Roch Kubatko

Checking on Berken (updated)

May 24, 2011, 8:43am

Orioles

Jason Berken is making his first start today at Triple-A Norfolk, and he pulled off a great escape in the second inning. According to the play-by-play on minorleaguebaseball.com, Louisville loaded the bases with no outs in the second inning on consecutive singles into center field. One of the hits came from former major league outfielder Jeremy Hermida. Berken struck out the next two batters and induced a grounder that shortstop Blake Davis turned into a force at second base. Berken had...

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A noteworthy morning

May 23, 2011, 6:14pm

Orioles

Baseball returns to Camden Yards tonight after yesterday's break. Get used to them. The Orioles have five open dates in June. Did you see that Nationals first baseman Adam LaRoche went on the disabled list yesterday with a torn labrum in his left shoulder? LaRoche is batting .172 with three homers in 43 games. He's always been a slow starter, and playing all season with a torn labrum wasn't going to reverse that tendency. Derrek Lee's also on the disabled list. He's batting .231 with...

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Down on the farm (updated)

May 23, 2011, 11:41am

Orioles

Second baseman LJ Hoes, the Orioles' third-round pick in 2008 out of St. John's (DC) High School, has been promoted from Single-A Frederick to Double-A Bowie. Hoes is batting .241 with seven doubles, three homers, 17 RBIs and a .638 OPS in 41 games. He's 8-for-39 in his last 10 games, but he has hits in six of them. Hoes is batting .303 against left-handers and .196 against right-handers. He'll need to work on those splits. Baysox manager Gary Kendall can start writing Hoes' name in...

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Tuesdays with worry (plus notes)

May 22, 2011, 8:19pm

Orioles

We made it through an entire day and night without a roster move, though I set my alarm for 11:59 p.m. in case the Orioles were trying to sneak a press release past me. It should be fairly quiet today. No game, no players sent packing, no medical examinations, no injury rehab starts. If I'm keeping track properly, infielder Cesar Izturis will undergo his elbow surgery tomorrow in Baltimore. Second baseman Brian Roberts will be examined by a concussion specialist tomorrow in Pittsburgh....

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Showalter speaks after 2-1 win

May 22, 2011, 1:30pm

Orioles

Twice today, a Nationals batter struck out and Orioles catcher Matt Wieters threw out a runner attempting to steal second base to complete a double play. When will they learn? The game ended with Roger Bernadina taking Kevin Gregg's 3-2 breaking ball for strike three and Wieters cutting down pinch-runner Brian Bixler at second. Wieters made a perfect throw. And it's not like he caught a blazing fastball and gained additional time. We're talking an 82 mph pitch. Showalter has been telling...

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Orioles finally take the lead

May 22, 2011, 11:45am

Orioles

Nationals starter Jordan Zimmermann had retired 13 straight batters before Nick Markakis led off the seventh inning with a single into right field. Vladimir Guerrero followed with a two-run homer on an 0-2 pitch, his fifth of the season. Orioles 2, Nationals 1. Guerrero pumped his fist as he approached first base, and he pointed to the sky before crossing home plate. Guerrero had lined out and flied out before batting in the seventh, giving the Orioles the lead and improving his average to...

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Tillman's pitch count rising (updated twice)

May 22, 2011, 11:00am

Orioles

Tillman's pitch count rising (updated twice)

It's happening again. Chris Tillman has held the Nationals to one run over four innings, but he's thrown 86 pitches and manager Buck Showalter had Jeremy Accardo warming in the bullpen. Tillman hasn't posted a clean inning among the four. He's given up five hits, walked two and hit a batter. The Nationals loaded the bases with one out in the fourth on a double, walk and HBP. Ivan Rodriguez flied to right for the second out, with Jayson Werth holding at third base after Nick Markakis'...

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This and that

May 22, 2011, 10:18am

Orioles

Chris Tillman's pitch count jumped to 34 after two innings, including 11 to Danny Espinosa to end the second. Espinosa fouled off five straight pitches before taking a third strike. Catcher Matt Wieters threw out Michael Morse attempting to steal second base to complete the double play. Tillman fell behind, 3-0, to Espinosa, so it was an impressive battle. Second baseman Brian Roberts will be examined by another concussion specialist Tuesday in Pittsburgh, in case there were any lingering...

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Tillman catches early break

May 22, 2011, 9:51am

Orioles

The Nationals could be leading, 1-0, after the top of the first inning, but plate umpire Todd Tichenor ruled that Roger Bernadina was out of the batter's box while laying down a bunt on the second pitch of the game. Bernadina reached on an apparent single before being ruled out. Nationals manager Jim Riggleman earned an ejection from Tichenor, and I'm sure his mood didn't improve when Ian Desmond followed with a double to center field. Bernadina most likely would have scored on the...

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Matusz waiting to find out where he'll pitch (updated)

May 22, 2011, 7:20am

Orioles

Matusz waiting to find out where he'll pitch (updated)

Orioles pitcher Brian Matusz and bullpen coach Rick Adair are meeting with manager Buck Showalter this morning to discuss the left-hander's outing last night at Double-A Bowie and where he'll make his next start. Matusz allowed three hits in six scoreless innings against Erie, but he wasn't completely satisfied. "It was good. I had good results yesterday," he said. "I was able to make good pitches. I didn't have the best feel for all my stuff. I didn't feel like it was coming out of...

