Roch Kubatko

Tillman in the first (updated)

April 02, 2011, 3:40pm

Orioles

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. - Chris Tillman blanked the Rays in the first inning, but they made him work for it. Tillman went to a three-ball count to the first three hitters, though he retired Ben Zobrist on a foul pop up and struck out Johnny Damon on a 91 mph fastball. Evan Longoria walked after taking two curveballs out of the strike zone with a 1-1 count and a 92 mph fastball that also missed. Manny Ramirez fell behind, 0-2, looked at a 94 mph fastball that missed outside and lined to right to...

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Pregame notes and quotes (updated)

April 02, 2011, 2:30pm

Orioles

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. - I had a little time to kill before the Orioles took the field for batting practice, so I asked J.J. Hardy about last night's rundown that ended with him plowing into the Rays' B.J. Upton. Third base umpire Scott Barry called Upton out, which brought manager Joe Maddon from the dugout for a prolonged argument. Hardy assumed that he was guilty of obstruction, which would have stoked an eighth-inning rally. Hardy spun around and almost spiked his glove after making...

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Britton is here

April 02, 2011, 12:20pm

Orioles

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. - Zach Britton showed up at Tropicana Field today and sat in the left field seats. Just a rookie pitcher and his thoughts. Britton got the surprise call yesterday that he was joining the Orioles in St. Petersburg and making his major league debut tomorrow afternoon against the Rays. He'll take it all in before taking the mound. "It's exciting," he said. "I was walking around because the last time I came here, it was the game before Wade Boggs got his 3,000th hit. I...

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Orioles-Rays lineup, Simon and Matusz updates

April 02, 2011, 11:50am

Orioles

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. - Here are the lineups for tonight's game at Tropicana Field: For the Orioles: Brian Roberts 2B Nick Markakis RF Derrek Lee 1B Vladimir Guerrero DH Luke Scott LF Adam Jones CF Mark Reynolds 3B Matt Wieters C J.J. Hardy SS Chris Tillman RHP For the Rays: Zobrist 2B Damon LF Longoria 3B Ramirez DH Johnson 1B Upton CF Joyce RF Shoppach C Brignac SS Shields RHP Also, an Orioles official confirmed that pitcher Alfredo Simon has obtained his visa and will enter the U.S....

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Looking back on perfect season

April 02, 2011, 6:19am

Orioles

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. - One game, one win. That's perfection in my book. Of course, a franchise with 13 straight losing seasons can't function without a little adversity. The entire front office might break out in a rash if all the news is good. The revelation about Brian Matusz's back and the MRI result put a real damper on last night's festivities. Jeremy Guthrie should have been the center of attention. He was brilliant. "I've seen him pretty good, last August and September, but...

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Postgame chatter after O's 4-1 win

April 01, 2011, 6:43pm

Orioles

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. - The news on Brian Matusz is unfortunate, to say the least, but we shouldn't focus entirely on the negative after a 4-1 win over the Rays. Jeremy Guthrie was superb, blanking the Rays on three hits over eight innings. No way he was coming out for the ninth with his pitch count at 94. "We were able to throw a lot of secondary pitches in good spots for strikes," Guthrie said. "I always work on those pitches as much as I can. Both the curveball and changeup are pitches...

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Matusz talks about his injury

April 01, 2011, 6:14pm

Orioles

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. - I'd point out that Brian Matusz is snakebit, but that's about the only bad thing that hasn't happened to him in Florida. Matusz said he began noticing some discomfort in his back last week, and it grew progressively worse until he couldn't throw this afternoon. "It really did sneak up on me," he said after tonight's 4-1 victory over the Rays. "About four or five days ago, I was feeling some soreness in my lat area. Typical soreness, just like I'd feel after any...

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Matusz going on DL, Britton coming up

April 01, 2011, 5:41pm

Orioles

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. - Brian Matusz has been diagnosed with a strained intercostal muscle, which will force him on the disabled list and bring Zach Britton to the majors. Manager Buck Showalter confirmed that Britton, who dazzled in spring training, will make Sunday's start. And president of baseball operations Andy MacPhail estimated that Matusz could miss anywhere from three to six weeks. Buck Showalter announces Zach Britton will pitch Sunday against Tampa Bay "With the duration that we...

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Tillman starting tomorrow (updated twice)

April 01, 2011, 5:00pm

Orioles

Tillman starting tomorrow (updated twice)

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. - It's official: Chris Tillman will start tomorrow night's game against the Rays. Tillman was scheduled to start on Sunday, but he's needed tomorrow after Brian Matusz was scratched. Matusz underwent an MRI this afternoon on his sore back, and we're still waiting for the results. No word on Sunday's starter. Mark it down as TBA. It's possible that Brad Bergesen gets the call after throwing two innings in Wednesday's simulated game. Update: Jeremy Guthrie is...

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Putting the "Guts" in Guthrie (updated)

April 01, 2011, 4:46pm

Orioles

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. - Don't ask about the missing "s." Jeremy Guthrie said he was ready for the regular season after allowing four runs and 12 hits in five innings against the Blue Jays in Dunedin. You could be forgiven for doubting him. Now you owe him an apology. Guthrie has held the Rays to two hits over six innings - a double by Dan Johnson in the second and a single by Ben Zobrist in the sixth. Guthrie hasn't walked a batter and he's struck out six. He's thrown 71 pitches, 52...

