Roch Kubatko

Not putting "fun" in fundamentals (updated)

May 28, 2011, 7:15pm

Orioles

Not putting "fun" in fundamentals (updated)

The Orioles haven't been particularly sharp in the early innings tonight. They put runners on first and second with no outs in the first inning on Robert Andino's bunt single and an error. Andino popped up another bunt, but this one cleared the mound. Nick Markakis failed to advance the runners, flying to left field. With Vladimir Guerrero at the plate, Andino broke too soon for third base and got caught in a rundown. So much for that rally. Second baseman Ryan Adams made a diving stop of...

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Matusz ready to debut

May 28, 2011, 5:53pm

Orioles

Brian Matusz played catch today with Jeremy Guthrie, and he'll throw a bullpen session tomorrow for pitching coach Mark Connor. Unless his left arm falls off, Matusz will start Wednesday against the Seattle Mariners. Notice that I say "left arm." I think he'll still take the ball if his right arm becomes detached. Jim and Rick interview Brian Matusz about his health and his pending return Seriously though, Matusz is ready after making his third injury rehab start last night at Triple-A...

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Reynolds starting at 1B tonight; rain, field prep delay start until 10:15 p.m. on MASN HD

May 28, 2011, 3:28pm

Orioles

Reynolds starting at 1B tonight; rain, field prep delay start until 10:15 p.m. on MASN HD

The Orioles are breaking out an interesting lineup tonight. Mark Reynolds is starting at first base and Robert Andino is starting at third. Matt Wieters is on the bench so he can start tomorrow's day game. For the Orioles: Robert Andino 3B Adam Jones CF Nick Markakis RF Vladimir Guerrero DH Nolan Reimold LF J.J. Hardy SS Mark Reynolds 1B Ryan Adams 2B Craig Tatum C Brad Bergesen RHP This is Reynolds' 25th career start at first base, the first 24 coming in 2009 with Arizona. Jones (ninth,...

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On this date

May 28, 2011, 9:41am

Orioles

On May 28, 1998, Arizona Diamondbacks manager Buck Showalter ordered an intentional walk to San Francisco Giants slugger Barry Bonds. Bonds walked a record 2,558 times in his career, and that doesn't count the courtroom. So why is this noteworthy? Showalter instructed his reliever to walk Bonds with two outs in the bottom of the ninth inning. With the bases loaded. Arizona led by two runs and Showalter wanted no part of Bonds. It was a tremendous gamble, and it paid off. The next batter,...

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Talking about Gonzalez and Bergesen (updated)

May 28, 2011, 5:16am

Orioles

Talking about Gonzalez and Bergesen (updated)

I had to "sleep fast," as manager Buck Showalter always says. These West Coast games are exhausting, even when you're not on the trip. The Orioles have another 10:07 p.m. start tonight in Oakland - no one rounds off these times anymore - and we'll find out later today whether a roster move is made. Double-A Bowie left-hander Pedro Viola was rushed to Oakland, and that decision was made before Alfredo Simon threw 55 pitches and took the loss last night and Michael Gonzalez followed with...

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Tillman doesn't take the fifth (updated)

May 27, 2011, 8:16pm

Orioles

Tillman doesn't take the fifth (updated)

On the same night that left-hander Brian Matusz was apparently making his last injury rehab start at Triple-A Norfolk, his good friend Chris Tillman couldn't get out of the fifth inning in Oakland. Tillman has allowed one earned run or fewer in four consecutive starts and five of six. However, his rising pitch counts continue to force him out of games in the middle innings and lead to a parade of relievers. He threw 102 tonight before heading to the bench for good. This is the third-shortest...

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Viola headed to Oakland

May 27, 2011, 6:59pm

Orioles

The Orioles are prepared to make another roster move, with Double-A Bowie left-hander

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Checking on Matusz (rehab assignment appears over)

May 27, 2011, 4:15pm

Orioles

Checking on Matusz (rehab assignment appears over)

Left-hander Brian Matusz has completed four innings tonight at Triple-A Norfolk, and he's working on a two-hit shutout against the Columbus Clippers. Matusz has walked one batter and struck out six. He's thrown 66 pitches, including 42 for strikes. The Orioles are hoping to get seven innings out of Matusz. As always, the pitch count will dictate how far he goes. Matusz struck out three batters in the second, but he also issued a walk. This is Matusz's third start on his injury rehab...

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Orioles lineup against Athletics

May 27, 2011, 2:41pm

Orioles

Nolan Reimold is back in left field tonight after going 4-for-4 with two home runs and four RBIs in yesterday's 6-5, 12-inning win over Kansas City. Robert Andino is the leadoff hitter in Felix Pie's absence. For the Orioles: Robert Andino 2B Adam Jones CF Nick Markakis RF Vladimir Guerrero DH Matt Wieters C Nolan Reimold LF Mark Reynolds 3B J.J. Hardy SS Jake Fox 1B Chris Tillman RHP Guerrero is 4-for-21 lifetime against Oakland left-hander Gio Gonzalez. Wieters is 2-for-5 with a...

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Leo Gomez named Aberdeen manager (and other notes)

May 27, 2011, 8:54am

Orioles

Leo Gomez named Aberdeen manager (and other notes)

Well, that didn't take long. The Orioles finally named their manager at short-season Single-A Aberdeen. Former third baseman Leo Gomez will call the shots from the IronBirds' dugout. Gomez has spent the past two seasons as a field coach for the rookie-level Gulf Coast League Orioles (2009) and Bluefield (2010). Gomez spent six of his seven major league seasons with the Orioles, batting .245 with 62 home runs and 203 RBIs in 475 games. I forgot that he played for the Cubs in 1996, tying his...

