Roch Kubatko

Chris Davis starting at third base tonight (game delayed)

September 06, 2011, 1:01pm

Orioles

Chris Davis starting at third base tonight (game delayed)

It's been raining all day in New York and the forecast calls for rain all night, but here's the Orioles' lineup, just in case they're able to play this game and avoid a doubleheader tomorrow. It includes Chris Davis at third base and Matt Angle in left field. Nolan Reimold remains on the bench. For the Orioles: Matt Angle LF J.J. Hardy SS Nick Markakis RF Adam Jones CF Vladimir Guerrero DH Mark Reynolds 1B Matt Wieters C Chris Davis 3B Robert Andino 2B Tommy Hunter RHP For the...

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More musings on Matusz and other matters

September 05, 2011, 2:21pm

Orioles

More musings on Matusz and other matters

If rain forces a postponement in one of the two remaining games at Yankee Stadium, I suggest an extreme split-doubleheader Thursday. Play one game in the Bronx and one at Camden Yards. The two teams have to go back to Baltimore for a makeup game, much to the chagrin of Yankees manager Joe Girardi and everyone else on the payroll. May as well play two. OK, that idea won't fly, but at least I'm thinking outside the box. Orioles manager Buck Showalter indicated yesterday during his postgame...

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More roster moves include Accardo, Bell and Florimon

September 05, 2011, 1:39pm

Orioles

More roster moves include Accardo, Bell and Florimon

I told you earlier that left-hander Clay Rapada would join the Orioles in New York. He won't be alone. A team official confirmed that the Orioles also will purchase reliever Jeremy Accardo's contract from Triple-A Norfolk, meaning they will have to clear two spots on the 40-man roster. Third baseman Josh Bell and Double-A Bowie infielder Pedro Florimon, both on the 40-man, will be recalled. As expected, first baseman Chris Davis will come off the disabled list after going 3-for-6 in two...

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Rapada joining Orioles in New York (O's lose 11-10)

September 05, 2011, 11:41am

Orioles

The Orioles will make another roster move by purchasing Clay Rapada's contract from Triple-A Norfolk. Rapada will join the Orioles in New York, with Norfolk's season ending today with an 8-5 win over Durham. Rapada was 0-1 with a 3.92 ERA in 26 games with the Tides. He posted a 7.30 ERA in 22 games with the Orioles before being designated for assignment, but left-handed batters were 4-for-35 with 13 strikeouts against him. Right-handers batted .692. Manager Buck Showalter and president of...

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Markakis marks his territory in first inning (Yankees take lead)

September 05, 2011, 9:20am

Orioles

Markakis marks his territory in first inning (Yankees take lead)

Isn't it nice when the Orioles do a little two-out damage? Nick Markakis got ahead of Yankees starter Freddy Garcia 3-0 with two outs in the first inning. He took a pitch for a strike, and crushed an 86 mph fastball, sending it deep into the seats in right field for a 1-0 lead. The Yankees have outscored the Orioles, 35-7, in the first inning this season, so Markakis' blast is a refreshing change of pace. Let's see how long left-hander Brian Matusz can hold that lead, and whether the...

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Hudson stays in lineup (Yankees lineup)

September 05, 2011, 6:45am

Orioles

Kyle Hudson made his major league debut yesterday, grounding into two double plays, and he's back in left field today for the series opener against the Yankees. Nolan Reimold remains on the bench. For the Orioles: Kyle Hudson LF J.J. Hardy SS Nick Markakis RF Adam Jones CF Vladimir Guerrero DH Matt Wieters C Mark Reynolds 1B Robert Andino 3B Ryan Adams 2B Brian Matusz LHP Matusz is trying to snap a seven-game losing streak. Orioles starting pitchers have allowed five or more runs...

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Closing arguments about Gregg and Stanhouse

September 04, 2011, 7:29pm

Orioles

Closing arguments about Gregg and Stanhouse

The Orioles and Yankees are playing a 1:05 p.m. game today, which means an early lineup posting and, we'll assume, a more normal outfield alignment. Nolan Reimold should be back in left field. Nick Markakis should be back in right. And please, put Mark Reynolds back at first base. I believe that Reynolds is better defensively at third than we've seen this year, but there's no question that he's a better first baseman. There's no question that the Orioles should project him as a first...

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Jones ruins no-hit and shutout bids (O's lose 8-1)

September 04, 2011, 11:00am

Orioles

Jones ruins no-hit and shutout bids (O's lose 8-1)

Adam Jones has been slumping, but he was the right guy to give the Orioles their first hit of the afternoon. He also tossed them a run. Jones hit his 23rd home run to reduce Tampa Bay's lead to 7-1 in the fifth inning. He has 80 RBIs this season. Jones drilled a changeup from Rays starter Jeremy Hellickson, giving him two hits in his last 20 at-bats, and four in his last 38. Jones didn't have a home run during that stretch. One more note in the Reid Brignac three-run double: Brignac was...

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More (and more) two-out trauma for Orioles

September 04, 2011, 10:17am

Orioles

All six runs off Alfredo Simon last night came with two outs. Jeremy Guthrie got two outs in the bottom of the second inning today and served up a two-run homer to Sean Rodriguez, giving Tampa Bay an early 2-0 lead. Seriously, why does this keep happening? Guthrie hung a curveball and Rodriguez, the Rays' No. 9 hitter today, delivered his seventh homer of the season. Guthrie escaped a first-inning jam by retiring Matt Joyce on a fly ball and striking out Jose Lobaton on a 94-mph cutter....

