The uprising (updated)

The uprising (updated)
The Orioles scored four times in the bottom of the sixth inning to take a 5-2 lead. Luke Scott greeted reliever Francisco Rodriguez with a two-run bomb to right field, and Josh Bell collected his first major league RBIs with a two-run double to left after Felix Pie singled and Matt Wieters was walked intentionally. Wieters scored all the way from first base, which won't happen very often. Speed isn't counted among his tools. Bell lined the ball to the opposite field. Maybe he'll relax...
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Mid-game update

Mid-game update
Did you know that Angels starter Trevor Bell is the grandson of Bob Bell, the original Bozo the Clown for WGN-TV in Chicago from 1960 until 1984? You can't make this stuff up. You can, however, make up your own joke. Both teams were shut out through four innings, but Howie Kendrick just ripped a two-run homer to left field with no outs in the fifth. Kendrick got hold of a 96 mph fastball. Luke Scott had the only extra-base hit before Kendrick's homer, a two-out double in the fourth. Adam...
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And so it begins

And so it begins
Buck Showalter received a nice ovation as he jogged to home plate for the exchange of lineup cards, and again as he returned to the bench. The crowd's too small for an ear-piercing welcome, but he was warmly received. Standing at the plate with his arms folded, Showalter bears a striking resemblance to Earl Weaver. That's especially true if you're looking down at the field. The comparison might not ring as true if your seat's in the first row. The Showalter Era began with Jeremy Guthrie...
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Notes and pre-game Showalter - Part II

Notes and pre-game Showalter - Part II
Going back to Chris Tillman's start today for Triple-A Norfolk, he allowed all four runs and six hits in the first inning. He blanked Indianapolis on three hits over the next four innings. That's still not a roll, but it's encouraging that he settled down. Here's the Angels lineup: Aybar SS Izturis 2B Abreu LF Hunter RF Matsui DH Callaspo 3B Kendrick 1B Napoli C Bourjos CF Bell RHP Bourjos is the son of former Orioles farmhand and current scout Chris Bourjos. The Angels have won 10 of...
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Pre-game Showalter - Part I

Pre-game Showalter - Part I
The Orioles' tentative schedule for 2011 includes interleague home games against the Cincinnati Reds and St. Louis Cardinals, and road trips to Pittsburgh and Atlanta. They'll also engage in the usual home-and-home series with the Nationals. Though it's subject to change, the Orioles are currently slated to open the season at Tropicana Field for the second straight year, beginning on April 1. The first home game would be April 4 against the Detroit Tigers. New manager Buck Showalter met...
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Orioles lineup

Orioles lineup
Brian Roberts 2B Nick Markakis RF Ty Wigginton 1B Luke Scott DH Adam Jones CF Felix Pie LF Matt Wieters C Josh Bell 3B Cesar Izturis SS Jeremy Guthrie RHP
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Another rough outing for Tillman

Another rough outing for Tillman
Chris Tillman can't seem to get on a roll during his latest stint at Triple-A Norfolk. He allowed four runs and nine hits over five innings today against Indianapolis, with two walks and four strikeouts. He also threw two wild pitches, committed a throwing error and departed with his pitch count at 81. Tillman has surrendered 13 earned runs (15 total) and 24 hits, and walked seven, over 13 innings in his three starts since being optioned to Norfolk. The Orioles called him up after his one-hit...
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Trying to Buck a losing trend

Trying to Buck a losing trend
Did you know that, according to the Elias Sports Bureau, the Orioles can become the first team in history to have three managers work at least 50 games apiece in the same season? Buck Showalter can complete the Triple Crown if he doesn't change his mind in September. I don't think the buzz over Showalter's debut tonight will match the one that accompanied Matt Wieters' arrival last summer. It's just not quite the same for a manager - unless Earl Weaver comes out of retirement again - but...
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VandenHurk dazzles in debut

VandenHurk dazzles in debut
Rick VandenHurk went seven innings tonight for Triple-A Norfolk and held Indianapolis to one run and four hits. He walked one and struck out four. VandenHurk left the game after 97 pitches, 64 for strikes. The right-hander, obtained from the Marlins for reliever Will Ohman at the non-waiver deadline, has allowed one earned run in each of his last five starts - the previous four with Triple-A New Orleans. Could he beat Zach Britton to Baltimore? Brandon Snyder hit his seventh home run, and...
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Adleman: No baserunners through six (updated three times)

Adleman: No baserunners through six (updated three times)
And no Buck Showalter quotes in this entry. Aberdeen's Timothy Adleman, a 24th-round draft pick this year out of Georgetown University, hasn't allowed a baserunner through six innings in his start against Staten Island. He's struck out five. Update: Adleman walked the leadoff batter in the seventh. Another batter reached on a two-out error. Update II: Adleman was removed after seven innings and no hits. Must have reached his pitch count. Update III: Staten Island finished with one...
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One more Showalter note; J.J. update

