Hunter hanging tough, but where's the offense? (O's lose 5-0)

Hunter hanging tough, but where's the offense? (O's lose 5-0)
The Orioles might want to mix in a run once in a while. Not trying to be a know-it-all here, but I think it's pretty solid advice and I'm offering it up for free. It's almost like they're being punished since Jason Hammel tossed a one-hit shutout Saturday night in Atlanta. They needed another shutout to win the following day while being limited to two runs, and they managed only one hit last night while being shut out by Mets knuckleballer R.A. Dickey. Tonight, left-hander Johan Santana...

Reimold decision on hold

Reimold decision on hold
The Orioles still don't know whether outfielder Nolan Reimold will undergo surgery. They continue to wait and hold onto whatever bit of optimism remains. I wrote earlier today that Reimold was undergoing another examination - special assistant Brady Anderson accompanied him - after he already visited two cervical specialists. If you missed "O's Xtra" on MASN HD, here's what manager Buck Showalter told reporters at Citi Field regarding Reimold's status and what lies ahead: Buck Showalter...

Pearce in right field, Andino at third base (and more notes)

Pearce in right field, Andino at third base (and more notes)
Manager Buck Showalter is changing his lineup today against Mets left-hander Johan Santana. He's got Steve Pearce in right field, Steve Tolleson in left and Robert Andino at third base. Chris Davis, who has been starting in right field, is 0-for-14 on the road trip. For the Orioles: Brian Roberts 2B J.J. Hardy SS Adam Jones CF Matt Wieters C Mark Reynolds 1B Steve Pearce RF Steve Tolleson LF Robert Andino 3B Tommy Hunter RHP The Orioles have been involved in three consecutive...

Pineiro throws five innings in GCL

Pineiro throws five innings in GCL
Pitcher Joel Pineiro, on the minor league disabled list with a sore right shoulder, is nearing a return to Triple-A Norfolk's rotation Pineiro followed a start in a simulated game on Thursday by going five innings today with the Gulf Coast League Orioles. Pineiro allowed one run and four hits against the GCL Twins, with one walk and three strikeouts. Pineiro tossed four innings Thursday in the simulated game in Sarasota. The Orioles signed Pineiro as a minor league free agent after the...

This, that and the other

This, that and the other
You've heard manager Buck Showalter rave about shortstop J.J. Hardy's defense. What does Hall of Famer Cal Ripken think about it? Funny I asked. "He doesn't do it flashy," Ripken said yesterday as we kicked back in the seats at the Aberdeen stadium that bears his last name. "He knows himself, he gets good jumps on the ball, he gets good reads, he positions himself well. I like all the little fundamental things he does. He gets there early on steal coverages, he makes tags the right way,...

Arrieta was grand until grand slam (deficit grows)

Arrieta was grand until grand slam (deficit grows)
Jake Arrieta had allowed one run in his last 12 2/3 innings when the Mets' Ike Davis stepped to the plate tonight with the bases loaded and two outs in the bottom of the sixth. With one swing, a scoreless tie was shattered and Arrieta's run of success had been destroyed. Davis' first career grand slam gave New York a 4-0 lead against the Orioles, who have managed only one hit off knuckleballer R.A. Dickey. The Orioles hadn't allowed a run in 25 consecutive innings before the Mets batted...

Davis stays in right field (and Mets lineup)

Davis stays in right field (and Mets lineup)
Orioles manager Buck Showalter is giving Chris Davis another start in right field tonight as the Orioles make their first trip to Citi Field to play the Mets. The Orioles last played the Mets in New York in 2006, winning two of three games. For the Orioles: Brian Roberts 2B J.J. Hardy SS Chris Davis RF Adam Jones CF Matt Wieters C Mark Reynolds 1B Wilson Betemit 3B Steve Pearce LF Jake Arrieta RHP The Orioles haven't allowed a run in the last 20 innings and haven't surrendered an...

Jones moves up to fourth in All-Star voting (and notes)

Jones moves up to fourth in All-Star voting (and notes)
Adam Jones is pushing to become the first Oriole elected to the All-Star Game in seven years. Jones has moved up to fourth among American League outfielders in the latest balloting figures. Jones has received 1,959,207 votes, leaving him behind the Blue Jays' Jose Bautista (1,996,940) for the third spot. Jones was fifth last week, a spot now occupied by the Rangers' Nelson Cruz. Nick Markakis actually moved up from 15th to 13th despite being sidelined with a broken hamate bone. J.J....

Which Orioles will be seeing (all) stars?

Which Orioles will be seeing (all) stars?
With only a few exceptions in recent years, the Orioles' involvement in the All-Star Game has pretty much been reduced to the obligatory one representative. Someone has to be chosen, no matter how poorly the team is performing. It's baseball law. Matt Wieters last summer. Ty Wigginton in 2010. Adam Jones in 2009. George Sherrill in 2008. Brian Roberts in 2007. Miguel Tejada in 2006. Yes, I'm referring back to 2005 again while noting that Roberts, Tejada, Melvin Mora and B.J. Ryan...

Back-to-back blankings of the Braves

Back-to-back blankings of the Braves
I left Ocean Pines at 1:30 p.m. with the idea of catching the end of today's game on MASN2 after I arrived home. I barely made it across the Bay Bridge when Jim Johnson recorded his 20th save to preserve the Orioles' 2-0 victory over the Braves. The starting pitchers were getting quick outs and the traffic was moving at a snail's pace. Did anyone guess back in March that Jason Hammel and Wei-Yin Chen would each win seven of their first nine decisions? What about the back-to-back shutouts,...

