Roch Kubatko

Updating Chavez during rain delay

May 09, 2012, 3:21pm

Orioles

The tarp's on the field, it's pouring rain and the forecast is dismal. We won't start on time. Endy Chavez continues to receive treatment for a sore intercostal muscle, and it's quite possible that he goes on the disabled list. "Last night before the game, he said it was the best he's felt, but the last at-bat he felt it a little bit," manager Buck Showalter said. Showalter never confirms whether a player is unavailable because he wants the opposing manager to think he's operating...

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Hammel and Showalter talk about Hammel

May 09, 2012, 1:54pm

Orioles

Orioles pitcher Jason Hammel is optimistic that he can avoid the disabled list if his next start is pushed back a few days. Hammel won't make tomorrow's scheduled start because of a sore right knee. An MRI didn't reveal any structural damage, but there's fluid in the knee that's required treatment. "Two or three starts, each start it's gotten progressively worse - more just fluid in my knee where it's stiff," Hammel said. "I can't really drive off my back leg. It was getting worse...

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Tolleson headed here; Hammel will be skipped (Phillips optioned)

May 09, 2012, 12:41pm

Orioles

Tolleson headed here; Hammel will be skipped (Phillips optioned)

Another day at Camden Yards brings another batch of news. The Orioles are purchasing infielder Steve Tolleson's contract from Triple-A Norfolk and will announce the corresponding roster move once the reliever is told that he's being optioned. Manager Buck Showalter will speak to him during batting practice. Tolleson, who will wear No. 6, is expected to arrive at Camden Yards about an hour before the first pitch. This move is being made because Endy Chavez continues to be bothered by a sore...

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Orioles and Rangers lineups

May 09, 2012, 11:25am

Orioles

Rule 5 pick Ryan Flaherty is leading off and starting in left field tonight. Mark Reynolds is at first base. For the Orioles: Ryan Flaherty LF J.J. Hardy SS Nick Markakis RF Adam Jones CF Matt Wieters C Wilson Betemit 3B Chris Davis DH Mark Reynolds 1B Robert Andino 2B Wei-Yin Chen LHP For the Rangers: Ian Kinsler 2B Elvis Andrus SS Josh Hamilton LF Adrian Beltre DH Michael Young 1B Nelson Cruz RF Yorvit Torrealba C Brandon Snyder 3B Craig Gentry CF Colby Lewis RHP Last night's game...

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Willis drops grievance against Orioles

May 09, 2012, 8:34am

Orioles

Left-hander Dontrelle Willis has dropped his grievance against the Orioles and will report to extended spring training tomorrow, according to agent Matt Sosnick. Willis left Triple-A Norfolk and returned home with the assumption that he would be granted his release. Executive vice president Dan Duquette said the Orioles never made that promise and that Willis left without permission, leading to the grievance and some hard feelings on the pitcher's side. In case you need a reminder, here's...

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More roster moves are coming

May 08, 2012, 9:00pm

Orioles

No truth to the rumor that the Orioles are trying to trade for Cole Hamels so he can give Josh Hamilton a belated "welcome to the majors" moment later tonight. The Orioles' 25-man roster was stagnant long enough. Now we're seeing the ripples. Nolan Reimold goes on the disabled list. Luis Exposito is recalled. Tommy Hunter and Ronny Paulino are optioned. Jason Berken is recalled. Stu Pomeranz has his contract purchased. Berken is optioned. Zach Phillips is recalled. I'm pretty sure it...

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Hearing from Hamilton, Arrieta and O'Day

May 08, 2012, 7:11pm

Orioles

Hearing from Hamilton, Arrieta and O'Day

Josh Hamilton had never hit three home runs in the same game before tonight, the thought crossing his mind after No. 2 cleared the fence. He had no idea what was coming next. Hamilton became the 16th player in major league history to hit four homers in the same game. "Obviously it's, other than being in the World Series, the highlight of my big league career," he said. "I was saying after I hit two that I've never hit three in a game before, and what a blessing that was. And then to...

