and I do the same routine every time. After the game, I went back to the video room and I keep checking. I watched it (over and over). I couldn't get it, and to be honest with you I don't understand that. "I can do better. I didn't control my emotions really well at that time. It's so...

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Showalter speaks after 3-1 loss

July 24, 2012, 6:52pm

Orioles

Wei-Yin Chen gave the Orioles a seventh consecutive quality start tonight. It was wasted by an offense that couldn't do much against Rays starter Jeremy Hellickson and three relievers. "He was good, real good," manager Buck Showalter said following the Orioles' 3-1 loss. "Deserved a little bit better fate. Their guy was real good, too. Wei-Yin was good again. He's been solid. He had good stuff tonight. The balk call hurt him. Probably cost him another inning." Oh yes, the balk...

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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...