Roch Kubatko

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...

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Jakubauskas: "My main thing was don't fall down"

June 19, 2011, 1:22pm

Orioles

Jakubauskas: "My main thing was don't fall down"

WASHINGTON - Chris Jakubauskas didn't receive an official invite to spring training, but he's won two games for the Orioles this season. Funny how these things work out. He's also their best hitter on the pitching staff. Chris Jakubauskas talks about his outing on the mound Sunday and at the plate "The first hit, ironically, probably means more to me since I was a hitter my entire life growing up. It means more to me than it did when I got my first win, but obviously today the win...

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Showalter speaks after 7-4 win

June 19, 2011, 1:06pm

Orioles

WASHINGTON - The Orioles avoided the sweep with today's 7-4 victory over the sloppy Nationals, who committed three errors and bobbled a few other balls. Buck Showalter hopes the O's can use the momentum from Sunday's win to carry them into Pittsburgh "I've said many times, usually you look at that error column and you're winning that, you're in the ballgame. And taking advantage of those was big," said manager Buck Showalter. Chris Jakubauskas picked up his second win after...

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Jakubauskas brings the heavy lumber (updated)

June 19, 2011, 11:52am

Orioles

Jakubauskas brings the heavy lumber (updated)

WASHINGTON - Chris Jakubauskas singled twice today before Jim Johnson replaced him. That .667 average will put a little more pressure on the other pitchers. The last Orioles pitcher to collect two hits in a game? That would be Erik Bedard on May 20, 2007 against the Nationals. This is the 130th time that an Orioles pitcher had two hits or more in a game. We're not sure whether Jakubauskas will take his next turn. He could be skipped because of Thursday's open date on the schedule. There's...

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Lee stays hot (updated twice)

June 19, 2011, 11:05am

Orioles

WASHINGTON - Adam Jones singled with two outs in the top of the fifth inning to score J.J. Hardy, and Derrek Lee followed with a double to increase the Orioles' lead to 5-2. That's it for Nationals left-hander Tom Gorzelanny. The Orioles have salvaged the inning after a highly questionable send by third base coach John Russell resulted in pitcher Chris Jakubauskas being thrown out at the plate by a wide margin. Jakubauskas collected his first major league hit, a single leading off the...

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Chance for big inning fizzles (updated three times)

June 19, 2011, 10:00am

Orioles

Chance for big inning fizzles (updated three times)

WASHINGTON - The Orioles can't seem to get that one big hit that opens the flood gates. They loaded the bases with no outs in the second inning on Derrek Lee's leadoff single - his eighth hit of the series - third baseman Ryan Zimmerman's throwing error and Mark Reynolds' infield hit. Craig Tatum, batting seventh, grounded into a 6-4-3 double play. Lee scored, but he was the only one. Robert Andino grounded out to end the inning. Opportunity wasted. In case you're wondering, Tatum is...

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Pregame notes and quotes (and more)

June 19, 2011, 9:16am

Orioles

WASHINGTON - I want to thank everyone for wishing me a Happy Father's Day. Right back at you. I hope you have something special planned today. Somehow, the quotes I posted from Brian Matusz in my last entry appeared below Jeremy Guthrie's update. Just so there's no confusion, Matusz was doing the talking. Luke Scott said his back was feeling better this morning, but he received more treatment and didn't think he'd be available to pinch-hit later. Manager Buck Showalter wasn't ready to...

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Matusz update, Derrek Lee batting cleanup today

June 19, 2011, 6:55am

Orioles

Matusz update, Derrek Lee batting cleanup today

WASHINGTON - The Orioles will try to avoid a sweep today while anointing Chris Jakubauskas the stopper in this rotation - at least for a day. Brian Matusz says his left hamstring is a little sore today, as expected, but he feels much better, his mobility is good and he expects to make his next start. He'll play catch today. "It feels good," he said. "It's a little sore today, but my mobility's really good. My flexiblity's there. It's just a little sore from the cramping. We're going...

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Tillman's fine, I'm paranoid

June 18, 2011, 6:27pm

Orioles

So I decide to check Triple-A Norfolk's box score from tonight's game against Buffalo because I'm curious about Chris Tillman's outing and I really need to get a life. Here's Tillman's final line: 3 2/3 innings, 3 hits, 1 run, 0 earned runs, 0 walks 3 strikeouts. 65 pitches, 38 strikes. So why did he leave the game with two outs in the fourth inning? Did someone else in the organization get hurt this week? Nope. I texted a team official, apologizing for doing so at this late hour on...

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Matusz and Scott talk about their injuries

June 18, 2011, 12:53pm

Orioles

Matusz and Scott talk about their injuries

WASHINGTON - Let's start with Brian Matusz and his hamstring cramps. "It was just two pitches prior. I felt a hamstring cramp up, and it's one of those things I try to walk off, shake off. It just held up on a ball in the back of my hamstring. Not much more I could do than that, so I made the right decision to come out of the game. But it's just one of those things that happens. It was a hot day today, probably a little bit dehydrated, one of those things. But I've just got to take care...