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Orioles and Nationals lineups

May 22, 2011, 7:04am

Orioles

For the Orioles: Felix Pie LF Adam Jones CF Nick Markakis RF Vladimir Guerrero DH Matt Wieters C Luke Scott 1B Mark Reynolds 3B J.J. Hardy SS Robert Andino 2B Chris Tillman RHP For the Nationals: Bernadina CF Desmond SS Nix LF Werth RF Ramos DH Morse 1B Espinosa 2B Rodriguez C Cora 3B Zimmermann P

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Warming up some leftovers

May 21, 2011, 7:34pm

Orioles

Like you've never done it this late on a Saturday night. I'm not certain that it will happen, but the Orioles might reveal their plans for left-hander Brian Matusz before tomorrow's game against the Nationals. Matusz tossed six scoreless innings and threw 70 pitches tonight for Double-A Bowie, which you already know if you kept checking Steve Melewski's blog. He made the trip to Prince George's Stadium while I hung out at Camden Yards. The Orioles could activate Matusz and give him a...

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Guthrie gets first win since April 1

May 21, 2011, 3:37pm

Orioles

Left-hander Brian Matusz has held Erie to two hits over four scoreless innings tonight at Double-A Bowie. He's walked one and struck out none. I don't know if it qualified as a monkey on Jeremy Guthrie's back, or the weight of the world, but he should feel a bit lighter after today's 8-3 victory over the Nationals. Guthrie hadn't won since the season opener at Tropicana Field. It sure helps when a team scores runs for you. If you doubted it, well, here's your proof. "The team swung...

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Showalter speaks after 8-3 win

May 21, 2011, 3:21pm

Orioles

Today's attendance: 33,107 The Orioles scored eight runs while Jeremy Guthrie was pitching? The world really is coming to an end. Asked whether he felt relief that the Orioles supported Guthrie today, manager Buck Showalter said, "Relief? No. I just wanted him to pitch well. It's kind of like, the extra off days. ... Any time you take a starting pitcher and change up his routine like we had to with him, that was somewhat a concern going into it, but he handled it well. He pitched real...

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No earned runs off Guthrie through fifth (and seventh)

May 21, 2011, 1:32pm

Orioles

No earned runs off Guthrie through fifth (and seventh)

You know all about Jeremy Guthrie's run support issues, but here's a reminder: Before today, the Orioles hadn't scored in Guthrie's last three starts while he was in the game, and in five of seven. He received the lowest run support of any American League starter at 1.70 per game. In his seven previous starts, the Orioles scored six runs while he was in the game. So what's happening today? The Orioles erupted for four runs in the bottom of the third to give him a 4-2 lead. He must be...

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Snyder error costly, Reimold HR, more pregame Showalter

May 21, 2011, 12:48pm

Orioles

Snyder error costly, Reimold HR, more pregame Showalter

I drew Shackleford in the Preakness pool. I know nothing about him except that his name reminds me of the N.C. State center with huge feet. Jeremy Guthrie is saddled with two unearned runs in the top of the third on first baseman Brandon Snyder's two-out error. Snyder backed up on Laynce Nix's bouncer, allowing the ball to play him, and it deflected off his body and rolled past him. Jerry Hairston Jr. and Ian Desmond raced home. Nationals starter John Lannan retired the first six Orioles...

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Showalter pregame quotes

May 21, 2011, 12:19pm

Orioles

Bench coach Willie Randolph is coaching third base today. John Russell had a cortisone injection in his knee. I don't mean to bombard you with blog entries on this sunny day, when you're attention is divided evenly between baseball, the Preakness and the end of the world, but here are some pregame comments from manager Buck Showalter. On how he's not concerned whether Simon will be focused on baseball: "No, I don't have that concern at this point. I think he's ready to go. He's been...

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Simon talks about his return, Lee says little

May 21, 2011, 10:44am

Orioles

Simon talks about his return, Lee says little

I'll start with Derrek Lee, since it's the shortest transcription. Lee is clearly frustrated that he's on the disabled list. Can't say that I blame him after dealing with thumb, wrist and foot questions in spring training. A strained oblique is the cherry on top of his melted sundae. Reporters got their first chance to talk to Lee today since he went on the disabled list. He was nice enough to grant an interview and he remained courteous as always, but anyone who's had contact with him...

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Roberts: "It's certainly concerning"

May 21, 2011, 10:08am

Orioles

Second baseman Brian Roberts is eligible to come off the disabled list on Tuesday, but he hasn't started baseball-related activities and the headaches haven't completely gone away. They're not as persistent or intense, but he retains some of the same symptoms that he experienced during the final week of the 2010 season. In other words, don't look for him to be activated on Tuesday. Asked earlier today whether he could return on Tuesday, Roberts replied, "I'm not sure at this...

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Berken likely to start at Norfolk

May 21, 2011, 9:39am

Orioles

Jason Berken could start for Triple-A Norfolk on Tuesday against Louisville at Harbor Park. Berken needs to be stretched out. He's "too strong," according to manager Buck Showalter, who noted that Berken's fastball was 92-95 mph last night. Berken still projects as a reliever, but building up his pitches and innings would allow the Orioles to consider him for starts later this summer. Derrek Lee will need at-bats, either with affiliates or at extended spring training, before coming off...