One more Showalter note; J.J. update
Buck Showalter modeled his new Orioles' jersey today, which included No. 26 to honor the late Johnny Oates. It was one of the more memorable scenes to come out of today's press conference. "The first thing, our kids looked at the media guide and my son Nathan said, 'Dad, Mr. Samuel's got No. 11,' and I said, 'Well, he'll keep it.' That's just part of it. I thought Juan certainly earned it," Showalter said. "The first thing that came to mind was John. He meant a lot to me in my...
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More Showalter-speak

More Showalter-speak
I've transcribed a few more quotes from new manager Buck Showalter: "You look at every job like it's your last one. This is where you want to have your career end, on your own terms, but we all know that's real naïve. I've got it. But you roll the dice. You really do. And people who have trouble with that accountability don't last very long. You do what's right, you try to treat people like you'd like to be treated, and through it all, you know that somewhere along the...
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Quotes from the press conference

Quotes from the press conference
Here is part of Andy MacPhail's opening statement: "What we have currently in our franchise is we have a young core of players who are struggling and have taken a step backwards. They haven't been exposed to a winning-type environment. We for the last couple months have been trying to find somebody that has had some experience at creating that winning environment, that has been exposed to young rosters before and knows how to prepare young players to be as good as they can possibly be. We...
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A few notes from Showalter's press conference

A few notes from Showalter's press conference
The press conference introducing Buck Showalter as manager lasted about 43 minutes and included a few unexpected quips. He often wears a serious look, but he also has a nice sense of humor. O's officially announce the hiring of their new skipper Buck Showalter Part 1 I'll attach some quotes later, but I wanted to pass along a few points: * Juan Samuel will remain in the organization in a special assignment role that will include checking out the Dominican facility. Gary Allenson will...
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Showalter time

Showalter time
I'm loading up my car and heading back to Sykesville so I can change clothes and head to Baltimore for Buck Showalter's noon press conference at Camden Yards. Sounds like a plan. I've never dealt with Showalter, never had a single conversation with him, and have no idea how he interacts with the media. He's been one of us at ESPN, which could prove beneficial in establishing a relationship. Maybe he's developed more patience over the years. I pointed out the obvious yesterday, that the...
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Checking on Zach (updated)

Checking on Zach (updated)
Zach Britton lasted four innings tonight for Triple-A Norfolk, allowing four runs (two earned) and four hits, walking two, striking out two and throwing two wild pitches. He threw 74 pitches, 35 for strikes. I wouldn't say he's kicking down the door right now, but a little defensive support would have been nice. More on that later. The Tides and Indianapolis are tied, 6-6, in the eighth. Robert Andino is batting cleanup tonight, which strikes me as odd. He's 1-for-3 with an RBI and two...
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Juan more loss for the road

Juan more loss for the road
The Orioles squandered another scoring opportunity, putting runners on first and second with no outs in the ninth. Nick Markakis swung at the first pitch and bounced into a 1-6-3 double play. Dagger. I had to hold down my father so he didn't launch himself through the ceiling. The first pitch? A tapper to the mound? Go ahead and scream at the top of your lungs. It's OK. Ty Wigginton walked to keep the rally alive, but second baseman Chris Getz made a diving stop of Luke Scott's...
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Wasted days and wasted nights

Wasted days and wasted nights
The Orioles loaded the bases with two outs in the fourth inning, but Julio Lugo struck out on a high fastball. Alex Gordon immediately made them pay, leading off the bottom half of the inning with a home run. The Orioles loaded the bases with no outs in the sixth and knocked Bruce Chen from the game, but they only scored one run after Josh Bell grounded into a double play. The Royals immediately made them pay, stringing together three consecutive singles with no outs in the bottom half of...
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Win one for Juan?

Win one for Juan?
I didn't mean on this road trip. Kevin Millwood gave up three runs and four hits in the first inning today, continuing that disturbing trend of being incredibly slow out of the gate. He's permitted at least two runs in the first inning in 11 of his last 12 starts. The Orioles ignored my previous suggestion of using a reliever in the first and bringing in Millwood in the second. Too desperate? Millwood threw 28 pitches in the inning. Troy Patton is probably staring at the bullpen phone....
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Today's lineups

Today's lineups
For the Orioles: Julio Lugo 2B Nick Markakis RF Ty Wigginton 1B Luke Scott DH Adam Jones CF Felix Pie LF Jake Fox C Josh Bell 3B Cesar Izturis SS Kevin Millwood RHP For the Royals: Chris Getz 2B Jason Kendall C Billy Butler 1B Jose Guillen DH Wilson Betemit 3B Alex Gordon LF Mitch Maier RF Yuniesky Betancourt SS Gregor Blanco CF Bruce Chen LHP The Orioles officially recalled left-hander Troy Patton from Triple-A Norfolk. He'll wear No. 40. Patton was 7-9 with a 4.80 ERA in 20 starts with...
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