Roch Kubatko

A little pregame Showalter

May 10, 2011, 1:03pm

Orioles

Manager Buck Showalter tackled a variety of topics earlier today while meeting with the media. Here's a sampling: On J.J. Hardy: "He's fine. I talked to him last because I know what he's going to tell us. I talked to Gary Allenson, and Bobby Dickerson has been with him for his whole rehab, and he's fine, he's ready to go. We didn't want him traveling on the day he's playing so he came in, I believe, last night or yesterday afternoon. I'm glad to get him back. It's been a while....

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Hardy talks about Hardy

May 10, 2011, 12:53pm

Orioles

If anyone knows how J.J. Hardy feels after coming off the disabled list today, it's J.J. Hardy. "Good," he said. "It's been a lot longer than I thought it would be." Hardy hasn't played since April 9, when he left a game against the Rangers at Camden Yards after one at-bat. He went on the disabled list with a strained left oblique. "I was kind of hoping for less time," said Hardy, who played in three games at Triple-A Norfolk on his injury rehab assignment, going 2-for-9 with three...

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Simon headed back to Dominican

May 10, 2011, 12:28pm

Orioles

I'll plug in quotes later, but I wanted to pass along a few items from manager Buck Showalter's pregame session with the media. Showalter will be in Bowie tomorrow morning to watch Alfredo Simon pitch. However, Simon won't make his scheduled start for Triple-A Norfolk on Monday because he's returning to the Dominican Republic. Simon was supposed to join the Tides for their game at Lehigh Valley, but he'll fly to the Dominican to take care of a matter that's related to his previous legal...

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Lineup doesn't include many changes

May 10, 2011, 11:21am

Orioles

The Orioles' lineup for tonight's series-opener against the Seattle Mariners at Camden Yards doesn't include any drastic changes beyond the shortstop. For the Orioles: Brian Roberts 2B Nick Markakis RF Derrek Lee 1B Vladimir Guerrero DH Luke Scott LF Adam Jones CF Matt Wieters C Mark Reynolds 3B J.J. Hardy SS Jake Arrieta RHP For the Mariners: Ichiro RF Figgins 3B Smoak 1B Olivo C Cust DH Kennedy 2B Peguero LF Ryan SS Saunders CF Pineda RHP

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Josh Rupe designated for assignment (updated)

May 10, 2011, 10:37am

Orioles

Josh Rupe designated for assignment (updated)

The Orioles activated shortstop J.J. Hardy from the disabled list earlier today. To make room on the 25-man roster, the club has designated long reliever Josh Rupe for assignment. Rupe allowed nine earned runs and 16 hits in 14 1/3 innings for a 5.65 ERA. In his last outing, he held Kansas City to one hit in 3 2/3 scoreless innings. The Orioles decided to keep two left-handers in their bullpen. Jason Berken is the only long reliever. The two moves leave the Orioles with a 12-man pitching...

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Hey, J.J., we Hardy knew ya

May 09, 2011, 6:41pm

Orioles

A roster move is coming today, with shortstop J.J. Hardy being activated from the disabled list and playing for the first time since April 9. You remember Hardy, right? He only batted once in that April 9 game before leaving with a strained left oblique. He hasn't gotten three at-bats against major league pitching since April 6. Hardy might be the most valuable .200 hitter in baseball. The Orioles haven't been quite right since he disappeared, though his absence opened the door for...

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Scott: "It's disappointing and a tough pill to swallow"

May 09, 2011, 12:26pm

Orioles

Scott: "It's disappointing and a tough pill to swallow"

Luke Scott will continue to play through the pain in his right shoulder, as he's done since the beginning of the season, and as he's done since it intensified over the last three weeks. An MRI taken earlier today revealed a tear in Scott's right labrum, but he won't go on the disabled list. He'll just deal with it. The tear doesn't affect Scott's swing, but he notices it when he makes throws from the outfield. "It's disappointing and a tough pill to swallow," he said. "The...

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Scott has labrum tear, no DL for now

May 09, 2011, 10:38am

Orioles

An MRI taken on Luke Scott's right shoulder revealed that the outfielder has been playing with a tear in his labrum. President of baseball operations Andy MacPhail doesn't believe that Scott will need to go on the disabled list, but surgery might be an option after the season. "It doesn't really impact his swing at all," MacPhail said. "I think it occasionally bothers him when he throws, which he feels like he can play through and he'll just have to manage it. It doesn't necessarily...

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Playing roster roulette

May 08, 2011, 5:23pm

Orioles

The Orioles are off tonight. Then again, they were off all weekend. See what I did there? They took a two-fisted beating from a team they swept on the road in the first series of 2011. They didn't pitch, they didn't hit. Losses usually ensue when that happens. There were plenty of opportunities. The Rays kept walking hitters and littering the bases. One night, Derrek Lee took a third strike in the ninth inning. The next day, he grounded into a double play. Brian Roberts broke too soon...

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Postgame Showalter

May 08, 2011, 1:18pm

Orioles

The Orioles were swept at home in a three-game series for the first time since Buck Showalter took over as manager. They haven't held a lead for 35 straight innings. Brad Bergesen is 0-5 with a 9.13 ERA in five career starts against the Rays. He allowed five runs and nine hits in 4 2/3 innings today. He'll need to do a lot better or he could lose his rotation spot when Brian Matusz and Alfredo Simon are ready. The same is true for Chris Tillman, who starts again on Wednesday. Buck...