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Showalter speaks after 4-2 loss

June 18, 2011, 12:37pm

Orioles

WASHINGTON - The Orioles have lost four of five games on this road trip and are a season-high six games under .500, but at least they're not healthy. Let's review today's physical issues: Luke Scott left the game with back spasms and is day-to-day. Brian Matusz left the game with cramping in his left hamstring and is questionable to make his next start, though manager Buck Showalter seemed encouraged after today's 4-2 loss to the Nationals. Buck Showalter gives updates for several...

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Matusz leaves game with hamstring cramping

June 18, 2011, 10:57am

Orioles

Matusz leaves game with hamstring cramping

WASHINGTON - A fairly promising start for Brian Matusz, at least statistically, has ended prematurely when he walked off the field with head athletic trainer Richie Bancells in the bottom of the sixth. The game was tied 1-1 heading into the inning. Ryan Zimmerman doubled with one out and Michael Morse hit an opposite-field two-run homer to give Washington a 3-1 lead. Danny Espinosa singled and stole second base as left-hander Clay Rapada began to warm up. With a 3-1 count on Jerry Hairston...

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Scott leaves game (updated), Matusz through third, Bergesen talks

June 18, 2011, 10:01am

Orioles

Scott leaves game (updated), Matusz through third, Bergesen talks

WASHINGTON - Derrek Lee is 2-for-2 today, making him 7-for-7 in this series. Felix Pie pinch-hit for Luke Scott in the fourth inning and singled to right field to move Lee to third base after a one-out double. No word yet on why Scott came out of the game. Update: Scott left the game with mid-back spasms. He's day-to-day. Maybe Jeremy Guthrie is contagious. Brian Matusz has allowed one run in three innings, on Ryan Zimmerman's shot into the last row of seats in left field, and it's a...

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Pregame Showalter

June 18, 2011, 9:15am

Orioles

WASHINGTON - The sun is out, the game has started and Adam Jones has launched his 10th home run deep into the left field seats, but I wanted to pass along a few comments from manager Buck Showalter. On Jeremy Accardo: "He was trying to make some adjustments to get a little more movement, get guys off him. I mean, he had a lot of balls squared up off him that were at people, too. His numbers were actually, going into last night, a little better than he actually pitched. We keep a thing about...

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Guthrie throws off flat ground

June 18, 2011, 8:23am

Orioles

WASHINGTON - Jeremy Guthrie tested his sore back by playing catch today, making 40 throws and expanding the distance to 90 feet. Guthrie was diagnosed yesterday with a mild strain. He hopes to throw a bullpen session tomorrow and make Tuesday night's start in Pittsburgh. "I'll see how my body feels, but tomorrow's my bullpen day," he said. "It's improved. It's improved every day. I won't say it's completely gone, but it's improving every day." Challenged to give reporters a...

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Davis ready to debut

June 18, 2011, 7:15am

Orioles

WASHINGTON - Blake Davis didn't receive an invitation to spring training this year. He remained in a utility role at Triple-A Norfolk, mostly playing right field but also getting starts in the infield. He wasn't a leading candidate to make his major league debut this summer. Anything can happen in this game. Davis, 27, had his contract purchased and will be on the bench for today's game against the Nationals. He batted .284 (52-for-183) with five home runs and 24 RBIs in 49 games with the...

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Orioles and Nationals lineups

June 18, 2011, 6:56am

Orioles

WASHINGTON - Blake Davis will wear No. 28. Following in the footsteps of Radhames Dykoff. For the Orioles: J.J. Hardy SS Nick Markakis RF Adam Jones CF Matt Wieters C Derrek Lee 1B Luke Scott LF Mark Reynolds 3B Robert Andino 2B Brian Matusz LHP For the Nationals: Werth RF Desmond SS Zimmerman 3B Morse 1B Espinosa 2B Hairston LF Rodriguez C Zimmermann RHP Bernadina CF

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Here today, gone today (updated)

June 18, 2011, 4:33am

Orioles

I left my house yesterday at 1:32 p.m. I arrived home at 1:32 a.m. I didn't plan it that way. Manager Buck Showalter suggests that we "sleep fast." Well, it went quickly for me. I'm ready to get back in my car and make the hour-long drive to Nationals Park, where the clubhouse will have a different look. Brad Bergesen is back. That shuttle must be getting old for him. And Blake Davis has reached the majors for the first time after being a fourth-round pick in 2006 out of Cal-State...

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Hearing from Britton, Wieters and Jones

June 17, 2011, 8:17pm

Orioles

WASHINGTON - Rookie Zach Britton carried a shutout into the fifth inning before surrendering four runs, only one earned, and piling 32 pitches on his left arm. He was removed for a pinch-hitter and settled for a no-decision. Britton deflected the attention away from third baseman Mark Reynolds' costly throwing error on a sacrifice bunt. "Obviously, it's easier to throw when you got an out, but you know, errors happen," he said. "I knew you guys would probably bring it up, so I might as...

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Showalter speaks after 8-4 loss

June 17, 2011, 8:04pm

Orioles

WASHINGTON - Manager Buck Showalter completed his postgame interview session with the media in under three minutes. It's the only thing that didn't take long. The game lasted 3 hours, 20 minutes and followed a 56-minute rain delay. Showalter clearly wanted to attend to more pressing matters afterward, which included designating reliever Jeremy Accardo for assignment. The Orioles made four roster moves, which I detailed in my last entry. Busy night. Showalter held his temper, but he clearly...