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Markakis at first base, Hudson making debut (Rays lineup)

September 04, 2011, 7:21am

Orioles

Markakis at first base, Hudson making debut (Rays lineup)

Manager Buck Showalter has made major changes to the lineup today, moving Nick Markakis to first base for only the second time, putting Matt Angle in right and giving Kyle Hudson his first major league start in left field. For the Orioles: Matt Angle RF J.J. Hardy SS Nick Markakis 1B Adam Jones CF Vladimir Guerrero DH Mark Reynolds 3B Robert Andino 2B Kyle Hudson LF Craig Tatum C Jeremy Guthrie RHP For the Rays: Jennings CF Damon DH Longoria 3B Joyce RF Lobaton C Kotchman 1B Guyer...

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A few pregame notes

September 04, 2011, 5:16am

Orioles

The season series between the Orioles and Rays is tied, 7-7. The Orioles are 1-5 in Baltimore, but 6-2 at Tropicana Field. The all-time series is tied, 118-118. A win today would give the Orioles consecutive road series wins for the first time since they took two of three from the Rays on Sept, 27-29, 2010 and swept the Rays in the opening series of 2011 (April 1-3). Kevin Gregg notched his 20th save Friday night and became the 16th Oriole pitcher ever to record 20 or more saves in a season -...

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Strop makes a solid impression in 6-3 loss

September 03, 2011, 5:02pm

Orioles

Strop makes a solid impression in 6-3 loss

Pedro Strop, acquired from the Rangers on a waiver claim that sort of qualified him as a player to be named later, struck out two Rays during a perfect eighth inning tonight. I know very little about Strop besides how he was signed by the Rockies as a shortstop and became a pitcher four years later. I heard he threw in the mid-90s and had a live arm, which is much better than having a dead one. Strop fanned B.J. Upton and Sean Rodriguez tonight, and retired Casey Kotchman on a fly ball to...

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Matusz to go on Monday (Rays lead, 6-3)

September 03, 2011, 2:09pm

Orioles

Brian Matusz was skipped in the rotation tonight, but manager Buck Showalter told reporters in St. Petersburg that the left-hander will start Monday afternoon at Yankee Stadium. So much for a long wait. Alfredo Simon is taking the mound tonight. Hopefully, he'll still be there when MASN2 begins to air the game at 7:06 p.m. It's a Fox window issue, and I don't mean Jake. But anyway ... Matusz is 1-7 with a 9.07 ERA this season. He's 2-4 with a 3.65 ERA in six career starts against New...

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Orioles and Rays lineups

September 03, 2011, 11:15am

Orioles

The Orioles are sticking with a familiar lineup tonight against Tampa Bay right-hander Wade Davis. For the Orioles: J.J. Hardy SS Nick Markakis RF Adam Jones CF Vladimir Guerrero DH Matt Wieters C Mark Reynolds 1B Robert Andino 3B Nolan Reimold LF Ryan Adams 2B Alfredo Simon RHP For the Rays: Desmond Jennings LF Johnny Damon DH Evan Longoria 3B Matt Joyce RF B.J. Upton CF Casey Kotchman 1B Sean Rodriguez 2B John Jaso C Reid Brignac SS Wade Davis RHP

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Random thoughts and ramblings

September 02, 2011, 6:37pm

Orioles

Jim Johnson retired all six batters he faced last night after replacing Zach Britton in the seventh inning. I'll say it again: He's got to be in the top three voting for Most Valuable Oriole. His name will appear on my ballot. I talked to one reporter who said he'd choose Mark Reynolds over Johnson for third place behind Adam Jones and J.J. Hardy. I can't omit Johnson, who leads American League relievers in innings pitched and lowered his ERA last night to 2.58. We can continue to...

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Pie injured, Orioles hang on for 3-2 win

September 02, 2011, 5:09pm

Orioles

Triple-A Norfolk center fielder Felix Pie left tonight's game in the top of the fourth inning with a strained hamstring. My guess is he'll be listed as day-to-day. Pie grounded to short to end the bottom of the third, making him 0-for-2 and leaving his average at .250. Tyler Henson moved to center as Pie's replacement, Brandon Snyder went from first base to left field, and Adam Donachie took over as the first baseman and leadoff hitter - something you're not likely to see happen again with...

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A different Britton in first inning

September 02, 2011, 3:40pm

Orioles

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Orioles lineup against Rays, Roberts update

September 02, 2011, 12:43pm

Orioles

For the Orioles: J.J. Hardy SS Nick Markakis RF Adam Jones CF Vladimir Guerrero DH Matt Wieters C Mark Reynolds 1B Robert Andino 3B Nolan Reimold LF Ryan Adams 2B Zach Britton LHP Brian Roberts is at Tropicana Field. He's scheduled to meet with reporters in manager Buck Showalter's office around 5:10 p.m. His interview will air on O's Xtra on MASN2, which begins at 6:30 p.m. Update: Roberts told reporters that he's continuing to progress, but while he hasn't ruled out playing...

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Navigating through 40-man confusion

September 02, 2011, 9:52am

Orioles

I've warned you that math isn't my thing, and it challenged me again this week during the flurry of 40-man roster moves. It reminded me of the ol' shell game. Guys were moving on and off the roster so fast, my eyes began to cross. I thought Mark Hendrickson's addition after his 48-hour removal, and the Michael Gonzalez trade, left the Orioles without any more room for an outsider. I had Hendrickson pegged as the 40th. Mike Ballard and Mitch Atkins came off, Kyle Hudson and Rick VandenHurk...