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Going good for Gonzalez

May 08, 2011, 12:06pm

Orioles

Today's attendance: 16,359 Michael Gonzalez tossed another scoreless inning today, getting a dazzling double play to end the eighth inning. Reid Brignac singled with one out, but John Jaso grounded into a 6-4-3 DP. Cesar Izturis ranged up the middle and flipped the ball to Brian Roberts, who snatched it with his bare hand and threw to first base. Gonzalez hasn't allowed a run in his last five outings covering 5 1/3 innings. He's given up three hits, walked none and struck out seven, and...

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Bergesen done after 4 2/3 innings (updated)

May 08, 2011, 11:13am

Orioles

Bergesen done after 4 2/3 innings (updated)

This game took a sudden, nasty turn for Brad Bergesen. Bergesen had retired nine of 10 batters, but he's done with two outs in the fifth and the Orioles trailing, 5-2. He allowed nine hits, walked two, struck out one and threw 85 pitches. B.J. Upton drove in two more runs with a two-out single. Matt Wieters went to the mound to give Clay Rapada more time to warm up, and manager Buck Showalter finally came out of the dugout. They had stalled long enough. Bergesen hasn't gone more than five...

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Bergesen was cruising until wheels fell off (updated)

May 08, 2011, 10:44am

Orioles

Bergesen was cruising until wheels fell off (updated)

Brad Bergesen had retired nine of 10 batters, the only baserunner coming on an intentional walk, but the first five Rays reached in the fourth inning, and the Orioles are behind, 3-0. Johnny Damon led off the inning with a double to left. Luke Scott didn't take the ideal route to the ball. Evan Longoria followed with a bloop single to center, and Damon scored when Adam Jones couldn't field the ball cleanly. No error charged, but there would have been a play at the plate. Matt Joyce...

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Giving Longoria a free pass (updated)

May 08, 2011, 9:48am

Orioles

Orioles manager Buck Showalter ordered an intentional walk to Evan Longoria with a runner on third base and two outs in the first inning. I guess it's never too early. Showalter didn't care that a left-handed batter, Matt Joyce, stood on deck. Joyce lined to first baseman Derrek Lee, stranding Sam Fuld at third base. You'll recall that Jeremy Guthrie pitched to Longoria yesterday with runners on second and third and two outs in the third inning. Longoria hit a three-run homer. Longoria...

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Matusz will pitch at Frederick (Rays lineup)

May 08, 2011, 7:42am

Orioles

Matusz will pitch at Frederick (Rays lineup)

Left-hander Brian Matusz will make his first injury rehab start on May 16 at Single-A Frederick. Matusz threw two innings yesterday in an extended spring training game in Sarasota. He'll throw a 35-pitch bullpen session tomorrow and go three innings Wednesday in another extended game. Assuming there are no setbacks, he'll pitch for the Keys at Harry Grove Stadium in his first affiliated game. Also, manager Buck Showalter indicated that his starters will probably stay in turn after Monday's...

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Orioles lineup against Tampa Bay

May 08, 2011, 6:25am

Orioles

Cesar Izturis is starting at shortstop today. Derrek Lee continues to bat third. Brian Roberts 2B Nick Markakis RF Derrek Lee 1B Vladimir Guerrero DH Luke Scott LF Adam Jones CF Matt Wieters C Mark Reynolds 3B Cesar Izturis SS Brad Bergesen RHP Alfredo Simon and Chris Tillman are throwing bullpen sessions this morning. Tillman expects to start Wednesday, rather than be skipped in the rotation, but he'll know more after his session.

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Checking on J.J. Hardy

May 07, 2011, 7:28pm

Orioles

Playing in his second injury rehab game tonight, Orioles shortstop J.J. Hardy went 1-for-3 with a walk and a run scored in Triple-A Norfolk's 5-2 victory over Indianapolis. Hardy, on the disabled list with a strained left oblique, was 1-for-2 with two walks and a run scored in Friday night's game. The Orioles are expected to activate Hardy before Tuesday's game against the Mariners at Camden Yards. Left-hander Chris George was credited with the win tonight after holding Indianapolis to...

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Showalter speaks after 8-2 loss

May 07, 2011, 12:54pm

Orioles

Today's game represented only the second time in franchise history that the Orioles drew 10 walks and scored two runs or fewer in a nine-inning game. They lost to the Chicago White Sox 3-1 on July 14, 1974. You can look it up. The Orioles were 1-for-12 with runners in scoring position today and left 12 on base. "What did we draw, 10 walks today? And we just couldn't take advantage of it," manager Buck Showalter said after today's 8-2 loss. "It's a rare opportunity against any team,...

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Orioles trail 8-0 in 7th, FOX requests "Mike & Molly" reruns

May 07, 2011, 11:20am

Orioles

Tampa Bay starter Jeremy Hellickson began today ranked first in the American League in run support (9.19) among starters with five or more outings. Jeremy Guthrie ranked fourth-worst at 2.31. Hellickson shut out the Orioles over five innings today, but he allowed three hits, walked four and threw two wild pitches. He left with his pitch count at 92 - two more than Guthrie in the same amount of innings. The Orioles didn't score for the fourth time in Guthrie's last six starts while he was on...

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Orioles trail 7-0 in 5th, game still on FOX

May 07, 2011, 10:42am

Orioles

Tampa Bay has seven baserunners in four innings and has scored four runs. The Orioles have seven baserunners in four innings and are being shut out. Rays left fielder Sam Fuld raced toward the line and made a diving catch to deny Robert Andino in the fourth with two outs and Matt Wieters on second base. Wieters has walked twice. In Jeremy Guthrie's last five starts before today, the Orioles scored six runs while he was in the game and were held scoreless in three of those games while he was...