Roch Kubatko

Klein update and other notes

June 15, 2011, 9:09am

Orioles

Double-A Bowie reliever Dan Klein will be examined Monday by renowned orthopedic specialist Dr. Lewis Yocum in California. Klein underwent an MRI in Baltimore two days ago that didn't show anything conclusive in his shoulder, but there are concerns. He's still bothered by discomfort that prevents him from throwing, and it looks like more than just simple biceps tendinitis. He could be dealing with a small tear in the labrum. We should know for sure after Klein travels to the West...

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Uehara serves up Lind's walk-off home run

June 14, 2011, 7:04pm

Orioles

Uehara serves up Lind's walk-off home run

Koji Uehara threw 11 pitches while retiring the side in order in the bottom of the 10th. He induced a pop up and struck out two batters, including Jose Bautista. How many times have we seen Uehara replaced after one inning despite being in cruise control? Manager Buck Showalter sent out Uehara for the 11th inning, and the game ended on the right-hander's second pitch. Adam Lind hit a walk-off homer. Gary Thorne talks with Buck Showalter about the homers allowed by the bullpen in the O's...

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Who will replace Rick Adair?

June 14, 2011, 6:45pm

Orioles

If you wondered whether Felix Pie was going to spend last night's game in manager Buck Showalter's doghouse, your answer arrived in the eighth inning when he pinch-ran for left fielder Luke Scott. Putting Pie on the basepaths again? Showalter did it, and Pie raced from first to third on reliever Casey Janssen's errant pickoff throw. Pie was stranded, but at least he got off the bench. Showalter talked to Pie about the outfielder's ill-advised stolen-base attempt on Sunday - I'm sure the...

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Jakubauskas can't get through sixth (game tied)

June 14, 2011, 5:02pm

Orioles

Jakubauskas can't get through sixth (game tied)

The Orioles got five scoreless innings out of Chris Jakubauskas in his first start since April 2010. Tonight, he's charged with four runs in 5 1/3 innings, and he leaves with two runners on base and the Blue Jays threatening to build on a 4-1 lead. Jakubauskas allowed seven hits, walked four, struck out two, threw a wild pitch and hit a batter. He threw 101 pitches, 57 for strikes. One run probably should have been unearned, since it scored on Robert Andino's throwing error. Catcher Matt...

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Klein will be examined by Dr. Yocum this week (game updates)

June 14, 2011, 3:57pm

Orioles

Klein will be examined by Dr. Yocum this week (game updates)

Double-A Bowie pitcher Dan Klein, the Orioles' third-round pick in last year's First-Year Player Draft, will have his right shoulder examined later this week by renowned orthopedic specialist Dr. Lewis Yocum. Klein underwent an MRI yesterday in Baltimore that didn't show anything conclusive, according to a team official. Klein still has soreness in the shoulder, which prevented him from throwing over the weekend while the Baysox were on the road. Klein was officially placed on the...

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Showalter on Connor's resignation

June 14, 2011, 2:58pm

Orioles

In case you missed O's Xtra on MASN2, here are manager Buck Showalter's comments about Mark Connor's resignation as pitching coach: "Mark called me yesterday about noon and we sat down for about an hour or so and talked. For personal reasons, he just didn't feel like he could continue to do what was needed for a pitching coach with the Baltimore Orioles and what our players needed. He's driving home to Knoxville. I spoke to him this afternoon. We'll see when the smoke clears in a couple...

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Orioles and Blue Jays lineups

June 14, 2011, 12:54pm

Orioles

No big surprises here. J.J. Hardy continues to lead off and Derrek Lee is back at first base. For the Orioles: J.J. Hardy SS Nick Markakis RF Adam Jones CF Vladimir Guerrero DH Matt Wieters C Derrek Lee 1B Luke Scott LF Mark Reynolds 3B Robert Andino 2B Chris Jakubauskas RHP For the Blue Jays: Escobar SS Patterson LF Bautista RF Lind 1B Arencibia C Encarnacion DH Hill 2B Davis CF Nix 3B Villanueva RHP

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Pitching coach Mark Connor resigns (updated)

June 14, 2011, 11:35am

Orioles

Pitching coach Mark Connor resigns (updated)

In a shocking development, the Orioles have announced that pitching coach Mark Connor resigned for "personal reasons." Connor was in his first season as pitching coach, having replaced Rick Kranitz over the winter. Bullpen coach Rick Adair has been named pitching coach. Former hitting coach Terry Crowley replaces Adair on an interim basis. Connor, 61, was in his 36th season in professional baseball after serving the last two years as a special assistant in the player development...

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Jakubauskas takes another turn (Lee reinstated)

June 14, 2011, 8:04am

Orioles

Jakubauskas takes another turn (Lee reinstated)

Chris Jakubauskas wasn't expected to rejoin the rotation until Saturday, when the Orioles needed a fifth starter, but he's taking the ball tonight in the series opener in Toronto. Manager Buck Showalter bumped rookie left-hander Zach Britton to Friday's game in Washington, which might seem puzzling. Wouldn't he want Britton going against a division rival? Well, it's a small sample size, but the Blue Jays scored seven runs off him (five earned) in five innings in a June 3 start at...

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Britton explains his move on the mound

June 13, 2011, 7:34pm

Orioles

While meeting with reporters following his last start, when he held Oakland to one run in 6 1/3 innings, rookie Zach Britton explained how he found better results after moving from the third base to the first base side of the pitching rubber. As a refresher, I give you the quote that I posted: "I kind of moved over on the other side of the mound. I was on the third base side, went back to the first base side. And I felt like I had a little better action on my pitches. My slider was there...