Roberts gets day off

Roberts gets day off
Orioles manager Buck Showalter is giving Brian Roberts the day off today unless the second baseman is needed later in the game. Nothing to worry about. Roberts is fine. It's just a scheduled rest. Matt Wieters also is on the bench today. Robert Andino returns to second base. Chris Davis remains in right field. For the Orioles: Robert Andino 2B J.J. Hardy SS Chris Davis RF Adam Jones CF Wilson Betemit 3B Mark Reynolds 1B Ronny Paulino C Steve Pearce LF Wei-Yin Chen LHP

Showalter excelled at rotating his starters (and notes)

Showalter excelled at rotating his starters (and notes)
Yesterday, I praised manager Buck Showalter's handling of the bullpen, which continues to own the lowest ERA in the majors. Today, I'm offering the blog equivalent of a fist-bump for the adjustments he made to the rotation. Showalter pushed back Brian Matusz's start from Wednesday to Friday, giving the left-hander a few more days to recover after a bunted ball smacked him in the nose. Matusz felt good enough to take his scheduled turn, but Showalter had a plan. Besides making sure that...

Hammel time (Hammel finishes with one-hit shutout)

Hammel time (Hammel finishes with one-hit shutout)
Jason Hammel allowed four earned runs in four of his last six starts before tonight. He also won four of his last six starts, though not each time he permitted four runs. It just worked out that way. Hammel is on top of his game tonight, permitting one baserunner in his first five innings - on a walk to Dan Uggla. He's retired 12 in a row heading into the sixth. Hammel has thrown 57 pitches, 33 for strikes, and fanned four Braves. His right knee isn't keeping him out of the rotation or...

Britton scuffling again tonight (O's take the lead)

Britton scuffling again tonight (O's take the lead)
Left-hander Zach Britton has allowed three runs and five hits in two innings against Triple-A Toledo. Britton posted a 0.75 ERA in two rehab starts at Double-A Bowie, but he's gone 1-1 with a 5.91 ERA in his first two starts at Norfolk covering 10 2/3 innings. He's allowed seven runs and 14 hits, walked four and struck out four. In his most recent outing, he gave up three runs and seven hits in 4 2/3 innings in Buffalo after the Orioles removed him from the 60-day disabled list and...

Davis back in right field tonight

Davis back in right field tonight
Orioles manager Buck Showalter isn't shaking up the lineup tonight. Chris Davis is starting in right field again, with Steve Pearce in left, Mark Reyolds at first base and Wilson Betemit at third. He'd love to sneak in a designated hitter, but no chance. For the Orioles: Brian Roberts 2B J.J. Hardy SS Chris Davis RF Adam Jones CF Matt Wieters C Mark Reynolds 1B Wilson Betemit 3B Steve Pearce LF Jason Hammel RHP For the Braves: Michael Bourn CF Martin Prado LF Brian McCann C Dan...

Orioles not pitching in at the plate

Orioles not pitching in at the plate
Orioles pitchers are 0-for-9 at the plate with eight strikeouts in interleague games this year, which might seem like an obvious failing except that they were 9-for-22 (.409) last season, setting American League single-season records for most hits and highest batting average by pitchers in interleague competition. Wei-Yin Chen has struck out in both of his at-bats this season, and that's an obvious failing. He'll be the first to admit, through his interpreter, that he's a bad hitter. He had...

Orioles trying to get it right in right

Orioles trying to get it right in right
Before the Orioles took the field on Thursday for the final game of their homestand, manager Buck Showalter responded to a reporter's question by confirming that Chris Davis could play first base again this season. He also noted that Davis might play third or left field as part of a double-switch, one of those moves commonly made in National League ballparks. Showalter's point was that Davis shouldn't be regarded exclusively as a designated hitter despite making 17 starts in that role, one...

Matusz left with 1-0 deficit (Matusz done after 5 2/3)

Matusz left with 1-0 deficit (Matusz done after 5 2/3)
Before tonight, only one left-handed batter had homered off Orioles starter Brian Matusz. Move over, Curtis Granderson. Atlanta catcher Brian McCann homered with two outs in the first inning tonight to give the Braves a 1-0 lead. Lefties were batting .138 against Matusz before tonight, with four walks and 22 strikeouts. In his career, Matusz was holding lefties to a .219 average and 11 home runs. Right-handed hitters had 40 homers. McCann was a logical candidate to buck the trend. He's...

Davis in right field tonight

Davis in right field tonight
Manager Buck Showalter is keeping Chris Davis in the lineup tonight by starting him in right field. Davis has never played the outfield in the majors. He's been a corner infielder and emergency reliever (once). Davis played two games in right field with Single-A Spokane in 2006. For the Orioles: Brian Roberts 2B J.J. Hardy SS Chris Davis RF Adam Jones CF Matt Wieters C Mark Reynolds 1B Wilson Betemit 3B Steve Pearce LF Brian Matusz LHP For the Braves: Michael Bourn CF Martin Prado 1B Brian...

Matusz looking to end interleague streak

Matusz looking to end interleague streak
Left-hander Brian Matusz is starting tonight for the Orioles after being pushed back two days following his bunting mishap, and he's got a score to settle with the National League. Matusz has never faced the Braves, but he's 0-5 with a 7.49 ERA in six career interleague starts, with 28 earned runs allowed in 33 2/3 innings. He's also hitless in four major league at-bats. It's probably safe to assume that Matusz isn't a huge fan of interleague baseball. That's most definitely true of...