Roch Kubatko

Strange day at Triple-A Norfolk (O's sign Pineiro)

April 11, 2012, 12:58pm

Orioles

Strange day at Triple-A Norfolk (O's sign Pineiro)

Triple-A Norfolk blew a seven-run lead in the ninth inning today and lost to Gwinnett, 14-12, in 11 innings. Things are tough all over. The Tides committed three errors, and four of the 14 runs were unearned. Infielder Steve Tolleson replaced Dontrelle Willis after the veteran left-hander walked the first batter he faced and went to a 3-0 count on the next hitter. Tolleson pitched an inning and allowed an unearned run and one hit. Brad Bergesen started the game and allowed four runs (three...

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Paulino serving as DH tonight

April 11, 2012, 11:04am

Orioles

Ronny Paulino will get another chance tonight to collect four hits as the Orioles' designated hitter. If he can do it once ... No major changes to the lineup, unless you consider Wilson Betemit at first base a major change. For the Orioles: Nolan Reimold LF J.J. Hardy SS Nick Markakis RF Adam Jones CF Matt Wieters C Mark Reynolds 3B Ronny Paulino DH Wilson Betemit 1B Robert Andino 2B Jake Arrieta RHP You'd already know the lineup if you followed me on Twitter:...

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Morning musings

April 11, 2012, 4:42am

Orioles

It's been approximately seven hours since I left Camden Yards, and I've just regained the feeling in my hands. Yes, the temperature dipped a little after the first pitch. The Frozen Four is the college hockey semifinals, but it's also the toes I have remaining on my left foot. Anyway, I'm going to assume that Mark Reynolds remains at third base tonight because manager Buck Showalter believes that he'll start hitting and fielding, and Reynolds already sat out one of the first five games....

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Hearing from Chen and Reynolds

April 10, 2012, 8:33pm

Orioles

Wei-Yin Chen had a confession to make after tonight's 5-4, 12-inning loss to the Yankees. He was nervous. Chen calmed himself after a rough beginning and held the Yankees to one run going into the sixth inning. He was charged with two earned runs (four total) and seven hits in 5 2/3 innings, with one walk and six strikeouts. "To be honest with you guys, this is my first major league outing. I was so nervous. But after the first inning everything was fine for me," Chen said through his...

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Showalter speaks after 5-4, 12-inning loss

April 10, 2012, 8:18pm

Orioles

Showalter speaks after 5-4, 12-inning loss

Orioles manager Buck Showalter was impressed tonight with Taiwanese left-hander Wei-Yin Chen, who retired 12 in a row heading into the fifth inning and took a 4-1 lead into the sixth before the Yankees tied the game. "Pitched well, pitched well, especially after the way things started," Showalter said. "Hopefully, it bodes well for him. You can tell one thing, he's got some toughness about him. I thought he got better as the game went on against obviously a very potent lineup. I thought he...

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Free baseball (O's lose 5-4 in 12 innings)

April 10, 2012, 6:41pm

Orioles

Free baseball (O's lose 5-4 in 12 innings)

The Orioles didn't have a hit since Robert Andino's leadoff double in the fifth inning when pinch-hitter Nolan Reimold came to the plate in the ninth. Seemed like a good time to end the drought and start a rally. Reimold rolled a single into right field off Yankees reliever Boone Logan, and Yankees manager Joe Girardi summoned Cory Wade into the game. Wade retired Mark Reynolds on a pop up, bringing Chris Davis to the plate and Andino to the on-deck circle, where he had trouble picking up...

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Rough beginning and finish for Chen

April 10, 2012, 5:26pm

Orioles

The stuff in the middle was awfully good. Maybe this was Wei-Yin Chen's Oreo debut. (Sorry) Chen retired 12 in a row after giving up a homer and double and hitting a batter among the first four that he faced. He led, 4-1, going into the sixth, but the Yankees have tied the game and knocked him out of it. Two of the three runs in the sixth were unearned because of Mark Reynolds' two-out error on Russell Martin's sharp bouncer to third base. The ball slammed off Reynolds' chest and rolled...

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Game update (O's lead 4-1)

April 10, 2012, 4:41pm

Orioles

Yankees starter Freddy Garcia has thrown four wild pitches in four innings, including two during Nick Johnson's at-bat in the first inning. He also threw two in the fourth inning, after Adam Jones led off with a double to left-center field. Matt Wieters walked, and Jones scored on Johnson's ground ball to first. Jones went in standing and knocked the ball out of catcher Russell Martin's mitt. Martin was charged with an error. Orioles 3, Yankees 1. As The Suns' Dan Connolly pointed...

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Chen given a rude welcome to majors (O's lead 2-1)

April 10, 2012, 3:19pm

Orioles

Chen given a rude welcome to majors (O's lead 2-1)

Wei-Yin Chen's first three pitches tonight missed the strike zone. His fifth missed every glove in the ballpark and landed on the wrong side of the fence. Derek Jeter hit his 25th leadoff home run, breaking Rickey Henderson's franchise record and giving the Yankees a 1-0 lead. Jeter clobbered an 88 mph fastball. Nick Swisher followed with a double to right-center field on an 83 mph slider. Not exactly what the Orioles wanted to see from their Taiwanese pitcher in his major league...

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Showalter on Chen and the bullpen

April 10, 2012, 2:52pm

Orioles

Wei-Yin Chen's start is sort of a big deal in Taiwan. How big? There are nine Taiwanese media outlets at Camden Yards tonight: Central News Agency, TBVS, ETTV, ESPN Taiwan, China Times, Liberty Times, Formosa, CTI TV and World Journal. There are 15 people from these outlets. Tonight's game will air live in Taiwan on three outlets - Formosa TV, ESPN Taiwan and ETLA - at 7 a.m. local time. It's also a pretty big deal to the Orioles. "Oh, without a doubt it's different. Thank goodness....