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Matusz bringing his AAA game

May 27, 2011, 8:12am

Orioles

The first 5,000 fans to enter Harbor Park in Norfolk tonight will receive a Tides cap. They'll also get to watch Brian Matusz pitch. Matusz never made it to Triple-A before tonight. He moved up from Single-A Frederick to Double-A Bowie to the majors in his first professional season in 2009. He was part of the gifted and talented pitching program. Matusz returned to Frederick and Bowie on his injury rehab assignment. He'll finally pitch for Norfolk tonight in a 7:05 p.m. game against the...

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Streaking into Oakland

May 26, 2011, 5:01pm

Orioles

Give me the choice between a cross-country flight and being covered in honey and red ants, and I'll ask which one provides the most leg room. If the Orioles must travel to Oakland, and the schedule demands it, at least they're riding a five-game winning streak. It may not come with those little bags of gourmet pretzels like you get on Southwest, and yesterday's 6-5, 12-inning victory wasn't exactly a smooth ride, but it's the first time this season that the Orioles have boarded one....

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Showalter speaks after 6-5, 12-inning win

May 26, 2011, 1:09pm

Orioles

Showalter speaks after 6-5, 12-inning win

The Orioles swept a three-game home series against the Royals for the first time since April 2007, and Nolan Reimold deserves a huge share of the credit for homering twice and driving in four runs. He also singled, doubled and walked. That's one way to raise your average to .545. Buck Showalter meets with the media following the Birds' 6-5 win over Kansas City "I'm happy for him," manager Buck Showalter said. "He made the most of his opportunities. I try to pride myself on listening to...

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Guerrero single wins it in the 12th

May 26, 2011, 12:15pm

Orioles

I went to a baseball game and a chess match broke out. Checkmate for the Orioles. Vladimir Guerrero sent a 15-hopper up the middle - a mild exaggeration - to score Robert Andino in the bottom of the 12th and give the Orioles a 6-5 victory. Andino led off with a double against Louis Coleman. Manager Buck Showalter called for Adam Jones to lay down a bunt, but the move backfired when the Orioles' center fielder popped up. Jones reached on a bunt single earlier in the game and the situation...

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Accardo keeps bases clean (O's load them and can't score)

May 26, 2011, 11:39am

Orioles

Accardo keeps bases clean (O's load them and can't score)

Kevin Gregg left the bases loaded in the 10th inning. He stole Jeremy Accardo's move. Accardo entered in the 11th with the score tied, 5-5. In 21 2/3 innings before today, he allowed 25 hits, walked 14 and hit one batter. That's almost two baserunners an inning. The first batter today, Mike Aviles, hit a line drive that almost decapitated second baseman Robert Andino, who gloved the ball before it passed through him. Brayan Pena flied to left field for the second out, and Chris Getz lined...

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Tatum redeems himself, too

May 26, 2011, 11:05am

Orioles

I mentioned earlier that Nolan Reimold redeemed himself for the poor throw in the top of the second inning by homering in the bottom half. He took it to the extreme by hitting a three-run shot the following inning and adding a single a walk. Now it's Craig Tatum's turn. Tatum was called for catcher's interference in the second, and he's lucky that his mitt didn't land in the home bullpen. But Tatum, in his first game after being recalled from Triple-A Norfolk, singled in the seventh and...

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Orioles fall behind early (updated)

May 26, 2011, 9:25am

Orioles

It took much too long for Orioles starter Jeremy Guthrie to get a third out in the second inning, and the Orioles trail the Royals, 4-1, as we head to the third. The Royals sent nine batters to the plate against Guthrie. The right-hander got two strikes on Chris Getz before giving up a run-scoring single that extended the rally. Melky Cabrera capped the scoring with a two-run scoring after Craig Tatum was called for catcher's interference. Earlier in the inning, left fielder Nolan Reimold...

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Showalter on roster move and catching plans

May 26, 2011, 8:25am

Orioles

Showalter on roster move and catching plans

Manager Buck Showalter talked about the latest roster move while meeting with reporters this morning. Catcher Craig Tatum is in the lineup. First baseman Brandon Snyder is back with Triple-A Norfolk. "We want to make sure Brandon continues to have a pretty good year down there, but it gives us an opportunity to move Jake (Fox) around a little bit. This is beneficial for everybody," Showalter said. "Craig's been hurt down there, his shoulder, something similar to what was going on last...

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News and notes

May 26, 2011, 8:07am

Orioles

Justin Duchscherer will throw a 35-pitch bullpen session today or tomorrow in Sarasota. That's the only update on him. The Orioles don't know when he'll start another extended spring training game. Duchscherer is eligible to come off the disabled list in four days, but that's obviously not going to happen. Brian Matusz is driving to Norfolk today and will start for the Tides tomorrow night. He requested a Columbus Clippers roster to see whether he recognized any names (he did). Matusz...

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Fox and Tatum in today's lineup

May 26, 2011, 6:16am

Orioles

The Orioles are leaning heavily to the right for today's game against Kansas City left-hander Jeff Francis. For the Orioles: Robert Andino 2B Adam Jones CF Nick Markakis RF Vladimir Guerrero DH Mark Reynolds 3B Nolan Reimold LF J.J. Hardy SS Jake Fox 1B Craig Tatum C Jeremy Guthrie RHP