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Quick Bergesen update

June 13, 2011, 5:52pm

Orioles

Brad Bergesen, making his third start tonight for Triple-A Norfolk, gave up three runs over seven innings in a 4-1 loss to the Durham Bulls. Bergesen allowed seven hits - including a home run - walked one and struck out five. He threw 105 pitches, 72 for strikes. His ERA is 1.64. Bergesen was coming off a complete-game shutout in his last outing. He's allowed four runs and 14 hits in 22 innings since the Orioles optioned him, with eight walks and 18 strikeouts. Six of those walks came in his...

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Judging whether to keep Hardy

June 13, 2011, 2:01pm

Orioles

I devoted a segment of my "O's Xtra" appearance on MASN yesterday to the possibility of the Orioles negotiating a contract extension with shortstop J.J. Hardy, and more specifically, whether it was too soon to consider making such a commitment. My friend Jeff Zrebiec at The Sun beat me to the punch today - after we teamed up to take two of three sets in doubles this morning - but I wanted to address the topic in blog form. The Orioles have held internal discussions about extending Hardy's...

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No game, no pain

June 12, 2011, 8:38pm

Orioles

I realize that the Orioles were off Thursday, but today's open date is a blessing and comes at a most opportune time. They'll need at least 48 hours to regroup. Yesterday's loss left a stench. The Orioles didn't pitch, they didn't field the ball and they didn't make smart choices on the basepaths. The only good news is it counts as one loss. I've tried to rid myself of the memory by diving into a base, but I'm not lucky enough to develop concussion symptoms. Derrek Lee will come...

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Jones: "I just missed the ball" (Snyder optioned)

June 12, 2011, 2:12pm

Orioles

Jones: "I just missed the ball" (Snyder optioned)

Adam Jones talked about the inside-the-park home run that provided a convenient snapshot of today's 9-6 loss to the Rays. "I missed the ball," he said. "I had a shot at it. I just missed the ball." Did the ball hit his glove? "I haven't seen the replay of it," he said. "I just know you've seen me catch it many times. It's cool when everybody out there starts ripping you when you usually catch everything. But it's all good." Sounds like the fans were a little harsh in center...

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Showalter talks about Matusz and 9-6 loss

June 12, 2011, 1:59pm

Orioles

Showalter talks about Matusz and 9-6 loss

X-rays on Mark Reynolds' left forearm were negative. Manager Buck Showalter didn't hide his disappointment with the Orioles' level of play today, citing the mistakes and the extra outs given to Tampa Bay that contributed to a 9-6 loss. And though Showalter chose his words carefully, it's obvious that he's frustrated with Brian Matusz's inability to hold runners. What's his level of concern with Matusz, who allowed four runs and five hits in 1 1/3 innings in his third start since coming...

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From bad to worse for Orioles (updated)

June 12, 2011, 12:41pm

Orioles

Manager Buck Showalter must be sitting in the dugout wondering whether ESPN has an open seat on Baseball Tonight. He didn't sign up for this mess. Evan Longoria was credited with a two-run inside-the-park home run in the eighth inning after Adam Jones charged his line drive and watched the ball hook away from him and roll to the fence. The ball appeared to nick his glove, though a few people in the press box are disputing it. It's the latest embarrassment for the Orioles today. The Rays...

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Going Gonzo in a close game (Reynolds leaves with bruised arm)

June 12, 2011, 11:55am

Orioles

Going Gonzo in a close game (Reynolds leaves with bruised arm)

Michael Gonzalez is entering today's game with two runners in scoring position, no outs and the Orioles trailing 5-3, in the seventh inning. Gonzalez has been used in non-pressure situations, but Alfredo Simon can't go any further. He's logged 4 2/3 innings, plus two batters in the seventh, and thrown 75 pitches. It's pretty obvious that he's gassed. Simon deserves serious praise for holding Tampa Bay to one run so far and sparing the bullpen of excessive use. Manager Buck Showalter has...

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It's only the third inning (now the fourth)

June 12, 2011, 10:50am

Orioles

It's only the third inning (now the fourth)

I've repeated that sentence so many times, I felt like writing it in a headline. I'm both Doug and Wendy Whiner. It's actually the bottom of the third. Somebody please slow down the pace so I can get caught up. The Rays were kind enough to run into another out. They did, however, increase their lead to 5-2. Alfredo Simon has thrown 22 pitches in 1 2/3 innings. He needs to keep going or Chris Jakubauskas will have to replace him and manager Buck Showalter will be scrambling for Tuesday...

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Orioles answer back, trail 3-2 (Matusz done)

June 12, 2011, 10:15am

Orioles

Wade Davis didn't want Brian Matusz to have all the frustration. Davis gave up back-to-back home runs to Adam Jones and Vladimir Guerrero in the bottom of the first inning, reducing Tampa Bay's lead to 3-2. Jones has nine homers to trail team-leader Mark Reynolds by three. Guerrero has six, the most recent coming May 22 against Washington. The Orioles also hit back-to-back homers on April 27 in Boston. Jones followed Luke Scott's blast that night. Meanwhile, Matusz has walked the first...

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That didn't take long (Rays lead 3-0)

June 12, 2011, 9:49am

Orioles

Left-hander Brian Matusz fell behind, 1-0, just four pitches into his third start with the Orioles. Johnny Damon launched a 1-2 slider onto the flagcourt in right field, his 27th career leadoff home run. The ball traveled an estimated 392 feet. Damon has reached base in 37 consecutive games to tie the Rays record set by Ben Grieve in 2001. Ben Zobrist and Justin Ruggiano followed with singles - Zobrist on a changeup, Ruggiano on an 88 mph fastball - and Evan Longoria's sacrifice fly...