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When will Wieters sit instead of crouch?

April 10, 2012, 1:24pm

Orioles

When will Wieters sit instead of crouch?

Catcher Matt Wieters will be out of the lineup for the first time Saturday night or Sunday afternoon in Toronto. Manager Buck Showalter will decide after checking the matchups. Well, I checked them and I couldn't find a definitive solution. The Blue Jays are starting right-hander Henderson Alvarez on Saturday and right-hander Kyle Drabek on Sunday. Wieters and backup Ronny Paulino haven't faced Alvarez, who's 1-0 with a 1.80 ERA and 0.87 WHIP in two career starts against the Orioles, with...

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Showalter speaks about Andino incident

April 10, 2012, 12:48pm

Orioles

To Orioles second baseman Robert Andino, last night's heated exchange with Yankees catcher Russell Martin over an accusation that he was stealing signs was simply "heat of the moment." "Boys being boys," he said. "Just had a few words. Nothing big." Manager Buck Showalter kept Andino in the lineup tonight. Asked for his take on last night's incident, Showalter said, "Exactly what happened. I think you all know. And we move on. We'll handle things as they come." We won't know...

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Andino in tonight's lineup

April 10, 2012, 11:01am

Orioles

Manager Buck Showalter isn't hiding Robert Andino tonight. If the Yankees are thinking about retribution after last night's accusation from catcher Russell Martin that Andino was stealing signs, they won't have any trouble finding him. For the Orioles: Endy Chavez LF J.J. Hardy SS Nick Markakis RF Adam Jones CF Matt Wieters C Nick Johnson DH Mark Reynolds 3B Chris Davis 1B Robert Andino 2B Wei-Yin Chen LHP

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This, that and the other (and more)

April 09, 2012, 8:35pm

Orioles

If Yankees starter Freddy Garcia comes anywhere near Robert Andino with a pitch tonight, the benches and bullpens are going to empty. Andino and Yankees catcher Russell Martin were barking at each other after last night's game. Martin thinks Andino was stealing signs at second base. Andino thinks Martin would look good buried up to his neck at home plate. This could get interesting. Andino is 1-for-5 with an RBI lifetime against Garcia. Would this be a good night to give Ryan Flaherty a...

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Hearing from Matusz and Wieters

April 09, 2012, 7:24pm

Orioles

I'll close tonight with a few words from the Orioles' battery. Brian Matusz: "I came out today, felt good in the bullpen. I was a little amped up, first start of the season, and I was just pitching behind in the count too much today. Not getting ahead, attacking the zone like I wanted to. The walks hurt. It's a tough lineup. They had hits when they needed it." (Overthrowing?) "I wouldn't say overthrowing. Just a little bit excited. I had a tough time finding the zone." (Better than...

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Andino and Martin exchange words, Showalter speaks after 6-2 loss

April 09, 2012, 7:14pm

Orioles

Andino and Martin exchange words, Showalter speaks after 6-2 loss

I didn't see it, but Orioles second baseman Robert Andino and Yankees catcher Russell Martin exchanged heated words on the field after tonight's game. Martin apparently accused Andino of stealing signs from second base in the ninth inning after Andino doubled off Mariano Rivera with one out. Martin was coy about it afterward, never coming right out and confirming his suspicions, but that was his beef. Martin accused the Blue Jays of doing the same thing last year, so he's a little...

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Big night for Wieters, but O's lose 6-2

April 09, 2012, 6:01pm

Orioles

Matt Wieters has tied his career high with four hits tonight - a home run, double and two singles. He won't be celebrating. The Orioles are down, 6-2, in the top of the ninth, and manager Buck Showalter is using his fifth pitcher, Pedro Strop, who's replacing Kevin Gregg. Wieters also collected four hits in a July 28, 2009 game against the Royals. Wieters needed a triple for the cycle, but he settled for a single off Yankees reliever David Robertson. He entered the game batting .111, but...

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Matusz can't find the plate tonight (O'Day entering game)

April 09, 2012, 4:27pm

Orioles

Matusz can't find the plate tonight (O'Day entering game)

Brian Matusz issued three walks in 24 2/3 spring innings. He's walked four batters tonight in only four innings. Matusz seems to be 2-0 and 3-1 on every hitter. His pitch count is up to 96, including 52 strikes, and Darren O'Day began warming in the bullpen in the fourth while pitching coach Rick Adair visited the mound and catcher Matt Wieters made two trips. The Yankees scored three runs in the fourth to take a 4-1 lead. Derek Jeter had a two-run double, making him 3-for-3 tonight and...

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Bullpen could be busy tonight (Wieters homers)

April 09, 2012, 3:23pm

Orioles

Bullpen could be busy tonight (Wieters homers)

Left-hander Brian Matusz gave up a run in the top of the first inning, which doesn't sound too bad. However, he returned to the dugout with his pitch count at 30. He'll need to become a lot more economical, or we're going to find out how manager Buck Showalter works his bullpen without a true long man. Matusz kept falling behind hitters, though Mark Teixeira's two-out, RBI single came on a 1-2 pitch. Derek Jeter led off with a single, making him 9-for-20 lifetime against Matusz. Alex...

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More pregame notes and quotes

April 09, 2012, 1:52pm

Orioles

Catcher Taylor Teagarden remains on the disabled list with lower-back issues, and it doesn't appear that he's close to joining the active roster. "Better than it was, but still not real fast progress," manager Buck Showalter said. Chris Correnti, the Orioles' performance consultant who's responsible for overseeing the rehabilitation of injured players, told Showalter that Zach Britton is "real excited about finally getting the ball back in his hand." Britton will play catch on...