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Hardy's the first to score in 2011 (updated)

April 01, 2011, 3:54pm

Orioles

Hardy's the first to score in 2011 (updated)

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. - J.J. Hardy is the first Oriole to cross the plate this season, scampering home on Nick Markakis' two-out single in the third inning to break a scoreless tie. Hardy doubled with one out off Rays starter David Price, and took third base on the left-hander's errant pickoff throw. The ball actually went through Hardy's legs. Brian Roberts struck out, but Markakis lined a single into left-center field. Hardy batted .351 in spring training. He's looking pretty good at...

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More pregame Showalter (updated)

April 01, 2011, 2:23pm

Orioles

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. - Brian Matusz dominated the news today, but in case you were wondering, manager Buck Showalter didn't have any updates on Justin Duchscherer, who saw a chiropractor on Wednesday because of back discomfort. Maybe it's contagious. "I know Richie (Bancells) and them were getting their arms around a plan of attack, so to speak," Showalter said. "Nothing really new, but I may have something afterward." Showalter and his training staff were too busy trying to schedule...

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Showalter talks about Matusz

April 01, 2011, 1:45pm

Orioles

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. - This is no way to start a new season. Brian Matusz left the ballpark to undergo an MRI on his back after experiencing pain while trying to throw. He's a candidate to join Justin Duchscherer on the disabled list and create a possible ripple effect in the rotation. No. 3 starter Chris Tillman could be bumped up a day and start tomorrow night, or the Orioles could bring up a pitcher from their minor league camp. Manager Buck Showalter indicated that the pain is to the...

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Matusz scratched tomorrow with sore back

April 01, 2011, 1:22pm

Orioles

Matusz scratched tomorrow with sore back

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. - Left-hander Brian Matusz won't make tomorrow night's start against the Rays because of soreness on the left side of his back. Matusz is scheduled to undergo an MRI at 5:30 p.m.. The disabled list is a possibility, though manager Buck Showalter didn't want to venture into that territory without getting the results. Chris Tillman is one candidate to replace Matusz tomorrow night. Brad Bergesen and Jake Arrieta aren't available. The Orioles also could choose to bring...

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A few pre-opener notes

April 01, 2011, 11:18am

Orioles

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. - The weather is gorgeous here, which means nothing once we're inside the dome. But it was a much calmer drive this afternoon. The Orioles are 2-2 against the Rays in season openers, winning in 1999 and 2006, and losing in 2008 and 2010. They're 8-9 when beginning the season on the road, losing their last three to the Rays, Twins (2007) and Royals (1995). The all-time series between the Orioles and Rays is tied, 111-111. I'm trying to calculate how many of those losses...

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It's finally here

April 01, 2011, 5:17am

Orioles

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. - All the talk, all the debating, all the words plastered on this blog. We tracked every rumor at the winter meetings - didn't Nolan Reimold almost get traded? - and waiting for the Orioles to find a first baseman and veteran starting pitcher. We wondered if they would finally hire enough coaches to start the season. We argued the merits of signing Vladimir Guerrero and whether it would actually happen. It seems so long ago. Now here we are, ready to kick off the 2011...

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Brooks Robinson hospitalized, releases statement

March 31, 2011, 1:55pm

Orioles

Brooks Robinson hospitalized, releases statement

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. - Hall of Famer Brooks Robinson was hospitalized earlier today, which always brings a wave of concern - and maybe panic - over all of us, but he released a statement saying he's doing fine and it's not related to his cancer surgery. Here's the statement: "Thank you for your outpouring of concern. I was originally scheduled for a routine outpatient procedure at Greater Baltimore Medical Center on Thursday, March 31, 2011. The evening before surgery, I developed a fever...

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Opening night lineup (and note)

March 31, 2011, 12:24pm

Orioles

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. - The Orioles' lineup for tomorrow night's regular-season opener against the Tampa Bay Rays at Tropicana Field should look pretty familiar to you, with one exception. Adam Jones moves up ahead of Luke Scott against left-hander David Price. Brian Roberts 2B Nick Markakis RF Derrek Lee 1B Vladimir Guerrero DH Adam Jones CF Luke Scott LF Mark Reynolds 3B Matt Wieters C J.J. Hardy SS Jeremy Guthrie RHP NOTE: Forgot to mention it earlier. Manager Buck Showalter says former...

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Pre-workout Showalter - Part II

March 31, 2011, 11:31am

Orioles

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. - We can still hear thunder rumbling outside the dome. I'm just relieved the roof hasn't collapsed. Speaking of thunderous echos, the Orioles are taking batting practice while I file this blog entry. Nick Markakis is knocking the paint off a few of the seats in right field. Luke Scott just bounced a ball off the back of the restaurant roof directly below the scoreboard in center field. Manager Buck Showalter said he won't rest any of his regulars during this...

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Pre-workout Showalter - Part I

March 31, 2011, 11:06am

Orioles

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. - Manager Buck Showalter won't post his opening night lineup until after today's workout, but he told reporters not to expect any surprises. I'd assume that means he's using the same lineup that we saw at the end of the exhibition schedule: Roberts, Markakis, Lee, Guerrero, Scott, Jones, Reynolds, Wieters and Hardy. I'll pass along the official one later. Showalter explained why he chose Chris Tillman over Brad Bergesen for Sunday's start against the Rays. "I...