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Showalter speaks after 10-3 loss

May 08, 2012, 6:40pm

Orioles

Too much Josh Hamilton tonight. That pretty much sums up the Orioles' 10-3 loss to the Rangers before an announced 11,263 at Camden Yards. The Orioles outscored the Rangers, 3-2, without Hamilton's four home runs and eight RBIs. Maybe they've found a loophole. So ... too much Josh Hamilton? "Yep," manager Buck Showalter said. "We didn't score many runs, either. I think you've got to tip your hat to their pitching staff, too. We've obviously given up a lot of runs in a couple nights...

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Stop pitching to Josh Hamilton (That's four home runs tonight!)

May 08, 2012, 5:17pm

Orioles

Stop pitching to Josh Hamilton (That's four home runs tonight!)

The Orioles tried to get back into tonight's game. Too bad they tried to pitch to Josh Hamilton again in the seventh inning. With his team trailing, 5-1, manager Buck Showalter removed Jake Arrieta and brought in left-hander Zach Phillips to pitch to Hamilton with one on and one out. Hamilton promptly launched his third home run of the night, giving him six RBIs and giving the Rangers a 7-1 lead. Left-handed batters were 2-for-20 against Phillips last season, but Hamilton must not have read...

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Orioles fall behind in first inning (and it's worse in third)

May 08, 2012, 3:39pm

Orioles

Well, that didn't take long. Jake Arrieta, who tossed eight scoreless innings in his last start in New York, served up a two-run homer to Josh Hamilton in the top of the first. Rangers 2, Orioles 0. The big mistake was walking Elvis Andrus with one out. Hamilton followed with his 11th homer, the ball eluding Adam Jones' leaping attempt and clearing the center field fence. The Orioles stranded two runners in the bottom of the first, but they worked Rangers starter Neftali Feliz for 27...

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Showalter talks about Tejada and Phillips

May 08, 2012, 1:52pm

Orioles

Showalter talks about Tejada and Phillips

Miguel Tejada signed his minor league deal with the Orioles today and served as the designated hitter in an extended spring training game. That's all I know. I'd pass along his stats if I had them. Manager Buck Showalter hasn't said much about Tejada, who contacted the Orioles seeking a tryout after being unable to land a major league deal. "You can talk to Dan (Duquette)," Showalter said. "I know Dan was dealing with Miguel and his agent. He told me about it over in Boston. I know...

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Eveland could join rotation Friday (with Rangers lineup)

May 08, 2012, 12:56pm

Orioles

Eveland could join rotation Friday (with Rangers lineup)

The Orioles removed left-hander Dana Eveland from last night's start with Triple-A Norfolk so he can start here Friday night. Eveland tossed five scoreless innings and threw 63 pitches before coming out of the game. He's allowed nine earned runs in 36 2/3 innings this season, and only two in his last 13 innings. Eveland isn't on the 40-man roster, so the Orioles would have to make room for him. One possibility is transferring second baseman Brian Roberts to the 60-day disabled list. His...

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Orioles' lineup against Texas; Phillips is here (updated)

May 08, 2012, 11:14am

Orioles

Mark Reynolds will serve as the designated hitter tonight. Wilson Betemit gets the start at third base. For the Orioles: Endy Chavez LF J.J Hardy SS Nick Markakis RF Adam Jones CF Matt Wieters C Chris Davis 1B Wilson Betemit 3B Mark Reynolds DH Robert Andino 2B Jake Arrieta RHP It continues to rain here. I don't have any inside information on the weather, and the Orioles haven't revealed contingency plans in case there's a postponement. I'm just checking weather.com and waiting like...

