Roch Kubatko

A second look at Blake Davis

June 22, 2011, 2:37pm

Orioles

Before closing the book on today's 5-4 loss to the Pirates - and if an Orioles starter tried to do it, he'd probably pinch a finger and have his turn skipped - I wanted to revisit Blake Davis' major league debut. Davis went 0-for-4, though he made solid contact in his first two at-bats and advanced both runners with his drive to left-center field. But his day will be defined by his error that allowed two runs to score and gave the Pirates their final lead. I've seen Davis play second base...

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Orioles end road trip with 5-4 loss (Davis quotes)

June 22, 2011, 11:17am

Orioles

The Orioles fell to 10-15 in series finales with today's 5-4 loss to the Pirates. The road trip is finally over. They lost two games in Toronto, two in Washington and two in Pittsburgh. Not exactly how you'd draw it up. The Orioles are back to being a season-worst six games below .500. And now they've got the Reds and Cardinals coming to Camden Yards, followed by another three-city road trip, this one cutting through Atlanta, Arlington and Boston. Zach Britton turned in another quality...

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Davis has "welcome to the majors" moment

June 22, 2011, 10:14am

Orioles

Davis has "welcome to the majors" moment

This isn't how Blake Davis wants to remember his major league debut. Davis let a sharp two-out ground ball from Josh Harrison scoot through his legs in the fifth inning, allowing two runs to score and giving the Pirates a 5-4 lead. Zach Britton should have been out of the inning. Instead, he's trailing again and his pitch count continues to increase. It's up to 70 through the fifth. Britton isn't blameless here, of course, He surrendered back-to-back singles to open the fifth. He's...

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Arrieta's elbow an issue (updated twice)

June 22, 2011, 9:00am

Orioles

Arrieta's elbow an issue (updated twice)

Nick Markakis extended his hitting streak to 13 games today with a double in the first inning. I just wanted to make sure everyone knew about it. The Pirates lead, 2-0, as we head to the top of the second inning. Update: Markakis singled in the third to score Zach Britton, who collected his second major league hit and moved up on J.J. Hardy's single. That's two hits for Markakis in two at-bats. Adam Jones tied the game with a grounder. Orioles pitchers are 6-for-13 on this trip. Update...

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Blake Davis gets first major league start

June 22, 2011, 6:31am

Orioles

Blake Davis gets first major league start

Blake Davis is in the starting lineup today at second base. For the Orioles: J.J. Hardy SS Nick Markakis RF Adam Jones CF Derrek Lee 1B Matt Wieters C Luke Scott LF Mark Reynolds 3B Blake Davis 2B Zach Britton LHP Orioles pitchers are a combined 5-for-12 (.417) at the plate this year with two doubles and two RBIs. All other AL teams are a combined 9-for-120 (.075). Britton recorded his first major league hit Friday in Washington. The Orioles have collected 62 hits in the last five...

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While waiting for the first pitch...

June 21, 2011, 7:02pm

Orioles

The Orioles and Pirates have a 12:35 p.m. game today at PNC Park, which means an early lineup posting and a free night. I'm talking about myself. I don't care what they do. Zach Britton is taking the mound for the 15th time today. Nine of his outings have resulted in quality starts. I'd settle for him getting through the game without an injury. Brad Bergesen probably woke up with a bruise on the right side of his back after being nailed by Jose Tabata's liner last night. I've woke...

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A losing road trip

June 21, 2011, 6:42pm

Orioles

A 9-3 loss to the Pirates tonight assures the Orioles of finishing below .500 on this nine-game, three-city road trip. During his interview that aired on MASN, Jeremy Guthrie told reporters that he felt very comfortable. The back wasn't an issue, and neither was an adjusted throwing schedule leading up to tonight's start. What hurts is the 2-9 record.

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Rotating concerns among Orioles starters (updated twice)

June 21, 2011, 4:43pm

Orioles

The Orioles really need Thursday's off day to slow their world from spinning out of control. Jeremy Guthrie has allowed five runs and seven hits in four innings to the Pirates, who couldn't get out of their own way last night. His last start was cut short by a strained muscle in his back, and his command isn't up to the normal standards. The only encouraging sign is his fastball has hit the mid-90s, so velocity doesn't appear to be an issue. Take the small victories wherever you can find...

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Klein has SLAP tear in shoulder

June 21, 2011, 2:32pm

Orioles

Orioles pitching prospect Dan Klein, a third-round pick out of UCLA last June, has been diagnosed with a small SLAP tear in his right labrum. Renowned orthopedist Dr. Lewis Yocum confirmed the tear while examining the MRI taken on Klein's shoulder last week in Baltimore. The Orioles believe that Klein can rehab the shoulder and avoid surgery, as Jason Berken and former Oriole Matt Albers have done. Klein will report to the minor league complex in Sarasota, Fla., on Monday, but it's not...

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Scott returns to the lineup

June 21, 2011, 11:48am

Orioles

Luke Scott has returned to left field after leaving Saturday's game in Washington with back spasms. For the Orioles: J.J. Hardy SS Nick Markakis RF Adam Jones CF Derrek Lee 1B Matt Wieters C Luke Scott LF Mark Reynolds 3B Robert Andino 2B Jeremy Guthrie RHP

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Updating Brian Roberts (and bullpen coach)

June 21, 2011, 11:10am

Orioles

Updating Brian Roberts (and bullpen coach)

Orioles second baseman Brian Roberts was reevaluated today by Dr. Michael Collins, a concussion specialist in Pittsburgh, and told to return again in two weeks. Roberts has tracked pop-ups, according to president of baseball operations Andy MacPhail, but his baseball activities are limited. He's mostly confined to conditioning exercises, and he's still experiencing mild headaches when exerting himself. While he's making progress, it's coming in small increments. Buck Showalter gives the...

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Guthrie's turn at the plate

June 21, 2011, 8:39am

Orioles

Not to put any pressure on Jeremy Guthrie tonight, but besides pitching for the first time since straining a muscle in his back, he also is expected to produce at least one hit. Orioles pitchers are a combined 4-for-9 (.444) with a double and two RBIs. Jake Arrieta recorded his first major league hit last night, Chris Jakubauskas had his first two hits Sunday at Washington and Zach Britton recorded his first hit Friday. Guthrie is 1-for-17 in his career. If you remember his double off...

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Showalter explains Arrieta's removal and Russell's return to dugout

June 20, 2011, 6:25pm

Orioles

Showalter explains Arrieta's removal and Russell's return to dugout

Manager Buck Showalter confirmed after tonight's 8-3 win over the Pirates that Jake Arrieta's removal from the game wasn't due to a health issue. Arrieta is fine physically. I can't blame anyone for wondering, given what we witnessed in the Nationals series. Arrieta's command and the heat were the issues. That's why he was done after five innings and 87 pitches. "He's capable of better," Showalter told reporters during his postgame press conference that aired on MASN, "but it was...

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Looking back, ahead and elsewhere

June 20, 2011, 6:07pm

Orioles

So these are the new and improved Pirates? Meet the new Pirates, same as the old Pirates. To be fair, they have a promising young nucleus, but last night reminded us why they haven't posted a winning record since Manny Sanguillen hung up his shin guards. Actually, you can see Sanguillen in Bradenton every spring training. And he operates the "Manny's BBQ" concession at PNC Park. And he actually retired in 1980, so I was exaggerating. Sanguillen was the only member of the Pirates not to...

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Who needs a designated hitter? (Arrieta done)

June 20, 2011, 3:27pm

Orioles

Who needs a designated hitter? (Arrieta done)

The National League rules seem to suit the Orioles just fine. Zach Britton had an RBI double Friday night in Washington. Chris Jakubauskas tormented the Nationals with two hits yesterday. And Jake Arrieta blooped a run-scoring single into right field in the first inning tonight to give the Orioles a 5-0 lead over the Pirates. Arrieta was 0-for-3 with a walk and a strikeout before tonight. The Orioles sent 10 batters to the plate against Pirates right-hander Charlie Morton. Robert Andino's...

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Recapping the injury updates (plus Klein)

June 20, 2011, 2:44pm

Orioles

Recapping the injury updates (plus Klein)

Orioles manager Buck Showalter confirmed earlier today that Jeremy Guthrie will start tomorrow night against the Pirates. Jason Berken would have taken the ball in Guthrie's absence. Guthrie left his last start in Toronto because of a strained muscle in his upper back. An MRI didn't reveal anything more serious and he threw a bullpen session yesterday in Washington. Buck Showalter confirms Jeremy Guthrie will pitch Tuesday Also, Showalter told reporters that Brian Matusz could be pushed...

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Orioles and Pirates lineups

June 20, 2011, 12:15pm

Orioles

Luke Scott told reporters in Pittsburgh that his back feels better, but Felix Pie gets the start tonight in left field. Also, the Sun's Jeff Zrebiec tweeted that Brian Matusz expects to start Friday night against the Reds at Camden Yards. He says the hamstring is 100 percent. For the Orioles: J.J. Hardy SS Nick Markakis RF Adam Jones CF Derrek Lee 1B Matt Wieters C Mark Reynolds 3B Felix Pie LF Robert Andino 2B Jake Arrieta RHP For the Pirates: Jose Tabata LF Josh Harrison 3B Andrew...

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Taking a glance at Hobgood

June 20, 2011, 10:58am

Orioles

Matt Hobgood took the mound today for the Gulf Coast League Orioles and made quick work of the GCL Twins, retiring the side in order in the first inning on three ground balls. Ryan Berry, a ninth-round pick out of Rice in 2009, replaced him in the second. Hobgood, 20, had been rehabbing a strained rotator cuff at extended spring training. Today marked his return to affiliated game action. Afterward, he tweeted the following on @Matt_Hobgood48: "Feels great to be back in games again. Arm was...

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Taking a glance at Arrieta

June 20, 2011, 9:52am

Orioles

Jake Arrieta makes his 16th start tonight, and his first against the Pittsburgh Pirates. He's only faced one Pirate in his career - and yes, that sounds a little strange. First baseman Lyle Overbay is 0-for-3 against him. Arrieta leads the Orioles with 11 quality starts by definition. And I use "by definition" to avoid any debates over just how good he threw in some of those games. We're talking three earned runs or fewer over six innings or more. Four of his six outings on the road have...

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This, that and the other

June 19, 2011, 5:40pm

Orioles

The Orioles are in Pittsburgh for the next three games, which reminds me of the 1971 and 1979 World Series. I'll get over it one of these days. Derrek Lee looks pretty comfortable in the National League, so let him continue to bat cleanup. He was 9-for-13 against the Nationals. He's 3-for-6 lifetime against Pirates right-hander Charlie Morton. No reason to move him. You already know how I feel about J.J. Hardy in the leadoff role. Definitely no reason to move him. Hardy hit his eighth...