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This, that and the other

May 07, 2012, 8:29pm

Orioles

For fans and media types who are freaking out over the rotation's poor showing the past two games, second baseman Robert Andino offers a little reminder. "Our pitchers aren't machines, either," he said. "It's a grind. You're going to have your ups and downs, but we'll come back out tomorrow and play again. You can't stress one game." Baseball doesn't offer mulligans, but I'm giving one to the Orioles last night after their 17-inning game on Sunday. "No one here is going to make...

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Hearing from Pomeranz, Matusz and Snyder

May 07, 2012, 6:34pm

Orioles

Hearing from Pomeranz, Matusz and Snyder

J.J. Hardy has reached base safely in 13 of his last 14 games. He's 8-for-12 in his last two. Matt Wieters has a hit in eight straight games and 13 of his last 14. Robert Andino has now homered in consecutive games twice in his career. The bullpen had allowed one earned run in the last 35 2/3 innings before Jason Berken gave up two earned (seven total) in the ninth inning. Stu Pomeranz blanked the Rangers over three innings, allowing three hits, walking one and striking out two. Was he...

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Showalter not offering excuses for 14-3 loss

May 07, 2012, 6:14pm

Orioles

Showalter not offering excuses for 14-3 loss

It would have been easy for manager Buck Showalter to refer back to yesterday's 17-inning game in Boston, and the harm it did to his bullpen, while dissecting tonight's 14-3 loss to the Rangers before 11,938 at Camden Yards. Easy, but unacceptable. Showalter didn't blame a carryover from the marathon win over the Red Sox for tonight's dismal showing. "I know that's a real easy area to go down, but I don't think anybody in our locker room would," Showalter said. "(Matt) Harrison...

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Tejada passes physical, Snyder torturing former team (O's down 14-3)

May 07, 2012, 4:39pm

Orioles

Tejada passes physical, Snyder torturing former team (O's down 14-3)

Miguel Tejada passed his physical today in Sarasota and is expected to sign a minor league contract tomorrow and begin workouts at the Ed Smith Stadium complex. Tejada will be evaluated for seven to 10 days before the Orioles decide whether to keep him. He'll stay at extended spring training. The Orioles consider Tejada to be a possible defensive upgrade at third base, though it's unclear how his presence would affect Bill Hall at Triple-A Norfolk or Mark Reynolds here. As for tonight's...

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Snyder gets revenge, early Bundy update (updated)

May 07, 2012, 3:37pm

Orioles

Snyder gets revenge, early Bundy update (updated)

Brandon Snyder got a little revenge on his former team tonight, driving a two-out, two-run single into center field off left-hander Brian Matusz in the top of the second inning. Adrian Beltre led off with a walk and Nelson Cruz doubled with one out. Mike Napoli flied to shallow right, but Snyder singled on a 2-2 pitch. Matusz got a called strike with a slider to even the count, and he came back with the same pitch. This time, Snyder got a hold of it. J.J. Hardy singled with one out in the...

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Starter possibilities for Friday

May 07, 2012, 1:49pm

Orioles

The Orioles need a starter to take Tommy Hunter's turn on Friday. Jason Berken, recalled today for the second time this season, is a possibility. He's been starting at Triple-A Norfolk. However, what happens if Berken is needed in relief this week and throws enough pitches that he's not available for the series opener against Tampa Bay? Chris Tillman is scheduled to start Friday for Norfolk, so he must be viewed as a candidate. He threw six innings yesterday in Game 1 of a doubleheader and...

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More from Showalter, Snyder starting at third base for Rangers

May 07, 2012, 1:20pm

Orioles

More from Showalter, Snyder starting at third base for Rangers

The Orioles were expected to option third catcher Luis Exposito to make room for a reliever, but baseball can be unpredictable. Exposito is now the second catcher. Ronny Paulino, who won the backup job in spring training while Taylor Teagarden dealt with a lower-back injury, will be the primary starter at Triple-A Norfolk. Didn't see that one coming. "They both had options," manager Buck Showalter said. "Ronny, we just want to get him catching for a period of time, get him back there...